KAILUA-KONA SNORKEL FIELD GUIDE
Finish Your PADI Open Water in Kona: Two Days to a World of Blue
Complete the final open-water portion of your PADI Open Water Referral in Kailua‑Kona with small instructor ratios and four ocean dives over two days.
Finish Your PADI Open Water in Kona: Two Days to a World of Blue.
Perched on the leeward shore of the Big Island, Kailua‑Kona is where many aspiring divers choose to finish their PADI Open Water certification. This referral option lets you complete the ocean dives here after doing the eLearning and confined‑water portions elsewhere, so you arrive ready to dive into warm, clear Hawaiian waters and finish your training with focused, hands‑on instruction.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Referral flexibility — finish what you started
The PADI Open Water Referral is designed for students who have already completed the eLearning and confined‑water portions elsewhere; Kona Diving Company completes the open‑water dives so you can certify without spending vacation days in a pool or online classroom.
Personalized instruction and small ratios
Classes are kept intentionally small—typically one‑to‑one or two‑to‑one student‑to‑instructor—so you receive focused coaching on skills and safety during each ocean dive.
Two days, four open‑water dives to certify
Once your eLearning and confined‑water training are completed and documented, Kona Diving Company finishes the Open Water course over two days—four dives in total—to complete your PADI certification in Kona's ocean environment.
What the day feels like
What finishing your Open Water feels like
You arrive having completed the knowledge and pool portions elsewhere and spend two days on the water with an instructor practicing and demonstrating the open‑water skills that earn you your PADI Open Water Diver certification—four guided dives, focused feedback, and the moment you sign off on the final skills in Hawaii’s inviting ocean.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this course suits — and who should prepare differently.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Daily start time is early morning (the operator’s schedule lists a morning time around 7:30 AM with outings returning between about 12:30 and 1:00 PM). The open‑water portion is completed over two days and four dives total; the two days need not be consecutive.
Bring swimsuit, towel, sunglasses, hat, rash guard, refillable water bottle, hair ties, reef‑safe sunscreen, and your filled PADI training logbook or official documentation proving completion of the confined‑water portion. Logbooks can be purchased at the dive shop if lost.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long does the Kona portion of the PADI Open Water Referral take?
The open‑water portion is completed over two days with four dives total; the two days do not have to be consecutive.
What parts of the PADI Open Water course must I complete before joining Kona Diving Company?
To qualify for the Open Water Referral you should have completed or plan to complete parts 1 (eLearning) and 2 (Confined Water) with another accredited PADI dive shop before joining to complete part 3 (Open Water).
What documentation do I need to bring?
Bring your filled PADI training logbook confirming successful completion of the Confined Water portion, or official documentation from your other dive shop; logbooks are available for purchase at the shop if needed.
Are eLearning and confined‑water costs included?
No; eLearning costs are set by PADI, and confined‑water costs are determined by the dive shop where you complete those portions.
What is the student‑to‑instructor ratio?
Kona Diving Company keeps class sizes small—typically 1:1 or 2:1 student‑to‑instructor—to provide personalized attention during the open‑water dives.
Do I need to do the eLearning right before my Kona dives?
Parts 1 and 2 can be completed up to one year before completing part 3, though doing them closer together is recommended for knowledge retention.