What it is
Big Island Divers is a PADI 5-Star Dive Center located in Kailua-Kona, offering a variety of scuba diving and snorkeling tours, as well as PADI certification courses and gear sales and rentals. They operate daily scuba and snorkel tours along the Kona coast, taking visitors to over 40 local dive sites, which include exploring coral reefs, lava tubes, caves, and unique underwater structures. They are particularly renowned for their world-famous Manta Ray Night Dive, often cited as one of the best night dives globally.
Visitor experience
Travelers choose Big Island Divers for a range of underwater experiences on the Big Island. Certified divers can join various two-tank day dives exploring vibrant reef ecosystems, lava formations, and diverse marine life, with sites chosen daily based on ocean conditions. For those seeking a more advanced challenge, they offer "Advanced Two Tank" charters to less-frequented sites with more complex topography, and the unique "Blackwater" pelagic night dive where divers float in open water observing rare deep-sea creatures.
The Manta Ray Night Dive is a bucket-list activity for many, where divers and snorkelers witness manta rays feeding on plankton attracted by dive lights. This experience is described as phenomenal, with mantas somersaulting close to participants. Big Island Divers also caters to those new to diving with "Discover Scuba" programs, allowing uncertified individuals to experience diving under instructor supervision, and offers full PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water certification courses. Snorkeling tours, including the Manta Ray Night Snorkel, are also available, making it suitable for groups with both divers and snorkelers.
Logistics
Big Island Divers is located at 74 Kealakehe Pkwy in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. They offer online booking for their tours. Tour durations vary; for instance, the Manta Ray Night Dive typically includes a 45-60 minute underwater time, with the full two-tank Twilight & Manta Dive being an evening activity. Day dives often involve two tanks, implying a half-day to full-day commitment depending on the specific charter.
Guests should bring dry clothes and a jacket or sweatshirt for night charters as the ride back can be chilly. For certification courses, PADI eLearning is often completed online prior to the in-water portion, which can take 2-3 days for Advanced Open Water. Divers who haven't dived in the last two years may need a refresher course. The company provides professional dive guides, dive lights for night dives, tanks, soft weights, snacks, and filtered water. Parking is available at their facility. Returning to Hilo the same night after a manta ray night dive is not feasible, so lodging plans should account for this.
Safety and cautions
Big Island Divers emphasizes safety, with all crew members certified in CPR, AED, emergency oxygen, and first aid, and participating in regular emergency scenario training. They also maintain a drug-free vessel policy through random drug testing for boat crew.
For the Manta Ray Night Dive, participants are instructed not to touch the mantas, as human touch can interfere with their protective mucus coating. Manta rays are wild animals, and their presence, while very common, is not guaranteed. Big Island Divers offers a return policy if no mantas are seen.
Divers aged 10-11 or those with a "SCUBA Diver" certification (as opposed to Open Water) are required to hire a private divemaster due to depth restrictions. Guests prone to seasickness are advised against ride-along or snorkeler passengers on morning dive charters due to boredom and potential seasickness. It's crucial for divers to be able to assemble and dismantle their own equipment and be competent in underwater communication.
Editorial take
Big Island Divers is a highly recommended operator for anyone interested in scuba diving or snorkeling on the Kona Coast, especially for the iconic Manta Ray Night Dive. It's a must-do for certified divers looking for world-class underwater experiences, including unique night dives like the Manta Ray or Blackwater dives. It also suits beginner divers interested in getting certified or trying a "Discover Scuba" experience. Groups with mixed interests can enjoy the Manta Ray Night Dive/Snorkel, as both activities happen simultaneously.
Travelers who prioritize unique marine encounters and professional guiding should prioritize this activity. Those who are not comfortable in the ocean, are prone to seasickness, or are looking for a quick, land-based activity should skip it.
Do not confuse Big Island Divers with other dive operators in the Kona area, such as Kohala Divers or Kona Honu Divers, although these companies also offer similar diving and snorkeling excursions. While many operators offer manta ray dives, Big Island Divers is a well-established and highly-rated option.
Source notes
- Big Island Divers Official Website: https://bigislanddivers.com/
- PADI Dive Center - Big Island Divers: https://www.padi.com/dive-shops/big-island-divers/
- Hawaii Outdoor Guides - Big Island Manta Ray Dives: https://hawaiioutdoorguides.com/big-island-manta-ray-night-dive/
