My favourite dive sites are the Night Manta boat dive and the shore dive near Pu'uhonua O Honaunau (the Place of Refuge), where there are nice hard corals and underwater scenery, with regular sightings of Green Turtles and a pod of Spinner Dolphins nearby. I have put some reports of dives around the Big Island here, to give you some idea of what the diving is like.Please let me know if you are aware of other resources which should go in here, or if you spot any mistakes. The usual disclaimer applies - these resources are as accurate as I can make them, but I am not responsible for any problems you encounter as a result of errors.

Click here for a useful map of Hawai'i.

Charters & Commercial Guides
Dive Shops
Emergencies
Places to Stay
Usenet News Groups
Weather & Sea Conditions
WWW Sites
Other, non-Hawai'i, Resources

Books, Magazines & Web sites

We love this book. Having spent over a year in Hawaii I wanted something that went into Hawaii's undersea world in a bit more depth (sic). This was just what I was looking for. It describes the different underwater habitats, how they were formed and what lives there. For me it achieves a very nice balance between informative and accessible. A very satisfying read.

'Hawaiian Coral Reef Ecology' by David Gulko. Mutual Publishing.
'Hawaiian Reef Animals' by Edmund Hobson & EH Chave. University of Hawaii Press.
'Hawaii's Fishes' by John P Hoover. Mutual Publishing.
'Hawai'i's Sea Creatures - A Guide to Hawai'i's Marine Invertebrates' by John P Hoover. Mutual Publishing.
Humpback Whales - A Beginner's Guide

'Let's go shore dive'n' by Dick Dresie and Mike Poirier. This is the essential guide, if you are planning on shore diving while on Hawai'i. It is available at most dive shops in Kailua-Kona, or you can order directly from:
DPD Associates
75-5822 Neke Place
Kailua-Kona
Hawaii 96740
dpdresie@kona.net
Or order from his web site: http://www.ilhawaii.net/~dpdresie/
Enclose a check for $9.95 + $1.50 P&P within USA (contact him directly if you are in one of those states where you need to add Sales Tax) - Prices correct in 1999. NB Some of the information in this book is getting out of date. For example, the night manta dives have moved north since the Kona Surf Hotel closed and turned the lights off at night. Contact the dive operators for more up-to-date information.

'Pacific: An Undersea Journey' by David Doubilet (pages 35 - 47). Bulfinch Press.

Turtle Trax at http://www.turtles.org

You can order these books from

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Charters & Commercial Guides

Dive Makai Charters
PO Box 2955
Kailua-Kona
Hawaii 96745
Tel: (808) 329-2025
E-mail: dmakai@divemakai.com
Home Page: http://www.divemakai.com/
Dive Makai Charters are a smaller company offering a more personalised service. Their boat goes out from Kailua Pier. Nice people.

Jack's Diving Locker
Ali'i Drive
Kailua-Kona
Hawaii 96740
Tel.: (808) 329-7585
E-mail:
Home Page:
Training: NAUI, PADI
I did an instructor course with them - they were very professional. They moved into new premises next to their old shop in 2003. They have a training pool there.

Divers in rec.scuba.locations have spoken highly of them.

Kohala Divers Ltd.
Kawaihae Shopping Center
PO Box 44940
Kawaihae
Hawaii 96743
Tel.: (808) 882-7774
Fax: (808) 882-1536
E-mail: h2osport@kohaladivers.com
Home page: http://www.kohaladivers.com
Training: PADI

Kona Coast Divers
75-5614 Palani Road (Located at the Light House)
Kailua-Kona
Hawaii 96740
Tel.: (808) 329-8802
Home page: http://www.konacoastdivers.com/
Training: NAUI, PADI
I haven't dived with Kona Coast Divers, but I have used their other services including equipment repair and equipment hire. They were very helpful and the standard of their service was good.

Kona Honu Divers
Tel (808) 324-HONU (4668) for information
For Reservations only call (888) 333-HONU (4668)
E-mail: glenn@konahonudivers.com
Web: http://www.konahonudivers.com/
They say that they are a "family oriented dive/ snorkel/ SNUBA and sight-seeing operation, catering to individuals and mainland dive clubs."

Mauna Kea Divers
61-3616 Kawaihae Road
Kawaihae
Hawaii 96743-9721
Tel.: (808) 882-1544
E-mail: mkdivers@interpac.net
Home page: http://www.maunakeadivers.com/
Kawaihae is located about halfway between Kona and Kapa'au up on the north shore. I am told that this company provides a smaller, friendly service, diving the nothern end of the Kona coast.

Sandwich Isle Divers
Kailua-Kona
Hawaii 96740
Tel.: (808) 329-9188
I know from experience that they do very good repair and maintenance work. I have only heard good things about them from their customers.

Underwater Hawaii
PO Box 2105
Kailua-Kona
Hawaii 96745
Tel.: (808) 334-1360
Mobile: 938-1209
E-mail: diveroger@mac.com

Training: PADI
Run by Captain Roger Johnson, Underwater Hawaii specialises in shore diving tours. Roger knows his stuff!

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Dive Shops - Equipment sales and rental, Air fills, Repairs etc

(There are many more than those given here, but I know these to be reliable.)

>>	Jack's Diving Locker, Ali'i Drive, Kailua-Kona. Tel.: (808) 329-7585. Website: www.jacksdivinglocker.com
>>	Kohala Divers Ltd., Kawaihae Shopping Center. Tel.: (808) 882-7774. Fax: (808) 882-1536. E-mail: h2osport@kohaladivers.com
>>	Morey's Scuba Hut, 75-5744 Ali'i Drive, Kailua-Kona. Tel.: (808) 331-8558. Sales only.
>>	Sandwich Isle Divers, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740. Tel.: (808) 329-9188. Website: www.sandwichisledivers.com
>>	Underwater Hawaii, PO Box 2105, Kailua-Kona. Tel.: (808) 334-1360. Mobile: 938-1209. E-mail: uwhawaii@turquoise.net Underwater Hawaii is run by Roger Johnson.

Emergencies

Ambulance 911
Coast Guard (800) 552-6458
DAN - International number for diving emergencies + 41 1 14 14
DAN - US American number for diving emergencies + 1 919 684 8111
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park - In emergencies call the Park Heaquarters at 911

Hospitals:
Hilo 969-4111
Honoka'a 775-7211
Ka'u 928-8331
Kohala 889-6211
Kailua-Kona 322-9311
Hyperbaric chamber on O'ahu 1-523-9155
Poison Center (800) 362-3585An office of the Coast Guard is located on the Pier at Kailua-Kona.

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Places to Stay

Hale Kona Kai is a small condo complex about 1 mile (1.6km) from Kailua-Kona on Kahakai Road. Tel: (808) 329-2155

Islander Inn is an inexpensive place to stay that is convenient for the centre of Kailua-Kona, about 1 mile (1.6km) from Kailua Pier, where most dive boats go from.

Kona Tiki Hotel is a small hotel on the water, about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) south of town. Tel: (808) 329-1425.

Mango Sunset Bed and Breakfast at at Lyman Farms in Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i. Tel: (808) 325-0909.

Usenet Groups

There are a number of people who regularly visit rec.scuba.locations who are knowledgeable about diving the Big Island (including me!). You can also pick up useful information at the moderated group, soc.culture.hawaii and at the unmoderated alt.culture.hawaii

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Weather & Sea Conditions

Water temperatures range from the low 70s F (about 22 Celsius) in January and February, to the low 80s F (about 28 C) in August and September. A full 2mm wet suit is likely to be adequate for most people. In summer, I am comfortable in a T-shirt, while my wife prefers a thermoskin. The temperature changes little with depth.

There is an overall westerly movement of water around the Hawaiian islands. This is modified locally, particularly by tidal currents. The difference between high and low tide is approximately 2 feet (0.6m). Tidal currents can sometimes move faster than people can swim, so it is a good idea to consult tide tables before diving. The local newspapers, such as West Hawaii Today, publish the times of high and low tide. Or use this link.

If you are planning on doing a lot of shore diving, it is also worth noting that in winter, it is quite common to have long periods of high surf, particularly on the north and west shores, which make shore diving entries and exits more difficult, and sometimes impossible. This is more true for the Big Island than the other Hawaiian islands because it has more rocky entries than the other islands, due to its relative geological youth.

Check here for Glenn James' weather report and sea conditions for divers, for all islands. When you are in the islands, his 7.45 a.m. weather programme, which is broadcast on the public broadcasting channel, is well worth watching.

Telephone for 24-hour forecast: 961-5582

Weather conditions in Hawai'i

(Taken from 'Exploring Tropical Isles and Seas' by Frederic Martini)

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WWW Sites

Alohacyberian's page of Big Island Information
Coffee Times - A Big Island magazine
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park located near Hilo
The Lonely Planet Guide
Pu`uhonua O Honaunau - National Historical Park located in Honaunau, HI

Dive Makai Charters
Kona Coast Divers
Snorkel Maui - Despite the name, this also covers other Hawaiian islands. This site includes a printable fish chart, fish list, fish quiz, how to ID a fish, snorkeling faq, snorkeling books, links and maps.
Snorkelling Hawaii Insider's Guide: The Big Island - This site includes detailed information on some of the most popular snorkelling sites on the Big Island.

Other Resources

Over the years we've read a lot of guide books to Hawaii. Most are fine, but Jerry and Janine Sprout's Trailblazer guide to the Big Island is our favourite. It covers the usual resort and tourist areas, but also includes places most tourists never get to. If you have visited Hawaii as often as we have, that is a big plus. It includes clear and concise driving directions, and trail descriptions. The book includes: * 142 hikes and strolls through mountains, valleys, beaches, rain forests, tropical gardens, waterfalls, petroglyph (traditional stone carvings) fields, the Kona and the windward shores. * 71 snorkeling and swimming spots. * 39 surfing spots. * 24 bike trails through mountain, coastal, forest and grassy terrains. * 25 campgrounds and simple cabin locations. * 9 maps. * Over 200 photographs. The guide also includes sections on Hawaiian culture and history; museums; a 'Kids Only' section; tours of the Parker Ranch and the Kohala Coast, Hilo and the Heritage Coast, and Kona coffee country; and safety tips and trip-planning advice.

Diving DAN - The safety organisation for divers. The DAN America office is located at The Peter B Bennet Center, 6 West Colony Place, Durham, NC 27705.
Tel.: (919) 684 2948.
Fax: (919) 490 6630.
E-mail: dan@diversalertnetwork.org.
Web site: http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/

Diverlink - A comprehensive and innovative resource for scuba divers and dive businesses with an emphasis on safety and providing unbiased and uncompromised information

Diving Medical Online - Medical advice for divers is available from Ernest S. Campbell, MD, FCAS, a former surgeon and diver.

Tides Online - The National Ocean Service (NOS) Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) web site posts tide tables and tide charts for more than 3,000 U.S. locations. Search by state or region to pinpoint the tides and predicted water levels for your next dive outing.

Training Organisations