Big Island Snorkeling Tours

Book a Big Island Snorkeling tour and experience Hawaii’s famous coral reefs, manta rays, humpback whales, and more!

Big Island Snorkeling Tours For Small Groups

Small-Group Experience

Avoid the crowds and explore Kona’s famous coastline with a maximum of 12 passengers on your boat.

Environmentally Friendly

We follow a humane and environmentally cautious approach to engaging with Hawaii’s marine life.

Award-Winning

Hawaii Oceanic holds the highly coveted Traveler’s Choice Award from Tripadvisor.

Choose A Big Island Snorkeling Tour

Manta Ray Night Snorkel

Find out why the Travel Channel calls the manta ray night snorkel experience “one of the top ten things to do in your lifetime.” It’s that amazing!

Captain Cook Snorkel Tour

Snorkel in Kealakekua Bay’s protected marine sanctuary that’s regarded as one of the most beautiful coral reefs in all of Hawaii.

Big Island Snorkeling Tours Since 2013

Hawaii Oceanic boat Pueo Kai 2 provides manta ray night snorkel tours, dolphin tours, and Kealakekua Bay tours

Come join our Ohana (family) on the Pueo Kai 2, our 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.

Experience amazing coral reefs in calm Kona waters — see Humpback Whales — or, for an incredible nighttime adventure, come snorkel with Manta Rays.

Manta Ray Night Snorkel - Manta Magic

Come aboard the Pueo Kai 2, and enjoy a small-group manta ray snorkeling experience with up to 12 passengers. Snorkeling with Kona’s famous manta rays is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that The Travel Channel called “one of the top 10 things to do in your lifetime.”

After a quick 5-minute boat ride, we’ll arrive at the aptly named “Manta Village.”

You’ll enter the water as Kona’s famous manta rays feed on plankton accumulating under our light boards. The manta rays may fly by our light boards as they feast on plankton, and they may even hang around and do “barrel rolls” beneath us, as they come back for more and more plankton. Every night is different.

After 30-45 minutes in the water, depending on sea conditions and manta ray feeding behavior, you will be guided back to the boat.

Swim with manta rays in Kona Hawaii
Captain Cook Snorkel Tour at Kealakekua Bay

We cruise from Keauhou harbor out into crystal clear blue waters. While the boat is underway, the crew will point out interesting features along the Kona coastline, which is rich in Hawaiian history. South Kona has a bevy of historically significant Hawaiian Heritage sites, full of mana (spiritual power). Staying close to the Kona coast as we travel south towards Kealakekua Bay, we watch closely for any interesting marine life.

We may stop the boat to view the Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins (Stenella longirostris) putting on a show. Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins rest close to shore during the day and will sometimes interact with the boat, bow-riding and playing in our wake.

After a brief show from the Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins, Humpback whales, and whatever else of interest is found along our way, we arrive at the world-famous Kealakekua Bay, the site of the Captain James Cook monument.

Kealakekua coral reef snorkeling
Frequently Asked Questions

We meet our guests near the boat ramp at the Keauhou Harbor, located at 78-7130 Kaleiopapa St, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740.

Click Here to view the location on a map.

For manta ray snorkel tours: please arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled time of departure. We will check you in, provide a wetsuit, and bring you to the boat at the time of departure.

For all other tours: please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time of departure. We will check you in, and bring you to the boat at the time of departure.

Daytime tours: we recommend you bring a towel, reef safe sunscreen (applied before entering the boat), and sunglasses.

Evening tours: we recommend you bring a towel and light coverup or jacket for the boat ride back to the harbor.

We have a minimum age of 5. Children 5 and older are welcome on the tour if they can comfortably swim 25 yards in the ocean.

Every person on the boat needs a ticket, regardless of age or size. Our boat is certified by the US Coast Guard for 12 passengers, and we can not exceed this limit.

Yes, you may purchase a ticket and ride along.

Every person on the boat needs a ticket, regardless of whether they are getting in the water. Our boat is certified by the US Coast Guard for 12 passengers, and we can not exceed this limit.

If you can comfortably swim 25 yards in the ocean, you will be able to safely enjoy our snorkel tours.

For safety purposes, if you can not comfortably swim 25 yards in the ocean, we ask that you purchase a ticket to ride along on the boat, but not enter the water.

You may cancel your trip up until 48 hours before your departure time, for a full refund.

Book Your Big Island Snorkel Tour