Dive Review of Sea Paradise/Holua Resort in
Hawaii/Kona, Big Island

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Sea Paradise/Holua Resort, Oct, 2004, by Paul and Donna Lima, TN, USA ( Sr. Contributor 27 reports). Report 1427.
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	Returned for the fourth time to this operation which has not disappointed us yet. Based in Keauhou Bay, about 7 miles south of Kailua-Kona and about 15 miles south of the airport, they access sites south of most of the other dive companies which means no crowds and more pristine sites. Even though their boat is old and slow it is comfortable enough and can accomodate 12 divers albeit in somewhat crowded conditions. Refreshments consist of fresh pineapple, pretzels and candy bars along with water and lemonade. The thing that sets Sea Paradise apart is the attitude of the crew who appear to really enjoy diving and go out of their way to comply with guest requests for dive sites and activities. Captain Tim is knowlegeable about history and the area as well as humorous. On one trip we ran into a school of spinner dolphin near the entrance to the bay and he turned the boat so we could have time to watch them ride the bow wave and spin in the air. The fact we were already late returning seemed to make no difference. Scott and Phil were our divemasters at various times and let us dive our computers with no time pressure at all. On Ironman day (3rd Saturday in October) many roads were closed so we were able to take advantage of this and dive Kealakekua Bay, mooring at a restricted mooring ball since the catamaran that usually uses the site was involved with Ironman activities. We had the opportunity to do two wonderful dives in this pristine Marine preserve. It was like diving in a clear, calm aquarium with huge plate corals, fields of finger coral and numerous fish. We stayed behind the group to watch a large green moray and peacock grouper hunting together. Though we were gone for quite a while no-one ever placed demands on us to rejoin the group. On yet another trip we surfaced from a dive to find a pod of 3-5 bottlnose dolphin near the boat. Captain Tim gave us the choice of snorkeling with the dolphin during our surface interval or moving to another site. We chose to spend 50 minutes watching them swimming and mating within touching distance (though, of course, no one tried to touch them). We are now almost expecting a special experience each and every time we go out with them and, so far have never been disappointed.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	51-100 dives
Where else diving	Caymans, Florida
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm, surge, noCurrents
Water Temp	79-82°F / 26-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness	2
Water Visibility	50-150 Ft/ 15-46 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	500 psi on return to boat
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
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 Sea Paradise/Holua Resort in Hawaii/Kona, Big Island

Sea Paradise/Holua Resort, Oct, 2004,

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 Sea Paradise/Holua Resort in
Hawaii/Kona, Big Island