Ke'ei

Just Off The Southern Shore Of Kealakekua Bay. Here is the quaint little community of Ke'ei, located only a skip and a jump south of Napoopoo. This is a great place to snorkel, too, because of the clarity of the water, the variety of corals, and the unending species of reef fish to be seen near shore. There is a bumpy pahoehoe lava shelf that extends out about 20 yards to the water. Go out to the edge and you'll see numerous little inlets that are perfect water entry/exit areas. head straight out to sea, over a gradual slope of geologically recent lava flows (with huge coral heads everywhere) to a sandy transition at about 20m depth. When you reach the smooth sandy area, slowly continue due west, over the slope that continues endlessly deeper. When you reach 25 - 27m depth, watch straight ahead for a forest of Garden Eels. head back toward shore in a south-easterly direction. You'll rise through a section of sandy area then come upon a bottom strewn with coral rubble and living heads of several varieties of corals. Many gulches or ditches seen in this area will hold resting Sea Turtles. When you return to your entry point, watch the surf and time your exit for safety. We Take a second tank for this dive-site, so that after an adequate shore intermission you can re-enter the water and explore the shoreline cliffs and wall to the right (or north) of your entry area. Here you'll find many caves and arches to explore at depths of less than 10 meter. Directions: On Rt. 11, about 18 miles south of Kailua-Kona, there's a sign to the right that says, "Kealakekua Bay". Take that right turn and head down the hill, past the historic Coffee Mill, until you come to the bottom. Then, rather than turning right and going to Kealakekua Bay, turn left and travel on a narrow paved road through the beautiful cluster of homes known as Napoopoo. As you head south you'll see three rough roads to the right, going makai (toward the ocean). Take the third road (if you come to the rubbish dump on the left, you've gone too far) and travel about 4 tenths of a mile along this road. Then you'll come to a sign that reads, "Wash Out, Beware of Rough Road, Private Drive", or words to that effect. Slightly beyond this sign, on the right, is space to park. The picturesque fishing village houses are on the mauka (or mountain) side of the road. Please, don't disturb the inhabitants.