Quick Details
Certified Diver
$ 169
Dive Rating
Moderate
to
Advanced
to
Advanced
We rate every dive by the day, not just the site. On a calm morning this dive is moderate. When the swell is up it is advanced. We read conditions every morning and make the call before you get in the van.
Book at your level. Check the rating and the local weather before you book. Be honest about your experience.
About the Dive
One tank at Wai’olena (Leleiwi), Hilo’s signature shore dive. We meet at the shop, load your gear, and drive you a few miles out of town. You walk in over lava rock and drop onto a reef of coral heads and volcanic terrain from 25 to 70 feet.
This is a real shore dive. You carry your gear, time your entry with the surge, and exit over rock. Your divemaster handles the read and walks you through every step. You need to be comfortable doing it.
The payoff is healthy coral, lava rock structure, and a reef most visiting divers never see.
Price & What’s Included
Certified Diver
$169
Included
- 1 tank of air
- Weights
- Divemaster guide, small group
- Site briefing and rock-entry support
- Round-trip transport for you and your gear
- Snacks and bottled water
Gear Rental (Per Day)
Rent only what you need. Full set is $69.
- $18: BCD
- $28: Regulator and computer
- $13: Wetsuit
- $5: Mask and snorkel
- $5: Fins and booties
Need prescription lenses?
Prescription masks are available at no extra charge. Note it when you book.
Bringing your own gear? Make sure it has been serviced in the last year. Our service department can help.
Ready for the rock?
Pick your date and add the gear you need when you book.
Requirements & What to Bring
Requirements
- Open Water certified, or equivalent from another agency.
- Ages 10 and up. Minors dive with a parent or guardian. Junior divers dive to their certified depth limit.
- Last dive within 2 years. If not, book a Refresher first.
- Able to carry your gear and walk over uneven lava rock.
What to Bring
- Your certification card (physical or digital)
- Swimsuit and towel
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Your logbook, if you keep one
Dive Details
- Site: Wai’olena (Leleiwi), a few miles from downtown Hilo.
- Depth: 25 to 70 ft, set by the day’s conditions and your certification.
- Duration: About 3 hours, shop to shop.
- Meet: At our shop, 1717 Kamehameha Ave. We drive you and your gear to the site and back.
- Group size: Up to 6 divers.
- Water: 75 to 80 °F (24 to 27 °C). A 3 mm wetsuit year-round.
What You’ll See
Here is what divers commonly see at this site.
- Green sea turtles (honu) grazing the reef and resting on lava shelves.
- Octopus, eels, and reef dwellers tucked into cracks.
- Butterflyfish, tangs, and Moorish idols over healthy coral.
- Volcanic terrain shaped by old lava flows.
Why it looks different here: freshwater springs mix with warm ocean water along this coast. That feeds the reef, draws turtles and juvenile fish into the coves, and builds a mix of coral and volcanic rock you only get on the east side.
Guided by Local Divemasters
Your divemaster dives this site week in and week out. You get a briefing on entry, exit, and marine life before you gear up. Underwater they set the pace for the group and the conditions, and point out what you would swim right past.
We dive with fin awareness and reef-safe sunscreen, and we expect the same from you. Read about our conservation work and help us mālama i ke kai, care for the ocean.
Flying & Elevation
Wait at least 12 hours after a single dive before flying or going to elevation, and 18 hours after multiple dives or multiple days of diving. That includes driving Saddle Road to Kona, Mauna Kea, and Volcano. Plan your dive day around it.
Ready for Advanced Days?
Advanced Open Water gets you deeper, better on air, and steady in moving water. It is the fastest way to dive Hilo on more days.