Big Islands Best Kona Snorkeling Tours & Whale Watching on the Big Island

We depart from Honokohau Marina located between town and Kona airport from our very own dock. You won’t have to struggle to find parking and board on the busy launch ramp like other operators require. Our meetup begins under a shade awning with a view of the beautiful harbor. If you look closely you may see a turtle or an eagle ray swimming along the surface. Your Kona snorkel tours begin with a briefing from our experienced and knowledgeable crew. We’ll get you outfitted with your snorkel gear which includes mask, snorkel, fins, and wetsuit. Sometimes we also provide extra floatation depending on the trip and your requirements.

As we leave the harbor you may be treated by jumping spinner dolphins or during winter months whales tail slapping, blowing, and if you’re lucky breaching! Cruising along Kona’s rocky coastline reveals the freshness of the island as a volcano. The steep sides of our volcanic home means the reefs are abundant and close to the shore. Some of the best snorkeling in Hawaii is located in the Kona area. Our afternoon and morning snorkels highlight this magnificent feature not to be missed! All kona snorkel tours include clear water and pristine reefs teaming with colorful reef fish. If you’re lucky you may swim alongside one of our green sea turtles or spot a white tip reef shark sleeping under a ledge. Our reefs are also abnormally abundant with octopus and eels making for some unique encounters. Our crew will get you close to some of the best snorkeling Big Island has. You and your friends will have memories to last a lifetime.

If you’re looking for a Kona boat rental or private boat charter we got you covered! Our Kona boat the Orca is one of the best values in private charters available in Kona. It can accommodate up to 18 guests and can move quickly through the water to get you to where the action is. Private Kona snorkel tours include the manta ray snorkel in Kona, Captain Cook Snorkeling Tour, Afternoon reef snorkel, whale watching tour, or just a visit to one of Hawaii’s hidden pristine beaches so you can frolic in solitude.

Our crew is made up of passionate individuals that love the ocean and the animals that live there. Every one of our staff is lifeguard certified ensuring that we are prepared for any incident should it arise. We have outfitted our Kona boat the Orca with propeller guards and we are currently the only boat in Kona with them installed. This means any marine life that is swimming on or near the surface will be protected from our boat’s propellers. This is important because it is a common occurrence to spot dolphins, mantas, and other critters with propeller damage. We also carry state-of-the-art rescue equipment on board and maintain our boat to the highest standards so you have a clean and reliable experience.

Our livelihood is intertwined with the ocean and so it only makes sense we would do our best to protect it. This means we require only reef-safe sunscreen to be used on board by our guests. This ensures the continued growth of our healthy corals. Come see the beauty of our reefs for yourself!

Joining Kona Snorkel Trips on a tour means you will be sure to receive a more exclusive experience that is catered to your enjoyment. We work hard to guarantee a good time! Our guides love what they do and this means you will love the time you spend aboard the boat with us. Because of the size of our boat, we are able to get you closer to the action for better viewing of Kona’s wild and unique marine life. This means better manta ray snorkel encounters, nicer reefs, and a faster, safer experience. Just take a look at some of our thousands of reviews and you will see why we are the highest-rated snorkel tour company in Hawaii.

If you want to kick up the personalization of your experience you can hire our Kona boat for the day and take a private tour. Our private tours mean you have full command of the boat to do with as you will. We will cater to you and your group’s needs so you can focus on what’s important. Having fun! Our Kona snorkel tours are suitable for most families and even younger kids.

If you’ve snorkeled anywhere in Hawaii you’ve probably had some unique and interesting experiences so why should you snorkel in Kona? Kona has very little sand because of the Big Island’s newness. This means the clarity of our water is much better on an average day than on other islands. The lava also provides for some dramatic underwater features that you won’t see on other older islands. Arches, lava tubes, and caverns are abundant along the Kona coast. Add to this the history of the Captain Cook story, the magnificence of the manta rays, and the abundance of large marine life, and you’ll see why Kona snorkeling tours are the pinnacle of snorkeling in Hawaii. So Join us on one of our Kona snorkel tours to see for yourself why you’re missing out on some of the best snorkeling in Hawaii with Hawaii’s top-rated snorkel company Kona snorkel trips.