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Old Kona Airport Beach

Old Kona Airport Beach

Hawaii, United States

Depth
Depth Icon

30m

Visibility
Visibility Icon

14m - 41m

Entry
Boat Entry Icon

Boat

Experience Level

Experienced

Old Kona Airport Beach

Hawaii, United States

Old Kona Airport Beach
Depth
Depth Icon

30m

Visibility
Visibility Icon

14m - 41m

Entry
Boat Entry Icon

Boat

Experience Level

Experienced


About Old Kona Airport Beach

A popular weekend relaxation spot less than 5 minutes from Kona town. There is plenty of parking on the old asphalt runway that stretches the length of the beach. Showers, restrooms, water, and picnic tables and covered halua with picnic tables. A short walk east from the path to the beach. No drinking water or restrooms on the beach. If you want shallow water, stay near the coastline. If you prefer deeper wate r, the drop off is not far from shore and to the right. The water entrance at the beach is shallow, about 1-2 feet deep. (Abundance of Black Urchins just off the beach entrances) Waves breaking across the bay entrance are long when the surf is up; much white water. Don't dive here durin g periods of high surf. Heavy surf breaks on the lava shoreline east and west of the beach when there is a high surf from the south, southwest and west. These conditions could cause problems when exiting along the shoreline. Best advice is do no t scuba or snorkel this area when the waves or surf break is more than half a meter or winds are blowing more then 3 km per hour. South, southwest and west winds will cause high surf, making the area unsafe. (CAUTION! DO NOT DIVE or SNORKEL THIS SITE AFTER 1:00 PM BECAUSE OF UNPREDICTABLE AFTERNOON WINDS.) Usually no currents, but strong westerly winds that generate high surf will cause an eastward current. Best advice is do not scuba or snorkel this area during strong winds. There is a nice arch just South of the beach. Lot's of reef fish with decent coral. The lave formations are fun, the entry is easy. An interesting sea arch can be found at 9 meter and lava fingers at 18 meter. To the north is a wall dive, made up of finger coral, sand and rubble that drops to a sandy bottom at 30 meter plus. For more bottom time with the colorful reef fish, stay in about 9 to 15 meter. Gloves are highly recommended. Lava arches to the left, deep dive with garden eels if you go straight out. At the south end there is an access right next to the hockey rink, off a lava shelf. Directions: The entrance is a very short drive, just North of Kailua. Drive to the North end of Kuakini Road just a mile or so out of town, take a left and follow the road toward the ocean until you reach the entrance.

Old Kona Airport Beach Dive Info

Terrain & Features

Reef, Wall

Entry Type

Boat

Max Depth

30m

Visibility Range

14m 41m

Experience Level

Experienced

Best Gas Mix

21% – 35%

O2

16% at 28m / 36%

O2
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Marine Life

  • Convict Tang
  • Eagle Rays
  • Flounders
  • None
  • Nudibranch
  • Stonefish
  • Tropical Tigerfish
  • Unicornfish
  • Urchin
  • Whale Shark
Weather Conditions

Water temperature (℃)
Air temperature range (℃)
Average air temperature (℃)
Wind speed (km/h)
Precipitation (mm)
Dive Operators near Old Kona Airport Beach

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Location

Dive Site Hazards

  • Hidden Depth Variations — Complex reef topography can conceal depth changes, leading to unintended profile variations.

  • Distraction from Marine Activity — High fish activity can distract divers and delay depth or gas awareness.

  • Rapid Surge Direction Changes — Surge near reef structures can reverse direction quickly, pushing divers sideways into unexpected areas.

  • Unstable Visual Ascents — Relying on wall visuals can destabilise ascents.

  • Gradual Depth Creep — Lack of visual bottom reference can cause unnoticed descent.

  • Unsignalled Downcurrents — Downcurrents can form without visible indicators.

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