2-tank Daytime Scuba Dive Boat Trip

Lovely dive experience this morning, thank you to all the team but especially Sabrina my guide who took and shared beautiful photos of all the lovely marine life we saw. The trip started wonderfully with dolphins on the bow, two fun dives with lots to see and light lunch in between. Looking forward to my next dive! Priscilla

After our advanced open water course on Kauai was cancelled due to Hurricane Lowell, we called three dive shops in Kona to see if we could do the course on the Big Island. The first two shops quickly told us no, but Patti at Jack's Diving Locker started working magic in their scheduling system and soon had us scheduled for the required three days of diving. When power outages at the Lihue airport caused us to arrive in Kona a day late and miss our first dive day, Patti again worked magic and managed to still find a way to reschedule us. She was amazingly friendly, helpful and patient, and we could not have been more impressed. As a dive operator, Jack's boat and crew is great. The dive groups were small (six people with each divemaster during our dives) so the divemasters aren't distracted with a ton of divers. The rental equipment is in excellent condition, they picked great dive sites with optimal visibility that were mostly protected from current and swell, the guides were enthusiastic about pointing out marine life and letting us dive for a full 80 minutes (air permitting), and they did a great job in getting us through the skills for each part of the course while still ensuring there was time to explore the site and see the fish (a monk seal, an eagle ray, a snowflake eel, and of course mantas were the highlights for us). We will 100% go back to Jack's in the future if we're in Kona, and we're immensely grateful they were able to somehow find a way to accommodate us given the weather challenges. Thank you so much Patti, Sabrina, Carlos and Ciara for a great trip!

Wonderful days dive. We booked a private shore dive with Jacks due to coming off a cruise ship at a tender port, thinking we would miss all the boat dives as they tend to leave too early from a different harbour about 15 minutes drive away. However our dive guide Mel thankfully gave us the option of joining the boat dive, which would see much better dive sites, and that is what we did. The boat trip was not too long, only about 10-15 minutes out of harbour. The 2 sites were both great dives, and Mel a great dive lead. The crew looked after us with great attention to detail, the snacks were tasty and plentiful and the boat very well equipped. Jacks diving locker is one of the best boat dive operators we have been with.

Captain Gary and dive master Shannon, highly experience and knowledgeable. And easy to get along with. We did two advanced dives to the black hole and golden arches. The time Shop makes waivers and check-in very easy, and they have the most extensive waiver I have ever seen. We are going with them again for sure.

Fantastic boat, dive sites, Captain and Guides. Thumbs-up to this awesome crew and business. They made our diving in Big Island Kona unforgetable! Special mention to Elle, our dive Guide for looking-out for us tiger sharks, barracudas, shrimps and flounders! The best

Excellent! Professional boat crew! Great dive locations and lots of wildlife. Good lunch, too! Thanks!

Jacks is the best scuba company on the island. Scuba training/certification, scuba refreshers, recreational dives - they do it all. Their trainers, dive guides and boat crews are knowledgeable and professional, the gear is well maintained and up-to-date. I would give them six stars if I could. We come back to them every year, they are the best.

Just Wow! Best diving on the Big Island! We were fortunate to have Keller as our guide. Very competent and fun. He was constantly writing on a whiteboard what we were seeing, which was really helpful. He also took some great photos too. The dive was well run, relaxed setting, not crowded, and a lot less money than the other company we dove with. Highly recommended! Ask for Keller, he was great to dive with.

My wife, Kallie, and I had not done a full open-water dive since 2017, so when we planned our Kona trip, we decided to return to Jack’s Diving Locker—the same company we had dived with back in 2008, according to our dive logs. The booking process was extremely easy. I called with several questions, and the staff was helpful, informative, and reassuring. Because it had been so long since our last actual dive, we chose to book a private divemaster for the two of us. We had completed a refresher in June 2025 for a planned dive weekend that unfortunately never happened, so we knew we would probably be a little rusty. Jack’s also saved the day before we even got in the water. My personal Atomic prescription mask unexpectedly failed when the strap attachment tore out of the mask itself. I was worried I would either have to cancel or spend the dives as “Mr. Magoo,” but the shop had prescription masks available and fitted me with one that worked perfectly. That level of preparedness and customer service made the entire dive day possible for me. Our divemaster, Sabrina, was absolutely fantastic. She was pleasant, friendly, social, knowledgeable, and incredibly patient throughout the entire experience. During our first dive, I had some difficulty clearing my ears. Sabrina stayed calm and helped me work through it, reminding me of techniques I had used years ago when I was diving more regularly and occasionally had “bad ear days.” Both Kallie and I were a little rusty on that first dive, but Sabrina never rushed us or made us feel uncomfortable. By the second dive, my ear issues had resolved, we were both much more relaxed, and the old muscle memory started coming back—including some of what I learned during my Peak Performance Buoyancy certification. The difference between the first and second dives was huge, and Sabrina’s patience and guidance were a major reason why. Sabrina also went above and beyond outside the dives themselves. While chatting with us about the rest of our trip, she recommended the Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm as a “must visit.” We had somehow missed it in our planning, immediately looked it up, and booked the VIP experience, where Kallie and I each get to hold a seahorse twice. That recommendation made our trip even better. I would recommend Jack’s Diving Locker—and Sabrina as a private divemaster—**100,000% and without hesitation** to anyone, especially divers returning after a long break. The entire experience was professional, safe, relaxed, accommodating, and genuinely fun. Sabrina also took all of the underwater photos from our dive day, which gave us some fantastic memories of the experience: https://arroyo.smugmug.com/2026-Photos-and-Pics/HI-Vacation-Big-Island/Day-3-Kona-Diving

Jack’s Diving Locker made our Big Island dive experience unforgettable! From start to finish, the entire crew was professional, knowledgeable, and made everyone feel safe and welcome. The diving was incredible, but what really stood out was the people. A special shout-out to the amazing ladies of the crew—Ash, Captain Sierra, and Mel! They went above and beyond to make sure everyone was comfortable, taken care of, and having the best possible experience. Their positive attitudes, attention to detail, and genuine enthusiasm made the trip even more memorable. The guys—Jim, Gary, and George—weren’t too bad either 😝. They were friendly, helpful, and clearly passionate about what they do. The whole team worked together seamlessly and made the day fun from beginning to end. We saw so many Mantas on the night dive and even some bonus mantas on the other dives. We also saw turtles, sharks and a wide variety of fish! Can’t wait to go back. If you’re looking for a top-notch dive operation on the Big Island, I can’t recommend Jack’s Diving Locker enough. We’ll definitely be back!

Great experience. This outfit agreed to take on my kids to snorkel alongside our dive. Sabrina, Presley & Jim kept us entertained all day. Great hospitality. Highly recommend

Dive charter overall was really good. Our dive group leader Keller was outstanding. He was very knowledgeable and professional. He even shared several videos and pictures taken during the dive. I recommend Jack’s to any diver and highly recommend Keller as a dive “tour guide.”

I dive with Jack’s Diving Locker every time I visit Hawai’i. They are top notch and one of the best dive operators around the world I’ve dove with. Keller, Jim and Gary are always fantastic. I can’t say enough about them. Diving with Mel this year was great as well. She used her magic to the cull the dolphins to our dive team. And big shout out To Cosmo and Jim for spotting the Whale Shark in the advanced dive in the way to the south side of the island. Putting the breaks on and letting us get into the deep blue to hang out with her as long as she stayed around!!

What a terrific company and a terrific crew. First of all - if you scuba or snorkel - DO NOT MISS the mantas! An incredible experience. Toby - our captain - was engaging and fully involved. Safety is a high priority. He paid attention to every diver. Jason was not even my diving guide, but helped me out a couple of times with replacing my flashlight and helping with my weight belts. Keller is an extraordinary guide - watching his group closely, finding eels and other special sea creatures, and taking amazing videos. Jack’s Diving Locker is an excellent outfit. Everyone - crews and staff in both their downtown store and at the harbor - fully engaged and I will be back again. Wouldn’t go to any other diving company.

This is special diving’s experience, just like valley on the ground. You can see a lot of rocks and tunnel and so on. The guide is very professional and lots of experience, will take care of you during each dive. Big bonus is the good memories recorded by guider and will share with you by free of charge.

Everything about the 6 dives and Advance Open Water Certification work I did was phenomenal. After a break from diving for awhile, Sabrina did a great job in the pool with the refresher. Mel and Shannon were first class instructors who showed a real interest in the education and skills development as well as the general info about all things Hawaii beneath the surface. Toby and Cosmo were great boat captains and made everything from the safety review to the dive site briefing relevant and interesting.... and a little humorous when appropriate. Night dive with the mantas was mind blowing.

Great master instructor Reed. Saw lots of huge turtles ; octopus's, lobsters! Coral was not very colorful. But I’ve been to Red Sea so perspective!

Wonderful 2 tank dive morning with Jacks the dive staff and captain were professional, approachable, and funny. Underwater they were responsive and great at pointing out critters. Kel went the extra mile and shared photos and videos at the end of the trip. Always a pleasure, we will be back - Jeanie & Graham from Alaska.

Appreciated boat captains Bob, Gary and Toby. Captains created a safe boat experience and were there to help divers suiting up, launching and returning to the boat. Crews worked to provide divers a varied experience when weather allowed. Saw many octopus, eels (including a dragon eel that I had not seen before), white tip sharks, flounder, a ray, nudibranchs - and all the usual reef dwellers. Allowed bottom times were generous. I enjoyed my trip.

I am so lucky to have dived with many dive shops. I had the best of time on two excursions just last week. Great dive location. Great service from ALL of the staff. Cudos for Captain Cosmo. He let Seinfeld joke him and didn’t frown. Total respect for Kennar ? Sp. such a knowledge of the area and the guy shared his pictures with us. They were spectacular. I also stupidly went to the wrong site and he drove me to the boat….not enough? He took,e back to hotel are and saved me an uber. Stellar human being. Big fist pumps The boat was not crowded and they got it down to science by segregating the groups ..made getting in and out that much easier. The wildlife and whale sirens on my last dive. Just spectacular. Thanks guys. I will refer y’all forever. Mahalo

I have been able to do a handful of boat trips with Jack's Diving Locker in Kona. They have been good to me!! The dive sites are good, and they try and accommodate requests when possible. Their boats are clean and comfortable....Goldie Lock's Size: Not too big, not too small. Crew has been fantastic...I'll particularly say a big thank you to Jim who was a DM for me one day, and Captain another day. He's a real pleasure to chat with topside and equally fun to follow underwater!! Kim was also stellar on the advanced boat and worked hard to ensure everyone had a good day and made it a personal experience. If you have the experience, I would recommend the advanced boat...you'll get different sites, and smaller group. It's worth the extra money if you can do it. Thank you JDL for the great time...I'm not far away, I will be back!

We dove with Jack’s Diving Locker over two days and had very different experiences, which is why this review is a mixed one. Day 1 was the morning two tank dive and it didn’t start off great. Our family, myself, my husband, and our 11 year old, were separated with our gear, which meant we didn’t do our pre dive safety check together. As parents of a newer young diver, that mattered to us. Captain Gary also told us not to use snorkels, which we didn’t love, especially given our daughter’s experience level. There was also a mistake where weights were not added to my BCD. It was partly my fault for not double checking, but there was confusion between the captain and the dive master about how to get me my weights, which added unnecessary stress. The captain came across as very know it all and rude, which didn’t help the situation. That said, the dive itself was good. Our dive master, Simonè, was excellent. He pointed out so many amazing fish and we saw several octopuses. He really made the underwater experience special. One small but noticeable thing, the surface interval is advertised as a sandwich, chips, fruit, and a cookie. It’s actually a half sandwich and very small cookies, while the crew eats full sandwiches. Not a deal breaker, but it felt a bit off. Because of day 1, I was pretty nervous going into our manta dive. Day 2 could not have been more different. We asked to be kept together as a family on the boat for diving and that request was honored. The vibe on the boat was relaxed and positive with Captain Cosmo. Our dive master Michell was excellent, calm, professional, and just spot on. There’s a hot shower on board, which was great after diving. Definitely bring a sweatshirt and sweatpants for the ride back because it gets chilly, and having two towels was helpful. Overall, day 2 was a 5 star experience and day 1 was not. While I’m not sure we would choose this outfit again, I do want to acknowledge that the second day showed how good this operation can be with the right crew and communication.

I was impressed with the overall professionalism. The boat was well designed and comfortable. Captain Bob and Sierra our dive guide were excellent and attentive. I really enjoyed this experience.

Best Manta ray night dive experience,👏👏 We learned about Manta rays and did a magical night dive with so many Manta Rays. Keller and his team were the nicest people ever, we will visit again. Thanks Elif

Jacks is consistently excellent. Great captains and guides across the board. Their boats are top notch and always clean and orderly. Dive with Jacks!

The trip was amazing and the crew was great. This was my first official dive after getting certified two months ago and they were patient and helpful with my concern. They made sure to find places that everyone in the boat was interested in seeing.

This was a fantastic experience. We have been with this company before, and they never disappoint. Crew is always fantastic.

The team at Jacks was amazing. The boat had roughly 12 divers but each 4 had a dive master so in the water it was not crowded and each team had plenty of oversight and help. The boat was a little crowded with everyone but getting in and out they had a system and it worked well that everyone was not on top of each other. I would absolutely dive with this team again.

The boat was very comfortable and roomy, hot fresh water showers and full bathroom. We did two consecutive days of two tank dives near coastline. Capt Bob was on the boat both days and did an excellent job. Day one we had great guides that worked well together and made it a very good experience. Lots to see and they did a great job of describing what to look for and where we were going. Day two the guides seemed less coordinated, we ended up having to find our particular guide to get our setup completed. The site descriptions were good but seemed that we were more on our own than the first day. Still excellent diving and lots of great stuff to see, but definitely a difference in engagement between day one and day two. Food on board was excellent with vegetarian and gluten free options that were very good. Plenty of water and ice tea for hydrating. Lots of eels, octopus, soooo many fish!, eagle ray, tiger shark, turtle, and great reef coral. Definitely recommend, just be ready to advocate for communication.

We have dove with Jacks’ on multiple trips to big island, the first with Keller a couple years ago was awesome and last time was also 5stars, we always enjoy going with these folks and the office people were nice as usual, everything was pretty smooth but our guide, Mongo, was not that personable and wasn’t as enjoyable. Was surprised to find out he’s been with Jacks for quite a long time. Too bad, we may try another establishment next trip. Lunch, snacks and boat ride were all good, just wasn’t as fun.

The crew helped make this two tank trip so much fun. I really appreciated the professional pictures taken on the boat at sunset and during our dives that they didn’t charge extra for. They also set the group up to have a great experience with the mantas. Incredible dives! The night dive was my most favorite dive ever!

I booked a 2 dive with them in September of 2024, but our cruise ship wasn't going to be on time, so I got a full refund. When I went back a couple of months later, I booked a 2 dive and everything was great. The crew was friendly and helpfull, and the dives were awesome. Next time I want to do the Manta dive.

This was my first dive since getting certified on the mainland, and Jack’s Dive Locker made it an unforgettable experience. Everything felt safe and extremely well-organized from start to finish. The equipment was top notch, and the crew handled the setup while making sure we were comfortable and confident before getting in the water. Once we descended, the Kona coast took my breath away — the water was crystal clear, the reef was massive, and it was teeming with incredible sea life. It was the perfect balance of professionalism and fun, and I couldn’t have asked for a better first dive. Highly recommend Jack’s to anyone looking for a world-class diving experience in Hawaii!

I did a private dive with my son and Jimmy. It was fantastic, I had seen the whole crew as this was our families 3rd dive this week. Highly recommend them and the team. Not enough good things to say.

A south swell came in so Capt Bob took us to more protected sites. I appreciated the safety precautions. Great dives — lots of sea life! Toby and Mongo were informative and great guides.

The staff was phenomenal and patient! These were our first ocean open water dives being certified. These team was patient, helpful and kind. Our guide Jimmy was awesome, Mondo was terrific as was our captain, and everyone else. I would recommend them for any dive or snorkeling experience. I am grateful I get to visit them a third time before heading home!

My husband and I went scuba diving today with Jack's Diving Locker, and had a wonderful experience! There were about 15-20 people total on the boat including staff, but it was big enough to never feel cramped. There were 4 different groups: snorkelers, student divers, and 2 groups of certified divers. With us being new divers (10 dives total after today), we really appreciated Gary, our dive guide, giving us a little more attention and instruction prior to the dives, while also giving us some space to figure some things out underwater. We got to freely go at our own pace and we didn't have to feel bad for holding up the more experienced divers, since they were in a separate group. The crew was fabulous! Taking care of all the gear, swapping tanks, and cleaning all the equipment! It allowed us to enjoy all the fun of diving without any of the work! Everyone was great to talk to and open to any questions. We highly recommend Jack's!

Every time I have visited the Big Island of Hawaii over the past 20 years, I have dived with Jack's Diving Locker. Keller Laros runs a top-notch operation. They offer a wide array of gear for purchase or rental, a full service PADI training program and 2-tank dive trips to showcase the underwater beauty of the Big Island. I would like to give a shout out to praise the Divemaster / Instructor Simone for his knowledge and professionalism. He has world-wide diving experience and is a consummate professional. Thanks.

We loved diving with Jack’s Diving Locker. Our guide, Toby was excellent and made us feel very comfortable during our day two tank dive, as inexperienced divers. Diving through the arch was amazing and we loved seeing dolphins, multiple manta rays, eels and an octopus. We can’t wait to come back to Hawaii to dive with them again.

Had an amazing time with Jack's Diving Locker. If you are an experienced diver, I highly recommend booking the advanced adventure 2-tank boat trip. You get to dive different sites with a smaller group and the experience is just top-notch. The crew will assess the conditions the morning of your dives and take you to where they think you'll have the best experience. All of the captains and dive masters with Jacks are super knowledegable about local marine life, they will point out wonderful critters you would miss on your own and they exemplify the spirit of stewardship and respect for ocean life. They go over every detail and you feel safe and secure every step of the way. I honestly can not recommend Jack's highly enough.

When visiting the Big Island, I book my boat dives with Jack’s. Staff is always friendly and a fun group. They go out of their way to make sure your dive is the best it can be. I dove with Keller as my guide, and I can not say enough nice things about diving with him. Thank you, Keller!

We booked a two tank dive for our group of 5 divers and one snorkeler. The Manta Ray experience was unlike anything you will ever experience. Both dives Are in the same cove and I’m Sure there are better Dive sites but the Manta Ray experience is what you are paying for. Even as a snorkeler it was amazing. As dive boats go, this is a bigger boat which means more divers. There were about 20 people on board not including the crew. The crew on board and captain Jack were very organized and helpful. But one person in our group was disappointed that they didn’t assist more. They expect you to know what you are doing and to be pretty independent. Our guide Sam was awesome and a shout out to Cliff!

The dive masters who directed the experience were very knowledgeable, patient, kind, and adventuresome. The night time dive with the Manta Rays should not be missed as it is almost like a "spiritual experience" as one dive master commented. I learned so much about the behaviors, habits, and uniqueness features of these rays before descending. Jack's Diving Company also supports the reef protection and restoration. It was special to receive a deck of photos from our dive to cement the memories. One of the best dives I have experienced.

I went on 2 tank boat dives for 2 days and my wife went snorkeling for one day. The dive boat was fast and comfortable, with plenty of shade, a marine head and all the necessary safety equipment for scuba diving. On the way to the sites and back, the crew also kept an eye out for interesting things in the water, which included dolphins and a small hammerhead shark when we went. At each sites, extensive briefings provided information on what we might see in the water. The maximum dive time was 80 minutes, which is great for those who have good air consumption. The sites had the usual array of colorful Hawaiian reef fish, but also some rare treats including turtles and large schools of fish forming a bait ball. There were guides for both scuba divers and snorkelers. There is one guide for up to six divers in a group. The crew were very attentive at setting up gear, helping divers in and out of the water, and rinsing BCs and regulators at the end of the day. There is a designated camera table for photographers. Trips started at 9 AM and lasted until about 2 pm. Lunch between dives included sandwiches, chips and water and ice tea to drink. Jack's is eco-friendly, and affiliated with Reef Check, a worldwide organization which measures the health of coral reefs to assess both the positive and negative impacts associated with the human uses of this vital resource. In summary, Jack's provides great diving at a competitive price on the Kona coast, and I highly recommend them. My only advice is that when booking, I suggest calling the shop directly if it is feasible to avoid the extra booking charge.

Excellent crew, lots of fun. "Manta Man" Keller was an excellent DM. Boat was well maintained and filled with useful items..."Duck Mask Washer" was funny.

Took the advanced boat on March 26th. Staff, Gary and Kimberly? were professional. Gary, as boat captain, gave excellent instructions. I greatly appreciated the detail, and his attention to boat safety. Although on that day the 2 dive sites were mediocre, however his finding 2 humpback whales and a huge pod of pilot whales more than made up for the average diving. Gary placed a group of divers in the water, that just happened to be in the right spot, as a group of 8-9 Pilot whales approached us and swam right underneath us. Amazing view of magnificent animals. I would definitely go with them again! Jeff Appel, Brenham, Tx

Just go somewhere else. Certified rescue diver and this isn’t a place I’d dive again. The dive masters are self absorbed and dive for their benefit and care little about the experience and safety of their customers. I have several specific examples but don’t need to elaborate. Just dive with another place. The boat captain (Gary) was great.

Dive with Brad - very nice and professional leader. Got to be on a Boat with experienced divers which I really appreciated. If I had more time I would do many more dives!