Amazing snorkeling! Free parking within walking distance…read more Our son loved the tide pools. You'll see so much ocean life here. Not too busy either when we went, this was a very family friendly spot!

Snorkel spot. Get it done. No sand, no beach just lava rock and reefs with lots of fish and sea…read moreurchins. Proceed with caution but once in the water it's pretty amazing down there. Watch for the signs that tell you where to get in and out of. There is actually a slimy step to use. Coming out I accidentally slipped and cut my finger on the slimy rock. Scared me as I thought I might have touched a sea urchin. Parking is interesting but we were lucky and found a spot on the street. You are greeted with signs that say Pharmaceuticals detected in the water please use restroom before entering water. Ewww yuck! That kind of freaked me out.

We are sitting and watching the surf and the bay. Very…read morepeaceful. No rain, Grey skies An hour so far, doing nothing is doing something.

I passed by the Bay on my way back to Hilo from Kona. It has a beautiful view. There is free…read moreparking but the lot is a bit small so depending when you go it could be full. I didn't snorkel but lots of people were. I was on a time restraint so I didn't stay too long. I just checked out the views and left. Can't wait to come back and see more of this amazing Bay.........

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.

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!

5 stars for the experience (snorkel, slides) but zero stars for forcing everyone on a vegan lunch…read more Bring back the hamburgers and give people an option.

Memorable, unique, exciting experience with a friendly, helpful attendant to get you on your way…read more We saw dolphins and tons of fish. It took us about 30 mins each way to get there and back. Five stars with the caveat that no one was there when we arrived at 9:00 am (the time we booked online). After about 10 minutes or so, the employee appeared (didn't get his name, unfortunately). As other reviewers note, this place is just a table at the end of a road with a bunch of kayaks and a guy who will rent them to you. Don't expect storage for your belongings or bathrooms. Parking is along the street. All that being said, they give you this info in advance, so you should be prepared. We had our own snorkel gear (or did before I lost mine in the ocean later that day ha ha) so we only needed the kayak and dry bag. A dry bag is necessary (see "lost my gear in the ocean"). The employee gives you all the info you need to find your way to the snorkeling area and back. He said they "lose" about one party a day who overshoots the entrance to the cove when returning and they have to go rescue them. Don't be that person! Once at the snorkeling spot near the monument, you'll see lots of other people and boats, but once you're underwater, you won't notice them - it's like swimming in an aquarium. You need to keep your kayak with you at all times, so if you're paddling with someone else, consider taking turns holding the kayaks and snorkeling. You aren't allowed to dock or approach the shore (this is a hard rule - surly tour guides will yell at you if you get too close). Keep in mind that getting in and out of a kayak in the open ocean is not the same as doing that on the shore or in shallow water. There's no shallow water here at all, so practice in advance or consider taking a tour boat if that's not something you're comfortable with.

We rented a kayak here to get out to Captain Cook Monument and had such a great experience. The…read moreshop was super easy to find, check-in was quick, and even when we accidentally booked the wrong day, they fixed it with zero hassle. They set us up with everything we needed, including waterproof bags, and gave really clear directions on the paddle route, landmarks, where the best snorkel spots were, and how to make sure we found our way back. Made the whole trip feel stress-free. The paddle out was beautiful, the snorkeling was amazing, and honestly renting from here just made it all so much smoother. Pro tip: bring snacks -- there's nowhere to eat around there once you're out on the water. Highly recommend them if you're planning to kayak to Cook's Monument. Easy, friendly, and super helpful. ‍

I did the 5hr South Kona snorkel expedition today and it was spectacular! The guides were…read moreprofessional, friendly & helpful. The three separate snorkel stops let us see different reefs & marine life. I loved the "secret" spot. We were also lucky enough to see a pod of spinner dolphins! Booking & check-in were easy. Highly recommend this tour.

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.

We has a great time on the outrigger paddle trip we did through Kona Boys. Tommy was welcoming and…read moreencouraging. He had us paddling in unison in no time. Interesting stories, beautiful scenery and a good little work out. Mahalo!

Had a great time kayaking through Kealakekua bay with Evan and Steve and then snorkeling near…read moreCaptain Cook's monument. This was our second time and it was just as fun, if not more! The early morning kayaking through the bay is soothing for the soul. We also got lucky and saw some dolphins. The snorkeling is out of this world with such clear water and variety of colorful fish of all sizes. Evan and Steve were both very attentive to all the kayakers and super knowledgeable as we learned a bunch about Hawaiian history, Captain Cook's arrival (and demise), and the lasting legacy of that episode on Hawaii's history. After all the snorkeling, the sandwich lunch hit the spot. It also came with a souvenir water bottle! I had a last minute dietary request and they graciously accommodated. Even though this was our second time, we still had fun and actually learned new details about the history and conservation efforts happening in the area! If you want a fun, yet respectful and ethical experience, this is it!

What a beautiful sandy beach also known as Magic Sands/Disappearing Sands due to the strong surf…read more It was packed here & we ate at the adjoining restaurant which was beautiful with a phenomenal view. (Magic Sands Restaurant). We were able to park for free just across the street. This beach is super small and busy. Note, it is thee only sandy beach near Kona. All the rest are super rocky & dangerous. It has shade, lifeguards, toilet facilities and a little shallow water. Be very careful of that surf & the lava rocks underneath. But the water is so beautiful and clear with a gorgeous turquoise hue. We were told we may see turtles but we didn't today. I'm assuming it was just too busy. I'm sure if we were there super early we may have a better shot at it. Do not miss.

This beach can get quite crowded, but it boasts an excellent restaurant right next to it. It…read morefeatures a volleyball area for family fun, pristine white sand, and minimal rocks.

Manini Beach was a fun short beach trip when we were in the Captain Cook area. Note that this beach…read moreis located in a neighborhood so you have to do a bit of walking from where you park. It's small but clean and they have good snorkeling. It is located next to homes so be respectful, don't litter and don't overstay. On our trip, we even saw a sea turtle for a while and did not get in the water to give it plenty of space since it was near the shore. Don't harass locals and respect their space. There's a ton of lei flowers on the trees for great pictures, but do not pick flowers, they do not belong to you. It's a beautiful spot for a quick stop or dip in the water. It has. Grass and rocky areas and a few picnic tables for guests. There was a lady at the entrance, I believe a resident welcoming people and telling us the rules. She was super nice and gave us oranges! We stayed for maybe an hour or two to ensure we left room for other visitors. We did not bring many items except towels, snorkeling gear and our towels so we had no trash to throw away. It was incredible to see this hidden gem but it's definitely not a beach where you can linger or spend all day. There are no bathrooms or places to get water or eat so make this just a pit stop and be sure to respect the space of locals. DO NOT block their driveways or homes. This beach is also more suitable for adults than kids since it can be wavy and is very rocky.

In driving around Captain Cook area, we found Manini beach. This is a true find and the park only…read moreallows 50 people in at a time. There is area to eat at picnic tables and grass area to sit and enjoy the beach along with one entry point to go in the water. Snorkeling is said to be good, although we did not get in the water with our visit this time, but will definitely next time we are here. the tide pools are also super cool to look at. There is a short path that takes you another end of the beach, where you can sit and watch whales if it is the right time of the year or just enjoy a good book in the sun. There is a small parking lot that you can park in for free, with maybe 10 spots. I also so loved the small stand that you could buy cold water, fruit and snacks. They have one port-a-potty located at the park. There was a person that greets people and tells you the rules of the park as you come in and gives you lots of information.

This beautiful beach is well hidden and parking is very limited. We arrived about 10:00 and that…read moreseems to be a good time if you are not one of the first to arrive earlier in the day. Cars who have been here for a few hours will start to leave and spots open up. There is no fee to enter and the showers are nicely sun warmed. But do note that these black sands are HOT and either wear sandals or remain in the shade of the trees. Your feet can burn quickly. There are random picnic tables in the shade for anyone to use but bring a sun umbrella and sand chairs if you have them for sitting on the beach. Bring snorkel gear and watch for the turtles and fish who enjoy the shoreline reef. But also be aware that the tide is strong and you can be swept along and scraped by the reef and rocks by surprise. The underwater view is lively and fish abundant so take your time and float with open eyes. There are camp sites for those who wish to do so. And watch for dolphins who rest near shore during the day. It is a lovely beach that is worth visiting.

My husband and I were married in Hawaii, and we've been back three times since. This has always…read morebeen our fav beach. My husband snorkeled with dolphins there. It's just a magical little place! Make sure you arrive early to secure a parking spot and a great spot on the beach.