Went on a 5 hour charter 1 March. We were originally booked on a different boat but last minute…read morechange put us on the Mazel Tov. The boat was captained by Mike and deck crew was Jerry. Trip started promptly on time at 0600 and we received a boat safely briefing from Captain Mike before departure. Soon after departure, Jerry started to rig all the rods and gave us a fishing safety briefing and the dos and don'ts. We are not tourists, but locals that live in Kaneohe. We have done a ton of charters, almost exclusively from the boat on Hickam AFB, but that boat no longer charters from there. We have caught and landed a 500 lb blue marlin , as well as several striped marlin feom 75 lbs to 100 pounders. The one fish that has always eluded us was the shortbill marlin or shortbill spearfish, or known locally as Hebi. Several hooked, never landed. But not today. We finally got our trifecta of marlin. Not much later after receiving our brief from Jerry, as the sun was rising over the horizon, we hooked our Hebi and it was game on. Our first up did exactly as Jerry instructed, he jumped into the chair and Jerry got him the rod and buckled him in. From there it was about 8 minutes of easy pumping and reeling while Jerry got the other lines out of the way. Jerry expertly gaffed the fish and brought it on board without any issues. That was our one and only fish that day. I had hoped we could have hooked up with a bunch of ahi, shibby, or mahimahi, but we have already caught a bunch of those. Our Ebi was the one that always got away. Fish came in at just 26 pounds, but the crew processed the catch and we shared it as custom with the crew. By contrast, the boat on Hickam let you keep all that you catch or as much as you want. Maybe those days are over. However, we made more enjoyable memories today on the Mozel Tov with Mike and Jerry. Later that night, after a few beers and conversation, I pan fried a couple of the hebi filets and had an incredible dinner of fresh catch.

Capt. Max and JP were the bomb and will definitely go again. 10/10 recommend and would do it…read moreagain!Check um out gang. Yessah

We had a fantastic time exploring and playing. We had so much fun doing water activities and…read moreviewing underwater creatures. Captain and the crew were very attentive and ensured safety. They ensured everyone got to see turtles and in fact they headed a participant back just when we were being called back to the boat after discovering he didn't get to see turtles. There was plenty of snacks and drinks. Gears were complete - eye gear (with or without prescription which was helpful to those who wear glasses), and mouth pieces. The attention to detail was superb and attention to safety and ensuring everyone had fun was commendable!

We booked this Kaneohe Sandbar snorkeling tour after seeing many reviews describe it as…read morebeginner-friendly. As first-time snorkelers traveling with a child, our experience did not align with those expectations. Equipment distribution was poorly handled. Masks were handed out with little to no instruction, and basic questions were met with a rude and dismissive attitude. Overall communication and service were lacking. Once in the water, guidance was minimal and inconsistent. The experience felt rushed and disorganized, with limited support for guests who were new to snorkeling. The tone and treatment we received also made us uncomfortable as Asian guests. After sharing feedback, the company clarified in writing that they do NOT advertise or position this as a beginner-friendly snorkeling tour. Based on both that clarification and our experience, I would strongly recommend that beginners or families looking for clear instruction and attentive guidance consider other operators. Sharing this to help future guests set accurate expectations before booking.

We had an amazing time on this tour! Stephanie and Amos were outstanding tour guides. They were…read morefunny, energetic, and had everyone on the boat laughing the entire trip. You could tell they genuinely love what they do. Their excitement was contagious every time we spotted wildlife, which made the experience even more memorable. We also loved riding on Captain Max's 32-foot boat. It felt like a thrilling ride across the water and was so much more fun than being on one of the large tour boats. It made the whole experience feel more personal and exciting. I highly recommend booking a tour with Stephanie and Amos if you get the chance. They truly made our trip unforgettable!

We love seeing and snorkeling near turtles in Hawaii and for an upcoming trip to Oahu we weren't…read moresure we were going to be able to see them. I read about the excursions off Waikiki that all but promised seeing Honu. I did some research and chose to book with Captain Max Boat Tours and their Turtle Canyon Snorkel. I read reviews and what really attracted me to this outfitter was the fact they ran semi-private boat tours with only 6 guests. Correspondence (email) leading up to the excursion was clear and helpful. We arrived a few minutes early and visited their small shop while checking in. We waited just a few minutes and then were walked over to their boat dock, meeting both the guide, Sophia and the boat captain, Stephanie. They gave us safety information and prepared us for the short boat ride out to "Turtle Canyon". Our craft was a zodiac type inflatable raft with a mounted seats and a windscreen for the captain. We glided out to the snorkel zone with Waikiki beach before us, a grand ocean view of this famous beach. Sophie helped the other guests get their snorkel gear (included in the price) except for us - we bring our own snorkel equipment. We put in the water and after all guests were in, Sophia called in the direction she was leading us. On the way over we swam through schools of fish. This was an awesome experience we did not expect - we snorkel a lot and love seeing the marine life. We learned that some outfitters feed the fish out here and so they stick around instead of swim away, which we're used to experiencing. In about 20 feet of water our guide pointed out several turtles on the bottom. Lucky for us, one of them swap up for air - and stayed near the and stayed near the surface for quite a few minutes (longer than we usually see) which allowed us to get a great view of this beautiful creature (all the while, maintaining a safe distance to protect the turtle). Sophia led us to two other spots nearby, seeing fish on the reef below and several more turtles. Once again we were fortunate to have another turtle swim up to the surface for a few breaths. I'm very glad we chose Captain Max as some of the other outfitters that bring larger groups would have been a very different experience with a group clamoring for views of the few turtles that were out there. Our guide was knowledgeable, approachable, and friendly - and ensured we were all safe (and the marine life were also protected). On our way back to shore we were treated to another great view of Oahu, with Waikiki and Honolulu in the foreground and the mountains behind. Thanks Sophie and Captain Stephanie for a memorable excursion! NOTE: We know that early in the morning is generally the best time to snorkel as the water tends to be calmer, visibility better and fish ore active. We had a 930 start but next time would be the early time (730) as I learned there are even fewer other outfitters out on the water at that time.

I sent my husband and family on this charter. Capt. Rick called immediately to let us know that we…read moremighty avengers to cancel due to safety. I really appreciated it. The following day, the sun was shining and they were able to go out. My husband said :"Loved the outing! It was a beautiful day and the crew was fun and easy going. We didn't catch anything, but spotted a whale. Fish being less active in warm water made it less likely to catch a fish, but the crew did their best and were awesome! I would book again and highly recommend!"

This was hands down thee best excursion we did in oahu. The captain put us on alot of fish …read more Unfortunately they weren't biting too hard. But that's fishing just like life. he pulled out some smaller couple of rods and we caught 10 skipjack Tuna, just to keep search. After a long day we were heading back to the dock and not before long we caught a big wahoo. So awesome. can't wait to eat it. great job staff! I could only remember 1 name Tim from Fiji! He was so cool and professional as well as the other young ladys and the captain! My son and i are definitely booking again! Keep them lines tight Renegade! Thank you sincerely Mike and Fernando

We loved the fishing! It was great the staff was great we where able to get 1 mahi mahi and 3…read moreyellow fin tunas. Made a wonderful ceviche.

We expected a lot more. The boat itself was a disappointment. It is old, well worn, with old…read moreuncomfortable couches, no table, and a broken air conditioner. The benches outside the cabin were just some old coolers to sit on. The conditions of the catch seemed odd. The crew explained they get half the catch under 100lbs and all fish over 100 lbs. It didn't really matter since we just trawled around and didn't get a nibble. Basically seems like we're just a payee for the crew's fishing trip. The crew seems to change a lot. The captain and crew weren't the same pictured on their site and they didn't seem to know each other. One of the crew decided to get a tan and take his shirt off for the whole trip. Very disturbing!

After having to reschedule because of the weather, I felt so lucky that I was able to make it…read moreyesterday before flying back to San Francisco today. I just want to say a big thank you to the professional and friendly crew, you guys are amazing!! especially the cute guy who took care of me when I got seasick and needed to sit at the back, thank you again for your kindness and patience. I loved your great smile, and trust me, acne didn't take away from it. It was truly an unforgettable experience, and I will definitely come back again. I honestly don't want this vacation to end. Thank you for helping make my trip so special! Ka 6.6.26

My husband and I had a great time. The crew on board were fun. I recommend this catamran snorkeling…read moretours.

This cruise was amazing for my family. The staff are very friendly and welcoming. As we set out to…read morefind spinner dolphins which they found, the staff explained to us about the island and its culture. They danced for us and played great music . The captain (Danny) was trying her best to find a great place to snorkel which she found . The lunch (turkey sandwich) was really good. They served water, lemonade and had drinks for sale as well. I would definitely recommend this trip and company. Aloha

My wife and I had an amazing boat tour experience from start to finish. We were picked up in…read moreWaikīkī and taken to the Wai'anae Small Boat Harbor, which made everything convenient and easy. They also offer a military discount, which we really appreciated. Once we got out on the water, the experience was unforgettable. We swam with colorful fish and sea turtles, saw dolphins, and even got to see false killer whales. It was truly a great day out at sea. The crew was exceptional: Capt. Dani, Ben, Faavae, Kania, Roxanne, Kirra, Bernard, and Keely all made the trip special. Keely deserves a special shout-out! The crew provided educational facts, acted as lifeguards, served food and drinks, and even danced, making the whole experience fun, safe, and memorable. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for an incredible ocean adventure in Hawai'i. Great service, beautiful wildlife, and an outstanding crew!

Amazing service and very kind, chill people! The boat ride was very beautiful! Very good time!read more

Amazing crew! Thats the number one thing, you can get on a boat and snorkel just about anywhere in…read moreHawaii and see amazing reef fish and wildlife, but to have such an educated and attentive crew was a big change compared to my usual snorkeling/diving excursions. Lola was our main guide and not only was she well educated, attentive, and a great tour guide -- she also would go above and beyond to make your tour incredible. None of the other guides from other companies got off their boards, let alone free dove 40ft to try to get the reef shark to leave its rock so everyone could see it. She also provided many of our crew with their own free dive instruction so that they could try as well. Amazing trip, amazing sights, even better crew!