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Kealakekua Bay Snorkeling Tour - 4 hour Kona Zodiac Adventure
Badge of ExcellenceBig Island of Hawaii, USA
- 4 hours
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Splash into the crystal-clear waters of Kealakekua Bay on this Big Island snorkeling adventure! Dart in and out of sea caves and explore the gorgeous Kona coastline in an agile Zodiac raft. Snorkel among colorful tropical fish, and keep an eye out for other marine life like whales, dolphins and sea turtles. Along the way, learn about the island’s geologic history and local legends from your expert guide, and see the spot where Captain Cook first landed in Hawaii.
- Raft and snorkel adventure on Kealakekua Bay
- Visit Kealakekua Bay and the Captain Cook monument
- Fantastic coastal views
- Close encounters with tropical marine life
- Look out for spinner dolphins, green sea turtles, manta rays and humpback whales
- Explore the geology of Hawaii through lava tubes and sea caves
What's Included
- Rafting expedition
- Use of snorkel equipment including masks and flotation devices
- Potato chips, cookies, water & soft drinks. Offered on the 8:00 AM & 12:45 PM tour
- Gratuities
- Hotel pick up and drop off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Captain Zodiac74-425 Kealakehe Pkwy #16, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
After turning onto Kealakehe Street make your first RIGHT and second LEFT look for a blue roof buildings parking lot surrounded by chain link fence and pink/orange flowers. We are the first office on the right.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Teeming with vibrant marine life, the protected waters of Kealakekua Bay off the Kona coast make for an ideal snorkeling destination. Begin your adventure at Honokohau Marina just north of Kailua-Kona, where you’ll meet your captain and climb aboard a 24-foot (7-meter) inflatable Zodiac raft — an agile, rigid-hull vessel used by the US Coast Guard and Navy SEALs.
As you cruise south along the beautiful Kona coastline, learn about the island’s fascinating history as your guide shares local facts and legends. See the Captain Cook monument, where the first European made contact with Hawaii, and keep an eye out for local marine life including spinner dolphins and humpback whales (during winter). Explore the Big Island’s volcanic history as your raft darts in and out of sea caves and past rocky lava tubes.
Slip on a provided snorkeling mask and fins and plunge into the warm, clear water to swim among schools of electric-colored fish and intricate coral gardens. After approximately 1.5 hours of snorkeling, climb back aboard the raft and refuel with a fresh Hawaiian snack and beverages (or picnic-style lunch on the 10 am departure).
Continue along the spectacular coastline back to the marina, where your 4- to 5-hour adventure concludes.
Please note: Due to the bumpy nature of the raft ride, this tour is not recommended for those with back or neck problems, or pregnant women.
As you cruise south along the beautiful Kona coastline, learn about the island’s fascinating history as your guide shares local facts and legends. See the Captain Cook monument, where the first European made contact with Hawaii, and keep an eye out for local marine life including spinner dolphins and humpback whales (during winter). Explore the Big Island’s volcanic history as your raft darts in and out of sea caves and past rocky lava tubes.
Slip on a provided snorkeling mask and fins and plunge into the warm, clear water to swim among schools of electric-colored fish and intricate coral gardens. After approximately 1.5 hours of snorkeling, climb back aboard the raft and refuel with a fresh Hawaiian snack and beverages (or picnic-style lunch on the 10 am departure).
Continue along the spectacular coastline back to the marina, where your 4- to 5-hour adventure concludes.
Please note: Due to the bumpy nature of the raft ride, this tour is not recommended for those with back or neck problems, or pregnant women.
Captain Zodiac Raft Expeditions
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Honokohau Marina & Small Boat Harbor
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Kailua-Kona
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Kealakekua Bay Marine Preserve
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
The Captain Cook Monument
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Kailua-Kona
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Minimum age is 4 years
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 112 travelers
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
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Featured review
Stephanie_H
Captain Chuck and B were fabulous, friendly, and so accommodating. They showed us a superb time on the way to and from the marine sanctuary along with some history and local information about areas in the Kona coast. Would take this trip again. Recommend for anyone who loves snorkeling.
Reviews
5.0
457 reviews
Sonny_B, Mar 2024
Definitely not your average, Captain Zodiac is definitely recommended, Jason and Chuck were amazing and full of jokes
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Oh yes, they have plenty of jokes to tell! We hope you enjoyed each moment of the day. Mahalo for joining Captain Zodiac and for shouting out your fabulous crew!
Radhika_K, Dec 2023
If you like higher speed rafting on the Pacific Ocean, this is for you! Very fun. Ocean friendly Sunscreen is provided
Tracy_O, Dec 2023
The captain and first mate were informative and were very active with each of us during the tour. They made the tour great and showe us alot of interesting sights. They showed us whales and how to spot whales. They were lively and very friendly.
Vladimir_A, Dec 2023
Captain Marco and co-captain Leila were amazing. We saw whales on the way to the bay which was icing on a great snorkeling experience. Time went by so fast I couldn't believe I spent an hour there.
I took a star off because I was not offered a water bottle and the two Asian couples were also not offered a water bottle, only the white family of 5.... I'm sure there is a simple explanation.
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Time really does fly when you are having fun! It is said Kealakekua Bay is like snorkeling in an aquarium, and we definitely agree. Mahalo for taking the time to shout out your amazing crew.
For the Captain Zodiac water bottles, guests are able to purchase those online when making their reservation. The water bottles are also available for purchase in store if you would have liked one. They are not handed out free of charge to any guest.
Bomstaf_L, Nov 2023
Been snorkeling many time in Kealakekua Bay. The Zodiac tour is the best. What made this time especially fun was Captain Marco. A fun ride, lots of history, very personable!
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Mahalo for your feedback! Captain Marco is a true treasure of Captain Zodiac. We are always happy to hear he helped provide a unique experience with getting close to the coast, allowing for some exploration, as well as sharing the many things that make Big Island special to so many.
Joey_R, Sep 2023
This tour was the best part of my trip even though I’m staying for a few more days. Captain Chuck and Marco were super cool, funny, and very informative. The boat seems scary at first but when you’re actually on shredding through the water you can’t help to laugh and smile. The fear of flying off the boat during “high speeds” quickly diminishes due to Captain Chuck’s experience navigating through the water. After getting to the snorkel spot Marco noticed my wife and I brought our own freediving fins and offered to show us tips in the water. We learned so much about freediving from Marco in 10 mins. The bay had great visibility with an abundance of wildlife. After our swim the crew offered us snacks and drinks.
I don’t want to say anything more and risk spoiling your experience but I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS TOUR!
Dan_A, Sep 2023
Had a wonderful time. Office Gal and Captain were very helpful and knowledgeable. Awesome all around
Paul_H, Aug 2023
Captain Rick made it a fun experience and on the morning tour made sure we got out swiftly. We spotted sharks on the way there and he stopped to observe them. We were among the first ones there and were done before it got a bit crowded. Captain Rick cut us some fresh fruits to energize for the way back where we stopped at a few noteworthy spots. Great experience.
Kris_A, Jul 2023
Watching my kids have a blast on the”high speed” boat. Also swimming and snorkeling in the ocean and doing cannonballs off the boat.
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Kids have so much fun on the tour! Most love the high speed, bouncy ride but now we know that fun can continue on the raft while in the bay with cannonballs. Mahalo for including us on your family vacation! CZ
Tommy_H, Jul 2023
My trip was canceled and was disappointed. Last minute cancelation left us scrambling to find something to do on our last day here
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Our sincerest apologies for any and all inconvenience the cancellation caused. We do advise in our confirmation email that if the passenger minimums are not met we will need to rebook or, if unable to rebook, cancel with a full refund. Hopefully you enjoyed all that the Big Island has to offer while you were on island! CZ
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Kealakekua Bay Snorkeling Tour - 4 hour Kona Zodiac Adventure
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