Snorkeling Adventure: Kona's Marine Life & History

Experience the early morning beauty of Cook’s Monument and Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park with our Kona Deluxe Snorkel. Explore crystal clear waters, encounter tropical fish, and maybe even spot dolphins or whales!

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • 78-7138 Kaleiopapa St - Experience the top two snorkeling spots in a single excursion. Guests will enjoy snorkeling, along with historical and geological insights about the Big Island. The captain will also highlight several stunning and unique volcanic geological features, such as sea caves and lava tubes.
    Important: The start time listed is for…
What's Included
  • Friendly knowledgeable guides
  • Snacks, fruit, juice and bottled water
  • Mask, Fins, Snorkel, Pool Noodles included
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities for your crew always appreciated
  • Please bring towel and cover-up
  • Use reef safe sunscreen (zinc based is recommended- no oxybenzone and octinoxate. lotion, no spray)
  • Private transportation
Additional Information

Join the adventure to explore the underwater wonders near Captain Cook’s Monument and Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park. Typically, at this time of day, the waters along the Kona coast are exceptionally clear, providing excellent visibility. Discover over 100 different species of tropical fish, and occasionally spot a reef shark or sea turtle….

Location
Dolphin Discoveries- Snorkel Tour Check-in and Boutique
Ali‘i Drive
To Check in: Keauhou Shopping Center, 78-6831 Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i 96740. Located inside the center in the courtyard behind Tropics, KTA & Bianelli's. Once checked in, you will drive to Keauhou Bay where the crew will greet you for the tour. If Ubering, schedule 2 stops in the app.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(356 Ratings)
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Jennifer_m
Mar 15, 2026
Adventure Snorkel Tour - Best for Avid Snorkelers! - There are so many tour options for snorkeling on the Big Island, how do you pick just one? The main thing I would say about this tour is if you are adventurous and love snorkeling, I think you'll love it. It's a small group inflatable boat tour rather than a huge boat, and you ride out and back sitting on the edge of the boat with one hand on the rope to steady yourself. You will definitely hit some waves on the ride out/back and take your dramamine whether or not you're prone to seasickness. The main attraction is you get ample snorkel time at 2 destinations rather than just one, and the small boat tour means if there are dolphins or whales to see on the way out or back, the guide can take a moment and get you out to where you might see more sea life if you are in the right place at the right time! We saw whales, dolphins, and even a manta ray in the daytime (unusual as the night manta tours are usually when you see mantas in this area). We really enjoyed both snorkeling stops as they were very different from each other, and the underwater topography of the second stop (outside the reef in the deeper water of Honaunau/Two Step that is harder to get to on your own) is just gorgeous. If you're looking for a comfy, chill excursion that's snorkel "light", I'd go for one of the catamaran tours, but if you're into adventure and snorkeling, I think you'll dig this tour! Hope this helps!!
Review provided by Viator
Lora_s
Mar 12, 2026
Great trip! - We had such a great time on the two-stop snorkeling tour! The smaller group size made the whole experience feel more relaxed and personal, and the zodiac ride was a lot of fun. Captain Rob did a fantastic job showing us around and sharing some interesting history about the island along the way. Both snorkeling spots were absolutely beautiful. We really enjoyed the whole experience and would definitely recommend it! 🌊🐠
Review provided by Viator
Courtney_j_03
Mar 12, 2026
Two Reef Snorkeling - It was a fantastic trip. We saw lots of fish at both stops. Our guide was super helpful and friendly. We had plenty of time to swim around and experience the beautiful nature.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Radu_s
Mar 11, 2026
We had a fantastic... - We had a fantastic snorkeling trip visiting two of Kona’s most popular spots: Captain Cook Monument and Two Step. The crew was friendly, professional, and very knowledgeable. A big plus was the relatively small group size, which made the experience feel safer and more enjoyable, especially since both locations can get crowded. The company provides sanitized snorkeling gear in good condition, but you can also bring your own equipment, including a snorkeling vest. At Two Step, you’ll need to snorkel or swim about 100 yards toward shore (and back) to reach the best reef views, so a vest may be helpful for some. On the way back, Captain Rob showed us several sea caves and shared interesting insights about the island’s history and culture, which made the trip even more memorable. Tip: If you’re planning to do the Manta Ray Night Snorkel (which is absolutely worth it), book both tours with the same company—they often offer a repeat customer discount. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Viator
Cath0077
Mar 8, 2026
The experience of a lifetime - The best experience of my life. Intimate encounter with manta rays. To do absolutely!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ashley_m
Feb 28, 2026
This was a very memorable... - This was a very memorable excursion for our family. The captain was very knowledgeable and took very special attention and care to provide very detailed information about geology, the ocean creatures and are snorkeling spots. The water was beautiful and we had an amazing time with our family. There were so many species of fish. We really enjoyed this trip. They must do when visiting the big island.
Review provided by Viator
Joshua_k
Feb 28, 2026
Captain Craig was so nice... - Captain Craig was so nice and knowledgeable of the area, this was our first time snorkeling and it was amazing! 1000% recommend this tour!
Review provided by Viator
Richard_p
Feb 25, 2026
Fantastic trip - Great snorkel tour, two different sites. Both sites had great visibility and fish . Our captain Rob was great. He narrated our tour with information on Hawaiian history. Kaui was also very helpful and friendly. We will do this tour again. Love the small group size and personal attention we received.
Review provided by Viator
Valerie_p
Feb 24, 2026
As a group of 3 we had 2... - As a group of 3 we had 2 that were hesitant about snorkeling, however, Seth was super kind and knowlegable.. by the time it was time to get in both were coming around to it. This activity ended up being their favorite part of our trip. I know we wouldn’t have been able to have the same results on our own.
Review provided by Viator
Excursion37475482567
Feb 8, 2026
A perfect, half-day snorkel! - A perfect half-day trip to not only snorkel but to see the Island from the Sea! Snorkeling at Captain Cook Monument was absolutely beautiful and the second reef was near Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park so it was neat to see the Historical Park from the ocean this time! Craig was fantastic, bringing us up close to see the sea caves. He was incredibly knowledgable about the geography, reefs, and history of Hawaii!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $119
up to 14 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).