6 Best Captain Cook Snorkeling Tours (by boat type, price)
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Kealakekua Bay is home to the Captain Cook Monument and is a famed snorkeling destination for its crystal-clear waters and pristine marine environment. Thanks to Hawaii’s marine life conservation efforts, this bay’s reefs are vibrant, and the sea life is thriving.
You can look forward to spotting Hawaii’s state fish, the humuhumunukunukuapua’a, and keep your eyes peeled for pods of spinner dolphins, Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles, and humpback whales (seasonally).
All of this makes for amazing Captain Cook snorkeling tours.
Shortlist of the Best Captain Cook Snorkeling Tours
Here is a summary of the six local Captain Cook snorkeling tour operators. Click the tour company’s name to check availability and learn more. We share our experience and details on these tours further down.
| Tour | Boat Type | Departs From | Duration | Adult Price | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Hawaii Oceanic | 27′ powerboat, 12 passengers! | Keauhou Harbor | 3 hrs | $99 | 7 to 70 | Best value, small group |
| 2. Sea Paradise | 50′ sailing catamaran | Keauhou Harbor | 4.5 hrs (AM) / 3 hrs (PM) | $165 AM / $125 PM | All ages | Seasickness-prone, beginners |
| 3. Fair Wind | Large catamaran w/ waterslides | Keauhou Bay | 4.5 hrs (AM) / 3.5 hrs (PM) | $175 AM / $130 PM | All ages | Families with kids |
| 4. Captain Zodiac | Power raft | Honokohau Small Boat Harbor | 5 hrs (Beat the Crowd) / 4 hrs (AM) | $150 Beat the Crowd / $137 4 Hr | 4–12 for child rate | Adventure, sea caves, lots of snorkeling |
| 5. Kayak Tours with Kona Boys | Double kayak | Kealakekua Bay | 4 hrs or 5 hrs | $170 4 hrs / $250 5 hrs | All ages | Landing at the monument |
| 6. KonaStyle | Catamaran (max 39) | Kailua Pier in Downtown Kona | 3 hrs | $165 | All ages | Luxury at a great price |
Here are all of our snorkeling tour recommendations, including the famous manta rays.
- 10 Best Big Island Snorkeling Tours – not just Captain Cook snorkeling tours
- 5 Manta Ray Night Snorkeling Tours – choose a tour near your hotel
Where is the Captain Cook Monument?
Captain Cook Monument is located on the northern shore of Kealakekua Bay. Kealakekua Bay is about 30 minutes south of downtown Kailua-Kona.
There is no Captain Cook Bay on the Big Island. The snorkel destination is the reef in front of the Captain Cook Monument in Kealakekua Bay.
Captain Cook Snorkeling Tour Departure Locations
Captain Cook snorkeling tours leave from four locations on the Kona Coast. You can choose a tour that is closest to Kealakekua Bay, as that usually means more time in the water for snorkeling.
But the tours further away have faster boats. So, it is hard to judge a tour on the departure location. If departure location matters to you (aka, arriving on time isn’t your strong suit), choose a tour close to your hotel.
Click the links for Google Maps directions.
- Honokohau Small Boat Harbor is a few minutes north of Kailua-Kona and about 18 miles north of Kealakekua Bay. This is the furthest departure location, and the closest to the resorts in Waikoloa and along the Kohala Coast.
- Kailua Pier is in downtown Kailua-Kona. This is the same pier in front of the King Kamehameha’s Marriott Courtyard and the tender port for cruise ships.
- Keauhou Bay is the closest departure point to Kealakekua Bay. The bay is next to the OUTRIGGER Kona and is home to Manta Village, where most manta ray night snorkeling tours are located. The bay is about 8 miles by sea.
- Napo’opo’o Beach on Kealakekua Bay is technically the closest departure point. Kayak tours launch from there. It is 1 mile across the bay for snorkeling at Captain Cook
What is the Captain Cook Monument?
The Captain Cook Monument is a 27-foot white obelisk standing at Kaʻawaloa, on the northern shore of Kealakekua Bay. It’s visible from a mile away across the bay, and a beautiful reef for snorkeling lies immediately in front of the monument.
It marks the spot where British explorer Captain James Cook was killed on February 14, 1779. Cook’s crew had landed at Kealakekua Bay a month earlier to repair a broken mast. The obelisk went up in 1874, and it wasn’t the first memorial here; the crew of HMS Blonde erected one in 1825.
It’s technically British soil. In 1877, the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi deeded the small plot of land beneath the monument to Great Britain as a diplomatic gesture, and it remains British property today. The parcel is just 0.13 acres.
Behind the obelisk, scattered stones and foundation marks are the ruins of Kaʻawaloa, an ancient Hawaiian village.
It’s also genuinely contested. Many Hawaiians dislike it, seeing it as a tribute to a man who invaded their islands. We were on a Captain Cook snorkeling tour when someone vandalized the monument the week prior.
What is Kealakekua Bay?
Kealakekua Bay is a Marine Life Conservation District located on the west side of Hawaii’s Big Island, 17 miles south of Kailua-Kona. Marine Life Conservation Districts are unique to Hawaii, with only 11 located around the islands.
These designated areas protect Hawaii’s diverse fish populations, along with other endangered marine life, helping them thrive for decades to come.
Aside from the bay itself, Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park wraps around the bay, encompassing the land and rocky shoreline, and includes the Captain Cook Monument. This area is steeped in history.
Is Captain Cook Good For Snorkeling?
Captain Cook snorkeling is great, and you can also see Hawaiian Spinner dolphins in Kealakekua Bay.
The reef system surrounding the Captain Cook Monument is an incredible spot for snorkelers, offering calm waters, underwater lava remnants, a vast array of colorful fish (some found only here), and thriving reefs.
Spinner dolphins are also frequently sighted in Kealakekua Bay. History buffs might also be interested in the burial caves of Hawaiian chiefs, along with the bay’s ties to the infamous Captain Cook, hence the monument located at the western end of the bay.
Discover more amazing snorkel spots around the Big Island:
- 10 Best Big Island Snorkeling Tours – not just Captain Cook snorkeling tours
- 5 Best Big Island Beginner Snorkeling Spots You Shouldn’t Miss
- The Best Big Island Snorkeling Spots (plus how to swim with manta rays)
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.
What are the Types of Captain Cook Snorkeling Tours?
There are numerous ways to snorkel around Kealakekua Bay, including hopping on a boat tour, renting kayaks, or simply hiking in.
You can book various boat tours, each with something different to offer, whether they’re small groups or large catamarans. Boat tours are a great option because they take the planning out of the equation, offering meals and equipment without the hassle of figuring it all out on your own.
Renting kayaks and doing a DIY tour to the Captain Cook Monument is another option for those who want freedom in their itinerary and don’t mind a no-frills experience.
If going it alone isn’t your cup of tea, you can also join kayaking tours.
Hiking is an alternative option, although it isn’t a walk in the park. The Ka’awaloa Trail is fairly strenuous as it’s just shy of 4 miles long round-trip and steep. It becomes especially challenging in the heat!
Be sure to keep in mind that while it might seem like a breeze on the way down to the bay, the trail is all uphill on the hike back. Many hikers wear sturdy hiking boots down to the beach because of the trail’s rocky nature.
The Big Island is famous for even more than Kealakekua Bay:
5 Can’t Miss Unique Big Island Experiences
Tried and Tested: The 5 Best Manta Ray Night Snorkel Tours
The 10 Best Big Island Farm Tours You Won’t Want to Miss
Is it Worth Going on a Captain Cook Snorkeling Tour?
Yes! We think so. Given the length of the hike, we prefer to skip that and save our energy for enjoying this marine life conservation district from the water.
We’ve made some incredible memories and had some of the most unforgettable experiences here. We saw spinner dolphins swimming close to us on a kayaking tour and spotted both a shark and an eel on our rafting tour.
After snorkeling in countless places around Hawaii, we can say that this area has given us some of our best snorkeling experiences!
And don’t worry, most of the sharks in Hawaii’s waters are small, harmless little guys. If you’re not convinced, we have a full article on shark attacks and their nearly non-existent likelihood in Hawaii.
6 Best Captain Cook Snorkeling Tours
We have in-depth reviews of each tour in the links in the descriptions below. If you know exactly what you want and you’re ready to book, use the buttons below to book directly with the tour operators.
1. Best Small Group Boat Tour (+ a great price!)
Small group size (12 guests max!), awesome history, and a wonderful price point make this Small Group Tour with Hawaii Oceanic a no-brainer if you aren’t worried about frills but still want a great snorkel experience.
Take off from Keauhou Harbor in a 27’ Force Marine powerboat, headed straight for Kealakekua Bay and the Captain Cook Monument.
You’ll have a solid one and a half hours to snorkel along the bay, taking in the colorful fish and abundant marine life. Along the way, humpback whales (seasonal) and spinner dolphins are likely to appear. You’ll also learn fun facts about the local history, including Captain Cook and the nearby burial grounds of Hawaiian chiefs.
- Price: $99 per passenger
- Boat Type: 27′ power boat (12 passengers)
- Departs From: Keauhou Bay
- Duration: 3 hours, 1.5 hours of snorkeling
- Ages: 7 to 70
- Best For… those looking for no frills, a great price, and lots of time snorkeling
This tour does have some shaded areas on board the boat. This tour is not for beginner swimmers, and snorkelers must be able to swim at least 25 yards comfortably. Snacks and non-alcoholic drinks are included!
Prices are $99 per person, regardless of age.
2. Best Catamaran Sailing Tour: Sea Paradise
Hop on board the spacious 50’ catamaran for a cruise with Sea Paradise down the Kona Coast to the idyllic Kealakekua Bay. You’ll get a little history lesson about the area’s storied past while gliding comfortably along the water for 45 minutes before you reach your destination.
Keep your eyes peeled for spinner dolphins along the bow or whales off in the distance in the winter months.
They offer two tours: a 4.5-hour morning option and a 3-hour afternoon tour.
Morning tours also include lunch and non-alcoholic drinks, while the afternoon tour provides appetizers (also known as pupus) and non-alcoholic beverages. A cash bar opens for 1 hour on the ride home for both tours. We prefer the morning tour because it’s longer and offers better visibility before the trade winds kick up.
This is a comfy ride with bathrooms on board and shade in the galley. If you’re prone to seasickness, catamarans can be a great option because they provide a more stable ride than monohull boats. You’ll still want to take seasickness medication as directed, just in case.
- Price: Morning tour – $165 per adult, Afternoon tour – $125 per adult
- Boat Type: 50′ luxury sailing catamaran
- Departs From: Keauhou Bay, 45 mins to Captain Cook
- Duration: Morning tour – 4.5 hrs, Afternoon tour – 3 hours
- Ages: All ages welcome
- Best for… those prone to seasickness, families, beginner snorkelers
Get more out of your visit to Kona:
Where to Stay in Kona: the 7 Best Hotels and Vacation Rentals
The 21 Best Things to do in Kona (+ tips to know before you go)
3. Large Catamaran Tour with Waterslides
If you’re looking for a more luxurious experience that pulls out all the stops, this twice-daily tour with Fair Winds is it! Leaving Keauhou Bay, guests board a large boat with two waterslides and a high-dive platform to enjoy at their destination. The boat heads to Kealakekua Bay, where it moors for over an hour of snorkeling.
Fair Winds is the only tour company with a mooring at Captain Cook. That makes snorkeling easier, since the boat doesn’t have to motor around the area.
As you head to the Captain Cook Monument, watch for spinner dolphins in the distance and manta rays that come to this area for its cleaning stations. Reef-safe sunscreen and flotation devices are provided onboard. Most of the boat is shaded, and two bathrooms are available.
A fully plant-based (vegan) menu keeps the offerings eco-friendly, with breakfast and lunch provided on the morning tour; on the afternoon tour, you’ll enjoy snacks and a full bar.
- Price: Morning tour – $175 per adult and $115 for children, Afternoon tour – $130 per adult and $90 for children
- Boat Type: Motorized catamaran with two 15′ waterslides
- Departs From: Keauhou Bay
- Duration: Morning tour – 4.5 hrs, Afternoon tour – 3.5 hours
- Ages: All ages welcome
- Best for… those prone to seasickness, families
We provide a detailed review of this Captain Cook Monument Tour here: Snorkeling Kealakekua Bay with Fair Wind Cruises
4. Zodiac Power Raft Tour
We can’t deny, this might be one of our favorite snorkeling experiences! These tours are a real-deal adventure onboard Captain Zodiac’s Power Raft.
You’ll leave from Honokohau Small Boat Harbor (click for directions), which offers a different perspective than other tours, with a few interesting historic pit stops in the way back, like lava tubes.
Zoom your way through the water to Kealakekua Bay, where visitors can snorkel to their heart’s content. You might even spot a moray eel as we did! Check out Jordan’s experience in the video below!
Beyond snorkeling, you’ll also get a quick geology lesson and a sneak peek inside sea caves and lava tubes on your ride back to the harbor. This additional sightseeing is thanks to the power raft’s nimble ability to explore the nooks and crannies of the coast, something that larger boats simply can’t do.
Two different tours are offered daily: the “Beat the Crowd Tour” and the “4 Hr Morning Tour”. Both tours depart in the morning.
We prefer the “Beat the Crowd Tour” because it includes a deli lunch and is a bit longer, at five hours versus four.
High-quality snorkeling gear and flotation devices are provided, which can help you avoid touching the reef! Keep in mind that there is no shade or bathrooms on this tour, which might be a dealbreaker for some visitors.
- Price: Beat the Crowds – $150 per adult, 4 Hr Tour – $137
- Boat Type: Zodiac power raft
- Departs From: Honokohau Small Boat Harbor
- Duration: Beat the Crowds – 5 hrs, 4 Hr Tour – 4 hours
- Ages: 4+
- Best for… serious snorkelers, those who enjoy a fast ride
5. Kayak Tours and Kayak Rental to Captain Cook
For those interested in being right on the water – and getting a bit of a workout in – kayaking out to Kealakekua Bay is a wonderful experience! Grab a partner and head out on a kayak to the Captain Cook Monument.
A kayak tour to the Captain Cook snorkeling tour with access to the monument is only allowed with a state-permitted kayaking tour company. We review two kayak tours at two different price points below.
After a beautiful, relaxed kayak ride across the bay, you’ll make a dry landing near the Captain Cook Monument itself. Spend your time exploring the monument on foot and in the water, swimming with hundreds of colorful tropical fish, eels, sea turtles, and maybe the odd shark or two.
You’ll often see spinner dolphins along the paddle out to Kealakekua Bay, and even whales in winter.
These tours offer a great mix of kayaking and snorkeling, with about 1.5 hours of each.
Although you can DIY this kayak tour (which we have done), it’s also nice to have guides lead the way, add local history, and provide all your gear. We share a $65 kayak rental company in our review below. It is the only kayak rental company that leaves directly from Kealakekua Bay.
Another element that some visitors might not consider is state landing permits, which most kayak companies provide. If you don’t happen to have these, you’ll have to re-enter your kayak from deep water or pull it behind you while you’re snorkeling.
Plenty of drinks and snacks are included. Beginners are more than welcome to join!
Kayaking tours cost $170 to $250 per person.
More great things to do on the Big Island:
12 Epic Things to Do in Kona with Kids
32 of the Best Things to Do in Hilo (+nearby)
The 15 Best Things To Do In Waikoloa
Don’t Miss the 7 Best Coffee Tours on the Big Island
6. Luxury Catamaran Snorkeling Tour
This tour was a luxury Captain Cook snorkeling tour, perfect for our whole family. What makes it special, besides the luxury experience at a great price, is that it departs from Kailua Pier in downtown Kona.
Enjoy a three-hour tour with breakfast and lunch from Kailua-Kona to Kealakekau Bay. We liked this tour for the following reasons:
- With a maximum of 39 passengers, there’s plenty of room on the sailboat.
- These Kona snorkel tours are unique for their departure location (click for directions to Kailua Pier). They depart from Kailua Pier, so it is super easy to start the tour and explore downtown Kona afterward.
- The catamaran provided a smooth ride to Kealakekua Bay and the Captain Cook monument. Breakfast was comfortable, and we enjoyed the pace. We looked for sea turtles and whales, and the time passed quickly.
- The breakfast and lunch were simple yet tasty. For a more substantial lunch, do their Ali’i tour in the afternoon, which goes along the Kona Coast.
- The catamaran’s staircase made it easy for our young family to get into and out of the water. The snorkel equipment was top-notch, too. They provided an excellent snorkeling experience in Kealakekua Bay!
- Culture and history! On the way back, the captain gave us a tour of the Kona Coast, stopping at sea caves, lava formations, and places of ancient Hawaiian battles. The Captain told us fascinating stories of Hawaiian history. He said he consults with his Hawaiian crew members and friends to ensure accuracy.
- A good price! Both their Captain Cook snorkeling and their Kona Coast tours are reasonably priced for Hawaii, given the experience they provide.
Captain Cook Snorkeling Tour FAQs
We’ve been out to Kealakekua Bay over four times and always have a blast. To make the most of your experience, we have a few tips and answers for Captain Cook Snorkeling tours!
What should you bring on a Captain Cook Snorkeling Tour?
So, what should you pack for a Captain Cook snorkeling tour? It depends on which kind of tour you’re taking.
Boat tours often provide guests with everything from towels and sunscreen to meals and drinks. At the bare minimum, you should bring along mineral-based sunscreen (to protect the delicate reefs!), sunglasses, protective sun clothing, and a beach towel, just in case. If you’ll be snorkeling or hiking you’ll want to add plenty of water and maybe a few snacks to your bag.
It’s also a great idea to bring your camera, especially if you have a GoPro, for snapping underwater pictures and videos! Some of the best snorkeling footage we’ve ever gotten was at Kealakekua Bay.
If you’re prone to motion sickness, you may want to opt for a tour on a larger boat and remember to take motion sickness medication prior to boarding.
What is included on the Captain Cook Snorkeling Tours?
Most Captain Cook snorkeling tours will include all of the snorkeling gear you’ll need and typically snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, although some tours also offer full meals.
What’s the best time of day to go on a Captain Cook Snorkeling Tour?
While there’s technically no “best time” for snorkeling, we prefer to head out in the morning, before the trade winds start to pick up and cause the water to get more choppy. This is also a better time to be outside in terms of sun exposure and gives you a chance to beat the heavier afternoon crowds.
Can you swim with dolphins at Captain Cook?
One of the most exciting moments on a Captain Cook snorkeling tour is spotting the spinner dolphins! Spinner dolphins often hang out in Kealakakua Bay to rest after fishing in deep waters off the coast and for essential activities like mating.
Remember to keep your distance from the spinner dolphins, staying at least 50 yards away from them at all times! This isn’t just a suggestion but the law.
Related reads:
The 10 Best Big Island Snorkeling Tours
Big Island Whale Watching: The 6 Best Tours and Viewing From the Shore
The 11 Best Big Island Waterfalls (+ ones you can swim in!)
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