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Kona Snorkel Tours: Morning & Afternoon Tours

Choose from two Kona snorkel tours from Kailua Pier in downtown Kailua-Kona. The morning tour is an excellent price for a luxury catamaran snorkel to the famous Kealakekua Bay (Captain Cook Monument). The Afternoon Ali’i Snorkel Tour is Captain’s Choice for snorkel spots along the Kona Coast.

I would also like to point out that their catamaran has a staircase into the water. This makes entry and exit from snorkeling easy for those aged 2 to 92.

Morning Kealakekua Snorkel & Sail

• Duration: 4 Hours
• 7:30 AM departure and a 12:30 PM return
• Small group tour! Roughly 25 to 39 passengers aboard. Thirty-nine passengers is the maximum amount. We found there to be plenty of space to walk around, sit, and eat breakfast and lunch
• Continental breakfast and lunch are included. Choose your sandwich at checkout. They offer turkey, ham, vegetarian, and vegan sandwiches
• Snorkeling is at Kealakekua Bay (Captain Cook Monument), a marine life sanctuary. Time in the water is about 1 hour.
• Enjoy the 45-minute ride to the bay for the chance to see sea turtles, dolphins, and whales (December – March is whale season)
• Non-alcoholic beverages are provided, and the cash bar with premium drinks opens after snorkeling.
• All ages are welcome—discounted tickets for infants, children, and teenagers.

Afternoon Ali’i Tour

Their Ali’i Tour is more expensive as they provide a semi-private experience with a full bar, complimentary parking, potential for multiple snorkel spots, and an enhanced lunch. This is a luxurious Kona snorkel tour!

• Duration: 3 Hours
• 1:30 PM departure and a 4:30 PM return
• Semi-private tour feeling with a maximum of 22 passengers onboard.
• The Kona snorkeling destination is Captain’s Choice. The snorkel destination continually changes throughout the year to ensure a unique Kona snorkel tour, away from crowded sites and other boats. 
• Tour includes complimentary parking, use of high-quality snorkel equipment, towels, reef-safe sunscreen, an enhanced lunch, and complimentary post-snorkeling beverages (beer, wine, and spirits) from their full bar.
• All ages are welcome! Discounted tickets for infants and youths.

Our Experience on this Kona Snorkel Tour

We have enjoyed snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay from a zodiac power raft and kayaks. Those were wonderful Kona snorkel tours, and we will do them again! This tour was a luxury version, perfect for our whole family.

The reasons we recommend this tour are the following:

• 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 afterwards.
• The catamaran provided a smooth ride to Kealakekua Bay and the Captain Cook monument. It was comfortable for breakfast, and we enjoyed the pace. We looked for sea turtles and whales, and the time went by fast.
• The breakfast and lunch were simple yet tasty. For a larger and more substantial lunch, do their Ali’i tour.
• 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 Kealakekua Bay snorkeling experience!
• 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 crewmembers and friends to ensure accuracy.
• A good price! Both tours are a reasonable price for Hawaii for the experience they provide.

The only drawback to their Morning Kealakekua Snorkel and Sail is finding parking. Parking in downtown Kona can be challenging and expensive. Luckily, the tour starts early, so parking in the free lot is easy. They provide detailed instructions on finding the free public parking lot and recommending paid lots closer to their office for check-in. The free lot is only a 5-minute walk to their office!

We have not gone on their Afternoon Ali’i Tour, which uses the same crew and boat as our Morning Kealakekua Bay Snorkeling Tour. I do not doubt that the crew provides the luxury experience they advertise.

We plan on doing their afternoon tour, as I am curious where the Captain goes for snorkeling along the Kona coast. The Big Island is known for snorkeling due to excellent visibility and protected reefs.

The higher price matches the extra perks they include in the tour.

Kona Snorkel Tours FAQ

What is the cancellation policy?

Customers will receive a full refund provided cancellations are made at least 48 hours before the scheduled departure time (7 days for private charters).

Cancellations within 48 hours of the scheduled departure time, no-shows, or guests who check in late and miss the tour will NOT be refunded. 

Additionally, guests who reschedule their tour within 48 hours of departure will be subject to a rebooking fee.

What should I bring?

Where do the tours start?

Check-in is 45 minutes prior to the tour’s departure. For our tour, we met at KonaStyle’s office in downtown Kailua-Kona, directly across from Kailua Pier. They are located in a shopping center, in the back courtyard.

After signing the waivers and meeting the crew, you will walk across the street to Kailua Pier for boarding.

What about bad weather?

Your safety always comes first! If the weather is unsafe or the conditions are not good for snorkeling, the Captain and crew will notify you to reschedule or cancel the trip.

Customers will receive a full refund in case of *Operator cancellations* due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

Do I have to know how to swim?

Per the company’s policy, all guests getting in the water MUST know how to swim without the assistance of a flotation device.

What do you recommend for tipping on Kona snorkeling tours?

Tipping is optional, as always. When we go on these multi-hour tours in Hawaii, the crew goes above and beyond to ensure we have a great time. All the tips go to the crew. The captain usually doesn’t get a tip.

Tipping for tours at this level of service is $15 to $20 per guest. That is our recommendation. Cash and Venmo are accepted.

About KonaStyle

KonaStyle is a small business owned and operated by native Hawaiians based in Kailua-Kona. It is dedicated to sharing its love for the ocean with its local community and guests worldwide. KonaStyle takes great care in the details of its Kona snorkel tours to ensure the best experience and that visitors take home the culture of the Hawaiian Islands.

We are affiliate partners with KonaStyle, 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!