DIVE BLOG
Kohala vs Kona Scuba Diving: How to Plan Your Big Island Dive Trip (Kawaihae & Waikoloa)
Key Takeaways
- Kohala Offers a Quieter Experience: Compared to Kona’s busy dive sites, Kohala (operating from Kawaihae Harbor near Waikoloa resorts) provides uncrowded, remote locations with fewer divers and boats.
- Diverse and Unique Dive Sites: Kohala diving features lava tubes, pristine coral reefs, turtle cleaning stations, resident spinner dolphins, and deeper reefs abundant with marine life.
- Visibility Advantage: Although Kohala can experience occasional wind-driven surface chop, these trade winds generally enhance underwater visibility, frequently exceeding 100 feet.
- Convenient Location: Diving from Kawaihae Harbor provides easy access (5–20 minutes) from Waikoloa and Kohala resort areas, saving significant travel time compared to Kona-based operations.
If you’re planning a dive trip to the Big Island of Hawai‘i you might think Kona is your only option. But here’s a little secret: some of the most pristine, uncrowded dive sites are actually just up the coast in the Waikoloa-Kohala area.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to plan your Big Island dive trip from Kawaihae Harbor (just minutes from the Waikoloa resorts), when to book, and why this part of the island is perfect if you’re looking for a more personal, off-the-beaten-path experience.
| Big Island Diving Locations Comparison | |
|---|---|
| Kona | Kawaihae (Waikoloa/Kohala) |
| Busy harbor with 15+ dive boats | Only 2 dive boats in the whole harbor |
| Popular but often crowded sites | Remote sites you'll usually have to yourself |
| Closer to Kona town | Closer to Waikoloa and Kohala resorts |
| More boat traffic | Quieter, more relaxed atmosphere |
| Sheltered from wind | Occasional wind but consistently clear water |
If you prefer peaceful reefs, fewer divers, and more flexibility, Kohala is the way to go.
Where We’re Located
(and Why It Matters)
Liquid Cosmos Divers operates out of Kawaihae Harbor, which sits north of Kona and directly adjacent to the Waikoloa resort area. Depending on where you’re staying, you’re likely only 5–20 minutes away, much closer than driving all the way down to Kona.
What Makes Diving North Kohala Special?
We’re fortunate to dive in an area that combines incredible marine biodiversity with dramatic underwater landscapes. Here are some highlights you can look forward to:
- Lava Tubes & Unique Topography: Explore arches, swim-throughs, and rugged volcanic formations that feel like another planet.
- Pristine Coral Reefs: Our reefs have some of the
highest coral cover in the entire state.
- Turtle Cleaning Stations: Watch green sea turtles hover while reef fish pick algae from their shells.
- Resident Spinner Dolphins: It’s not uncommon to see pods of Hawaiian spinner dolphins along our route, or even underwater if we get lucky!
- Deep Reefs Full of Fish: For advanced divers, deeper sites reveal even more unique species and incredible rock formations.
Because there are so few boats operating here, we can guarantee you will
always have these sites completely to yourself.
What About the Wind?
It’s true—North Kohala can be breezier than Kona because we’re not as sheltered by the tall volcanoes. While wind can occasionally impact surface conditions, it’s not an everyday issue.
In fact, the same trade winds that bring occasional chop help keep our water crystal clear, often providing excellent visibility that rivals anywhere on the Big Island. This happens because the wind pushes plankton and sediment in the water column offshore, clearing out the water and giving us 100+ feet of visibility most of the year.
When Should You Book?
One of the most common questions we get is:
“Can I book these specific dates? Are you available during my stay?”
Since we run small-group charters with only 6 divers max, we recommend booking early, especially if you’re visiting during high season:
- Winter holidays (December–January)
- Spring break (March–April)
- Summer (June–August)
Even if your dates are flexible, reserving your spots in advance ensures you get the customized experience you’re looking for. We do our best to put divers with similar experience levels on the same trip.
Why Choose Liquid Cosmos Divers?
We know you have options, so here’s why divers consistently tell us we’re their favorite part of their Big Island trip:
- Small Groups, Big Experiences: With a maximum of 6 divers, your trip is personal, relaxed, and tailored to your experience level and interests.
- Customized Dive Days: We don’t just follow the same routine, each day is adapted to who’s on board and what you want to see.
- Expert Crew: We’re a family-owned business led by a marine biologist and an underwater photographer with over 15,000 combined hours spent underwater. We believe in sharing our knowledge and experience, so you’ll learn about Hawai‘i’s reefs and gain advanced dive tips and tricks we’ve picked up over the years.
- Focus on Conservation: Every dive is an opportunity to protect and understand the ocean. You’ll come away with a deeper connection to Hawai‘i’s marine ecosystems and learn about ways you can support the protection of our seas.
- Remote Location: You’ll always have the dive site all to yourself and never be sharing with another boat, or even another dive group from the same boat!
Ready to Dive Off the Beaten Path?
If you’re looking for a more personal, educational, and inspiring way to experience the Big Island’s underwater world, we’d love to have you join us.
Contact us today to check availability and reserve your spot!
About the Author
Jess Glazner, Ph.D. Candidate & PADI Scuba Instructor
Jess is a Ph.D. candidate in Marine Biology at the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology where she has spent the last 3 years researching how nutrient enrichment alters coral reef resilience. She has presented her work at the Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference and International Reef Futures Conference. As an AAUS scientific diver she has logged over 200 research dives across the Pacific. Jess also has been a PADI Scuba Instructor for 10 years and has 8,000 dives guiding and teaching divers in Hawaiʻi.
