Kealakekua Bay Snorkeling Tour - 4 hour Kona Zodiac Adventure
Description
Skim across the waves on an exciting Big Island Zodiac tour to Kealakekua Bay, site of the Captain Cook monument and Hawaii's finest marine sanctuary. Snorkel with a rainbow of tropical fish among beautiful coral gardens in the bay's clear, crystal waters. Enjoy the delightful tropical snacks provided before you head out again, exploring vast sea caves, lava tubes and the rugged beauty of the coastline.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This is the original rafting company of Hawai'i, with our family run office set up for checking in each of our excursions. Our office allows indoor seating, air conditioning, convenient restrooms, reef safe sunscreen, children entertainment, souvenir shopping and one fluffy friendly golden retriever, if you are missing yours back home.
This is the original rafting company of Hawai'i, with our family run office set up for checking in each of our excursions. Our office allows indoor seating, air conditioning, convenient restrooms, reef safe sunscreen, children entertainment, souvenir shopping and one fluffy friendly golden retriever, if you are missing yours back home.
Travel down the Kona coast exploring the deep waters of the Pacific ocean looking for any one of our resident dolphin or whales. Making short stops for photo opportunities with views and informative facts about some of our islands volcanoes.
Hawaii is home to over 85% of coral reefs in America, while on the Big island, Kealakekua Bay is your best opportunities to see one of Hawai'i most spectacular reefs. Enjoy the crystal clear water of Kealakekua Bay Marine Preserve where visibility can be 70 to over 100 feet while snorkeling. Snorkel in a well protected bay with over 100 variety of fish in depths of 6 to 50 feet.
Once everyone is back on the boat and enjoying the snacks, fresh fruit and cold refreshments, the story about Captain Cook and his influence he had on the Hawaiian population and Maritime community will begin.
Since Kealakekua bay is a Marine Sanctuary, our tour is the only eco-friendly way to see the park from our boat without leaving lasting footprints. The hike down to this area is 2 1/2 miles round trip and a 1000 foot drop in elevation, there are no restrooms or safe way to enter the water from shore without causing injury to yourself or the coral reef.
On your return journey from Kealakekua Bay travel along the rugged shoreline hugging the coast with our maneuverable Zodiac boats. Listen to the stories of old Hawai'i and how the island was formed while you view different geological features. Our captain and crew are always willing to give out recommendations of places to eat, things to see, or events that are happening around Kona, so don't be afraid to ask.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 4 years
Reviews(513)
It was great! We saw dolphins, whales, tuna along with all the fish we saw while snorkeling! Captain and crew were very knowledgeable and friendly.
This was one of the most disappointing tours we have taken. We chose this tour because of the excellent reviews and because it was highly recommended for families, but our experience was very different. Sitting on the edge of the Zodiac boat and holding onto a rope for such a long ride was extremely uncomfortable and exhausting, even for the adults in our family. We were instructed to keep our feet under a tight rope for stability, but this made our feet hurt throughout the ride. Our whole family also felt that the captain and guide were not particularly friendly or attentive, and the commentary and explanations during the tour were limited. The snorkeling itself was not special enough to make the long and uncomfortable boat ride worthwhile. We were fortunate to see a group of whales, which was the highlight of the tour, but overall, this was the most disappointing tour we have taken.
Aloha, and thank you for sharing your feedback. We are sorry to hear that the Zodiac-style rafting experience was not the right fit for your family. Our boats are designed for adventure, with guests seated on the pontoons while holding the safety lines, and we understand that this style of seating may not be comfortable for everyone. For guests looking for traditional seating, more space to move around, or a smoother ride, a larger catamaran may be a better option. We were surprised to learn about your discomfort, as these concerns were not shared with the captain or crew during the tour. Had they known that your family was uncomfortable or experiencing foot pain, they would have been happy to help reposition you, adjust your seating, or offer suggestions to make the ride more comfortable. While we understand that the snorkeling experience did not meet your expectations, your family was fortunate to encounter a large group of pilot whales and spend an extended period observing them. Pilot whale encounters are unpredictable, and the opportunity to enjoy such a long and memorable wildlife viewing experience is something many guests may never experience during their time in Hawaiʻi. We appreciate your feedback regarding the crew and commentary and will share it with our team. We are disappointed that the overall experience did not meet your expectations, but we are glad the pilot whale encounter was a highlight of your day. Mahalo for joining us and for taking the time to share your perspective.
Great guides! Saw many colorful fish and enjoyed the experience. One thing to note is the boat ride to the reef area is approximately 45 minutes and bumpy! The ride back was a bit faster and with the increased speed made the ride even more bumpy. If you have back/neck problems this may not be for you. The captain shared some history about the island too which was nice. If in good shape and can withstand the choppy waters this would be highly recommended.
Thank you for the thoughtful review and recommendation! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the snorkeling, saw plenty of colorful reef fish, and appreciated the history and stories shared by your captain along the way. You're absolutely right that our Zodiac rafts provide a true ocean adventure. The ride can be exciting and bumpy at times, especially when ocean conditions are choppy. We always encourage guests with back, neck, or other physical concerns to carefully consider whether this style of tour is the right fit for them. The tradeoff is access to spectacular coastline views, sea caves, lava tubes, and an up-close Kona snorkeling experience that larger vessels simply can't provide. Mahalo for joining us and for highlighting both the adventure and the beauty of the trip. We hope to welcome you back for another day exploring Kealakekua Bay and the Kona Coast!
Such a fun and memorable trip. The guide shared many facts about Big Island and native culture. Bring a towel, sunscreen, and for the girlies with DDs+, you will need a good sports bra
Mahalo for sharing your memorable snorkel experience to Kealakekua Bay and we're so happy to hear you had a great time! Our captains and crew love to share local knowledge and history of the island and love when guests are interested in learning more! We hope to see you back on your next trip to Big Island to explore Kailua Kona's beautiful coast!
Captain Rick and Shannon were superb guides. We did the beat the crowd tour and it exceeded expectations. The conditions were great and after lunch, there were almost no other tour groups snorkeling. We saw lots of fish, an octopus (thanks, Shannon), and spinner dolphins. Then, on the way back to the harbor, Captain Rick really tried to make the most of our return trip by getting us closer to some whales that were breaching. My wife, teen son and I had our best snorkeling experience yet on this tour. We unanimously recommend this tour!
Mahalo for the fantastic review! We’re so happy to hear your Beat the Crowd Kona snorkeling tour with Captain Rick and Shannon exceeded expectations. Timing those quieter moments in the water truly makes a difference, and it sounds like you had an incredible day — beautiful conditions, vibrant reef fish, an octopus sighting (nice find, Shannon!), spinner dolphins, and even breaching whales on the ride back. 🐋🐬 Rick and Shannon love creating well-rounded adventures both above and below the water, and we’ll be sure to pass along your kind words. It means so much to hear this was your family’s best snorkeling experience yet here in Kona. Thank you for the unanimous recommendation and for choosing Captain Zodiac for your Kona snorkeling adventure. We can’t wait to welcome your family back for another unforgettable day on the water! 🌊🐠🤙
Amazing snorkeling spot and super fun ride out and back! Great for people who don’t mind a bumpy ride.
Mahalo for the great review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the amazing snorkeling spot and the fun ride along the coast—adventure is definitely part of the experience. Our rafting trips are perfect for guests who don’t mind a little bounce in exchange for access to incredible locations and a more up-close ocean experience. We appreciate you joining us and hope to see you again for another adventure soon.
Great tour with good information about the island. Plenty of time for snorkeling and nice trip back. Saw dolphins, whale, and sharks in addition to the snorkeling.
Awesome, we are so glad you enjoyed your tour with Captain Zodiac. Yes, Kona has some of the greatest whale and sea life tours in Hawaii and we're grateful that you were able to join us! Kealakekua Bay is very special and please come back and visit us the next time you are in Hawaii. Mahalo, CZ Team
The company canceled not enough people and will not give my money back nor will Groupon Groupon is not cooperating on giving my money back either the gentleman got rude when I could not change my dates
We apologize that we were not able to accommodate your original date and unable to reschedule. Per our two phone calls and two emails communicating that Groupon will be issuing you a full refund directly. The refund takes 7-10 business from when Groupon issues the refund. We apologize for the inconvenience and next time you are in Hawaii; please reach out to us directly if you would like to join us on a whale tour. Mahalo, CZ Team
Wonderful experience - crew and captain are passionate about the area and took great care of us. We had a lot of fun on the zodiac boat and learned a lot about the area. Beating the crowds was super worth it and we even saw two whales on our way back. 100% recommend
Mahalo nui loa for the wonderful review and the 100% recommendation! We’re so happy to hear you had such a great time on the Zodiac and felt well cared for by our passionate crew. Beating the crowds and still catching those whale sightings on the way back is always a special treat! Thank you for joining us on the water, and we hope to welcome you back again soon.
EXCELLENT experience!!! So much fun Rick and Cam were FANTASTIC they truly provided an awesome experience
Mahalo nui loa for the wonderful review! We’re so happy to hear you had an EXCELLENT time and that Rick and Cam helped make it such a fun and memorable adventure. They’ll be thrilled to hear your kind words. We truly appreciate you choosing to join us on the ocean and hope to welcome you back again soon.
