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Map of Garden Eel Cove / Manta Heaven (Makako Bay)
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Boat entry

Garden Eel Cove / Manta Heaven (Makako Bay)

Hawaii, United States
Open Water suggested9–24 m (30–79 ft) depthBoat entryRash guard or 2mm shorty typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Garden Eel Cove / Manta Heaven (Makako Bay) at a glance

Garden Eel Cove / Manta Heaven (Makako Bay) is a boat dive site in Hawaii, United States with depths of 9–24 m (30–79 ft). Typically most favorable Jun–Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Squirrelfish, Flying gurnard, and Bigeye scad (akule) schools. Recent reports put the water around 28°C (82°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Favorable window now· until 18:00 · sunset 17:53

Forecast for this hour · 10:00 · run 15 h ago
1.2 m (3.9 ft)waves — about a meter expected (waves — about four feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 28°C · seasonal avg 27°C ( · Forecast 82°F · seasonal avg 81°F)

Site hazards: Night diving, boat traffic, current, crowding around manta viewing areas, light failure, sandy-bottom silt, and manta no-touch/no-obstruction protocols.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Mon7:00–18:00 favorable

1.2 m waves · 4 kn wind (3.9 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

Tue7:00–18:00 favorable

1.3 m waves · 3 kn wind (4.3 ft waves · 3 kn wind)

Wed7:00–12:00 favorable, 12:00–13:00 moderate, 13:00–14:00 favorable, 14:00–15:00 moderate, 15:00–18:00 favorable

1.4 m waves · 8 kn wind (4.5 ft waves · 8 kn wind)

Thu7:00–18:00 favorable

1.3 m waves · 4 kn wind (4.3 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

Fri7:00–18:00 favorable

1.3 m waves · 3 kn wind (4.4 ft waves · 3 kn wind)

Sat7:00–18:00 favorable

1.2 m waves · 3 kn wind (3.9 ft waves · 3 kn wind)

SunNot in the forecast yet

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wave and wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 6:00 · Sunrise 6:22 · Sunset 17:53 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 8.5 km from site · updated 25 Oct, 19:24 GMT-10

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Garden Eel Cove / Manta Heaven (Makako Bay)

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Loading tide predictions

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Hawaiian garden eel, Reef manta ray
Best time: Manta viewing is year-round; operators choose Garden Eel Cove when conditions favor the northern site. Day dives are best in calm Kona conditions.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. January, 65% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 26°C (78°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.2 ft), wind has typically been 6 knots
  2. February, 91% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 25°C (78°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.3 ft), wind has typically been 5 knots
  3. March, 95% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 25°C (78°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.9 ft), wind has typically been 5 knots
  4. April, 99% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 26°C (78°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.4 ft), wind has typically been 5 knots
  5. May, 99% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 26°C (79°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.4 ft), wind has typically been 5 knots
  6. June, 100% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (80°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.3 ft), wind has typically been 5 knots, historically most favorable
  7. July, 100% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (3.1 ft), wind has typically been 5 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 96% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.3 ft), wind has typically been 5 knots
  9. September, 100% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (3.1 ft), wind has typically been 5 knots, historically most favorable
  10. October, 99% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.3 ft), wind has typically been 5 knots
  11. November, 94% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (80°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.7 ft), wind has typically been 5 knots
  12. December, 84% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 26°C (79°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.3 ft), wind has typically been 5 knots

June, July, and September have typically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life recorded at this site, by month

Recorded observations — evidence of past sightings, not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

  • Giant Manta recorded here Sep, Nov (3 records)

    Mobula birostrismost recent 2017

  • Reef Manta Ray recorded here May, Oct–Nov (3 records)

    Mobula alfredimost recent 2019

  • Enchelycore pardalis recorded here Nov (2 records)

    most recent 2014

  • Gorgasia hawaiiensis recorded here Nov (1 record)

    most recent 2014

  • Salt and Pepper Moray recorded here Nov (1 record)

    Gymnothorax eurostusmost recent 2014

  • Spinner Dolphin recorded here Oct (1 record)

    Stenella longirostrismost recent 2014

Newest record here: 2019. Counts are occurrence records near this site from public biodiversity datasets (GBIF), grouped by calendar month across all sampled years. Sightings vary — past records are context, not a prediction.

The underwater calendar

When these animals are most recorded around Hawaiʻi — from open sighting data, not a promise.

Watch the whole year animate on the Migrations map

Fills & rentals nearby

Facts from OpenStreetMap, corrected by the community — listed by distance only. Details change; confirm with the shop.

Shop facts come from OpenStreetMap and community corrections, shown nearest first. PickADive lists facts and contacts only — no listing is sponsored or ranked.

Data updated July 2026

Site details

Garden Eel Cove, also called Manta Heaven at Makako Bay, is Kona's northern manta night-dive/snorkel site near Keahole Point. By day, divers can see garden eels on the sand slope and reef life around the margins; after dark, boats set up a lighted viewing area for resident reef manta rays. It is boat-only and operator-managed, with conservation rules focused on no-touch/no-chase manta viewing.

boatreef

Night diving, boat traffic, current, crowding around manta viewing areas, light failure, sandy-bottom silt, and manta no-touch/no-obstruction protocols.

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