Power Raft Snorkel Tours to Kealakekua Bay Plus a Kona Coast Cruise
Looking for world-class snorkeling? Join Captain Zodiac for an award-winning snorkeling adventure! Your destination is Kealakekua Bay, which is a National Marine Conservation Area and the site of the Captain Cook Monument. Only their power raft can get close to the many lava tubes, sea caves, sea grottos, and wave-powered blowholes.
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Activity Overview
We have two tours for you to choose from for your snorkeling trip – 5-Hour Beat the Crowd and 4-Hour Kealakekua Bay Snorkeling Tour. Both go to the legendary snorkel spot in front of the Captain Cook Monument, inside of Kealakekua Bay. Both are on the famous Zodiac rafts. The rafts are small, fast, and get you places the other tour boats can’t. We love the experience of the rafts and the crew that will be with you. Watch Jordan’s experience in the video below!
If a power rafting snorkel tour isn’t your thing, try a guided or DIY kayak and snorkeling tour of Kealakekua Bay.
If you’re visiting the Big Island anytime from January to early March, book a Captain Zodiac Whale Watching Tour!
Kona Snorkeling – Beat the Crowd Tour
This is the same great tour as the award-winning four-hour AM or PM adventure, but it is timed to allow you to snorkel with fewer people at the bay! Kealakekua Bay is the best place to snorkel on the Big Island of Hawaii. With its crystal-clear, calm waters, guests to the Big Island naturally gravitate there.
Given the number of people in the bay in the early morning or late afternoon, Captain Zodiac has designed this Kona snorkel tour to fall between those times, hence “beating the crowd.”
Beat the Crowd Tour Details
- Duration: 5 hours
- Most popular tour
- Ages: Ages 4+
- Check-In Time: 15 Min. Prior to Departure
- Boarding Location: Kona Marina
Upon arrival at the Kona Marina, guests will be briefed on the bay and snorkeling. Snorkelers can stay in the water for as long as they like. The crew of the raft will have lunch ready for you when you get out of the water.
While eating lunch, the captain will talk about the history of Kealakekua Bay and why the Captain Cook Monument was erected here. After, there will be additional time to jump back into the water for more snorkeling.
Once everyone is done snorkeling, the award-winning coastal tour will begin. Sea caves, lava tubes, and blowholes!
Jordan got to go on the Beat the Crowd tour and loved every minute of it. He also got the best snorkel footage ever. Watch his experience below to see if this tour is right for you.
Kealakekua Bay Snorkeling Tour – Morning Tour
This tour also takes you to Kealakekua Bay for snorkeling at the Captain Cook Monument like Beat the Crowd but leaves at 8:00 am and 12:45pm. It is a 4-hour tour compared to the 5-hour Beat the Crowd tour.
Kealakekua Bay Snorkeling Details
- Duration: 4 hours
- Ages: Ages 4+
- Check-In Time: 15 Min. Prior to Departure
- Boarding Location: Kona Marina
Looking for world-class snorkeling? Join Captain Zodiac for an award-winning snorkeling adventure! The destination is Kealakekua Bay, which is a National Marine Park and the site of the Captain Cook Monument.
This area is one of Hawaii’s premier snorkel spots with incredible visibility and calm conditions. All snorkel gear, high-quality silicone masks, Rx masks, fins, float boards, and detailed instructions will be provided.
Kealakekua Bay is full of Hawaiian history and the events will be recounted by the crew while you enjoy a tropical snack of fresh pineapple, fruits, chips, cookies, and an assortment of refreshing soft drinks.
For over four decades, their captains have introduced visitors to an array of nature’s secret wonders that can only be experienced in a Zodiac. The small-group atmosphere of the expedition allows for a personal and intimate tour. The sounds of the sea provides the background as your naturalist captain “talks story” about Hawaiian folklore and history. Frequent sightings of dolphins, manta rays, turtles and other marine life add to the adventure as you zip across the waves on this exhilarating and fun expedition.
The quick-moving and agile Zodiac boats provide the excitement that has made them recognized worldwide as the best way to explore the marine environment.
Only the Zodiacs can get close to the many lava tubes, sea caves, sea grottos, and wave-powered blowholes. You will learn how the island was formed as the Captains share their knowledge about the geology of the island’s lava flows.
Private Charter with Captain Zodiac
If you’d like to create an adventure with just your family and friends – their private charters will take you wherever you’d like to go and when.
Do you want to avoid crowds? Do you want to experience Kealakekua Bay, the best place to snorkel on the Big Island, with no one around? Or try a totally new and secluded and remote snorkel area? Then come and join Captain Zodiac for an exclusive tour only offered to VIP guests!
You’ll start your adventure when you want with flexible departure times.
Included in the Private Charter
- Private charter to Kealakekua Bay Marine Preserve during non-peak times
- Secluded and remote alternative snorkel spots
- Encounter dolphins
- Tropical fruit platter, sandwich lunch, and soft drinks
- Jr. Pirate awards for all the keiki (children)
- All snorkel gear
- High-quality silicone masks
- Fins
- Float boards or vests
FAQs for Captain Zodiac Tours
Please note that due to the bouncy nature of their ride, they do not allow any persons with back or neck problems or that are pregnant on the tour.
What is your cancellation policy?
Captain Zodiac has a strict 48-hour cancellation policy. For parties of 6 or more, they have a 72-hour cancellation policy. No refunds within that time frame.
What is included in the snorkeling tours?
All snorkel gear, high-quality silicone masks, Rx masks, fins, float boards, and detailed instructions will be provided.
They also provide a light deli lunch sandwich (dietary restrictions upon request), chips, cookies, fresh local pineapple, bottled water, and soft drinks.
What is the difference between the 4-hour and 5-hour tours?
They are virtually the same great tour, but the 5-hour is a little longer and lunch is included. They do leave a little later on the 5-hour so they get to Kealakekua Bay when there are fewer people.
Is the snorkeling better in the morning or the afternoon?
Because Kona has some of the calmest waters in the state year-round, the waters are beautiful all day. What they typically see in the morning, they also see in the afternoon. The mornings do typically have more blue skies than in the afternoon, but sometimes the clouds are welcomed protection from sunburn.
Do they provide transport from my hotel or condo?
While staying on the island, you will probably find it cheaper and more convenient to rent a car. Otherwise, there are a number of taxi companies that can assist you.
How does the weather affect the trip?
They are fortunate to be on the Kona Coast of the Big Island. This side of the island is protected from wind and weather by three volcanoes so the tour is rarely affected by bad weather. If it does happen you may cancel or reschedule without penalty.
Can we go on land to see the Captain Cook Monument up close?
No. The coral reefs are so beautiful in Kealakekua Bay and in order to protect them, the County of Hawaii doesn’t allow tour boat passengers onshore.
Will I get seasick?
These small, fast-moving boats have a tendency to cause less seasickness than other types of boats. However, as a precaution, motion sickness medicine should be taken the night before the tour to solve all worries.
Are the boats covered?
No, because that takes away from the raft experience. Wear sunscreen and a hat and you will be loving it! The captain is also able to get into the sea caves because they do not have covered rafts.
About Captain Zodiac
Captain Zodiac will take you to explore some of Hawaii’s most amazing sights along the Kona Coast! Their snorkel destination is Kealakekua Bay where you will find some of the best snorkeling in the state of Hawaii. This remote marine preserve features hundreds of colorful fish and beautiful coral. A key place in Hawaiian history and the site of the Captain Cook Monument, they “talk story” about these cultural and historic events.
Up-close encounters with marine life are an opportunity not to be missed on Zodiac rafts. They often see pods of Hawaiian spinner dolphins, humpback whales (seasonal), pilot whales, sea turtles, and other rare species. The small-group atmosphere of the adventure allows for a personal and intimate tour.
Their captain and crew are well-versed in marine science, animal behavior, the geology of the island’s lava flows, Hawaiian history, culture, and folklore. This makes their tours informative as well as fun! The captains are part-entertainer and all pirates.
Only Captain Zodiac’s highly maneuverable 24-foot Zodiac Hurricane RHIB can get you in close to the sea caves, lava tubes, rock archways, blowholes, and amazing scenery along the coastline. With a maximum of only 16 passengers per raft, everyone has a great seat.
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