A Snorkeling + Cruise tour by Sea Paradise. Search all tours.
Short Overview: Sail to one of the best snorkeling spots on the island past the scenic Kona coastline with a spacious 45 foot trimaran from Keauhou to Kealakekua Bay. This is one of the best snorkeling spots on the island with pristine clear blue waters and a vibrant reef, but it notoriously difficult to reach over land!
Large photoThe CAptain Cook Monument marks the place where British explorer Captain Cook met his violent end. Image credit: Sea Paradise
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The Hokulani can get you close to the best snorkeling locations. Image credit: Sea Paradise
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Kealakekua is one of the best snorkeling spots on the Big Island. Image credit: Sea Paradise
Tour Highlights:
- 45 ft (14 m) Trimaran (more stable than a Catamaran) with two restrooms, tanning nets, a shaded galley, and a fresh water shower.
- Snorkel at Kealakekua Bay (Captain Cook), one of the BEST snorkeling spots of the island
- GoPro rentals available to take your own awesome (underwater) videos and pictures of the day
Tour Information:
| Price: | Adult | Youth | Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| (excluding booking fee) | $77 | $47 | Free |
Tour Provider: Sea Paradise
Activity: Snorkeling + Cruise
Tour start time: 1:30 pm
Duration: 3 hours
Departure from: Keauhou harbor
Pick-up available? No
Included: Lights snacks, bottled water and coffee/tea, snorkel gear (mask, snorkel, fins), flotation noodles, life jackets, Reef Safe Sunscreen, and fish identification cards
Cancellations: Cancellations require 24 hour advance notice on regular bookings and 72 hour advance notice on private charters. You must call (800) 322-5662 or 808-322-2500 to cancel your tour. No refunds will be issued if you do not call to cancel in the required time prior to your scheduled check-in time.
Read more: about snorkeling on the Love Big Island website in our snorkeling guide.
The “Hokulani” is a 45 ft (14 m) Trimaran with two restrooms, tanning nets, a shaded galley, and a fresh water shower. The shape of the boat provides a more stable and smooth ride than a catamaran. Snorkeling time is about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Please don’t forget to bring yourself: swim wear, a cover-up, sunglasses, reef safe sunscreen, a hat, towel, and camera.
Typical snorkeling itinerary:
The Hokulani sets sail from Keauhou Bay at 2 pm. For 45 minutes you’ll be sailing past the beautiful Kona coastline after which you arrive at the Historic Kealakekua Bay where you can see the Captain Cook Monument.
Before entering the water the crew will give you a site briefing and basic snorkeling instructions. Life jackets, flotation noodles, and viewfinder boards as well as masks, fins, and snorkels are provided and crew members will help you enter and exit the water if needed.
Kealakekua Bay is a Marine Sanctuary and one of the best snorkeling locations on the Big Island (it’s in our top 3!). Make sure to bring an underwater camera to capture the colorful schools of fish and the landscaped ledges of ancient lava flows. Pods of spinner dolphins are also commonly seen in the bay. If you don’t have an underwater camera but would like to take videos and photos you can also rent a GoPro with 16GB SD card that you can take home afterwards.
You can also enjoy the views from the boat over light snacks, or “pupus” as the locals call them. These include Maui Style chips and fresh, tropical fruits and beverages. Then it’s back to Keauhou Bay, arriving by approximately ~5 pm.
Check-in procedure:
You will receive direction to the boat at Keauhou Bay after you sign the e-waiver during the booking process. If you cannot sign an e-wavier you should check-in at 8am of the day of your tour at the Sea Paradise store located at 78-6831 Alii Drive Suite #144 Kailua Kona, Hi 96740 in the Keauhou Shopping Center (look for the 3 tall flag poles. Just north of the Tropic’s Bar.) After signing you will receive your boarding passes and be given driving directions to meet the boat for departure at Keauhou Bay.
Sea Paradise is an original manta ray tour expert in Hawaii, helping its guests get up close and personal with these majestic creatures since 1985.
They are a valued member of the Hawaii Ecotourism Association and dedicate a lot of resources to environmental conservation and community service projects. For example, they donate and volunteer for the Surfrider Foundation and the Hawaii Wildlife Fund.
We are affiliate partners with Sea Paradise meaning that we receive a percentage for each successful booking made through our website. This happens without any additional charge to you! (read more on the use of those links on our website here).
By booking tours through our website you support LoveBigIsland.com and help us to provide you and future visitors with free and high quality information about the Big Island. Thanks, you guys are amazing!