Kona Coast Cruise: Hawaiian Heritage & Marine Life

Embark on a small-group snorkel experience from Kailua-Kona to Kealakekua Bay. Discover Hawaiian history, encounter spinner dolphins, and explore the Captain James Cook monument.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Kealakekua Bay - Enjoy snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park, home to the Captain Cook Monument on The Big Island of Hawaii, in an intimate small-group setting.
    Kealakekua Bay is a protected marine sanctuary, offering what is arguably the finest snorkeling in all of Hawaii. Thanks to the state’s environmental protections, Kealakekua…
What's Included
  • Bottled water
  • Snacks
  • Use of snorkeling equipment
  • Nonalcoholic refreshments
What's Not Included
  • Bring your own towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, and waterproof camera
Additional Information

We embark on a journey from Keauhou Harbor into the pristine azure seas. As we set sail, our crew highlights captivating sights along the historically rich Kona coastline. South Kona is home to an array of significant Hawaiian Heritage landmarks, brimming with mana (spiritual power). We remain in proximity to the Kona coast as we navigate southwards…

Location
78-7138 Kaleiopapa St
Kaleiopapa Street
Meet us near the boat ramp at Keauhou Harbor.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(441 Ratings)
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1 star
L7862cabriand
Apr 7, 2026
Excellent snorkeling trip! - Great snorkeling trip. The guides Justin and Caleigh were fantastic!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elise_r
Apr 6, 2026
Caleigh and Justin were... - Caleigh and Justin were very informative and professional making sure everyone was safe and having the best experience.
Review provided by Viator
Kasey_k
Mar 31, 2026
Loved it! - Justin and Kailey were awesome - great information, great snorkeling and very personable. So grateful for the experience.
Review provided by Viator
Brooke_b
Mar 31, 2026
Best snorkeling ever - I’ve been snorkeling/scuba diving all over the world and this is some of the best I’ve seen. Coral and fish were plentiful. The water was so clear. Our tour guide, she was very knowledgeable. My only regret is I wish I would’ve brought a wetsuit because it was colder than snorkeling off the shore. But I think it’s worth it doing a smaller tour before the crowds. Also got some history and interesting facts.
Review provided by Viator
Stevencp3674yk
Mar 28, 2026
Captain Cook Snorkel - I Did the Captain Cook snorkel and it was fantastic! Saw a shark!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
L1439jtjennyb
Mar 27, 2026
Best part of our trip to the Big Island! - Our morning with Hawaii Oceanic was our favorite part of our trip to the Big Island! We saw spinner dolphins, bottle nosed dolphins, mantas, eels and tons of different types of fish. Our captain, Alexis, studied Hawaiian history, and our crew member, Carmelle, has a degree in marine science. Due to the knowledge and passion the two of possessed, we would recommend this trip to anyone! PS fire playlist Alexis 🔥
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Missie_g
Mar 23, 2026
The experience was... - The experience was wonderful!!! Very patient. Down to earth, knowledgeable and funny "dad" jokes were told. Lol
Review provided by Viator
Lockp2026
Mar 21, 2026
Perfect Snorkel Trip for Small Groups - We had such a great time on this snorkel trip! Alan and Kaylie were awesome guides and stopped us by a bunch of great side locations to see landscape features and even dropped us in a mini-snorkel at a gorgeous little reef on the way back. The early timing was 100% worth it as there was almost no one there when we arrived and our small group felt like we had plenty of space and time to explore. The price was excellent compared to bigger tours and we felt like we got way more out of the same cost with the length of time we got to spend in the water, even with a solid tip added for the guides. The snacks provided were really hearty and plentiful, too! You'll see in other reviews that the reef has suffered, but the wildlife more than makes up for it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Escape262394
Mar 17, 2026
Enjoyable Day of Snorkeling - Highly recommend. The ride out to the Bay was relaxing with only a small group of people on the boat. When we arrived we were given snorkeling equipment and and over an hour to explore the reef. This is an excellent spot. The reef is shallow giving you the opportunity to see many beautiful fish, swimming solo and in schools, great coral and a few sea turtles. This was a small boat tour with two great guides - Ashley and Alexis who made the trip even more enjoyable!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Scott_b
Mar 23, 2026
A Tad Crowded, but Fun - Our all-female captain and crew were terrific. I would say if you haven't done much snorkeling, go on this trip. If you've done a fair amount of snorkeling in other parts of the world known for beautiful snorkeling sights, you might be a tad disappointed (as I was). There were some beautiful fish, for sure, but not an overabundance of them, and the coral is sadly tired. And as this bay is THE place to snorkel near Kona, the waters got pretty crowded quickly. If you have time for only one snorkel outing on the big island, DEFINITELY do the night manta rays. That one tops this one. There was an amazing highlight of this trip, however. A pod of spinner dolphins followed our boat back to the marina, swimming just off the bow and jumping the wake in the back. A real cool experience to see them!
Review provided by Viator
From $109
up to 11 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).