Big Island Dive Sites

Explore the Big Island’s awe-inspiring underwater landscapes, where dramatic lava tubes and vibrant reefs reveal the island’s volcanic soul. Dive with manta rays under the stars, swim alongside curious dolphins, and discover the magic of Hawaii’s largest island through its stunning coral gardens and crystal-clear waters. Every dive here is a journey into the heart of this island's natural wonders.

Dive Sites

Located just outside Honokohau Harbor, this dive site is famous for the large megafauna that makes regular visits – especially the iconic tiger sharks.

Shore Dive’s of Big Island

Crescent Beach

Located just outside Honokohau Harbor, this dive site is famous for the large megafauna that makes regular visits – especially the iconic tiger sharks. Divers can have up-close encounters with the dolphins, manta rays, eagle rays, sea turtles, black tips, and tiger sharks that frequent this area with a vibrant and lively coral reef backdrop.

  • Depth: 55 to 80 feet

  • Dive Type: Shore Dive

  • Experience Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park is home to a four-hundred-year-old place of refuge and is a sacred historic site on the Big Island. Water entry is a breeze at this shore dive, thanks to the tiered lava formation along the shore.

Two Steps

Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park is home to a four-hundred-year-old place of refuge and is a sacred historic site on the Big Island. Water entry is a breeze at this shore dive, thanks to the tiered lava formation along the shore. And, underwater, divers can explore ancient architecture created by lava flows centuries ago. Best of all, it’s now home to a bustling coral garden housing an incredible variety of colorful reef fish.

  • Depth: 30 to 50 feet

  • Dive Type: Reef Dive

  • Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced

Keahole Wash Rock

Entering from Keawi Park, this shore dive offers an expansive lava rock wall that rises from the bottom to the surface known as “Wash Rock”, a lava rock arch that suspends above sea floor.

  • Depth: 10 - 35 feet

  • Dive Type: Shore Dive

  • Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced

This is a fantastic example of the lava tubes that make diving in Hawaii so unique. At the time of the site’s creation, the outer surface of a lava flow cooled to a crust, while beneath it the flow continued, ultimately becoming a hollow tube.

Kaloko Arches

This is a fantastic example of the lava tubes that make diving in Hawaii so unique. At the time of the site’s creation, the outer surface of a lava flow cooled to a crust, while beneath it the flow continued, ultimately becoming a hollow tube. Now what is left of these tubes is a number of arches and swim throughs which provide shelter for sponges, corals and an array of marine creatures. This is one of the most northerly of the Kona dive sites.

  • Depth: 40 to 80 feet

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive

  • Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced

All Big Island Dive Shops

Hilo Ocean Adventure • Kona Honu Divers • Kona Ocean Adventures • Kona Shore Divers • Ocean Eco Tours

Turtle Pinnacle

Also known as Turtle Heaven, there can be little debate as to the star of the show at this Big Island dive site. This is a cleaning station, with a maximum depth of 18m, where green turtles come to be groomed and have little parasites and imperfections picked from their carapaces. They can remain perfectly still during the process, making them excellent photographic subjects. Spinner dolphins occasionally pass by in the blue, while moray eels and octopus are common in the crevices of the reef.

  • Depth: 15 to 40 feet

  • Dive Type: Reef Dive

  • Experience Level: Beginner to Advanced

Also known as Manta Night Dive, this is probably one of the most iconic dives around Hawaii’s Big Island. After the sun sets, descend to the ‘campfire’

Boat Dives of Big Island

Garden Eel Cove

Also known as Manta Night Dive, this is probably one of the most iconic dives around Hawaii’s Big Island. After the sun sets, descend to the ‘campfire’ where you’ll be greeted with giant manta rays soaring overhead, under the spotlights of the boats, while feeding on plankton. Watching these gentle giants glide and twirl effortlessly in front of your eyes is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you shouldn’t miss when visiting the Big Island

  • Depth: 30 feet

  • Dive Type: Night Dive

  • Experience Level: Advanced

One of the highlights of any Kona diving trip is the manta night dive. It can take place in at least 2 different dive sites along the northwest coast of Big Island, one is Keahole Point, aka Manta Theater

Manta Theater

One of the highlights of any Kona diving trip is the manta night dive. It can take place in at least 2 different dive sites along the northwest coast of Big Island, one is Keahole Point. Using lights to attract plankton, oceanic manta rays are lured in for a sunset feast. This site is sometimes called ‘Manta Theater.’ Huge mantas swoop elegantly in towards the light, scooping up as many of the tiny organisms as they can. Divers normally watch from the rocky sea floor while snorkelers look down from the cheap seats.

  • Depth: 35 feet

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive/ Night Dive

  • Experience Level: Advanced

This is one of the most dramatic dive sites at Big Island, Hawaii. Au Au is a submerged volcanic crater has seen the collapse of its oceanside edge.

Au Au Crater

This is one of the most dramatic dive sites at Big Island, Hawaii. Au Au is a submerged volcanic crater has seen the collapse of its oceanside edge. It has been described as being like an aquarium, so varied is the marine life. Toward the deeper sections and where the crater gives way to a steep drop-off, the marine life changes. If your luck is in, this can be a great place for eagle rays and sharks. The most common shark species at Au Au Crater are hammerheads and oceanic whitetips.

  • Depth: 30- 90 feet

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive

  • Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced