Kohala Divers

Our Review: Kohala Divers

Kohala Divers operates out of Waimea on the Big Island's northern Kohala Coast, and that location is their biggest strategic advantage. While most dive operators crowd the Kailua-Kona harbor, Kohala Divers accesses reef systems along the quieter northern coastline. With 10 tours and an average quality score of 77.0/100, the catalog is compact but hits the right marks for divers and snorkelers staying on the Kohala side.

Their Whale Watch and Sunset Cruise is the surprise leader at 95/100 — one of the highest whale watch scores we've recorded on the Big Island. Combining whale watching with a sunset cruise is smart scheduling, and the Kohala Coast waters tend to be calmer than what you'll find further south. The One-Site Afternoon Dive or Snorkel Trip (85/100) and Two-Site Dive/Snorkel (84/100) are the core dive products, both offering reef access along the northern coast where the coral is healthy and the crowds are thin.

The Private Charter (82/100) and Serenity Sunday 2-Site Dive and Snorkel (78/100) cater to divers who want a more exclusive feel. Kohala Divers keeps group sizes small by default, and the private charter option takes that to its logical extreme.

The lower end of the catalog includes PADI certifications (75/100), a Nitrox course (68/100), and community cleanup events (64/100). The Fii Freediving Course at 64/100 rounds things out for breath-hold enthusiasts, though the freediving program here is less developed than what you'll find at Kona Honu Divers.

Who This Operator Is Best For

Divers and snorkelers staying on the Kohala Coast who don't want to drive down to Kona. If you're based at the Mauna Lani, Mauna Kea, or Waikoloa resorts, Kohala Divers saves you a significant drive and gets you in the water on reefs that see far fewer boats than the Kona sites. Their whale watch cruise is also a sleeper pick during humpback season.