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Old Launch Ramp - (Broken
Road) - (South Point)
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| Want to try something different? Try diving the Old Launch
Ramp area at South Point. Take South Point Road almost all the way to the
Point. The paved road splits; go to the right (towards the Gallows). Take
the next paved split (~ 100 feet). This road ends at a cliff. It used to
extend down to the water and there was a launch ramp but the South American
tidal wave of 1960 wiped it out. Park and climb down to the water. The area
is often in a big lee and is usually quite calm, especially in summer and
fall. It is very scenic and beautiful especially in the morning. Take South
Point Road almost all the way to the Point. The paved road splits; go to
the right (towards the Gallows). Take the next paved split (~ 100 feet).
This road ends at a cliff. It used to extend down to the water and there
was a launch ramp but the South American tidal wave of 1960 wiped it out.
Park and climb down to the water. The best entry point is to the left when
you start down the path, below the small five-foot ledge. There is a boulder
that hooks out and provides protection from the swell. Swim to the north
along the shoreline about a hundred yards and drop down to 40 feet. There
are coral reef patches loaded with Flame Angels, juvenile Butterflies and
lots of eels including the rare and elusive Dragon Moray. Deeper are Bi-Color
Anthias. There are also a variety of crabs and shrimp and schools of Pyramid
Butterflies in the shallows. It is not a hard climb to the water and can
be done with tank on back and camera in hand if you are careful and agile.
If you feel charged and energetic, go to the Gallows afterwards and jump
the cliffs (without tanks). It is only about 25 feet down and there are
ladders to climb back up. Rumor has it two 70 year old women did it in 1999.
This area is also in the lee and you can swim and snorkel. There is a step-down
here where you can go in with tanks just to the left of the ladders. |
Timothy Ewing |
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Hoopuloa
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| This area is adjacent to and just north of
Milolii which is about an hour and fifteen minutes south of Kona. Take the
Milolii turnoff which is well marked. Towards the bottom of the road (it
starts at about 2000 feet and winds down to the shoreline), take a right
into the Hoopuloa subdivision which is marked as private property. In the
north corner there is an area of lava that has had steps and a railing added
to make entrances and exits easy. Enter the ocean using the steps just to
the right of the railing and exit using the railing. Swim straight out and
you can go either north or south. There are lots of tropicals and lots of
coral and coral heads. Eels abound and there is a resident school of Hellers
barracuda. This area is well protected and often very calm. There is actually
an old launch ramp here which the DLNR barracaded with boulders. |
Bo Pardau |
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Kona Paradise - (Black
Pebble Beach)
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| Travel South on the main highway. The Kona
Paradise subdivision is about 15 minutes past the City of Refuge. Watch
closely for the sign as it is easy to miss. It is three miles past the Hookena
turnoff. Drive down the steep road to the beach at the end. Just before
the end is a dirt road that goes to the south end of the beach. There you
will find covered picnic tables and a bathroom. Park at the North end as
that is where you will enter. The beach consists of black pebble rocks and
the shore comes up rather quickly from about 10 feet so if there is a swell,
the beach gets pounded and is somewhat difficult to exit as you can get
rolled easily. Enter and exit from the north end of the beach as that is
the easiest. The best diving is to the north; the south is flat, shallow
and uninteresting. The bay is flat and gradually slopes out. On the north
side just off the shoreline, the area consists of ledges and is shallow.
If it is relatively calm, you can return over that area, cutting your distance
substantially. Swim out and around the ledges...there are 10 to 20 foot
high lava ridges with lots of Pukas (holes). The ridges and the pinnacles
off of the ridges continue down to 100 feet. This is one of the most scenic
dives on the Kona coast. Swim out and around until you are at 90 feet or
so and than turn in towards the shoreline at an angle and continue north.
When you return, you can swim over the top of the ridges and you will be
back in the bay. You will have made a semi-circle out and a straight line
back.. If it is your first time, we suggest surfacing and getting your bearings
before you head back. The area is home to white-tips, lots of tropicals,
lobsters and shrimp. The ledges and pukas are the places to look for critters.
If the surf is high this dive is not recommended. When it is calm, it is
an easy entry and exit. |
Porter Watson
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The Crack - (City Of
Refuge)
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| Drive into the City Of Refuge (pay $2.00/adult
entrance fee at guard shack), and across the parking lot to the dirt road
which goes out to the ocean on the south side of the park. Park at the first
set of picnic tables when you get to the water. Further down are toilets.
Suit up, and walk to the right staying on the sand until you come to the
rock wall dividing the park. Walk out over the lava and you will easily
find the crack - about 50 feet long extending out to the ocean. As the crack
is shallow, if there is any significant surge/water movement, you may want
to do the City Of Refuge instead. There is an easy entry in the cut just
to the south of the crack, but the exit is the issue when the surge is up.
As you swim out the crack, there is a cave about 50 feet long which is usually
home to lobsters and shrimp, including the elusive bulls eye or target lobster.
One person at a time is recommended. A light is needed and it stirs up easily.
Out off the shore on a line up of the end of the rock wall and the point
to the right of the crack, about 200 feet off shore are some pinnacle which
come up shallow with good coral heads and often schooling fish. As you swim
off shore, the area stays relatively shallow for about 200 feet or so and
then drops to a ledge about 70 feet and then again to 110. The pinnacles
are off of the first drop-off. Along the shoreline to the south are a few
more caves and cuts. Another option, if you have two cars, is to swim around
to the City Of Refuge dive spot and exit there. Do not try to exit on the
near or south side (right as you swim in), as it has a very long and shallow
flat area with urchins. Swing wide and into the center of the bay. The area
stays at 40 feet or less. If you swim too far to the left or north in the
bay, you will come to a drop-off. You can follow the drop-off into the shore
if you chose. Come to the surface and aim for the snorkelers and sun bathers
on the lava straight in. If you try this dive, you should read about the
City Of Refuge dive to help familiarize yourself with the area. |
Bo Pardau |
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City Of Refuge
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| Drive South on the main highway about 30 minutes.
The sign to the City Of Refuge is clearly marked. It is marked as Pu'uhonua
O' Honaunau. Take the turnoff and drive until you see the left turn into
the park. Just before the guard gate there is a dirt road on the right.
Take the road into the picnic/dive area. There is a small launch ramp on
the left. The road dog-legs and on the right is a paid-parking area. Park
there as your car will be watched. Across from the parking is a lava rock
area. People sunbathe and divers and snorkelers enter the water from there.
Straight out from the parking there is an easy-entry point. You will see
people using it. If not, walk the edge and you will see the spot. The entrance
is two large natural steps into the water. Straight out is a shallow snorkeling
area with lots of fish. Further out (straight) is an area where turtles
rest. To the left are shallow ridges with tunnels and pukas (holes). This
is a pretty area for fish. Off to the right from shore (at about 2 o'clock),
the slope drops off to depths of 130 or more. There is a ridge that you
can swim along that often has white-tip sharks sleeping. Puffers and lobsters
can be found under the ledges and in the crevasses. One good dive plan is
to swim to the drop-off, follow it a ways and then swim up and over it to
the turtles and ridge area which is shallow, and then come straight in.
Don't follow the ridge-line all the way in as that takes you to the south
too much and is surgy. It is good to come to the surface and get your bearings
before you start to return. |
Timothy Ewing |
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Mile Marker 4 Alii Drive
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| Drive South on Alii Drive from town until you
see the mile four marker on the right. Just before and adjacent to it is
a small bay. Park on the side of the road at the south end of the bay and
suit up. If surf is down, it is a very easy entry over the rocks and sand
of the bay. If surf is up, visibility will be down do to the large amount
of sand and it won't be worth diving. Swim out til you hit about 30 feet
and descend and head north. Lava tubes dot the shoreline and sand and coral
heads can be found further out. The area is home to cone-head eels in the
sand and turtles sleeping in the pukas in the lava tubes. This is a good
area for octopus. In the shallower water of the bay you can find the state
fish, the Humuhumunukunukuapuaa - both the picasso and the lagoon versions.
Dolphins sometimes come into this area. |
Porter Watson |
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Kailua Bay
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| This is a GREAT NIGHT DIVE!!! AND NOT A BAD
DAY DIVE!!! After 7pm you can park at the pier. It is an easy entry off
the dock or the ramp. Don't dive on the weekend as there is high volume
of fisherpeople and boat traffic. You can dive on either side of the pier.
If people are fishing, swim out and around them. Stay low when you are swimming
out and returning as the ramp area is very shallow and you will have a hard
time hearing boats that are idling at the dock. In the pier area, stay as
close to it as possible. Off the end of the pier and on the shore and bay
side, the area is sandy with coral islands. To the north is a shallow reef
area that drops to the sand. Don't waste your time going out into the sand
very far as there is very little else. The reef areas are home to various
crustaceans (shrimp, lobster, crabs), eels, octopus and schools of fish.
The later you dive, the less traffic there will be in the area. Bring your
macro set-up. You can dive during the day after the tour boats leave - around
10am. There are two resident Mantis Shrimp on the inside of the pier along
with a few scorpionfish. Swim along the inner side and out along the front.
The area is loaded with tropicals and there are coral heads in the sand
that are quite beautiful, especially when the swell is down or from the
north. Recently we have seen a Gurnard, Snowflake Eel, Conehead Eels in
the sand at about 25 feet, and juvenile picasso triggerfish (humuhumunukunukuapuaa's).
This is a fun dive, pretty, and easy entry/exit - you can actually enter
right off the beach on the inside of the pier. There are several different
types of schools of bait fish in the shallows. There is a shower and bathrooms
over by the entrance to the pier on the side towards the King Kam and its
beach. You can't dive this area when the cruise ships are in. |
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Old Airport
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| Drive to the end of the old airport and park.
To the north about 50 yards is a small beach and cove. Walk to the north
end of the cove. The surf is the smallest at this end. Take care when entering
as there are lots of small, smooth rocks and lava that are slippery. Swim
out and to the north. At about 40 feet there are several large pinnacles
that come up to within 20 feet or so of the surface and will have interesting
life such as leaf fish, scorpions, lizard fish and lobster. The area drops
off to 130+ and there have been deep water species such as tinkers, garden
eels, and flame wrasse. This is a marine preserve so do not take anything
dead or alive. In the shallows to the south are lava ridges with lots of
surf fish (tangs, doctor fish, file fish and schools of butterflies. The
area also has lava tunnels/tubes and arches. |
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Honokohau Harbor (South)
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| Take the airport road to the harbor, turn left,
and go to the end of the harbor road to the south shore of the harbor. The
parking is a rough dirt-road area right next to the water, just south of
the harbor mouth. Use caution while diving this site. There is heavy boat
traffic at the harbor and boat operators will not be looking for you. A
float with a dive flag is recommended. Your choices are to lug gear over
the lava to the sand beach and enter there or to walk across the near section
of the lava and enter off the lava. Swim out along the south shoreline.
The area is about 20-40 feet deep; the shelf is wider in some parts than
others. The slope drops off to 90 and deeper (130) as you go further out
towards the point. Rays can often be seen in the area. There are lots of
eels and usually a few octopus. This is a rich area, probably due to up-welling
and sediment stirred up by the boats entering and exiting the harbor. Dive
and snorkel boats anchor off this shoreline as there are three buoys set
at 30 feet. If you feel bold, go to the green channel marker. The bottom
is about 115 feet and is home to lion fish and bi-color anthias. |
Timothy Ewing |
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Honokohau Harbor (North)
(Turtles)
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| It is possible to dive Turtle Pinnacle from
here but we only recommend it if you have dived it from a boat or have someone
with you who knows the area. Otherwise you will not find it unless there
is a boat anchored on the outside buoy and there are divers on the location.
Even then it is iffy. Take the main highway to the harbor. Go to the north
side of the harbor out past the two launch ramps to the area where the charters
boat tie up. Note the rest rooms in between and fresh water over at the
boat wash area. Walk out along the channel and turn north (right) to the
beach and then left out to the ocean. There is a sandy area making for an
easy entry and a narrow cut in the reef to get through the surf. There is
a good backwash that will help you get out. We recommend on coming in that
you don't exit the same way as the backwash makes it difficult to get through.
Turn before the cut and swim into the little cove. It is a rocky (smooth
rocks) bottom and you need reef booties. Watch for boat traffic although
this area is shallow and out of the channel and the only boat traffic is
the dive boats going to hook up on the three buoys in the area. It is a
long swim and we recommend leaving about 800 pounds of air and taking a
compass reading. This dive should only be done when the surf is down and
if you are an experienced shore diver as it is a long distance. There are
always turtles in the area especially at the pinnacle where several turtles
have resident schools of tangs that clean them. There are pipe fish in a
puka at the base of the north side of the pinnacle. At feeding time you
can generally find a half dozen eels poking out. Leaf fish are often found
on the top. Wide angle of the turtles is your best choice here. At times
there is a big school of Akule (well over a hundred thousand) that frequent
the area with Amber Jacks herding them. |
Bo Pardau |
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Puako
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| Puako is an area in Kohala about three miles
south of Kawaihae Harbor. From Kailua-Kona, take the main highway north
past Waikoloa and Mauna Lani resorts. The turn-off is marked with a road
sign. Follow the road towards the ocean and go past the boat ramp. On your
left you will see a general store. Past it on the right you will see a "Shoreline
Access" sign with a small parking area between two houses. Park, gear
up and snorkel straight out from the beach. The beginning area is fairly
shallow (3 - 10 feet) and has poor visibility. After about 75 yards you
come to a cliff-like drop-off at about 30 feet running parallel to the shore.
Visibility will be much better at this point. Along this drop-off are many
caves, arches, lava tubes, ledges and other places to explore. If you continue
heading outward, the bottom slopes gradually to about 80 feet and then drops
off again to more than 150. The second drop-off is about 200 feet or so
from the first. The area in between contains a lot beds of finger coral
and has a wide variety of reef fish. Puako is known for its turtles. You
will find many of them in the caves and holes along the underwater cliffs. |
Porter Watson |
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