Most Excellent Shore Diving Reviews of Barry Facker!

Review Date       AVG       ShoreDiving Site

08/03/2004        3.35      Kukio Bay The Big Island, Hawaiian Islands

My wife and I love to dive here in the summer although it takes some resolve to surface swim out to the drop-off. The water in the small cove remains between 2 and 4 feet for a long way out and only begins to get deeper as you approach the mini-wall. Going in at high tide is a good idea. There is a wonderful lava tube that can be accessed by descending through a skylight located between the two rocks breaking the surface farthest from shore. The tube is packed with Big Scale Soldier fish and also hosts Slipper Lobster, various eels and several uncommon Blue Dragon nudibranchs. Outside the tube, you can turn either left or right along the wall and have a good dive and never getting deeper than 50 feet. Going to the right will lead you to a shallower, sandy area where we've seen Spotted Eagle Rays as well as big Horned Helmet shells. Going to the left takes you slightly deeper and there are lots of overhangs on the wall where Green Sea Turtles can be found sleeping. Out this way we have run into Blue fin Trevally, Whitetipped Reef Sharks, and, on one occasion, a Manta. The big draw is the macro invertebrate life that is found here - lots of shells, crabs and nudibranchs. The surface intervals are spent on a truly gorgeous beach that is uncrowded and well-maintained. The bathrooms are always clean and have the deluxe motion sensor type toilets and sinks. Luxury shore diving by Big Island standards! Outside the restrooms are showers to rinse off your gear and yourselves. This is a great place to take a picnic lunch and spend the day diving and relaxing.