Captain Cook, Hawaii, United States
Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island's Kona coast is a State Marine Conservation District named for the obelisk on the north shore that marks the spot where Captain James Cook was killed in February 1779 during his third Pacific voyage. The bay is sheltered from trade-wind swell, drops away to 30+ metres very close to shore, and is protected from fishing, making it one of the richest reefs in Hawaii. The most popular dive area runs along the wall below the monument from 6 metres on the reef shelf to 24 metres on the deeper drop-off. Hawaiian green sea turtles graze on the algae-covered shallows, and the resident pod of spinner dolphins regularly visits divers in the bay. Yellow tang, achilles tang, ornate butterflyfish, milletseed butterflyfish, large parrotfish and scrawled filefish are abundant. White tip reef sharks rest in caves on the deeper slopes. Visibility regularly exceeds 30 metres. Most divers reach the site by boat from Keauhou.
Information on this page, including technical data such as depth, current, visibility, access, and recommended level, is informational and may vary. Confirm actual conditions with a local operator before the dive.
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Reviews are from other divers — personal experiences, not guarantees.
