When To Go · Destination Guide
Year-round mantas, lava-formed reefs, and easy access to deep blue water
Updated Oct 30, 2025 • 20 sources
When to go
Diving is yearround.
Best overall window
Typically calmer seas, warm water near 27°C to 28°C.
Outside that window
More trade winds and potential south swells on South Kona bays.
Start with the overall answer, then switch only when scuba, freedive, snorkel, or topside timing changes the trip in a meaningful way.
The overall row stays visible so you can compare it against the currently selected scope.
| Scope | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Overall - Jan: Good | Overall - Feb: Good | Overall - Mar: Good | Overall - Apr: Good | Overall - May: Good | Overall - Jun: Tradeoffs | Overall - Jul: Tradeoffs | Overall - Aug: Tradeoffs | Overall - Sep: Best | Overall - Oct: Best | Overall - Nov: Best | Overall - Dec: Good |
These do not replace the overall planner. Use them only if a specific animal or event is driving your trip dates.
Manta Rays
Best for Snorkel, Scuba
Year-round
Night feeding aggregations at Garden Eel Cove and Keauhou with guided inwater protocols.
Humpback Whales
Best for Topside, Scuba
Nov to Apr
Breeding season offshore of the Kohala and Kona coasts.
Pelagic Blackwater
Best for Scuba
Year-round
Openocean drifts reveal larval fishes, comb jellies, and pelagic invertebrates near the surface at night.
Built from climate references, access rules, and destination operators. Wildlife timing and route flexibility can shift year to year.