We always have a great experience with Fair Wind Cruises. My family goes on this snorkel trip every…read moreyear during our annual Hawaii vacation, and it has become such a fun tradition for us. I usually suffer from sea sickness but I never feel ill on the Fair Winds boats. The staff is always so nice and friendly, which makes the whole experience even more enjoyable. We do miss the BBQ burgers they used to cook for lunch on the boat, but the vegetarian menu they offer now is still pretty good. We also really appreciate their efforts to be environmentally friendly, which makes us feel even better about supporting them. Overall, it is always a memorable and enjoyable trip, and we look forward to it every year!

Went on the fair wind with my family, and we had a blast. There was some good vegan food ( the…read moresliders weren't my favorite) and free root beer. The scenery around was really pretty and I saw lot of coral reef and mountainous views from the water. The staff there was awesome and they attended to everyone needs well. I love snorkeling now.

My friends, family and I went night snorkeling to see the manta rays. What a great experience! The…read morecrew is very helpful and gave clear instructions on what to do and what is prohibited (to not touch the sea creatures for example). If you need assistance to get to the structure, someone will help you! Just let them know. Highly recommend!

We did a Captain Cook snorkeling tour with Sea Quest Hawaii today and were very impressed. Erin,…read morethe phone representative, was friendly, patient, and answered all my questions, which made me choose this company. Captain Natalie and Assistant Anna were fantastic, knowledgeable, funny, and very attentive throughout the trip. Captain Natalie shared interesting stories about Captain Cook and the surrounding lava caves, and she even helped me with my snorkeling gear and inflating the vest. The snorkeling spot near Captain Cook Monument was incredible, and we saw so many fish. They also provided fresh fruit, chips, cookies, and soft drinks. Thanks to Captain Natalie and Anna, all six of us had a great time and would highly recommend this company.

Our group of 12, 9 high school aged Girl Scouts and 3 adults absolutely loved our night Manta Ray…read moresnorkel excursion with Dolphin Discoveries. Sam, Jack and Jake were amazing. This is a just do if you are in Kona. Everyone in our group loved it and is one of those one in a life time events that we will all remember forever.

Capt Rob was at the helm on my trip. Expect a 20 min trip out to the snorkeling site. My party…read morewas seated on the right side of the boat as you look from the rear to the front. The seas were rolling but not breaking which made the ride smooth. We were greeted by 5-6 dolphins. Capt Rob slowed down and we got to see them up close. The snorkeling takes place in a nook of a bay that has interesting Capt Cook history. We were in the water for 1 hr and it was something like out of a movie. If you have never swam in deep pacific water you are in for a treat. The color of the water doesn't seem real. My visit was late Aug and the water temp was 81, for reference. Being on the right side of boat back to shore put us up and personal to the cliffs, caves and volcano tubes. Capt Rob maneuvered the boat up to the caves and small coves to explain the history of how this coast was created. My entire family was so pleased with this adventure. Snorkeling at the resorts is fun, but this was great....

Incredible experience!…read more We almost had our snorkeling reservation cancelled due to lack of people, but luckily we were able to get on the Small Group Snorkel & Dolphin Charter which was a much more intimate experience with fewer people and longer snorkel time. Our guides, Seth and Lacey, were the most welcoming and informative staff we were blessed to get. The weather was perfect, the sea life was super active, and they provided us snacks and refreshments for everyone. We got to see some beautiful landscapes, incredible sea life, all while enjoying the beautiful day! When we go back to the big island, we will definitely be booking with Captain Cook for another snorkeling adventure!

We went on the Deluxe Captain Cook Tour in September 2025 and had a great time! Captain Jeff was…read morevery charismatic and accommodating, and he did a fine job taking us to and from Captain Cook Monument on the boat. He even pulled over on the way back so we could watch a pod of dolphins. His colleague Ryan was extremely helpful, caring, and knowledgeable. My only feedback is that he should raise his voice and project more so that everyone aboard can hear the great information he has to offer! The cruise was about an hour each way, and then we spent another hour in the water snorkeling. It was my first time doing so, and I felt very safe and comfortable the whole time! There are tons of colorful tropical fish to observe in the warm, clear waters of Kealakekua Bay. Good choice if you want to try snorkeling!

Amazing time. Crew was very expressive on the trip and was very professional. Showed us dolphins…read morewhen they didn't have to. Made sure everyone on the trip enjoyed and experienced something wonderful. Offered insight on anything, let us enjoy the water before showing us the manta rays. 10/10 experience and highly recommend!

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.

We went out twice with Kona Style and had fantastic experiences both times…read more The morning sail and snorkel was beautiful and relaxing -- we saw lovely views of the coast, lots of fish (including flying fish as we sailed to the bay), urchins, and even some dolphins. While we didn't partake in the breakfast fruit or mini muffins on board, the pre-departure coffee was welcome and yummy. On the return, we greatly appreciated and enjoyed our boxed lunches (the salad was particularly great!). We had the option for complimentary light drinks or to purchase cocktails but just drank our water. Then we did the really late night manta snorkel, which was intense but truly awesome -- the mantas came within inches of our faces repeatedly, and we were often surrounded by a school of decently sized fish. Because everyone in the group is lined up along the same lighted board, you're very close to your neighbors, but the sea life is so majestic that you barely notice anything above the water. Cocktails available for purchase on the way there, and complimentary hot cocoa on the way back. We had the same competent and professional, yet friendly, crew for both outings. They prioritized both safety and comfort. We had plenty of time in the water. Boat was clean and well-stocked (including the bathroom and when my daughter needed a band-aid). They played fun music. Masks fit us well and didn't fog up. Other provided gear included noodles to make floating easier, reef safe sunscreen for the day snorkel, and wetsuit tops for the night snorkel. Highly recommend, would love to do again.

We decided to do the Sunset Manta cruise. Unfortunately, we saw zero mantas that night possibly…read morebecause of choppy waters. But despite not seeing any Mantas that night, our experience was awesome due to the fantastic crew lead by Captain Jaq. Kona Style was so nice to offer a redo at no charge on another day since we didn't get to see any Manta's. Since we were leaving the next day to go back home, they told us that they will give us a credit next time we come back and it does not expire! Good thing for us, we already have our next trip planned back to Kona for next May 2027! See you then, Kona Style! Mahalo!

We got onto the boat at 8 am. It's a large two story open air boat. The staff is very nice and…read morehelpful. We headed towards Captain cook's monument and snorkeled in famous Kealakekua Bay. It's the BEST SNORKELING in all Hawaii's islands. It has a diversity of thousands of colorful fish and coral. It's the inspiration for the movie finding Nemo. After 1-2 hours of snorkeling, we boarded the boat to try the water slide and second floor diving board. It was super fun. The crew provided sandwiches, chips, fruit and soda/water. On the way back we hugged the coastline for great pictures. We stopped and watched a pod of dolphins who came to the boat. It was a magical tour for any snorkeling lover. The crew and boat were outstanding. We loved it.

We did the "Big Island: Captain Cook Snorkel on a Power Catamaran with Lunch" 4 hour snorkel trip…read morethrough Hang Loose Boat Tours while in Hawaii, and it was one of our highlights, if not the highlight. From start to finish, the crew at Hang Loose took great care of us: friendly check-in, clear directions getting on the boat, and guided tour or beautiful music the whole ride. Once at Captain Cook's Cove, the crew helped us get setup with our gear and snorkeling tips. They provided small floaty noodles to folks so they felt comfortable staying afloat. I did not use this, but almost everyone else did, so don't worry about wanting one in advance: you'll be in good company. Once in the water, that's when the magic happened. Everywhere we looked was stunning and full of life. We saw all the tropical fish imaginable and coral. Sea urchins were everywhere as well, so don't step down...stay afloat! Some highlights included an eel, a green crown of thorns of starfish, and a giant needlefish. We had such a blast and had at least 2 hours to snorkel, if not more. Some folks headed back early to the boat and they setup a slide on the top deck for folks to use to slide into the ocean. Once back on the boat, they set us up with refreshing sandwiches, fruit, chips, and drinks. After so much swimming, this was a much needed nourishment break. The boat tour back we have a few more scenic stops for photo shoots. It was stunning and we learned a lot about lava tubes, the coastal scenery, and some island history. The four hours flew by. Once back, the crew let us know where to go near the dock to find sea turtles. Such a great tip! They were correct and we saw three! This tour was well worth the money. We'd recommend it for all visitors as it truly was a magical experience!

I had a blast on this daytime snorkeling tour. I got to climb aboard the RIB navy seal type boat,…read moreit felt like an adventure. The guides took the tour out to the Captain Cook Monument, where the snorkeling was cool. The water was clear, the marine life plenty, and it ended up being one of the best snorkeling spots I've experienced. One tip: be sure to rent the flippers when you sign up. They made a huge difference and helped a lot in the water. They are not provided from the all in tour price. For the tour price you get the ride and snorkel mask with a floaty. They also rent life jackets if you need that. This tour is definitely geared toward people who are comfortable swimming and being on an open-air boat. If you're nervous in the water or can't swim or prefer a more relaxed boat ride, this isn't it. If you're looking for excitement, it's hard to beat. What really made the experience special were the crew members. Our captain and lifeguard were laid-back, friendly, and made everyone feel safe while keeping the atmosphere fun. The highlight for me was racing along the coastline at nearly 50 knots, bouncing across the waves and taking in incredible views of the island. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

This tour company is wildly unprofessional…read more We booked a 9 pm manta ray snorkel tour and were told we needed to move to 7:20, about 3 hours before the tour time. When we said we couldn't do that time and asked for a refund instead, they said they would not give a refund under any circumstances. We called the "office" multiple times to figure out what was going on and to find a reasonable compromise and had to call over 6 times to finally catch anyone, and even with that, they basically just told me that we were SOL, because their policy says they can move you to any time they chose without notice. "You signed the terms which are legally binding." After fighting on the phone for 30+ minutes we were finally told we can have a voucher to come another time, but our $250 was tanked. Also to note their waiver includes a clause that you cannot request a refund through your credit card, which should've been a huge red flag. All in all, please spend your money elsewhere. There are tons of other companies to choose from, so please don't waste your time with this one.

This is a little delayed review, but what a fun time! I am…read morenot a very good swimmer so going out into the water at night made me very hesitant. Thankfully, most of the time we were just floating - holding onto the light board and having our feet held up by pool noodles. The crew made us feel very safe and kept us well informed. One of them even dove down to get a dropped go pro from one of our group members. We were in the water for about 30 min, but the manta rays came right away and a lot towards the end of our time in the water! (Of course this varies from tour to tour based on various conditions and factors) My friends and I will never forget meeting "Manteria." Other tours were out in the same area as well and everyone was considerate of each other. I can't recommend this experience enough!

Night snorkeling with majestic Manta Rays in calm Keauhou Bay was awesome ... seriously, totally,…read moreya, completely awesome! There are dozens of Hawaiian tour companies all bringing groups every evening to get in the water with the rays, but we were lucky to have the concierge at the Sheraton Kona Resort connect us with Eka Canoe Adventures for several reasons: * All groups are small around 6 people (plus 2 crew) * Because the boats are small, but stable double hull sailing canoes * The captain & mate were cool & professional * The tour is quick at just 1 hour * Cost was covered by a hotel credit and reasonable * It conveniently launches from the harbor next to the hotel A powerful light is attached to a board with handles that attracts photosynthetic plankton which in turn attracts the manta rays. A big ray will literally swim out of the dark ocean right up at you. Taking pictures is almost impossible unless you come better prepared with the right device and way to hold/trigger it than we did. Of course, swimming experience is required, but really this is not like normal wet-n-wild snorkeling. You basically just float face-down while hang on to the Light Board. Flotation noodles to keep you afloat, wet suit tops to keep you warm & floating, and snorkel masks to keep you breathing are all provided by Eka. Otherwise, just bring your own towel and a jacket to stay warm on the boat. Eka Canoe Adventures provided us a quick magical and memorable experience (even without in-water photos) snorkeling at night with manta rays off the coast of the Big Island of Hawaii that was awesome ... seriously, totally, ya, completely awesome!

Had an amazing time with the small crew of this local-run company. Both were extremely…read moreknowledgeable and we learned a lot more than we expected to about the history of Kealakekua bay and Hawaii in general. It's hard to imagine getting a similar experience on one of the larger tour boats that serve the bay. The snorkeling was amazing and we were happy that we followed the owner's suggestion to get started early. We basically had the area to ourselves until the big tour boats started showing up around 10am. Oh and we also had our own private show from a pod of dolphins. Thanks Moana crew!

What a stunning part of my vacation... Gordon and his crew were amazing! The tour across the bay…read morewas the perfect mixture of history, snorkeling and scenery. They even provided snacks (and fruits) that were of the Hawaiian culture! The location is off the slightly beaten path but well worth the trip from Kona. Gordon's command of the local history is exceptional as his family has been there for many many generations. I had stepped into local history orated by the locally renown historian and that alone made the trip worthy! We spent nearly 3 hours in the water... the snorkeling in the bay was fantastic and I always enjoy the varying water temps and amazing tropical ocean life in Hawaii. Thanks again! I'll be back!