This is the first scuba dive I did during our visit. It's not an official dive site or anything, but I accessed it off the condo where we were staying (Ali'i Villas). The stretch of coastline off Ali'i Drive is mostly lava and the near-constant swells make it difficult to access for shore divers. I noticed that down in front of the condo complex, there was a tiny lava cove that seemed sheltered from the breakers. It was often a mess of white bubbles from the results of the surrounding waves, but it seemed safe enough to enter here without being pounded into the lava. There was also a flat "step" that I could use to climb in and out of the water. There was a gate and steps to get down to the shoreline. The gate required a key (which we had as residents), so this access isn't available to the non-resident public as a shore dive. The marine chart and the satellite image show a rock/coral area going down to around 60' deep here.
I enetered in the semi-sheltered cove (timing it during a set of smaller swells).
In order to leave the small cove, I had to swim under a low, tunnel-like archway. I could have swam over it, but the top was only a few feet deep and the waves would have dragged me across the lava rocks.
Once through the tunnel, I swam down the gentle slope of boulders and coral. It ended in sand about 60' deep.
I swam back under the arch into the entry-point cove.
I think this dive was ok, but I didn't see any name brand species like turtles, morays, rays, sharks, etc. Despite the convenience of being right in front of where we were staying, I only came here once. The risky entry-point was a major reason why I didn't try diving here again.
