Dolphin Journeys

We had the most amazing adventure swimming with the Manta Rays with Hang Loose Boat Tours. They…read morewere so professional and organized and everything went exactly as advertised (including the huge showing of Manta Rays and Sharks!!!) Thank you for this once in a lifetime experience.

The best experience ever! Our original trip got canceled,…read morethey explained it to is ahead and even helped reschedule within our travel constraints and made it super fun. Some of us were experienced swimmers and some super scared of water. Overall it was the absolute highlight of our trip. Jordan and Ula were our guides and they were super funny, kept us safe and comfortable the whole time.

Manta ray night snorkeling - you swim out to an area where everyone hangs onto a floating pod together; very straightforward and easy!

Manta Ray Night Swim

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Wet Suits

Sunlight On Water

4.7

(300 reviews)

Locally owned & operated

Kid friendly

Taylor and Preston are AMAZING!!! I highly recommend them to anyone coming to the island! They made…read moreour whole party feel safe and prepared to swim with Manta Rays!

Preston, Taylor, and Patrick were great guides to the manta rays today. We got lucky and saw…read moredolphins, a whale shark, and what seemed like over a dozen rays! I highly recommend this company!

Swim with green sea turtles and hawksbill sea turtles

Sunset manta snorkeling

White up sharks

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Wahine Charters

4.8

(306 reviews)

Locally owned & operated

Kid friendly

We had a great day out searching for Whales! The staff was great with communication and answering…read morequestions before the trip.

We had a wonderful time with Tyler and Captain Alan. Really nice, down to earth people. We got…read moretwo swims at lovely coves and a spin To Kona. Highly recommended. A memorable day.

Swim responsibly with Wild Dolphins.

Mantas!

Sea Turtle

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Captain Zodiac

4.9

(458 reviews)

Rick and Davonte were amazing!!!! Their knowledge and humor kept the group entertained all…read moreafternoon. Highly recommend this Kona experience.

We just did a tour with Captain Zodiac in Kona and it was honestly such a special experience. Our…read moreguides, Ashley and Alec, were incredible. They were so knowledgeable and friendly, and they really took the time to answer every single question we had. Both Ashely and Alec have researched whales in Alaska and Hawaii, so hearing specific researcher knowledge was really cool. Ashley was also just so enthusiastic. She really made us understand how special it was to be out there witnessing these animals. The water was a little rocky at times, but we still saw so many whales, including one that got within 30 yards of our boat. The best part was actually on the way back. We were already at time for the tour, but Ashley noticed a group of boats congregating and went to investigate. It ended up being a whale shark that came right up by the boat, which the guides told us is an incredibly rare event. It was just an awesome thing to see. You can really tell they have so much reverence and respect for the whales. If you have any interest in seeing these animals up close and hearing from specialists who work with them full time, this is the company to go with. We have so much respect for the work Ashley and Alec do.

Breaching Humpback whales during our whale watch tour

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Breaching Humpback whales during our whale watch tour

Hawaiian Adventures Kona

5.0

(17 reviews)

Great and fun! We did the "newer" tour (2/26) that's faster and more adventurous. I searched Yelp…read morefor this and couldn't find so wanted to post. Since it's a smaller boat u can go faster and get maybe closer to the action. The drawbacks compared to a more traditional "ferry" type wld be ferry has bathrooms and comfy seats and shade. This one we did had saddle seats which were ok but comparable to a padded bike seat. Not so comfy for males especially perhaps. If u go, u can bring your own waterbottle, make sure to wear copious amounts of sunscreen and bring more to reapply. I (female) was happy I wore a long sleeved rash guard and long light colored leggings. Can wear any shoe that cld get wet, tho we did not get wet. Could wear sneakers if ur ok if they get somewhat messy. Wish I wore water shoes for the grip and the sun protection bc my feet got so much sun exposure in flip flops and not much grip. We left most of our stuff in the hotel room safe and just brought keys and drivers license. Wish I had brought cash for a tip for the driver and tour guide. Can bring phone for photos. If u are the first to arrive to the dock, you may be able to snag the seats right in front of the driver, which would be the way to get any sort of shade. Wear a hat, preferably with a chin strap or affix a baseball hat to your ponytail (ladies) or flip cap backwards as a guy when the boat goes fast so not lose hat. Wish I had had some more neck protection. Drink water. Reapply sunscreen. You'll be fast then will stop to look around so there's time to stand up, reapply etc. Great and informative narration by Dennis. Captain driver was also great. Wld recommend but again consider your needs for shade, seating, and can't go to the bathroom for three hours. Nice bathrooms at the harbor tho, flushable booklets, water and soap. Hope this helps!

We signed up for both whale watching and the night manta ray snorkel with Hawaiian Adventures Kona;…read moreboth experiences were phenomenal and a MUST-DO if visiting the Big Island! Captain Andrew and Olivia were excellent guides, they had great energy and humor while sharing information about the wildlife. Their boat, the Artemis, is the "Rolls Royce" of whale-watching boats that I've been on; clearly designed for optimal wildlife viewing and passenger comfort. We saw multiple humpback whales, three species of dolphin, and many manta rays during our trips with them. The crew is clearly very knowledgeable about the local wildlife and did a fabulous job finding animals, as well as positioning the boat for viewing them. On the manta ray night snorkel... DO IT! It exceeded my expectations tenfold and I would reckon it's one of the most unique ocean experiences anyone could have. You get to float effortlessly (with a board and pool noodle) while watching these majestic animals feed all around you! The boat is a great platform for this too, as there is a hot water rinse available to you when you get out of the water. I will book trips with this company EVERY TIME I visit Kona in the future! Both experiences were completely awesome and I can't wait to be back.

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Humpback whale breach

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Sun rise

C. Hawk Hawaii

5.0

(43 reviews)

We booked a 5 hour fishing excursion with Cpt. Craig, with three of us in attendance. The boat was…read moreroomy enough for us without tripping over each other. We enjoyed our trip tremendously and Cpt. Craig was very informative about local history if inclined to ask. All equipment and bait was provided, and included in the overall cost. Although there are no guarantees you would catch fish, when fishing, we were fortunate enough to do so. We each landed a yellow fin tuna. We had never used the gear necessary to hook up and land these delectable fish, but Cpt. Craig was patient and informative on how to do so. At the tail end of our trip he filleted our catch and bagged it up for us. We were provided beverages and snacks, if interested. There was great communication before and up to our charter. I/we highly recommend this charter! Should we ever return to the Big Island we will do this charter again, no doubt. I may, if the others were inclined, charter it for the whole day. Thank you, Cpt. Craig, for an outstanding adventure. For me, personally, it was the funnest part of our week stay on the island. Here are a couple of tips. (1) Keep in mind - there is not a restroom on this boat. So, you should plan to flush the pipes before launching unless you want to waste valuable time returning to the launch ramp. (2) You can get some of your catch through the TSA and Ag checkpoints at the airport if desired. We froze some of our fillets and had them in zip bags, placed within our carry-on luggage.

My husband and I visited Kona for the first time and.went.out.with the C Hawk to fish. Craig was…read morevery knowledgeable and friendly. He works hard for his guests. He made sure we were comfortable on the boat. My husband and I were a little rusty and he explained everything to us. We laughed when my husband and I caught tuna but by the time we reeled them in the dolphins surrounding us got to the fish before we did. We relocated and ended our day each catching Wahoo. I was able to catch some sun lounging in front of his boat. We made a friend and the next time we visit we will definitely be on Craig's boat again. Highly recommend. I wish I could give him a 10 star!!! Craig, thank you for making our visit that much prefer special. Alpha!

The captain holding a large yellow fin tuna.

Family Fun!

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Manta Adventures

4.4

(84 reviews)

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see giant manta rays in their natural habitat!…read more Manta Adventures is a top notch tour company and I would recommend them to anyone that wants to experience this rare opportunity. It's a little creepy being out in the ocean at night, but you get used to it fairly quick. There are tons of other boats out there with people in the water. The Rays we saw I'm guessing had about a 6ft wingspan and they literally get within inches of you while feeding on plankton. One thing to note. If you are susceptible to motion sickness I would recommend Dramamine or the bracelet. My wife threw up along with a couple of other passengers.

Our snorkel and manta rays swim cruise was great. We saw mantas during the day and night, a monk…read moreseal, octopus, and dolphins. Super crew, great boat and was a highlight of our vacation.

Sunset. Almost time for mantas!

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Kona Ocean Adventures

4.9

(207 reviews)

What an amazing experience! We were a group of scuba divers and a snorkeler. We had 2 dive/snorkel…read morespots. This first dive we saw a shark, fish, and an eel. The 2nd dive was incredible!! We sat at the bottom of the ocean with lights and HUGE manta rays swam all around us! Kate was our dive guide and I can't remember the snorkel guides name but they were both great! I hadn't dove in about 2 years and Kate was so patient with me. I was a little nervous but she made me feel at ease. My husband even saw a baby tiger shark when he was snorkeling! They provided fruit, hummus sandwiches and drinks. If you're on the Big Island this is a must! They even took go pro videos and sent them to us!!

Troy and Meredith were amazing. Safe and entertaining journey and genuinely good people. Well…read moreworth private experience over the large group tours. The Manta's truly are amazing. Highly recommend and thanks again to both of you for a wonderful experience.

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Kona Manta Diving

5.0

(3 reviews)

Took family on the Manta Ray night dive. The experience was amazing. Saw up to 6 Manta Rays inches…read morefrom me. You a tell the difference from there spot on their under belly''s. The crew was also mazing and explained in detail what we would be experiencing from how to enter the water, how to float and relax, how the Manta Ray encounter experience would be, and most importantly how to protect the Mantas by not touching them. My wife was hesitant to get in the water having never snorkeled. She decided to remain on boat. Captain John cautiously maneuvered boat so she could see them yet not risking swimmer in the water. They run smaller boats to allow them the do that. A lot of the bigger boats out there would never have been able to do that for my wife. Definitely would go again with the Kona Manta Diving.

Many had recommended this activity, so we had to give it a try. I had some trepidation about…read morenight-time diving, length of activity, and getting cold. I didn't need to. The team (especially Mads, our guide) made this easy. We held onto a surfboard which had a light to attract the plankton, and the mantas came to us to feed. It was easy, and it was spectacular! My husband and I had debated whether to scuba or snorkel the adventure. I'm not sure how the scuba experience could have been better as the mantas came within inches of us over he course of the dive, putting on their own show. Truly wonderful experience. Kudos to the entire team (including the boat captain) who made this such a wonderful experience!

Wasabi Tours Hawaii

4.9

(619 reviews)

0.9 mi

Our family of 6 decided to tour the big island in Hawai'i also called Hawai'i. After checking out…read moresome touring companies we decided on Wasabi Tours. We did a 2 day package encompassing the islands most beautiful waterfalls, nature reserves, botanical gardens, volcanoes, beaches coffee farms on old town Hilo. On our first day with Jason our driver and guide picked us up on time and with a smile. He shared his knowledge along the way wearing a microphone in the van so everyone could hear comfortably. At the attractions he was with us giving us history of all the waterfalls. Whiles driving he told us about the sites inbetween. At lunch time he provided us a delicious meal from a local restaurant. Day 2 with our driver Derek was in another new van that was also comfortable and roomy. Derek took us to a working coffee plantation to see, smell and walk through the farm. At Kīlauea volcano national park where we got to see upclose and personal the caldera in all its majesty. All the time telling the history and recent activity of the volcano. We saw and walked on a beautiful black sand beach with segregated sea turtle nesting area where we saw a turtle swimming ashore and resting at waters edge before digging a hole in the black sand to lay her eggs in preparation for the next generation of turtle, we walked down and into a 30 meter lava tube and got to visualize the path of a whole lotta molten rock traveling through centuries before. Culminating the day's trip by stopping on a mountain top in almost complete darkness, the moon was in a waxing crescent and producing very little nighttime light. We bundled up to stay warm in the 50 degree Fahrenheit temperature to stargaze. It was refreshing in the cold air, outside the van huddled in a group while Derek pointed out, planets, stars, constellations and galaxies as we stood in awe of the majesty above us. Wasabi Tours, Jason and Derek were on-time, safe, informative and most of all fun to spend our time with. I highly recommend taking a Wasabi tour to REALLY see the big island. Thank you all!

It's a wonderful tour to experience the beautiful nature of Big Island! The pick up time at Kona…read moreAirport was 7:30am at the tour bus parking lot. Huge shout out to Mia, born and raised on the Big Island! Her Mana was shining! Her voice and English were clear and beautiful, so it was easy to understand. Lunch was catered from L&L with a canned drink. I recommend to bring some snacks for a long tour like this. Although the 2/3 of tour was in bad weather, but I still enjoyed it a lot. Good I brought a poncho and umbrella. Luckily, Kilauea was erupted in the morning of that day, so we saw the eruption! AM: Kona Coffee Farm, Black Sand Beach, Volcanoes National Park (1.5h) PM: Akaka Falls, Rainbow Falls, Waipio Valley Look Out

The coffee I'm drinking came from this tree - partially

The volcano tube.

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Kahalu'u Beach Park

4.4

(396 reviews)

7.4 mi

Great beach! It has shade and some good views. Definitely a good place to bring the family as it is…read moresomewhat protected. Parking is expensive kind of a bummer. The area itself didn't have much amenities, but definitely have palm trees and shade, which was nice in the afternoon. Happy to make it on our first day

We swim here regularly, year-round. IMHO this is the best all-around snorkeling beach on the…read moreisland, but as with any ocean activity the surf and tide will affect your experience, so ask the lifeguards or the volunteers for advice. This protected bay has over 120 species of resident fish, and usually has clear water. Other than urchins (7 species) there is no marine life to worry about. Turtle sitings are more likely at high tide when their salad bar (the algae on the rocks) is available. Typically from 9 to 3 daily the Reef Teach volunteers have photo guide books and other reference materials available, along with free advice, defog spray, and reef-safe sunscreen. Water access is the narrow and shallow rocky channel in front of the lifeguard station by the parking and pavilion. Swim fins or sand shoes are recommended. The locals value their feet and swim through it even at low tide when it is only a foot deep. Coming back in you can actually swim all the way back to the sandy channel. The water is usually noticeably warmer and clearer away from the entry. The bay is shallow with only a few places that are even 8' deep at high tide. Unless you really need to, don't stand on the bottom or coral - fins and feet damage it.

| #intenselypassionatephotography

Locals

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Water is way more blue. Pic not doing justice.

Makalawena Beach

4.6

(50 reviews)

8.3 mi

This was a nice clean beach to settle into for the day. The water was clear and had a lot of see…read morelife to see snorkeling. I hung out for a long time following a squid watching it change to its surroundings.

As some travel experts have pointed out, Makalawena Beach is arguably the best beach on the Big…read moreIsland that cannot be reached by road. That's right, there are two ways to reach this beautiful white sand beach and gem by hiking, and the path I took was via the Kekaha Kai State Park's main parking lot, and first that is a rough 20-minute drive with 4x4 vehicles like Jeeps from Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway to that trailhead. Then it's about another 30-minute hike in each direction and you go on lots of loose lava rocks and it can get hot, so make sure you have sunscreen, a good bucket hat, and plenty of water. I don't know about the second way in, so I could not speak to that method. But in any case, it is so worth the time and effort when it was all said and done. There were a few crowds when getting to Makalawena Beach but not super busy at all. You'll find other tide pools, palm trees, and other native plants. Waves are rather rough at times, but it is still swimmable for the most part.

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Magic Sands Beach

4.0

(67 reviews)

6.3 mi

The view was epic, the rocks not so conducive to snorkeling or swimming. Lots of visitors, not the…read moresolitude I need when visiting such a stunning place. Historical area, lots to learn about the fishing folks and how they treating their fishing grounds with such respect, much for us to learn from.

Come back after a month. Still beautiful but no luck with the sunset. Free parking across the…read morestreet, velvety white sands, amenity and lifeguards, restaurants and quick food next door. Always has music( you might not want though plenty of rock to sit on to watch the beautiful sunset.