Small Group Kealakekua Bay Snorkeling: Hawaii Oceanic
Ditch the crowded big boat tours in favor of a small group snorkel experience headed for Kealakekua Bay, famous for its impressive snorkeling. Keep your eye out for Hawaii’s State Fish, the humuhumunukunukuapua’a! Or if you’re lucky you’ll see the lauwiliwilinukunuku’oi’oi’ele’ele, a fish only found in Kona waters. Plus, this is a great price for a Captain Cook Monument snorkeling tour!
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Activity Overview
Kealakekua Bay Snorkeling Highlights
- 3-hour duration
- Departure times at 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM daily
- Leaves from Keauhou Harbor (click here for directions), this is in South Kona, near the OUTRIGGER Kona Resort
- Small group tour! 12 guests maximum
- Search for marine life like spinner dolphins or humpback whales (seasonally) on your way to snorkel at Kealakekua Bay, famous for its vibrant sea life
- Ages 7 to 70
Why we love this tour… There are a lot of Kealakekua Bay (Captain Cook) snorkeling tour companies. This tour from Hawaii Oceanic made our list because it has a maximum group size of 12 people! That is very luxurious.
While the boat is nothing to write home about, you can’t beat the departure location 15 minutes south of Kailua-Kona and a short ride to the snorkeling destination. Those two reasons (plus the great price!) are why we love this tour.
We are also fans of Hawaii Oceanic for their high-quality and eco-focused manta ray night snorkeling tours.
We appreciate the support when you book using our buttons. They are direct booking links with the local operator at the best price! Hawaii Oceanic made our list of the best Captain Cook Snorkeling Tours.
Kealakekua Bay Snorkeling Details
Set out from Keauhou Harbor for Kealakekua Bay and the Captain Cook Monument. On the way, you’ll learn about the Kealakekua Bay State Historical District, Captain James Cook, and the history behind his monument.
Your snorkel destination is a Marine Life Conservation District and is federally protected, so only boats with specific permits are allowed in. This means the snorkeling is absolutely phenomenal.
On your way there and back, keep your eyes peeled for pods of spinner dolphins playing in the nearby waters or even humpback whales if you’re planning your trip during whale season (December through May). During your snorkel time, you’ll see tons of tropical fish and be on the lookout for the different types of delicate coral reefs like rice, lobe, or finger corals.
We’ve been out with Hawaii Oceanic on their Manta Ray Night Snorkel, we love the small group size and their crew is wonderful!
Plenty of snorkel time
This 3-hour tour gives you about an hour and a half in the water snorkeling! The rest of the time is spent enjoying the ride to and from Kealakekua Bay, snacking and enjoying refreshments.
Look out for these special fish!
See if you can spot trumpetfish, yellow tang, black triggerfish, parrotfish, white-mouthed moray eels, octopus, or even the humuhumunukunukuapua’a (the Hawaii State Fish) or the lauiwiliwilinukunuku’oi’oi’ele’ele (black long-nosed butterflyfish), which is only found in Kona waters.
What to bring:
Come prepared in your swimsuit, apply reef-safe sunscreen before getting on the boat, and bring a towel, hat, and glasses. We also recommend bringing an underwater camera, like a GoPro, to take photos while snorkeling.
Kealakekua Bay Snorkeling FAQ
What is the cancellation policy?
Hawaii Oceanic has a 24 hour cancellation policy. Cancellations prior to 24 hours before tour departure will receive a full refund, outside of that timeframe is ineligible for a refund.
What if I can’t swim?
Snorkelers need to be comfortable swimming 25 yards in the ocean in order to participate. Ride alongs are welcome, but they do need their own ticket.
Know Before You Go: Snorkel Safety
Don’t take swimming and snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean lightly. To stay safe, know your health limits, swim with a buddy, never turn your back on the ocean, and read and obey posted signs. Check HIOceanSafety.com for ocean conditions at lifeguard beaches.
About Hawaii Oceanic
Established in 2013, Hawaii Oceanic has been providing excellent tours. They take off on Pueo Kai 2, their Coast Guard-certified 27-foot Force Marine powerboat with a full cabin and some shade. This charter boat was designed for Hawaiian waters and was built in Hawaii.
We are affiliate partners with Hawaii Oceanic which means we receive a small commission for each completed booking made through this site. This is done without any additional cost to you. You can read more about our affiliate policies here. Know that we only recommend tour operators that we know and trust. Your positive experience and your trust in us mean more than any affiliate commission. By booking tours through our website you help us to provide free information and videos to help you and other readers plan their perfect Hawaii vacation. Thank you so much for your support — you are amazing!
