Top Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in Kailua-Kona
Ready to check out the best sites in Kailua-Kona for scuba diving, snorkeling, shore diving, free diving or other ocean activities? Zentacle has 12 dive sites, snorkel spots, beaches, and more. Discover hand-curated maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you.
No matter what you're looking for, you can find a diverse range of the best ocean activities in Kailua-Kona to suit your needs.
Recommended dive shops
#1 - Mile Marker 4
Kailua-Kona, Big Island, HI
beginner
(39)
Mile Marker 4 is small beach with easy entry. Several lava tubes may be found a short swim to the left.
Directions: Mile Marker 4 is, as the name implies, found right at the 4 mile marker of Ali'i Drive just south of Kailua.
#2 - Kailua Bay
Kailua-Kona, Big Island, HI
beginner
(7)
Kailua Bay, although right on the main drag through the Kailua coast, is a much overlooked diving spot. Access is very easy, and the sights are worthwhile.
Directions: You can't miss the harbor right in the heart of Kailua.
#3 - 'Alula Beach (Kona Dog Beach)
Kailua-Kona, Big Island, HI
Unrated
(28)
Alua Beach is a pleasant little cove that has easy access to a popular boat diving site. Take water and a snack with you. There are facilities nearby (water, restrooms) in the harbor proper, but not at the beach. Watch for the boat traffic, as they may not be watching for you. It is not recommended to snorkel here for that reason.
Directions: On Highway19, coming North from Kailua-Kona, the turn off will be 2.4 miles from the junction of 19 and 190
#4 - Pahoehoe Beach Park
Kailua-Kona, Big Island, HI
beginner
(7)
Pahoehoe Beach Park is a well-groomed park with all the necessary facilities. Parking and dive entry are very convenient.
Directions: You'll find Pahoehoe Beach Park at mile 3.7 on Ali'I Drive, just South of Kailua.
#5 - Keauhou Bay (Manta Village)
Kahaluu-Keauhou, Big Island, HI
Unrated
(2)
The zone in front of the Kona Surf Hotel, in Keauhou on the west coast of the Big Island, was the first manta ray viewing site. The official name is Kaukalaelae Point, but most people know it as “Manta Village”.
In May 2000, the Kona Surf Hotel was closed and the lights were turned off. As the plankton stopped accumulating, the manta rays stopped frequenting the area. It's not recommended to snorkel here as there is a lot of boat traffic because the channel drops off quickly.
In October 2004, the resort reopened as the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay. James teamed up with the resort re-creating a favorable manta ray venue. A short time later, manta rays returned and many new mantas have been identified and named since.
#6 - Pelagic Blackwater Night Dive
Kailua-Kona, Big Island, HI
advanced
(2)
Start the Pelagic Dive in Kona, Hawaii just after dusk, floating tethered offshore in the deep dark sea. Just wait to see what goes by, usually not descending any lower than 50 feet. The mesmerizing jellies put on a colorful display that can only be described as breathtaking. Some zooplankton, that only rises to the surface to feed when the lights go out, are now visible to us. Our lights are but small twinkles in the vast blackness of the sea.
#7 - Old Kona Airport Beach
Kailua-Kona, Big Island, HI
Unrated
(22)
The Old Kona Airport beach is a popular weekend relaxation spot for the locals. But not to worry! There is plenty of parking on the old asphalt runway that stretches the length of the beach.
Directions: The entrance is a very short drive, just North of Kailua. Drive to the North end of Kuakini Road just a mile or so out of town, take a left and follow the road toward the ocean until you reach the entrance.
#8 - Old Kona Airport
USA, Hawaii, Big Island
intermediate
(0)
Great dive for lava tubes&occasional Manta Ray . Good viz. Should be carefull of swell.
Boat or shore dive.
#9 - La'-a-loa Bay
USA, Hawaii, Big Island
beginner
(0)
Snorkel out of the cove following the reef on the left. Start the dive at 25 feetand continue the dive keeping the shoreline on the left.
There is a ledge of pahoehoe lava with crevasses, a large archway cavern and sandy chutes.
The sandy area is at 50 feet.
4 mile marker of Ali'i Drive just south of Kailua
La'-a-loa Bay is also known as Mile Marker 4.
#10 - South Golden Arches
USA, Hawaii, Big Island
beginner
(0)
Large rock arch with a nice sandy area. Taken there by Torpedo Tours
Kona
South Golden Arches is also known as Kona South.
#11 - Garden Eel Cove
USA, Hawaii, Big Island
beginner
(0)
By day, garden eels can be viewed in a sandy arena at about 70-80 feet, protruding from the sand like weeds in a garden. But approach slowly, because at the slightest sign of intrusion, these shy eels retract quickly back into the sand! The surrounding reef is abundant with beautiful staghorn and finger coral heads.
This site has also become the "hangout of choice" for the famous Kona manta rays. Over 60 different rays, distinguished by unique spots on their under bellies, have been named and cataloged. For divers, it is a shallow dive requiring little more than an easy descent under the boat and a short swim over to a designated area to rest against a rock on your knees and enjoy the show while directing your light toward the surface to attract plankton!
Garden Eel Cove, located north of Honokohau Harbor about 20 minutes by boat, lies just offshore from Kona International Airport.