Kauai and the Big Island are both excellent Hawaiian destinations for scuba diving enthusiasts. Each island offers unique experiences with diverse dive sites and marine life.
On Kauai, Fathom Five Divers in Koloa is a great choice, with a professional staff and well-organized operation. Communicating via email was easy. From our east side accommodations, it was a 25-minute drive to the south shore dive location, where most of the dive sites are concentrated. If the season is right, Niihau is highly rated as a premier dive area from Kauai. Depending on your preference, you can opt for dive tours to Niihau or choose a faster boat dive on the west side of the island to minimize travel time. Staying in Koloa or Poipu will give you easy access to the south shore dive sites, though there are dive sites on other sides of the island as well.
On the Big Island, Jack’s Diving Locker in Kailua-Kona offers a fun experience with a jovial crew. You can meet at their shop in town and transport to the harbor, or meet directly at their smaller shop at Honokohau Harbor. We had a fantastic whale sighting during our surface interval. Diverse volcanic terrain and abundant marine life are highlights of this area. They also offer Manta Ray night dives.
From personal experience, snorkeling with Manta Rays is just as enjoyable as scuba diving and more budget-friendly. You can still witness the majestic Manta Rays surface or gracefully glide along the bottom. However, scuba diving allows you to avoid the crowds that often congregate at the surface during snorkeling excursions.
Waikoloa, about a 30-minute drive north of Kona, is another great resort area on the Big Island. Blue Wilderness Dive Adventures is located in the Queen’s Marketplace at Waikoloa Beach Resort, but their dive boat – a fast RIB – departs from Puako Bay about 10 minutes away. Their in-water entry and exit process with BCs (buoyancy compensators) is quick and convenient. The small reefs and diverse marine life here are also a draw.
Comparing the two islands, the Big Island offers a wider variety of dive sites and experiences than Kauai. If you are planning a dedicated 2-week dive trip, the Big Island might be the better choice. Beyond the two mentioned, there are many other highly-rated dive operations on both islands.
