We had such an incredible snorkeling experience in Kona! From the moment we got on the boat, Captain Bambi made the whole trip fun, relaxed, and memorable. She's knowledgeable, energetic, and clearly loves what she does -- which makes the entire experience even better. One of the things we loved most was the smaller group size. It made the trip feel much more personal and allowed for a really relaxed, intimate experience out on the water. Captain Bambi took the time to point out marine life, share local knowledge, and make sure everyone felt comfortable and confident in the water. The snorkeling itself was amazing -- beautiful reefs, tons of fish, and just an overall unforgettable Kona ocean experience. You can tell this crew truly cares about both their guests and the ocean. If you're looking for a fun, friendly, and more personal snorkeling tour in Kona, this is absolutely the one to book. And if you get Captain Bambi, you're in for an extra great time! read more

Kona Ocean Experience - Tours Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Local, Professional and very knowledgeable. We were able to see things other companies do not show. The limited size of the group makes for a very personal experience. HIGHLY RECOMMEND read more

Kona Ocean Experience - We saw dozens of dolphins - Tours Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Loved this experience. Captain and crew well prepared for good and bad weather. Knowledgeable, funny, friendly and patient. Highly recommend this tour for those who want intimate focused experience for all ages. No big crowds, safety first following with good fun! Do it read more

Very shady business. I reserved a tour with this company. But decided to cancel a week before the actual tour date. On the tour confirmation email, it clearly said that I need to call to make changes to the tour. I tried to call multiple times on different days and left them a voice message. No one picked any call or returned a call to me. On the date of the tour, the owner called me and told me that I will not get any refund cause I didn't contact them by email to cancel. The whole thing feels like a scam. Don't recommend to order any tour with them. There are many options at Kona read more

Kona Ocean Experience - Call history - Tours Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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The host was very patient and accommodating. We were delayed at the airport due to a long wait for our rental car and arrived later than expected, but the host waited for us without any issue. We really appreciated the understanding and flexibility. read more

We had an incredible time with Captain Bambi Worst & her wonderful first mate, Grace. Not only did we get to swim with the Manta Rays, but we got to see 2 dolphins right there in the bay. We appreciated that compared to the other boats going out, this was a small intimate experience for 4 of us (max 6). A wonderful experience read more

10/10 recommend!! The crew was amazing and the experience was like no other. Highly recommend to give it a try!

My 7 year old daughter and I had a wonderful manta tour with Bambi and Ryan. I loved that it was a small personalized tour where we didn't feel like we were apart of a crowd. It was my daughters first time swimming with the manta's and she was nervous at first. However she was comforted by the calm reassurance from our experienced guide, Ryan and the the confidence of the captain, Bambi. She LOVED IT and raved about it for days to everyone she saw. We saw so many mantas and always felt safe and comfortable next to these gentle giants. Booking and communications was a breeze and we even got a Kama'aina discount! Highly recommend, especially for locals looking for a Christmas gift experience or fun adventure. read more

We did see mantas so I can't complain about that. However I wasn't really impressed with the whole organization of the outing. It wasn't what I expected on a small 6 person boat for a ride down the coast to look at some parrots and goats lol. The primary complaint I have is that they gave us shorties and made us get in the water prematurely. You're just floating and holding on to a surfboard so it's not like you're creating much heat. It was way too cold and I feel we didn't get to spend enough time with the mantas because we got in too early. I think they could do better with their 'sushi' too; just my opinion. read more

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My husband and I booked seats on the sunset cruise and manta ray snorkle! Bambi and the dive master Randy were helpful, communicative and great hosts. We were glad to be on a smaller tour - not one of the huge boats that seem more impersonal. They were very willing to listen to what we wanted and were willing to experience- the waves were choppy but we voted to cruise the coast during sunset before our dive. We would highly recommend this company if you want a memorable night out on the water! Great stories to bring home! read more

If you are looking for a smaller group and personal experience This is the tour for you. We did the sunset manta snorkel. Nice to take a cruise down the coast while sun sets and learn a little history of the island and then return to manta site for snorkel. The Boat is a zodiac. we had four people on boat plus 3 staff. It was very adventurous. We held onto a lighted surf board and floated on surface to view manta rays. They were pretty shy but we saw about 5 and ended the snorkel with a GIANT manta at least 10 foot wing span winning up to us at the end read more

Kona Ocean Experience - Pic of the giant manta from boat after we got in. - Tours Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Our night manta experience was amazing! I would definitely recommend this excursion, the owner was amazing and is very informative!

She is a fraud. She talks sweetly and traps you into paying cash, especially when you are figuring things out with your family on the site. They took my family with a kid and charged us full money, and did not let us go in the water even after asking for it multiple times. She said we would see Mantra rays, but we didn't see any. She will make 100 excuses and get rude too. Everyone around, including little kids, was going in the water. She wanted us to have some swimming expertise. She was rude, unequipped, and fraud. No wonder her boat was empty. BEWARE OF THIS COMPANY!!! read more

Cannot recommend this enough - it is a smaller boat and a much cooler experience that allows you to see more of the coast (The goats! The parrots!) and be on the water during the golden hour. Bambi gave us history and local culture and Murray took care of safety in and out of the water. Just a great way to end our Hawaii trip as a family on a private excursion. And the Mantas were out of this world - just a stunning experience. Book this tour! read more

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A locally owned company offering a variety of small-group ocean experiences. The kind owner, Bambi can trace her family history back to king kamehamehe and missionaries. We joined them for their both the morning 4-hour Dolphin swim ($170 pp) and their 90-minute sunset/swim with Manta rays ($around $85 pp) Dolphin swim: 4 stars (due to our seating on the yet to be updated boat) -only 6 people (or less) per heavy duty rubber boat -we only had one other couple which was nice -captain Murray (a friendly kiwi) did a great job getting us in the middle of the dolphins -had a couple long swims with the dolphins and got some great close pictures (with GoPro 7) -also had a nice snorkel in a reef in captain cook bay -they provided wetsuits (nice!) and snorkel gear although we had our own -our boat was not as nice as boat 1 but they are working on a refurbishment soon -in January was pretty rough and we got bounced around quite a bit leading to a bit of a sore back -small group and a fast nimble boat was a huge plus Manta Swim: 5 stars -starts with a short cruise down the coast to see some wild goats and learn about Hawaiian history -some snacks (chips and sushi) served at sunset then back to manta rays spot -in January waves and sea were too rough for usual spot off Sheraton but we still were able to do it in a sheltered bay just off the boat dock. -you float in the water for around 45 minutes while huge manta rays loop and circle just inches (it seems) from you-totally incredible -you are lying face down holding on to a big surfboard with a bright blue light shining down and a floaty "noodle" under your feet (light attracts the plankton) -the waters were unusually murky due to the strong surf which added to the drama of these massive creatures suddenly appearing out of the gloom coming right below you filtering the water (but alas no real good photos) -a must do in the big island and small group is definitely the way to go read more

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This trip is about seeing Mantas. A lot of them. They come up close and personal (they will brush up against you close). It is an amazing experience regardless of skill level. The boat put in and take out are so close you won't worry about getting cold afterwards, and sea sickness factor is very, very low for your more sensitive family members. There is a little bonus on the trip if you add in the sunset, a detour to see some wild goats, and parrots coming home to roost for the nite. They bring out a small offering of a simple sushi roll, fruit, waters, and some chips. Its a really busy so if you are on time and move with urgency you will have a great time. They work hard to put you in there safe, and all of the other operators out there work together to make sure you have a great time, tip em they deserve it. read more

An experience we will never forget! Learning some of the history of the island, having fruit/sushi tray overlooking parrot's cove and swimming with Manta Ria. Bambi, Murray, and Austin were amazing!! If you're up in the air about booking, DO IT! read more

Kona Ocean Experience - Manta-Ria - Tours Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Amazing to see dolphins and fish, but guide was very aggressive and rude to myself and my 12yo son. At first refused to let him wear a life vest, even though the ocean was rough and many people from other tours were wearing them, the guide said "you signed the waiver, he'll just have to sit in the boat". When she asked if I was an experienced swimmer, I said I had a PADI diver certification, to which she replied "they give them to anyone who pays for it" Tour was supposed to provide snacks, including chips, but they didn't have any. Easy to see why there were no other guests on this boat, other tour boats had lots of people. This tour may be ok if you are an experienced snorkeller, but definitely not for kids or anyone who is slightly cautious about being in the open ocean. Just to add, there was no safety orientation, I'm pretty sure this is mandated. read more

incredible experience I was privileged to experience with my family. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and led the tour beautifully. it's really nice to see a small business being so successful at having such a major impact on the environment. read more

I highly believed that if they're professionals and they know the ocean conditions are not good. I think they should cancel and not have people go through the bad experience like I did she was very pushy and the whole experience was bad for me and my wife yeah I will never recommend anybody to go through this. Thank you. read more

We had amazing time with Barbie store going in one of the most beautiful Reefs in the world! She made stops along the shore at the caves and searched for whales. She gave us lots of history and ocean information to enrich our trip. We are grateful for her hospitality and expertise! It was an amazing adventure, don't miss out! read more

Kona Ocean Experience - Shoreline - Tours Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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We found Kona Ocean Ex on the web. I called to do some research and made contact with Bambi. She was extremely helpful with planning our tour. She and Murray were excellent on the tour. I was concerned about getting back on the boat because of physical issues bit they made it happen. Cudos This was an experience of a lifetime. Put this on your bucket list. There are many choices to do this tour but if you want personal attention book with Kone Ocean Experience read more

Of all our vacations, this is tied with Costa Rica. This was an ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE experience, and we couldn't be more happy! On our first night in Kona, we did the manta snorkeling with Justin and Deana. They were excellent tour guides and we were able to look at the cliffs and hear some of the history of the island (which as a complete nerd I appreciated). If you ever get an opportunity to ride a boat around Kona, keep an eye out for the goats hanging out by the edge of the water! The mantas were incredible to see, they were gigantic and within touching distance, it was SO COOL! Our last day in Kona, we did dolphin snorkeling, and we were NOT disappointed! A tip while you're on the water: DON'T chase the dolphins, you look stupid. They are faster than you. Stay in one spot and I PROMISE they'll come around and back to you. It was honestly one of the most incredible things you'll ever see. The pods we ran into were graceful, and in sync with one another, there's literally nothing like it. Our captain that day was Geo, and he also gave us an awesome history lesson at the Captain Cook monument before we went snorkeling in the water there. The fish were beautiful, the reefs were just so incredible to look at. Hawaii is so careful to conserve it's environment, it honestly makes me happy that it's in the middle of nowhere so we can't continue to ruin it. Thank you to everyone at Kona OceanX for working with us through the weather hiccups (Bambi coming through for the win!), and for throwing my afraid-of-everything ass into the water when I was being the worst ever. read more

I don't normally promote a particular business. I like to just give feedback on my experiences. That said, if you are in Kona, BOOK A NIGHT MANTA RAY SNORKELING TRIP WITH THIS COMPANY! THEY ARE SO FRIGGIN AWESOME! Bambi and John were just wonderful people and gave us such a personalized experience. We went on the Manta Ray snorkeling excursion at sunset and it was mind blowing. First, we were there after a small storm and only one ray showed up. John dragged our pod all over the place looking for them and when one finally showed up on the other side of the bay, we were the first to hear about it and he had us there in 5 minutes. THIS IS THE BIG ADVANTAGE OF A SMALL OPERATION LIKE THIS. We didn't want to be on a boat with 40 or 50 people being herded like cattle. I don't even know if people on the big boats got to see any rays that night but I guarantee they didn't have the experience we did. The particular ray that came in was roughly 14 or 15 feet wide from tip to tip and between 1500 and 2000 lbs. (Normally they see many different rays) It was absolutely gentle and graceful as it swam loops beneath us feeding on plankton. Each slow motion pass was inches from us and as hard as we tried not to touch it, most passes it would bump us or the pod. The difference between the other tour groups and Kona Ocean Experience was the difference between a really neat experience and one so profound and moving that we'll remember it for a lifetime. read more

Book your trip with Kona Ocean Experience. We had an amazing trip with Bambi and Murray!! We took a boat ride out during the sunset, learned a lot about the history of the land along the shore, had a light meal and then suited up for snorkeling with the manta rays. They did not disappoint!! It was incredible!! We were thankful we had the chance to experience it with such knowledgeable and caring people. read more

This was such an amazing experience. I was worried we weren't going to see any mantas, because as they warn you, nature is unpredictable and there is no guarantee... but we saw maybe 8-10 sightings and at least four or more were within touching distance!! We did not touch, though, as it's against the rules. The two guys rubbing the tour were really friendly and knowledgeable and provided a plate of California rolls and grapes and potato chips and bottled water, which helped to stave off any hunger. Highly recommend motion sickness medicine. I took some an hour before and wasn't sick at all, while 75% of our tour took it only minutes before and all felt varying degrees of nausea. The mantas were absolutely incredible; gorgeous, gentle, gigantic... I cannot stress enough how worthwhile this tour is. read more

Not impressed. Paid higher costs for a personal experience to swim with manta rays. Then, we end up hooking up our surf board with lights to all of the other tours, creating a huge group. So, what was the point of paying more money for a small, personal tour? WASTE OF MONEY! Go with a tour elsewhere, save yourself some cash. Mantas were amazing. But, it had nothing to do with this overpriced company. read more

Great experience with so many manta rays! So many!! Thanks Kona Ocean Experience!!

If you're considering doing a Manta Ray Night Snorkel, you should book with Kona Ocean Experience! Our tour guide Bambi and Cassie made our experience so much more memorable than doing a large group tour. My family and I had the 6 person boat to ourselves which made our trip intimate and hassle free. Bambi and Cassie provided expert knowledge about the local land and wildlife. They were super friendly, easy to talk to and overall great host! We saw 6 Manta over our 45 min in the water. Also as they recommended if you do get mild seasickness be prepared to take anti-nausea medication or eat ginger beforehand. They're advice helped me tremendously and made my time on the boat and in the water much more enjoyable. Thank you again for such a lovely sunset cruise and Manta Ray experience! read more

Captain Dave lead a WONDERFUL Kona Ocean Experience for me and the 3 other folks on my tour. We had a great experience swimming with a beautiful pod of 11 spinner dolphins and encountered a small group of bottlenose dolphins along the way. We then headed to the Captain Cook Monument and snorkeled with the most amazingly beautiful reef fish. Captain Dave then took us on a fascinating and entertaining trip along the coastline and educated and entertained us about Hawaii's history. I highly recommend Kona Ocean Experience to ALL! read more

The best adventure we have ever done on the islands. Amazing experience. Small boat provided an intimate experience compared to the other big boats with lots of people we saw out there. Beautiful views and very nice crew. Steve the dive guys tools pictures and video for us. We saw probably 8 mantas that swam with us for 40 minutes. They are super close and gentle. One even touched my husband's chest! Unforgettable adventure! I highly recommend getting the GoPro footage they offer for $40. read more

The Kona Ocean Experience team was incredible. Thank you to Steven, Captain Randy and Bambi! My family and I had the best time seeing and learning about manta rays (we saw Big Bertha a 14 foot manta ray). We were a group of 6 and had our own personal guide, captain and boat. We felt very safe on the open sea, including our 63 year old mom who was a first time snorkeler. We saw up to 6 manta rays at a time. Highly recommended to anyone wanting to have a once in a lifetime experience. CHI-HOO! read more

Incredible Experience!! Hands Down, The Best Ocean Adventure We Have Ever Been On! Born and raised in Hawaii, we have had many ocean experiences, this one made us feel like we were family. Bambi, our Captain and owner, took the time to make sure we were comfortable and visually prepared us in advance of what turned out to be the best swimming with dolphins and whale breach bonding ever!! The tour groups are kept small, so the experience is much more intimate. The one on one guidance is greatly increased as is the time spent with the sea life. Several historical stops were made along the way so Bambi could present a very accurate portrayal of Hawaiian history specific to the area. These included a one mile long lava tube that emerged at the ocean front, a half cave the cattlemen would lower the sheep down onto the transport boats and Captain Cooks' island history from discovery to demise. As a former Honolulu Fire Department Search & Rescue Specialist, I can appreciate the stability, safety and speed of the Willard Navy Seals boats we were afforded. Safety was the general theme as was respect for the culture and the environment from this well-spoken local girl. We highly recommend the Kona Ocean Experience for everyone, especially our family and friends!! A hui ho! (Until we meet again!) Thank you Bambi !! read more

Bambi was awesome! We loved the dolphin experience as well as a boat tour with the amazing places that can only be seen my boat. She really knows the area and told us so much about the Big Island. The boat was comfortable, the fresh fruit tray was great, and she was absolutely amazing. We will definitely use Kona Ocean Experience again when we return! read more