How high is the road from Kona to Kilauea?

[mistressmotorsports]

I plan on doing the manta dive in Kona. I'd like to drive to Kilauea some time the next day, but I want to be reasonably careful. I found that the caldera itself is at about 4000 feet, which would seem to indicate I could drive the next afternoon, but I don't know if the road over goes a lot higher. If that's the case, I might wait an entire 24 hours. Anyone know?

Mike

 

[Damselfish]

depends which way you go, discussed here-
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/hawaii-ohana/278419-your-opinion-my-plans.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/hawaii-ohana/210767-elevation-highway-thru-waimea.html

just doing the manta dive, or other dives earlier that day?

 

[rockjock3]

I plan on doing the manta dive in Kona. I'd like to drive to Kilauea some time the next day, but I want to be reasonably careful. I found that the caldera itself is at about 4000 feet, which would seem to indicate I could drive the next afternoon, but I don't know if the road over goes a lot higher. If that's the case, I might wait an entire 24 hours. Anyone know?

Mike

You shouldn't have a problem. I was staying at Kilauea and drove down to Kona to do the manta dive. Max depth was 33 feet for the dive that was 40 minutes long. I went over to the walmart after to grab something to eat and slept in the car for about 2 hours before I left. I had been out of the water for about 5 hours by the time I left for the cabin and didn't have any problem. You don't really get much over 4000 feet for the whole ride and it is gradual.

 

[Abidon]

You shouldn't have any problem. I did the exact thing you're planning a couple of months ago. On a Tuesday night, I did a two-tank manta ray night dive. The first dive was to 60', and the manta dive was 30'. The next morning, we drove to Kilauea. I felt no physical effects from the previous night's dive; even after a rather strenuous 4-mile hike at Kilauea.

Although the manta ray dive is at night, you get in the water as soon as the sun goes down, so the dive usually ends around 9:00 PM. You'll probably have at least 12 hours between your last dive and your trip to Kilauea.

 

[smellzlikefish]

There was a case of the bends that came on at Kilauea after the victim had been diving shortly before, and the rise in elevation was blamed. I don't remember what the recommended surface interval is, but I imagine you will probably be okay as long as your night dives are relatively conservative, which the manta dives are.