Turtle Canyon Snorkel Tour - Semi-private: 6 passenger max

Recommended by 98% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Honolulu, USA

High interest

Booked 4 times today.

1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.9

· Jamie_W ·

Apr 2026

Holly and Philip were so amazing. This was our first time so we were a little nervous cuz this was our first time. but they made us so comfortable. We got to see so many different fish and nine sea turtles. One was a tiny baby and so cute. I would recommend this to any friend and family. They will even take underwater video for you to keep forever.

· Chris_K ·

Apr 2026

Holly was an amazing guide and spent so much time ensuring we had a personalized experience in the water. Philip was an excellent driver and safety was his number one priority. They both were very knowledgeable and professional. I highly recommend this smaller tour for their dedication to ensuring your personal experience is amazing and for their excellent customer service.

· Mia_D ·

Mar 2026

We had an incredible experience with Phil and Holly. Phil gave great safety instructions as well as a very smooth ride on the boat. Holly was energetic and knowledgeable about sea life which made our snorkel all the better! We find ourselves continuing to talk about how good this snorkel experience was that we booked another snorkel during our time here! Highly recommend booking with Phil and Holly!

Overview

Skip crowded boats and join a more personal, eco-friendly experience on this Turtle Canyon snorkeling tour from Honolulu. With a maximum of six guests, this small-group tour lets you swim alongside Hawaiian green sea turtles in a calm, respectful way—without disturbing the reef or the wildlife. Guided by locals, learn about Hawaii’s marine ecosystem as you keep an eye out for spinner dolphins, monk seals, manta rays, and colorful reef fish. Every swim is different—truly a one-of-a-kind ocean adventure.

Learn about Hawaiian culture and wildlife as you take to the water
Small-group boat ride allows for a more personal experience
Add on professional photos and videos for an extra fee
Maximize your chances of spotting marine life with the help of your guide

What's Included

Use of Snorkeling equipment

Use of Snorkelling equipment
All Fees and Taxes
English-speaking guide
CPR/AED & Lifeguard certified crew

Gratuity

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Hawaii Apex Charters
1739C Ala Moana Blvd Dock X Slip #C-08, Honolulu, HI 96815, USA
Head towards Hawaii Yacht Club at the end of the dock. As you are walking or driving down the dock, you will see a big ramp and sign on the right that says "Dock X", that is where we meet! Parking is $1/hr along the sidewalk.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Diamond Head State Monument

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Turtle Canyon

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps

Not recommended for travelers with back problems
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Chris_K

Reviews

4.9

based on 112 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Hawai’i Apex Charters - snorkeling

Chris_K, Apr 2026

Holly and Phillip are amazing!

Jamie_W, Apr 2026

Unfortunately due to bad...

Jenn_M, Mar 2026

Unfortunately due to bad storms here in Honolulu we were not able to go on this. Disappointing but NOT the vendors fault. Called to let us know and is issuing a full refund. Maybe next time we are here

Best experience ever!

Mia_D, Mar 2026

Worth it

Clay_D, Mar 2026

Loved the small group, the staff were extremely helpful and accommodating. The tour guide was knowledgeable of the area and the wildlife, and was super friendly with the kids.

Best turtle dive team going

Chris_V, Dec 2025

Not only is the crew smart and beautiful. There extremely nice and organized. The small group is definitely the way to go. You can tell everyone loves the work there doing. Had a fantastic time don’t hesitate it’s well worth it.

Worth it!

Jackson_C, Dec 2025

Excellent experience hosts were knowledgeable and laid back. Saw and learned so much. Highly recommend to all!

Amazing almost private experience

AntonioErnestoNoguer, Nov 2025

They were extremely friendly and knowledgeable about what they do. I strongly recommend them if you want an almost private experience

Worth the extra cost. If...

Brigitte_P, Sep 2025

Worth the extra cost. If you have someone in your party that wants to remain on the boat, opportunity to view the sea turtles as they surfaced regularly.

A Must Do

JOSHUA_M, Sep 2025

We (my fiancee and I) had a great time. We just went today. Swimming with Turtles was on our bucket list. We enjoyed the whole experience, the staff, the boat, everything. They offer pictures and videos so you don't have to miss anything. Definitely recommend 👌

Great fun and great value. Can't recommend highly enough.

Rosalind_H, Sep 2025

Intimate, restful, everything it claimed and more. We saw turtles getting their shells cleaned by fish in crystal clear water, as we sat off Waikiki with Diamond Head in the background. Phillipe and Mandy made us feel like we were sharing the boat, and being only three people, it felt much different than the usual crowded adventure.

Top drawer experience

John_H, Sep 2025

This is the one. Exceptionally maintained, appropriately sized boat for small group. They care about your experience. Don't look any further, unless you have an unsatisfied urge to be on a skow with 40-100 other tourists trying to put on gear, get in, get out, climb over, and generally swarm the reef. Mahallo!

Super fun !! Seen so many turtlea

April_P, Sep 2025

Had the best time snorkelling! We seen so many turtles and the boat ride was super fun. Would 100% recommend.

Highly recommend this duo

Guy_B, Sep 2025

The captain and the guide were both very knowledgeable about the water and the wildlife. They answered any questions we had and were very social and friendly. The guide kept us out of the crowds but still gave us great opportunities to see the turtles and fish.

Best experience

Tiffany_M, Aug 2025

If we could do this everyday with them we would! We had the best experience! It was our favorite thing we did by far in Hawaii. The host was amazing and we learned a lot. Rain or shine, you will have an awesome time.

Amazing Experience Swimming with Turtles

Kristin_I, Aug 2025

The captain and the photographer were very hospitable, kind, and knowledgeable. The boat is beautiful and brand new. We are on a small boat with only 6 people as apposed to all the other large 70-100 person boats so we could get the best spot and could go wherever we wanted in the water. We also had a lot more comfort and flexibility than the larger boats. The photographer was also our guide and pointed out large schools of fish and the many sea turtles. It was an amazing experience that I would recommend to anyone who wants to see sea life without having to swim very far.

Best Snorkel Tour Ever

Van_K, Jul 2025

Phillip and Ianthe were awesome. Just our family of 5 so felt like a private charter rather than a huge crowd of snorkelers. Very professional and informative. Were great keeping us together on a guided tour and away from the crowds once at the canyon. Visibility was great on our tour day and had multiple turtle encounters. Great morning dive and snorkel right before the tsunami warning that day. Highly recommend!

Beautiful experience for my kids!

sharon_m, Jul 2025

This experience was amazing. It was our first time snorkeling with kids (10 and 8). I was extremely nervous but chose this specific excursion because of how personal I knew it would be. We only had 5 people total on our boat (4 of them were my family). I felt safer with such a small group. My girls loved it! Thank you so much for this.

Sick Trip!

Isaac_B, Jun 2025

Small crew allowed for a more personalized experience. Went over all safety protocols and made sure we were taken care of out on the water. Saw turtles, sharks and plenty of fish. Tip- Definitely don't eat before you go!

Really, really great!

Jessica_R, May 2025

This experience was fantastic. I will be in Honolulu again in March 2026 and will definitely be booking with them again. Three of us went on this excursion, although only two of us snorkeled. The two men who run this operation are genuinely nice, and also thorough--they made sure we were both comfortable and safe. The boat was shiny-clean and clearly well-maintained. The equipment for snorkeling was clean and looked new. We went to Turtle Canyon and saw loads of turtles! It was amazing! They are so graceful and fast underwater! Then we moved over a bit and saw quite a few different kinds of fish, all beautiful. The area was crowded with other boats and snorkelers (it's a popular spot) but they kept us away from the crowds. One of the men came in the water with us to guide us around the area. Because one of my arms isn't working very well, he towed me most of the time, which was really kind. He pointed out the turtles to us (usually before I spotted them) and the schools of fish. He also took photos underwater. Most of the photos were just ok, but there were a few I really liked. Not sure if the photos are worth the extra charge, but because I rarely take selfies it was worth it for me. Seeing the turtles (and getting so close to them) and the fish, and snorkeling in water that felt like silk would have been enough for me to recommend this excursion--but the two men who hosted us, along with the cleanliness and safety-consciousness, make this a "highly recommend!" and explain why I'll be going out with them again!

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Hi Jessica, thank you for your review! I'm glad you enjoyed the tour and would highly recommend us to others. Unfortunately, this snorkel spot is the only location that is guaranteed to see turtles but we try our best to keep you guys away from the crowd! Thanks for noticing the clean boat, we definitely spend a lot of time maintaining it! Hope to see you back out with us.

Incredible snorkeling experience- great value & fun!

Rebecca_R, Apr 2025

Going on the boat and snorkeling was so much fun. The captain and snorkeling lead were so sweet and open and friendly. I was a first-time snorkeler and they made it very easy and not intimidating for me to feel comfortable jumping right in (literally!). I really appreciated that it was a small group (no more than 6) so it felt like we got such a personalized and special experience. There were people of all ages on our boat and everyone had a blast. Plus we saw a giant sea turtle!! And so many beautiful fish.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Hi Rebecca, thank you for your review! With only 6 people on our boat, we can really be attentive with everyone and make sure everyone's having a good time. Hope to see you come back!

What a wonderful...

Amy_P, Apr 2025

What a wonderful experience! The guides were SO friendly and knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend them. Looking forward coming back in November for a whale tour.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Hi Amy, thank you for your review! See you soon for the whales!

Too Fast Paced Rushed Experience but Great Photos!

FelixiaJanina_A, Apr 2025

Great photos but the excursion itself was too fast! Had to follow guide really quickly to get photos with turtles. We got a bit dizzy from swimming as fast as we could. Disappointed after we realized we were only in the water for 20 mins tops. Since we were expecting 30-45 mins as shown on the voucher. Wished we could have stayed in the water for a bit to swim in our own pace. We were out of breath and light headed afterwards. Upside is the photos turned out fantastic!

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Hi Felixia, I'm sorry the tour felt shorter! Sometimes it takes people extra time to get in the water which takes time away from snorkeling. Send us a message next time you book with us, we can offer a free tour for you.

Turtles!

Nancy_C, Apr 2025

Nice small group. Guides were friendly. Location was a bit crowded with other tours, but unavoidable. We saw 4 turtles and some dolphins on our route as a bonus! Equipment looked new and well cared for. We had a good time.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Hi Nancy, thank you for your review! I'm glad you were able to have a good time despite the crowds out there. Unfortunately, this is the only spot we can guarantee turtles which is why this spot is so popular among the tour companies.

The captain and diver...

Krystal_M, Mar 2025

The captain and diver were very helpful and very knowledgeable . It was a wonderful experience and I would highly recommend it to my friends.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Hi Krystal, thank you for your review! Hope to see you back out with some more friends!

Worth it!!!

Andrew_V, Jan 2025

These folks were exceptional. Nothing short of professional, friendly and educational. After the fact I do regret not asking for pictures but I wouldn’t change the experience for a second. Highly recommend!

Response from Host, Feb 2025

Hi Andrew, Let us know when you come back next time, we can offer free photos! Thank you for choosing to book a tour with us!

Go for it!

Sha_C, Jan 2025

Loved the snorkeling tour - there were 6 of us total on the boat including 2 kids. Danny and the Captain were very nice and they ensured that we all had a great time snorkeling in the turtle bay. The boat was in very good condition and felt safe!

Response from Host, Feb 2025

Hi, thank you for your review! We're glad you had a great time seeing the turtles and hanging out with us!

The tour guides were very...

Robert_S, Jan 2025

The tour guides were very friendly and helpful. They made sure everyone felt safe and comfortable throughout the experience.

Response from Host, Feb 2025

Hi Robert, thank you for your review! Safety is our number one priority and we're glad you felt that!

Just 2 guys with a fishing boat trying to upsell a friend’s photo business

Julee_F, Dec 2024

Snorkeling in Waikiki- rather, 2 guys that have a small fishing boat trying to upsell their friend’s underwater photos for $50 each and if you don’t pay, then you are forgotten and complained about! Our experience summary- The non-elusive human SCUBA divers were very active swimming along the bottom and scaring ALL fish life away from our 40’ depth (which is impossible for non-professional pearl divers to “free dive”) the water was so blue and literally all you could see in ANY direction…we were likely being watched and the brunt of ALL whale life pods in the vicinity. Chasing the boat against the VAST undersea current was EXHILARATING and filled us with exhaustion the likes of which Navy SEAL applicants are tested. To the sounds that were always over 100’ away by our guide of, there’s a turtle over here!!!! By the time we got there, the turtle had already changed course, swam up on the beach, made a nest, deposited her eggs and swam back out to us only to haul ass out of our area as soon as we got “close enough to see her”! So I have asked for a refund and what I’m getting is harassment and refusals along with- it’s my fault because I (not my husband) brought my camera out in the water, trying to take pictures.

Response from Host, Feb 2025

Hi Julee, thank you for your review. We are sorry you had a terrible time, a full refund was processed as requested. We did, however, note down all of these remarks and will try to make changes where we can. Next time, we will try our best to make sure there is no current, that the turtles stay completely still, and that no other divers are in the area. We hope you enjoyed the rest of your stay here.