I highly recommend the Snorkeling with Turtles semi-private tour with Hawaii Ocean Charters and our tour guide Francesco! My husband and I had an amazing experience with the group. We were incredibly lucky to spot whales as soon as we set sail, and the tour guides made it even more special by sharing fascinating details--not just about the whales, but throughout the entire trip. Once we arrived at Turtle Bay, they provided all the snorkeling equipment, explained the safety guidelines, and even gave a beginner-friendly lesson on snorkeling, which I really appreciated since it was my first time. The guides were super helpful and made me feel comfortable in the water. We spent an hour swimming and exploring, spotting plenty of marine life--including, of course, the turtles! Seeing them up close was a truly special moment for me, as turtles are my favorite animal. To top it off, we cruised around Diamond Head, offering a perfect opportunity for photos. The tour includes snorkeling gear, water and soft drinks, plenty of space on the boat to sit back and enjoy the views, and tons of interesting insights from the guides. The small group setting made the experience even more enjoyable and personal. Huge thanks to Francesco and the entire team for such an unforgettable adventure! read more

Aloha 'auinalā Captain Francesco and Shipmate Kelsey. Our teams adventure with you today was amazing. You gave unexpected experiences to swim with several pods of dolphins. Found the turtles with ease. You didn't just take us on a sail or snorkel. You took the opportunity to educate us on Island life. The culture, the history. You showed us such warmth and kindness. As a non-swimmer I felt so at ease with you both. I forgot for a second I was even immersed in the water. You gave confidence. Peace and tranquility. Kelsey I appreciated your willingness to even get out there with us to enhance the experience. Man we could have swam with all those 20 something people. But nah our Cap was like this is personal and private I'll get yall a better spot. We have had a blast... and Cap is full of knowledge to help you get a good itinerary if you do not know where to go.... If you ever make it to Hawaii listen hit up @hawaiioceancharters 808-343-4458 . They do snorkel tours, sunset cruises, whale watching if season permits, oh and let's not forget our ocean photoshoot thanks to our photographer Kelsey. Thanks again Cap for making it memorable. Mahalo nui loa. A hui hou Shak and the crew P.s. I will be ready to dive next time. read more

We're so glad we booked the semi-private 6-person tour with Hawaiian Ocean Charters during our stay in Oʻahu--it was truly one of the best moments I had in Hawaii! The boat's location was super convenient, especially since we were staying near Ala Moana, making the whole experience easy and accessible. The crew was incredibly knowledgeable and made sure we felt safe and well taken care of throughout the trip. Although the water was a bit murky that day, we still got lucky and spotted a few turtles and tropical fish, which was a treat. The boat itself was thoughtfully prepared with bean bag seating and refreshments, which made for an extra comfortable and enjoyable sail. There was a little confusion toward the end about sailing to another location, but we ended up returning to our original docking point. Despite that minor hiccup, it was a beautiful day to be out on the ocean, and the vibe with the other passengers made the experience even better. Highly recommend this charter for anyone looking for a more intimate and relaxed snorkeling experience in Hawaii! read more

We had a fabulous time on this snorkeling tour! We booked the small-group tour, which accommodates up to six people, and we ended up being the only three guests that day. They told us that doesn't happen very often, so we definitely felt lucky! Sam and Kasia were both incredibly friendly, welcoming, and personable. Kasia was our snorkel instructor and was so sweet and attentive. She took us into the water, floated around with us, and made sure we were comfortable the entire time. Sam was hilarious, had plenty of jokes, and was genuinely so fun to spend the day with. Since it was just the three of us, we received so much undivided attention, which made the experience feel incredibly personal and relaxed. We also had a great time simply cruising around on the catamaran and taking in the beautiful water and scenery. Overall, we had an amazing experience and would absolutely recommend this company. If you're looking for a fun, friendly, and intimate snorkeling experience, this is definitely the way to go! read more

Hawaii Ocean Charter delivered an unforgettable experience during our two-hour whale watching and coast sightseeing excursion. Led by the knowledgeable and fun-loving crew, including Nacho, we were treated to an incredible display of nature's beauty. After some searching, we were rewarded with the sight of a mother humpback whale and her calf, who graciously swam close to our boat, offering us a breathtakingly close encounter. Throughout the trip, Nacho and his team shared insightful information about the whales and the coastline, enhancing our appreciation of the experience. Overall, Hawaii Ocean Charter provided an exceptional adventure that surpassed all expectations, leaving us with cherished memories and a deep connection to Hawaii's marine wonders. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a truly unforgettable ocean adventure! read more

Booked a trip in the catamaran for my 21st birthday and I couldn't have thought of a better way to spend it. The boat itself was huge! It had a really awesome view deck on the top and it had waterproof bean bags and trampolines near the front of the boat which is where we did most of the relaxing. Captian Francesco was super awesome, he knew what he was doing and was able to take us to all the cool zones around the southeast side of the island. We did some snorkeling and saw all kinds of fish, turtles, and even a large manta ray! On our way back to the harbor, we got lucky with a pod of dolphins that began swimming and jumping at the front of the catamaran. All this made for one of the best birthdays ever!!! Highly recommend this to anyone considering going! read more

10/10 would recommend. My girlfriend and I went on a sunset cruise yesterday and it was one of the best experiences we've had! With so many different options of cruises lining the shores of Waikiki it's hard to pick, but you will not regret choosing Hawaii Ocean Charters. The captain was very knowledgeable and friendly, you can tell he has spent his life on the water. The boat was clean and well kept with snorkeling gear for the guests to use! After cruising around the south shore of the island we anchored and snorkeled over a beautiful reef with plenty of ocean life to see, and it ended with a beautiful sunset. I don't think I'll ever find a better experience at such a great price!! read more

Hawaii Ocean Charters was great! Best Snorkeling trip we have ever taken by far! Sam and Ella (I think that was her name :)) were the best! They were informative about marine life, they waited on our every need. Sam was very patient with me as I am always a little nervours when going into the ocean. Ella was just the sweetest and knew how to get the fish and turtles to us. We also came upon a huge school of dolphines that played with us for quit some time! Thank you Sam and Ella for a fabulous time! You won't be sorry if you book with these two! read more

Francesco and his crew were amazing!! We had all of our families out for the day for snorkeling and swimming! The day went perfectly. Once we boarded the boat, we immediately felt like we were on the boat of a family friend. In every way, they took care of us and made sure that our day was exactly as we imagined it. Safety seemed a top priority, and they did an excellent job of keeping us safe but not ruining any of the fun. The next time I'm in Hawaii, I will be chartering this boat again for another unforgettable family memory!! read more

We had such an amazing time celebrating our friend's bachelorette party with Ocean Charters! The crew was friendly, fun, and truly make the tour so enjoyable. We got to snorkel with the fish, see some turtles and hang in the sun on boat deck. The crew took such great care of us, from taking pictures, to showing us the sea life, and even grabbing drinks so we could relax and enjoy. The trip was a highlight of our time in Honolulu, if you're considering booking a tour- we highly recommend booking with Ocean Charters! read more

Couldn't have asked for a better day out on the water. I took my parents out along with some friends for my moms birthday and everyone loved it. We got to see dolphins and just spend a nice relaxing day cruising past Waikiki and around Diamond Head. The captain provided quality service and went above and beyond to make our experience memorable. He is knowledgable, accommodating and friendly. Definitely recommend this charter for any special occasions or just a fun day with some friends or family. read more

By Far the BEST snorkeling tour on Oahu. We went on their Turtle Snorkel Adventure Tour, on their Ocean Freedom boat. The boat ride was very comfortable and super fun. The snorkeling adventure experience was awesome. We saw so many fish, not to mention that their our snorkeling guide was amazing, he kept diving down and showing us octopus, kauri shells, huge star fish, you name it. Our captain Francesco and the entire crew super professional. Highly recommend. Don't miss this experience! read more

Our group, ranging from 12 years old to 77 years old, loved the experience! Captain Francesco and Kesley couldn't have been nicer and everyone felt safe and comfortable in and out of the water. Those who snorkeled saw some cool fish and loved being so close to the sea turtles. I wasn't looking for a private charter when I first looked into snorkel tours but am sooo happy I found and booked Hawaii Ocean Charters! It was everyone's favorite part of our trip to Oahu! read more

The best! Super fun crew and very gracious and welcoming. Great with kids. Ella had an answer to all of our questions. We swam among the fish and right next to the turtles! Sam the boat captain searched and found the dolphins for us (and helped out the other tour companies with his find). The best trip compared to a competitor we took on the Ko Olina (west side). I was so happy at the end of the trip. A must. Ask for Sam and Ella. read more

I have never been on an ocean cruise before and a friend recommended this company because he had such a great time. I must say that the expedition was indeed worth every penny. Me and my wife went on the sunset cruise and were in awe from start to finish. The captain was also very charismatic so we felt comfortable the entire time. It was almost as if it was our own boat! We will be going again for Christmas. Hope this helps. read more

Captain "Nacho" and his crew were amazing! The boat was nice, clean and had a restroom. It was equipped with snorkeling gear, water/ice/juice, lilly pad and a float. We saw turtles, dolphins, plenty of fish and a beautiful sunset. Would highly recommend! Next time we're in Hawaii we are definitely booking with this crew! read more

Our small group snorkeling tour to see turtles was amazing! We loved our wonderful guides Sam and his wife Hailey were so sweet and knowledgeable! I loved the boat ride and LOVED the snorkeling and we saw turtles and had a good swim in the beautiful ocean! The highlight of my trip! Thank you so much! read more

We had a blast on our private charter with Sam and Kelsey! Their magic whale radar took us right to the humpbacks while Same regaled us with dad jokes and interesting info about the area and wildlife! Snorkeling with some turtles was awesome. Can't recommend highly enough! read more

Sam and Ella were so helpful. We are a multigenerational family and they reached out to each of us. The boat was comfortable, the snorkeling was great, and we had a wonderful time! They were engaging, fun, and super nice. We would 100% book with them again! read more