My hubby and I stayed at vrbo Sugar Cottage Captain Cook Vacation Rental - VRBO 62707 - 1 BR Kona Coast House in HI, Tranquil Hideaway Cottage So Kona Free Scuba & Snorkel Tours for 5 nights 3-9 Aug, it is 15-20mins from Captain Cook. It was great value - Garry took us shore diving for free! (provide your own equipment and gear, tanks and weights provided) Due to our tight schedule, we only did 4 morning dives in 2 days. 5th Aug at 2 steps, nice dives but not spectacular, there was a small turtle during the 2nd dive. There were lots of snorkellers and some other divers.
7th Aug at Milolii, we had a close encounter with 2 large hammerhead sharks towards the end of the 2nd dive! Garry saw 1 hammerhead during the 1st dive but it didn't stick around... We were the only ones at the site.
The accommodation was wonderful, very comfortable bed, full kitchen and laundry facilities. However, do bring your mosquito repellent, the roaches were also small irritants... If you have rental car, likes driving, like quietness and don't mind doing your own cooking (esp dinners), do try out this place.
We did the 2 tank dives, inc the manta night dive, with ESPACE PLONGEE / SEASPACE DIVING also known as First European Diver SeaSpace diving - Dive center hawaii - diving hawaii on 5th Aug. It was the nearest dive centre from Sugar Cottage (15-20mins) We also rented gear from them, we wished that we have brought our own gear because 3 days of rental for 2 sets was near to US$350 (we had our own masks and booties). They have a small zodiac, which they launch from bay near Sheraton (4 mins away). They have very strong lights to attract the planktons and also very strong video lights, so we had a very wonderful encounter with the mantas, it was like having the front row seat to The Manta Last Dance Mantas Last Dance - YouTube or that we were the participating dancers. We wanted to go again on 7th Aug but they were already fully booked... ;-) Having seen mantas in Maldives, Raja Ampat, Layang Layang, the manta night dive was the closest they got to us and we-them...
We love the vastness and beauty of the Big Island and we hope to return soon!
7th Aug at Milolii, we had a close encounter with 2 large hammerhead sharks towards the end of the 2nd dive! Garry saw 1 hammerhead during the 1st dive but it didn't stick around... We were the only ones at the site.
The accommodation was wonderful, very comfortable bed, full kitchen and laundry facilities. However, do bring your mosquito repellent, the roaches were also small irritants... If you have rental car, likes driving, like quietness and don't mind doing your own cooking (esp dinners), do try out this place.
We did the 2 tank dives, inc the manta night dive, with ESPACE PLONGEE / SEASPACE DIVING also known as First European Diver SeaSpace diving - Dive center hawaii - diving hawaii on 5th Aug. It was the nearest dive centre from Sugar Cottage (15-20mins) We also rented gear from them, we wished that we have brought our own gear because 3 days of rental for 2 sets was near to US$350 (we had our own masks and booties). They have a small zodiac, which they launch from bay near Sheraton (4 mins away). They have very strong lights to attract the planktons and also very strong video lights, so we had a very wonderful encounter with the mantas, it was like having the front row seat to The Manta Last Dance Mantas Last Dance - YouTube or that we were the participating dancers. We wanted to go again on 7th Aug but they were already fully booked... ;-) Having seen mantas in Maldives, Raja Ampat, Layang Layang, the manta night dive was the closest they got to us and we-them...
We love the vastness and beauty of the Big Island and we hope to return soon!
