Dive Review of Aloha Dive Company/Royal Kona Resort in
Hawaii/Kona, Big Island

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Aloha Dive Company/Royal Kona Resort, Sep, 2003, by Richard J. Troberman, WA, USA ( Contributor 13 reports with 4 Helpful votes). Report 707.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	There are several good dive companies in Kona, including Dive Makai and Sandwich Isle Divers, but Aloha Dive Company stands head and shoulders above them all. The owner, Mike Nakachi, is a native born Hawaiian who knows these waters like the back of his hand. Mike and first mate Earl Kam take a maximum of six divers per trip. Unlike most of the other dive operators, Aloha does not depart from the Kona pier. Instead, they meet the divers at Honokahau Harbor (north) or Keahou Bay (south) depending on where the dives are planned for the day. This allows them to go to more remote sites (without a long boat ride) that are not typically visited by other dive boats. Although Mike is at his best with experienced divers, Aloha caters to all levels. Before the boat departs, Mike will ask the divers what they want to see, and then he will try to acomodate their requests. Mike's enthusiasm for diving is contagious, and his goal is to make each diving experience as enjoyable as possible. During three days of diving on this trip, we saw two hammerhead sharks, several grays and white tips, a monk seal, a very large pelagic manta ray, several eagle rays, schools of bottlenose dolphins, octopus, turtles, frogfish, and several rare endemic reef fish. The Royal Kona Resort is an older hotel (built in the 60's) that has been refurbished. Its conveniently located on the waterfront at the edge of town, within walking distance of everything, and is a great value.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	101-250 dives
Where else diving	Maui, Tahiti, Australia and Coral Sea, Cayman Islands, St. Vincent, Bahamas
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	80-82°F / 27-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	100-0 Ft/ 30-0 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	computer/air
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	1 or 2
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	[None]

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Dive Review of Aloha Dive Company/Royal Kona Resort in Hawaii/Kona, Big Island

Aloha Dive Company/Royal Kona Resort, Sep, 2003,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Aloha Dive Company/Royal Kona Resort in
Hawaii/Kona, Big Island