One of my favorite Dive Sites!
Pu'uhonua O' Honaunau (Place of Refuge)

IMPORTANT: On this or any dive I suggest, YOU are responsible for your diving. Dive only when you and the conditions are right. If, for any reason, you do not feel competent in making the dive, whether it be from shore or from a boat, DON'T DIVE. I cannot be responsible for your incompetence, heavy weather, tide, or current conditions. Diving is a SAFE and ENJOYABLE sport. Don't dive if you are at all uncomfortable with the conditions or your safety.

This Kona Coast dive site is possibly the most beautiful, diverse, easily accessible, interesting dive location we have on the Island of Hawaii. It is at Honaunau Bay, just north of the National Historic Park, Pu'uhonua O' Honaunau (Place of Refuge), sometimes incorrectly referred to as, "City of Refuge".

You simply drive south on Route 11 from Kailua-Kona - about 13 miles - until you go past Mile Marker 104, then turn right and go makai (toward the ocean) on Route 160 to the entrance to the National Historic Park. Turn left into the Park. Just before the parking area (and before you reach the Pay Booth), turn right at the first narrow road leading to the Bay itself. Just after you pass the boat ramp you'll come to some picnic tables under a few kiawe trees. Park there, gear up, and head out across the pahoehoe (smooth lava) directly toward the ocean. At the edge of the lava flow you'll see two steps down into the water. It's as if God was thinking of divers when he made this entry/exit area. We are fo'evah thankful.

This whole area is an ancient Hawaiian fishing/religious ceremonial area, so treat it as such. Show the proper respect for the location, please.

When you entered the water here, a few years ago, you were surrounded by hundreds of reef fishes (that number has deminished somewhat over the last few years) but there are still lots of fish; predominately the bright lau'ipala (Yellow Tang), the black, yellow and white kihikihi (Moorish Idol), and paku'iku'i (Achilles Tang), in about 15'-20' of water.

Because of the abundance of colorful reef marine life, this is an excellent place to snorkel as well as scuba. The clarity of the water here is conducive to exciting sightings of various marine-life species.There are two fine routes for scuba divers to take from the entry point - so bring two tanks. One is straight out toward open ocean, the second along the rocky shore in a northerly direction. If you are going straight out, watch and listen closely for the many fishing boats that use this bay as a launch site (a cautionary dive flag float is recommended). The straight out route will take you across many coral heads and sandy channels holding a multitude of invertebrates and reef fish. A gradual slope will drop off to about 30'-35' until, in the center of the bay, you'll reach a living coral reef that is punctuated with countless pukas (holes) that hold numerous eels, crabs and shells of many descriptions. Watch for the Giant Green Sea Turtles in this bay as they often frequent this fantastic dive spot. Remember, the Green Sea Turtle is a protected, endangered species. So don't touch, grab on to, or try to ride these valuable creatures - the penalties for such action, if reported, is mega bucks and it ain't worth it. Just enjoy their presence. I once saw a Hawaiian Monk Seal near this center-bay reef. (Monk Seals are now being released along our Kona Coast - transplanted from the Northwest Hawaiian Islands in hopes of saving this endangered species).

Here's a hint on diving anywhere: When you see a coral reef that is covered with living coral, thoroughly inspect it, slowly, for it will be filled with delightful sea-life, in, around, under and above it - but don't touch it. Dead coral heads and most rock rubble areas generally hold fewer species (but fascintating ones, nonetheless).

If you opt for the northerly shore route from the entry area you'll find many caves and indentations as you explore the underwater terrain. The lava wall is literally filled with hiding places for Kona's famous ula (Spiney Lobster) and (although they are being overharvested) you just may glimpse one or two peeking out at YOU!

Only a few yards away from the shoreline you'll notice a gradual slope of branch coral rubble. It slopes down more rapidly as you descend to over 80' before leveling off in a sandy flat at over 100' (so watch your bottom time). As you float over this ledge watch for the infamous Crown of Thorns Sea Star. This voracious critter is covered with sharp spines that can cause considerable pain when touched (so, don't touch 'em!). This is the animal that often decimates areas of the Great Barrier Reef of the northeast coast of Australia. The only known natural predator of the Crown of Thorns is the Triton Trumpet shellfish - so if you see a Triton, leave it alone, so it can do it's job on the Crown of Thorns. At the bottom of the bay, in the sandy area, you used to see several giant pupuhi (Horned Helmet Shells) but they, too, have been taken home for souveniers. Occasionally, huge Manta Rays, and often, leopard rays are seen resting on the sandy flats. We've seen schools of opelo here that numbered in the thousands (often being chased by hungry skipjacks). Sometimes these schools are so dense they actually blot out the sun, appearing as black undulating masses of unrecognizable blobs of darkness. As they draw nearer, or if you are a brave soul and go toward them, you'll see that the 'blob' is actually thousands and thousands of tiny fish. Quite an experience.

In this area always keep your eye out, to the sides, ahead, and to your rear. Too many times, as we dive, we keep looking down - and too often, several interesting sights are missed. Make it a habit to look around - you'll be surprised at what you've been missing.

An important point about Honaunau: It is so interesting, you will possibly not watch your bottom time, depth, and air pressure. A word of advice: Be careful. If you are you will soon make this dive site one of your "Favorite Shore Diving Spots". On exiting, return to the entry area (I often put a white bucket or other obvious marker on the ledge onshore so I can easily recognize the exit point from the water), swim up to the bottom step, and simply slip off your fins and stand up! Could it be easier?

The picnic tables invite a snack and cool drink after your dive - so sit down with your buddy and compare notes on what you saw (or missed). Bring along a snorkeler and tell him/her about the denizens of the deep you saw, so maybe they will take the exciting plunge into scuba diving.