Exploring the Kona Coast of Hawaii's Big Island: Underwater Voyage

Exploring the Kona Coast of Hawaii's Big Island: Underwater Voyage

Exploring the underwater paradise of Kona, nestled on the Big Island of Hawaii, promises an unforgettable experience for every adventurer. Whether you're a seasoned underwater photographer, a casual dive enthusiast, or simply in search of tropical escapades, Kona delivers something extraordinary.

Not only does Kona boast diverse marine life, but the island's unique landscapes contribute to the region's mystique. From the resilient green sea turtles munching on algae in the harbor to the breathtaking dance of spinner dolphins greeting your boat, the sea life here is as thrilling as it is colorful.

If diving isn't your sole motivation for travel, fear not – the Big Island has plenty more to offer. Marvel at volcanoes, surf the waves, swim with waterfalls, discover lush rainforests, and indulge in exquisite shopping and dining. The island's laid-back Hawaiian spirit ensures a relaxing and enjoyable stay for all visitors.

Kona's marine life is a continuous surprise, with the possibility of encountering anything from minute nudibranchs to enormous manta rays or even the occasional whale. The visibility may not be as stunning as some tropical destinations, but the overall atmosphere of Kona—the people and the stunning topside scenery—make it a heavenly place to unwind, even when you're not diving.

Marvels of Kona Marine Life

Kona's diverse marine life will never disappoint. Keep an eye out for the following:

Big Stuff in Kona

You'll likely spot your first sea turtle as you board your dive boat—they love to dine on the algae in the harbor. You can even visit the well-known Turtle Pinnacle, frequented by these magnificent creatures, requesting your captain to take you there. Eagle rays and barracudas are also common sights, and hopefully, with a week-long trip, you'll see them at least once. Sharks such as Oceanic Whitetip sharks and Whale Sharks are less frequent but make for memorable encounters.

Hawaiian Fish Life

Although some may argue that the aquarium trade has taken its toll on the fish life around Kona, you can still find an abundance of species to captivate your lens. Schools of barracuda and Raccoon Butterflyfish are common, with the latter flocking to Sergeant Majors’ nests at Eel Cove. Barracuda can often be found at Honokohau Harbor, while Raccoon Butterflyfish are attracted to the swarms of raccoon butterflyfish eager to feast on their nest's guardians. Bicolor and Longfin Anthias can be found lurking a little deeper at Place of Refuge or Honokohau Harbor, hiding in isolated coral heads.

Kona is also teeming with eels—a favorite sight for divers. "Eel Cove" is a great spot to find a variety of morays and nifty dragon morays, though you'll likely see them at almost any dive site. Frogfish occasionally pop up, especially at Honokohau if you ask your dive operator about the most recent sightings. Rockmover wrasses make excellent video subjects as they excavate for food and move enormous rocks and chunks of coral out of their way. Divers might also see pipefish, Spanish dancer nudibranchs, and boxfish.

Kona's Best Dive Sites

Kona's dive sites offer a mix of large and small marine life, amazing underwater photographic opportunities, and unique geological formations.

Boat Diving in Kona

If you're an underwater photographer, ask your dive operator about "advanced" charters. These may cost a bit extra but offer fewer and more experienced divers on the boat, taking you to more exciting and distant dive sites.

Notable Kona Dive Sites

• "Naked Lady" sailboat wreck, with its unique dive opportunities, becomes home to more and more fascinating and colorful little fish over time, making it a fabulous macro dive. On less frequent occasions, divers have seen barracudas.
• "Eel Cove" is popular for beginning divers and offers abundant eel life and raccoon butterflyfish flocks. In the springtime, divers might see Sergeant Majors guarding their nests, while swarms of raccoon butterflyfish feed on the Sergeant Majors' tiny fry.
• "South" (officially nameless, but often dived as advanced sites south of Place of Refuge) is chock-full of fish and boasts beautiful lava tubes ("Long Lava Tube" can be an advanced dive destination), enabling divers to witness creatures they'd typically only see at night.
• "Turtle Pinnacle" is worth a visit, particularly if you're on an advanced charter, as you might see turtles being cleaned by tangs and other colorful fish.

Kona Night Diving

Kona night diving offers two exceptional experiences – manta ray night dives and black water night dives.

The manta ray night dive is a must, where divers gather around a crate of dive lights on the ocean floor, attracting swarms of plankton that draw numerous manta rays (up to twenty) swooping close to divers, barely missing their heads. Snorkelers can also observe the manta rays from the surface.

Black water night diving sees a small group of advanced divers taken offshore, with lines to allow freedom of movement up and down the water column. Divers might spot tiny aquatic creatures, though the experience is so unique, even if unphotographable, it's worth every penny.

Kona's Best Beach Diving

• Honokohau Harbor (aka "Alua Beach" or "Rip-off Reef") is a fantastic site offering a variety of sights, though divers must contend with a lengthy lava hike over black sand beaches (with gear) to reach the dive site. From the water, divers can encounter barracuda or dolphins and explore coral heads teeming with juvenile fish. Keep an eye out for tiger sharks or eagle rays and remember to look up for passing schools of barracuda.
• Place of Refuge (aka "Two-Step," aka "Honaunau") is popular for snorkelers, freedivers, and paddlers, as well as scuba divers. Once you've found the right spot to enter from the shore, you can enjoy a rich underwater habitat filled with anthias in coral heads and razor wrasse in the sand. As always, don't forget to look up and out for dolphins or turtles. The area's protected turtles are cherished, so refrain from chasing or harassing them in the water or on the sand.

Happy diving, and remember to take nothing but memories, leave nothing but bubbles!

[1] https://www.letsgo-hawaii.com/diving/placeofrefuge/

[2] http://shorediving.com/Earth/Hawaii/TBI/pg818.htm

[3] https://www.oceanicmanta.com

[4] https://www.divenewswire.com/2016/05/24/18095-6-essential-camera-tips-for-divers

[5] https://diveintoday.com/blog/kona-big-island-scuba-diving/

1. The resilient green sea turtles, a common sight in Kona's harbor, are a delightful encounters for divers and snorkelers alike.
2. For marine life enthusiasts, a trip to the Turtle Pinnacle in Kona is highly recommended, a place frequented by these majestic creatures.
3. Eagle rays and barracudas are common sights in Kona, their presence adding to the colorful underwater show.
4. Sharks such as Oceanic Whitetip sharks and Whale Sharks are less frequent in Kona but make for memorable encounters when spotted.
5. Amidst the diverse marine life, Kona is teeming with eels, a favorite sight for divers at various dive sites, with Eel Cove being a particularly popular spot.
6. Besides the rich marine life, Kona's dive sites offer amazing underwater photographic opportunities with unique geological formations.
7. For underwater photographers, "advanced" charters in Kona can provide fewer and more experienced divers on the boat, taking you to more exciting and distant dive sites.
8. The "Naked Lady" sailboat wreck in Kona houses an increasing number of fascinating and colorful fish over time, making it a fabulous macro dive.
9. Kona's night diving offers two exceptional experiences – manta ray night dives and black water night dives, both memorable and worth every penny.
10. Happy travelers and divers, remember to take nothing but memories, leave nothing but bubbles as you embark on your Kona adventure, whether it's for photography, diving, or exploring the Hawaiian lifestyle.

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