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Dive USA -- Hawaii the big island, and Kauai

© Linda Gettmann

Hawaii's "big island" moniker is certainly appropriate, as it is big in stature, big in volcanic activity, the origin of all the island chain, and big in diving. The Kona Coast offers what many divers find is the best diving in the state, although Maui enthusiasts will disagree. With the most well developed coral reef system, Hawaii has three long coastlines, but due to water conditions, only the lee side where Kona is located is regularly dived. The water on the Hilo side usually faces into stiff tradewinds, so don't try and dive this side without an experienced dive shop guide who knows the local waters. Most dive sites require boat access and local knowledge to maximize safe, comfortable diving. This may not be the place where you just rent a couple tanks and take off in your rental car- Best to do it with the pros and be assured of a good dive and a safe dive.

Puako offers lots of good diving along the 2-mile Puako Beach Road off Hwy. 19, north of Kona. Once again, this is best dived from a boat as there are no sandy beaches, only sharp volcanic rocks and usually some surf, making a shore entry unmanageable. The best sites between Puako and Mahukona are in sheltered areas for boat anchorage with good visibility and lots of marine life. Numerous sites feature caves and tunnels that penetrate into the craggy volcanic shoreline. Lobsters are always seen in the crevices and under ledges. Within a few hundred feet of shore are towering coral formations with schools of tropicals including parrotfish, Moorish idols, and several species of butterflyfish. Turtles are a common sighting here and during the winter season, whales are often seen playing near shore.

Kaiwa is a lovely spot for day or night dives by boat featuring a nice coral garden and lots of critters. Sharks can usually be found in shark cave and there are interesting arches and caves to explore. A steep drop-off occurs about 40 yards off shore and plummets into the deep blue. This is a great spot for open ocean pelagics and other fish.

Red Hill is a boat dive south of Kona named for a cinder-cone that is now a submerged extinct volcanic crater. One of the more popular dive sites in Kona, this bay is frequented by dive shops daily. Honeycombed with a series of lava tubes, many are large diameter and illuminated by shafts of sunlight making for exciting photo opportunities. Fantasy Reef and Driftwood are two good sites here full of coral and lava formations, schooling butterflyfish, wrasse, and idols. A maze of canyons can keep you guessing just where you are, so pay attention to direction and take a compass heading back to the boat. Driftwood has cave complexes in the spit that juts out underwater from the shoreline. This is where you'll find shark cave and a better than average chance of seeing some small resident white-tip sharks.

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