Cruise Day in Kona

[astridwilson]

Do we Dive or Snorkel Kona BI – Kealakekua Bay / Captain Hook or Two Step / City of Refuge at Honounou bay??

 

Recommended Dive Ops?

Are there Dive Ops that will pick up Cruisers or do we need to rent a car?

Time in Port is 8AM to 5PM.

 

We will be spending 4 other days on the BI, so we thought we would keep the Kona day local.

 

The NCL cruise line asks $230 per person for a 2 tank dive. That is too much. I can rent a car for the day if needed, but the car is ~$80 in this port.

[Kartgv]

Where will you be staying your other 4 days on the Big Island? If in Kona or Kohala Coast, then you can do most west side activities then. You could then have a very low-key walking day in Kona - tour the 'palace' and Mokuaikaua church, the oldest Christian church in the islands, then have lunch at the Kona Inn (great Mai Tais and a view of your ship in the bay) or the Kona Brewpub. If you're staying on the east side (Hilo), then I'd rent a car in Kona and do Pu'uhonua (Place of Refuge) and possibly stop in one of the many coffee farms just above the village. If you really want to dive, there are many dive boats, but you might look at the website for Jack's Dive Locker - they've been around for many years and might be able to provide something that's just what you want. You can also take the Kona Trolley (picks up right at the pier) down the coast about 5 miles to Kahalu'u park for snorkeling. Just allow plenty of time to get back to the ship, as the afternoon return trolleys can fill up fast.

[astridwilson]

3 nights on Kohala Coast

1 night in VNP is our post cruise itinerary.

[punkincc]

3 nights on Kohala Coast

1 night in VNP is our post cruise itinerary.

 

Up to you, but why not just do VNP during your cruise stop?

 

The Big Island offers what seem to be some unique diving experiences. I'm not a diver, but they seem so to me;). Google brings up some vendors, the one I looked at had a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence.

 

There are twilight or night dives with the giant Manta Rays ( or snorkels ), also Black Water dives which combine the mantas with those creatures which glow or appear to be illuminated. Twilight Reef Dive followed by night Manta Ray Dive, $149 2 tank, $125 1 tank. The Black Water Dives are $169 1 tank, or $249 2 tank which combines the Manta dive followed by the Black Water dive.

 

The water around Kona is some of the clearest I have ever seen. Much better than Maui or Kauai. There is a restaurant in Kona, maybe more than one, where you can sit at night oceanside and watch the mantas which are attracted to the lights, or to the fish who are attracted to the lights.

[astridwilson]

Doing VNP on the Hilo cruise day.

 

Do you know the resturants where you can watch the mantas at night?

[horseymike]

What is VNP ?

[astridwilson]

Volcano National Park.

[punkincc]

Doing VNP on the Hilo cruise day.

 

Do you know the resturants where you can watch the mantas at night?

 

 

It's called Ray's on the Bay and is located at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay. According to their website, it's the only restaurant on Hawaii where you can watch the giant Manta's within feet of your table. Keauhou bay is in the direction of Kealakekua Bay, about a 15 or 20 minute ride from the Kona area.

[Kartgv]

Yes, the restaurant is Ray's on the Bay. However....what you'll see from the restaurant is the dive boats fairly close to the shore, shining their lights into the water. You'll be able to see the visitors floating or diving and see shadows of the rays, but you won't really get a good view of the rays from the restaurant. "Within feet of your table " is an exaggeration unless you mean 100-200 feet. If you want to see the rays, it's really a good idea to go out on the boat.

 

For many years there was a restaurant/bar at the Keauhou Hotel (now closed and probably demolished by this time) that had a restaurant/bar that actually sat out over the water. Rays, fish, eels, and turtles sometimes came right up under the restaurant. We really hated to see that one go.

 

Another note about Ray's restaurant - reservations are necessary, especially if you want a table where you'll be able to see the dive boats. We went in without a reservation once at 5:00pm, just hoping to see the sunset, and they wouldn't even let us into the bar.

Edited May 29, 2016 by Kartgv