Top Big Island of Hawaii Dolphin Watching

Dolphin, Sea Cave & Captain Cook Snorkel Combo in Kealakekua Bay

4.7

(244)

from $115

Big Island: Manta Ray Night Snorkeling Adventure in Kailua-Kona

(676)

If you’re tired of crowded beaches and uncertain snorkel spots, join this escape from Kailua-Kona to swim in crystal-clear waters where dolphins play and tropical fish thrive. With your guide leading the way, you’ll discover the hidden treasures of Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii's premier snorkeling sanctuary. Perfect for beginners and expert snorkelers alike, all gear is provided—just bring your sense of underwater wonder.

from $75

Captain Cook Reef Snorkeling of Kealakekua Bay

(143)

Kona Manta Ray Snorkel Tour: Guaranteed or come again free

from $80

4.7

(2,519)

1 hour 20 minutesFree Cancellation

from $30

On this exciting Big Island whale-watching tour, experience the thrill of traveling aboard a high-speed raft—and then seeing a whale swimming and splashing just beyond the boat. Surrounded by panoramic views of the Pacific, your captain will try to woo (safely and according to regulations) these gigantic creatures close enough for you to snap incredible photos—and maybe even get you splashed.

Zodiac Raft Whale Watching Adventure

(483)

from $126

Two Reef Snorkel Trip-See Captain Cook Monument & Sea Caves

(361)

from $119

Hawaii’s Big Island is home to migrating pods of humpback whales, which often breach as they build up energy for their northward migration. This narrated tour brings you to some of the best viewing grounds via 26-person catamaran. The tour provider guarantees whale sightings or the next trip is free. View humpback whales in prime breaching season Take in Big Island views aboard a small catamaran Bottled water, light refreshments, and snacks provided

Whale Watching on Big island

4.3

(28)

Dolphin, Sea Cave, Captain Cook, Kealakekua Bay Reef Snorkeling

from $80

4.5

(52)

This half-day boat cruise takes you to the two best snorkeling sites in Kealakekua Bay: The reef beneath Captain Cook's monument and the underwater lava formations of Red Hill. In addition to breakfast and lunch, your guides provide all necessary equipment, basic snorkeling tips, and identification charts to help you spot fish and dolphins in their natural habitat. Don’t forget your camera—the route showcases sweeping views of the Kona coastline.

from $89

Deluxe Sail & Snorkel to the Captain Cook Monument

(549)

4 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

from $178

Snorkel with Manta Rays Guaranteed

(748)

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

from $142

Explore the Kona coast with experienced captains and guides. At least an hour of snorkel time at the best snorkel site chosen daily, based on water conditions, season, and marine life. Enjoy juice and snacks. Be sure to keep attentive and look out for whales, dolphins, turtles, manta rays, and more. Our Captains and crew are always eager to make sure you have a great time on the water and get you great shots of the beautiful coastline and majestic wildlife. Our boat has plenty shade, seating room, lots of dry storage, and a step ladder to get back into the boat. Boat capacity is 19 persons. Do not forget to call for availability before purchasing.

135

2.5 Hour Morning Snorkel

We are a small Hawaiian ʻohana-owned and operated business. A family of five—Kaleo, Leila, and their three sons Kaeo, Hauʻoli, and Makana—shares their love for the ocean with visitors and locals alike through their family-style charter boat company on the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, founded in 2025. We aim to give an authentic experience in a smaller, more personal setting with a maximum of 6 guests per charter, ensuring safety and comfort for all on board.

from $137

(5)

Whale Watching in Kona

This "safari" style trip lets you avoid the crowds typical of many boat tours. In a small group, head out along the Kona coastline in search of marine life, including dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, and whales. When the crew finds the right spot, you can put on your snorkeling gear, jump off, and explore the underwater world. The tour lasts about four hours and includes bottled water and snacks.

from $125

from $255

Private Custom Charter in Kawaihae

(9)

Come aboard UliUli Moana for a luxury private snorkeling tour. Everything you need for the day is provided. You and your party can show up to the harbor with nothing but smiles and we will provide the rest. This is a completely private and completely customizable tour. We will go to snorkel spots we know will provide an awesome experience, but we are willing to take you wherever your heart desires! We will have a snorkel guide on board to show you around the underwater world and point out some awesome natural life.

from $1,150

Per group

4 Hour Private Snorkeling Tour in Kona

(2)

1 hourFree Cancellation

from $1,650

Per group

Enjoy the rare opportunity to see wild manta rays in their natural environment along Hawaii's Kona coast. This small-group cruise includes a brief canoe ride on a historically accurate Hawaiian canoe. Set sail at night when the manta rays are most active and use a lighted floatation device to attract plankton—the rays' food of choice. With a guide to ensure a safe experience, head into the water to float and snorkel as you admire the rays in action.

Manta Ray Snorkeling by Night in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

(683)

1 hourFree Cancellation

from $127

4.5

(125)

Snorkel With Giant Manta Rays In Kailua Kona

2 hoursFree Cancellation

from $137

Afternoon Sail & Snorkel to the Captain Cook Monument

(250)

from $136

Kealakekua Bay (Captain Cook Monument) Snorkel and Sail Adventure

(707)

Waikoloa Catamaran Snorkel Sail Including Lunch

from $189

4.6

(107)

Stop wasting time on short charters that end just when the fish start biting. This private 5-hour experience maximizes your chances in waters where 1,000+ pound marlin are caught year-round—the only place on Earth with that record. Your captain consults with you before departure to match your specific goals, whether that's trophy marlin or simply enjoying Hawaii's marine life and coastline without the crowds.

from $189

Kona - 5 Hours Private Fishing Charter in Kailua-Kona

(28)

5 hoursFree Cancellation

from $950

Per group

Kona Catamaran Snorkel Sail with Lunch

(103)

from $169

Make the most of your time in port on this Kona shore excursion timed to your cruise's arrival and departure. Get picked up from the port and head out on a sailing adventure to the Captain Cook Monument and Kealkeaua Bay where you can snorkel, swim, and explore caves and lava tubes. Expect to see spinner dolphins, sea turtles, colorful fish, and ancient reefs. Lunch, snacks, and use of snorkeling gear are all included.

Kona Shore Excursion: Wild Dolphin Reefs Snorkel and Sea Caves

4.7

(76)

Manta Ray Night Snorkel from Kona — Small Group

from $149

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What are people saying about Big Island of Hawaii

Jessica_H, Apr 2026

Experience of a lifetime

Mack and Captain Chris provided an unforgettable experience. An easy boat ride about 20 minutes out and then the floating device was out and we were in the water very quickly. We could see mantas in the water before we even entered the ocean. The mantas engaged very quickly and were incredible to experience and watch. Mack prepared us for how to behave in the water to keep us and the mantas safe. If you are wondering if this is worth it, it absolutely is. Experience of a lifetime with this crew specifically!

Captain Cook Reef Snorkeling of Kealakekua Bay

andrea_m, Apr 2026

The experience was...

The experience was amazing. The reef was beautiful. We also got to see a pod of dolphins playing in the water. The crew also went above and beyond helping my 75 yr old mother snorkel for her 1st time. I would highly recommend this snorkeling excursion.

Two Reef Snorkel Trip-See Captain Cook Monument & Sea Caves

Chitra_K, Mar 2026

Awesome snorkeling adventure

We had a fantastic time on the two stop snorkel with Captain Rob and Bryce. It exceeded our expectations on all fronts. We ended up seeing lots of sea creatures and coral at both locations. While it wasn’t guaranteed, we lucked out and saw a family of dolphins and a beaked whales! The tour included fantastic organization from start to finish and great responsiveness to every single one of our family members (ages 10-49). The views were gorgeous along the way. We now feel like we have experienced Hawaii.

Kona’s Best Morning Snorkel: Captain Cook & Kealakekua Bay

Melinda_S, Mar 2026

Great Snorkeling Day

Incredible day on the water. Breakfast and lunch were light and delightful. The crew was helpful and amazing. The snorkeling was awesome. A pod of dolphins swam by and we also saw an octopus. It was perfect weather, perfect day. The reefs were breathtaking with such a wide variety of tropical fish, sea anemones, and urchins. We enjoyed the ride back where we saw a bunch of flying fish and some bottlenose dolphins rode our wake for a while. It was very unforgettable! Highly recommend.

Kona Shore Excursion: Wild Dolphin Reefs Snorkel and Sea Caves

Evangeline_H, Mar 2026

Fantastic snorkel tour!

We were only in Kona for a day on a cruise. I chose this because of their willingness to work with cruise ship passengers in terms of scheduling/cancellartions, etc. I really wanted to see the famous reef and the Captain Cook site. They also offered pick up and drop off right from the cruise port so it was super convenient. It was myself, my husband and our two kids (aged 10 and 14) and we all had a great time. It was extremely well organized and easy to find the bus right off the cruise ship as promised. It was a short bus ride to the boat and at the harbor they had bathrooms and a check in station where we all left our shoes. Our tour guides/captains/wait staff were Trevor, Maddie and Diego. They were all super nice and safety conscious. Knew a lot about the wildlife and from the boat we spotted dolphins, many many fish, and even a shark. The snorkeling was great and visibility was amazing. They had reef-safe sunscreen on the boat and a large amount of free snacks and drinks. This was the best snorkeling I have done in a long time. I’m really glad we chose this company to do it with. We had a great day out. Couple of things to mention: 1) I would recommend you have a baseline level of mobility for this tour. You really need to be able to climb down into the boat and out again. The guides were awesome about helping everyone and very strong but I would just say, be realistic about your limitations about this. 2) this is not a large boat and so there is no bathroom available while actually on the ship. Again this wasn’t a problem for us but just worth mentioning. There were not a lot of people on the boat, maybe 20? So that was very nice. All of the other passengers were super nice and there was another set of (younger) kids on board, they provided everyone with anti-fog treatment, masks, fins, snorkels, life vests and pool noodles. All in all a great day out. Honestly if more businesses ran their business this way a lot more people would do this rather than forking over the extra money to do the “excursion” through the cruise ship.

Kealakekua Bay (Captain Cook Monument) Snorkel and Sail Adventure

Jennifer_M, Mar 2026

Relaxing Boat Tour - Professional, Family Friendly, Great for Beginners

Kona Style is a super professional, well run outfit with warm, friendly service and great guides. The boat is extremely comfortable and a super chill way to see the island from the water, experience the sealife (dolphins, whales if you're lucky, and of course the fish and coral at the snorkeling stop). Lunch is yummy, you are treated so kindly on the boat, and one of the guides gets in the water to help with anyone who needs an extra hand getting used to snorkeling. Check in is super easy to find and convenient at the hotel location by the pool, and the Uulani's Shave Ice right next door couldn't taste better than right off the boat. My only comment would be if your highest priority is snorkeling, the time in the water for me felt a little shorter than I would have preferred, but I am an avid snorkeler and had been on a smaller boat tour the day before (that was not at all comfortable or chill) but I felt like I got my snorkeling fix. I liked having two tours to experience the water in different ways, so I would just think through what your priorities are for your tours to make sure you are picking the right one for you. If you want an enjoyable boat ride and snorkeling at one of the best places in Hawaii, you won't be disappointed.

Zodiac Raft Whale Watching Adventure

Jenna_B, Mar 2026

10/10 would do again!

The boat ride is physical and by no means a luxury expedition (the zodiac is in great shape, but you’re hanging on to the side of a raft, not in a cushy seat). BUT Captain Ashley and Alec 100% gave a luxury expedition with their collective knowledge and overall experience. We saw several humpbacks and had a great experience wrapping up with a beautiful sunset as we headed into the marina.

Kona Snorkeling: Beat the Crowd to Kealakekua Bay

Jennifer_F, Feb 2026

Must do!

What a great day! Captain Rick & Kim were wonderful! The best snorkeling I have been on to date (we saw an octopus!)! The boat was really fun too. The boat has room - so bring your backpack (towels, water bottle and sweatshirt for the ride back). Put ample sunscreen on before you board the boat (there is complimentary reef safe sunscreen in the marina lodge where you check in). On the way back to the marina we saw 6 whales and Captain Rick even took the time to wait for them to breach multiple times for us! Thank you for an amazing day out!!

Waikoloa Catamaran Snorkel Sail Including Lunch

Diana_L, Dec 2025

Great crew, lovely ride on the catamaran

Great crew, I appreciated that the captain spent time teaching us how to wear the snorkel and everyone was required to wear a snorkel vest for visibility. It was also great to get picked up on the beach on A Bay as I was staying at the Marriot. Once at the snorkel site, there was also a large floating mat to hold onto/rest on (mostly the kids did this) if you were too tired. The ride to the snorkel site and back was smooth and view was beautiful of course. They also had prescription snorkel masks up to -5! It's not the crew's fault, but I wish we were able to see turtles, dolphins, or whales while we were on the catamaran or snorkeling. We did see a variety of fish. They mentioned that they had a whale watching tour later in the day that we could try to book. For lunch, they provided turkey/cheese sandwiches and nuts/granola bars/rice crispie treats for snacks. Drinks included juices or other alcoholic beverages.

Kona Catamaran Snorkel Sail with Lunch

Christina_S, Oct 2025

We had a great time on...

We had a great time on this tour! I was hoping to see dolphins, which we did! Snorkeling was very cool and it was nice that they provide everything for you. Lunch was a treat and they were able to accommodate my gluten-free request that I specified at booking! I would highly recommend to anyone who wants to get out on the water in Kona.

Kona Tradewind Catamaran Day Sail

Brenden_D, Oct 2025

Relaxing mid-afternoon cruise.

Perfect mid-afternoon no-frills cruise. Great opportunity to put in the middle of your vacation for a few hours of relaxing under sail. We saw a large pod of spinner dolphin, a bunch of goats along the coast, and thousands of flying fish. Great boat, with a great crew! No snorkeling, no dinner, just a relaxing cruise with snacks and drinks available.

Manta Ray Snorkeling by Night in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

kia_m, Aug 2025

Best Excursion and the friendliest staff! HIGHLY recommend

What a bucket list AMAZING experience. I was nervous about swimming out to the board and they were so encouraging and helpful! They bring the board within 3 or 4 feet of the canoes and you jump in with a pool float. We saw soooooo many mantas! They continuously swam within inches of us. We could not have asked for a better experience. The staff were so nice and friendly. I love that the ride out is only a few minutes. The wet suits kept us warm and were comfortable. I would highly recommend eka canoe! The other companies had TONS of people and we had only 12 and it was a much better experience.