Holidays Are Coming - Book Early to Receive Best Pricing! Combo Package - Save 15%
Explore the waters near Garden Eel Cove or in front of the iconic hotel to observe manta rays in their natural habitat. Your experienced Lifeguard Certified guide will take you into the water where you surround a custom-built snorkel board with high-powered lights. Book this one-of-a-kind Big Island experience today!
Snorkel the marine sanctuary of Kealakekua Bay’s Captain Cook Monument, one of the top-rated snorkeling spots in the world. Learn the history, snorkel with numerous tropical fish, beautiful coral, and many other underwater creatures.
We are available for private snorkel and swim tours of our incredible reef sites, whale watches, ash scatterings, or visiting Kona’s beautiful remote beaches. These trips are customizable to your preferences!
Snorkel the marine sanctuary of Kealakekua Bay’s Captain Cook Monument, one of the top-rated snorkeling spots in the world. Learn the history, snorkel with numerous tropical fish, beautiful coral, and many other underwater creatures.
Book the Big Island’s two most popular tours together and save! Choose between the famous Captain Cook snorkeling tour in the iconic and pristine marine sanctuary of Kealakekua Bay OR skip the crowds on the Deluxe Morning Snorkel where you’ll likely be the only boat snorkeling at the site.
Then join us to snorkel with giant manta rays – the most popular night snorkel in the world – all while saving $$$!
Explore the waters near Garden Eel Cove or in front of the iconic hotel to observe manta rays in their natural habitat. Your experienced Lifeguard Certified guide will take you into the water where you surround a custom-built snorkel board with high-powered lights. Book this one-of-a-kind Big Island experience today!
Save yourself a long boat ride and skip the crowds of Kealakekua Bay by joining us to snorkel Kona’s most beautiful local snorkel spot at Pawai Bay, where massive schools of fish, gorgeous reefs, and lava rock arches await discovery.
We booked the four-hour private morning snorkeling tour — and it was hands-down the best one we’ve done on the Islands. Jeanette And Alexis were incredibly knowledgeable and forthcoming, taking us to quiet spots and ensuring we saw plenty of wildlife above and under the waves. Pilot whales, a spinner dolphin superpod, eagle rays, a zebra eel, and lots of triggerfish, idols, parrot fish, and more. Both guides would would also get in the water, and point our group at notable sights. Above the waves, we learned about Hawaiian history and culture. Big thumbs up!
– Peer Schneider - GoogleThis is my first Google review. We live in Kona and had some friends visiting who were looking for a fun ocean excursion. We booked a Manta snorkel for three adults and three children (ages 10, 9 and 7). The trip was the most fun we've had on any excursion in Hawai'i. The crew was not only friendly and knowledgeable, but safety was front and center from the time we were at the dock until we returned. Our kids (and us adults) had the time of their lives. Mahalo nui Kona Snorkel Trips. Keep up the excellent work.
– Jeffrey Foster - GoogleHad an amazing experience with their night manta ray tours. 5 manta rays and a monk seal, which the guides said was pretty out of the ordinary. Even better, we had booked a day tour with them - the day before they said they may need to cancel because there werent enough spots filled. We only had that day left to snorkel and they went above and beyond to find us another tour for the morning. Amazing customer service and an amazing experience means 5+ stars. Thank you!
– Troy Thomas - GoogleWe all had an amazing experience start to finish! This is a small group experience with a fantastic crew. We did the later trip and were blown away by how many rays we saw barrel rolling up close. Between the crew and the abundance of these gentle giants, it was definitely the highlight of our already wonderful trip. We had a 9 and 12 year old with us and they loved it too. I highly recommend Kona Snorkel!
– Paul Amato - GoogleLoved it! The guides made stops to and from Captain Cook to point out land marks, history and share stories. The snorkeling portion was very well guided. I felt safe and had all my questions answered. The guide pointed out all of the sea life and was a strong swimmer. Length of time at Captain Cook was perfect as well. My personal goal was to see an octopus and we did! We saw tons of different fish, a sea turtle, octopus an eel and beautiful coral. Snacks and drinks were perfect after the swim. I highly recommend this company for a snorkeling tour. Fun, organized, thoughtful, full of beauty and adventure.
– Ashton Glass - GoogleExcellent customer service! There was a problem with our reservation due our mistake while booking it and they were prompt to answer my call and provided a reasonable solution to it. We are really looking forward to our snorkeling experience now that our reservation is set. It is gonna our first visit to Hawaii and I’m glad we were able to get this booked ahead of time.
– Mirna Avila-Patton - GoogleThe mantas were active and fun to see. The crew and captain were cheerful and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!
– Megan B - GoogleOur family of five (two adults, three teens) had a great time in the night manta snorkel trip. We had the fantastic all-female crew, who were enthusiastic, professional, and informative. We were on the float with Shayleigh(sp?), who kept the stoke high and helped us attract a lovely manta. We saw a small reef shark and a few other fish while out. The manta swooped and rolled near us for over 20 minutes, allowing for lots of views and video. Thanks to the whole crew for being awesome stewards of the ocean and sea life! Highly recommend!
– Cynthia Brothers - GoogleMy boyfriend and I had a great time on the morning snorkel and boat tour! The captain and guide were both friendly and kept things safe and fun. We were encouraged to point out dolphins so we could get as close as is allowed to them, and it was so cool to see them do tricks from the boat. The speedboat itself was so cool, too. If you like adventure, I recommend sitting in the front for a bumpy ride :). We also had a great time snorkeling in Captain Cook. The snorkel is a popular spot for tours as it’s usually a 4-mile hike to the spot. The water is sooo blue and we even saw reef sharks from a distance. 100% recommend!
– EbbyBowles - TripAdvisorWe had a great time with Sheri and Jeanette! They were so knowledgeable and helfpul. What really made the difference is that they got into the water themselves and guided us around the reef and helping the not so great swimmers in my group to locate fish. Everyone had a blast. What was also great is that we went to a spot that was off the beaten path and we had the place all to ourselves! highly recommend this tour.
– Jeff C- TripAdvisorTook the whale watching tour. Saw a number of whales and dolphins. Liked the boat which is close to the water vs. the larger boats. The crew was very knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommended.
– Gary Sanders, GoogleReally enjoyed the morning snorkel trip! We saw spinner dolphins, whales, a turtle, Manta rays and an octopus! Snorkeling was clear and beautiful. Crew was attentive and knowledgeable. Great work Shelene and Andy!
– Alicia M, TripAdvisorI would give them a million stars if i could!!! We got to see five manta rays that got within face touching distance! Followed by an incredibly smooth star gazing boat ride! Great people! 10/10 would recommend
– Oliver M, TripAdvisorWe did the night Manta trip and it was EPIC. The crew was amazing! They made sure we were safe and had a good time. They were professional and knowledgeable. And fun!! We saw so many Mantas! So close we could see right through them. I’ve never been so impressed by an excursion in my life. Captain Andy, Janelle and Resa were the best! Thank you for the memories of a lifetime.
– SuperDluxe, TripAdvisorIf you’re going to come all this way to the Big Island of Hawaii, you might as well make it unforgettable! Kona Snorkel Trips specializes in simple, convenient, fun snorkeling tours, along with seasonal whale watching trips.
You’ll have plenty to brag about to your friends, family, and coworkers when you get home after one of our trips. Go home with a story you’ll be able to tell for the rest of your life: Schedule your tour today!
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.
