I'm trying to get a sense of how accessible shore diving is to the traveler while on the Big Island. My wife and I are coming for a trip in October, staying at the Hilton Waikoloa (cashed in Hilton points, so it was free...I realize there are perhaps better places to stay, for a variety of reasons, but none of them beat free).
Our plan is to do at least 2 days of boat charters, perhaps 3 (depending on whether we shore dive), and most certainly a Manta dive. I'm still deciding whether to try Kona or Kohala operations, or both.
My real question, then, is how does one go about shore diving while there? Is it easy/convenient to rent tanks/weights from a shop, and is it easy to figure out where to go? Are there groups of people who meet and go together, and do any shops maintain lists such as this? I'm all for hassle free diving that charters offer, and I am eternally thankful that such operations exist (thus, I will support them with at least a few dives), but I'm also not afraid to lug my gear if the diving's good and the price is right!
Any insight would be most helpful.
Our plan is to do at least 2 days of boat charters, perhaps 3 (depending on whether we shore dive), and most certainly a Manta dive. I'm still deciding whether to try Kona or Kohala operations, or both.
My real question, then, is how does one go about shore diving while there? Is it easy/convenient to rent tanks/weights from a shop, and is it easy to figure out where to go? Are there groups of people who meet and go together, and do any shops maintain lists such as this? I'm all for hassle free diving that charters offer, and I am eternally thankful that such operations exist (thus, I will support them with at least a few dives), but I'm also not afraid to lug my gear if the diving's good and the price is right!
Any insight would be most helpful.