First Cathedral - Hawaii

Kinondo, just south of Diani, is one of our favourites for a relaxed, shallow dive. Forget the deeper sites; this spot consistently delivers a vibrant coral garden experience. We’re talking about a gently sloping reef, never pushing much past 20 metres, where the light plays beautifully on the hard corals. On a good day, and we'd always suggest an early morning dive before the winds pick up, the visibility stretches to a comfortable 15 metres. What you'll definitely see are the resident Maori wrasse, big inquisitive characters that often come right up to say hello. Keep an eye out for marbled spinefoot grazing along the reef, and those speedy agujon needlefish zipping through the upper water column. It's a fantastic site for photographers and anyone who just wants to soak in the colours without battling a current. The reef structure itself is interesting, with lots of small nooks and crannies that hide undulated morays and those charming little bar-eyed gobies. We’ve also had some lovely encounters with common coral trout here, just patrolling their patch. For a gentle, colourful dive where you can take your time, Kinondo is a standout.

Location
Hawaii, United States, North America
Coordinates
20.737300, -156.868600
Type
reef

Marine Protected Area: Offshore Island, Pu'upehe

Best Time to Dive in Hawaii

The warmest water temperatures in Hawaii occur in September, averaging 29.0°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 25.6°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 26.2°C
  • February: 25.7°C
  • March: 25.6°C
  • April: 26.0°C
  • May: 26.8°C
  • June: 27.6°C
  • July: 27.9°C
  • August: 28.5°C
  • September: 29.0°C
  • October: 28.6°C
  • November: 27.9°C
  • December: 27.2°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Hawaii

Nearest Dive Centres to First Cathedral

Marine Life in Hawaii

Home to 23 recorded species including 17 reef fish, 3 other, 2 sharks & rays, 1 whales & dolphins.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for First Cathedral

Based on average water temperature of 27.2°C, currents 9 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories