Island of Hawaii Tours
Glass-bottom Boat Reef Tour
4.5
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
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About
This custom-designed glass-bottom boat allows you to view Kona's underwater world with ease. With a naturalist guide to provide insight, learn about Hawaii's unique marine life. Relax while the boat skims over the reef; there’s no need to splash into the water for up-close views of the coastline, historical sights, and perhaps dolphins or seasonal whales.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 24 per group
Duration: 50m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Discover the beauty of Kona’s reef by glass-bottom boat
  • Specially designed and custom-built vessel
  • On-board naturalist shares info on marine life
  • A must-do for all ages visiting the Big Island

  • Live commentary on board
  • Local guide
  • Water and Ginger ale
  • Restroom on board
What's not included
  • Food and drinks, but cold water is available


Start:
  • 6598 Kaahumanu Pl, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
    Meet the boat midway down the Kailua-Kona pier on Hawaii Island (The Big Island) 15 minutes prior to departure. It is located near the Courtyard Marriott King Kamehameha Hotel (75-5660 Palani Rd 96740) a good place to park! Budget 10 min to park and walk to the boat. Look for blue & yellow flags.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Infants must sit on laps
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 36904P1

    • Departs from Kailua Pier, on the Big Island of Hawaii. The pier is adjacent to the Courtyard Marriott King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel, 75-5660 Palani Rd., Kailua-Kona, HI. You may park in this lot.
    • Check in at the boat 10 minutes prior to departure
    • Insure you budget 10 minutes to park and walk to the boarding location.
    • Meet the boat midway down pier on left side. Look for blue and yellow flags on boat mast.
    • This tour requires reconfirmation with the local supplier
    • Children must be accompanied by an adult (Two children/infants max per one adult)
    • Most travelers can participate
    • The boat will leave at the time of departure so please be on time.
    • Not recommended for those extremely prone to sea sickness
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 24 travelers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 36904P1

    From
    $67.28
    per adult
    Select date and travelers

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • 6598 Kaahumanu Pl, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
      Meet the boat midway down the Kailua-Kona pier on Hawaii Island (The Big Island) 15 minutes prior to departure. It is located near the Courtyard Marriott King Kamehameha Hotel (75-5660 Palani Rd 96740) a good place to park! Budget 10 min to park and walk to the boat. Look for blue & yellow flags.
    • 1
      Our tour departs from the Kailua Pier on the Big Island of Hawaii (Hawaii Island) and will take you on a glass bottomed boat adventure in Kailua Bay. Cruise along the coastline hovering within inches of the coral reef. Enjoy a lively narration by a knowledgeable marine naturalist as you take in the beauty above and below the ocean’s surface. An eco-tour that is fun for all ages! Private Charters available!
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Kona Glassbottom Boat - Kailua Bay Charter Co.
      187
      Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
      Joined in October 2011
    • Dawn F
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Add this to your trip.
      While visiting with our kids and grandkids we decided to add this to our itinerary. Fantastic! The kids 4 and 2 loved it. And. All the adults did too.
      Written November 5, 2023
    • Sarah C
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Very fun
      It was a very fun experience! The narrator was very friendly and knowledgeable. Definitely worth your time and money - be sure to include this on your itinerary.
      Written October 10, 2023
    • marilynd281
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      The underwater sealife of Kona.
      A boat ride to see the the Underwater life of Kona, Hawaii. We really enjoyed this tour but were disappointed that we didn't see a lot of fish. Our tour guide was excellent.
      Written September 2, 2023
    • nathandR842UR
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great ride and narration
      Lots of fun to see fish with my family, some of whom were uncomfortable scuba diving. The crew was friendly and views incredible.
      Written July 21, 2022
    • 930jefff
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent way to say “goodbye”
      We had planned this trip 1 1/2 years ago to scatter my Dads ashes. Due to COVID-19 we just accomplished our dads wishes Amy was fantastic and so helpful to us. She was in constant contact with updates until we were able to make the trip. The accommodations were wonderful, we played our own music, were given a tour of the reef, then on to the spot to scatter the ashes. The boat was positioned for the best ceremony. We were given the time and privacy to create the atmosphere that worked best for us. After we scattered the ashes and threw in flowers, the Captain circled the site for us Overall the experience was very pleasant & serene. We can’t say enough as to how wonderful we were treated and overjoyed that we chose to use Kona Glassbottom Boat Info@konaglassbottomboat.com (808) 324-1749
      Written July 8, 2021
    • stabaldo
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fun adventure
      We did have some choppy seas but a clear day. My crew enjoyed the 50 minute ride, but if you tend to get sea sick take a Dramamine. I did and I was still a bit queasy. They were very nice and had water for us to drink! No one got sick, and the sites I did see below were interesting. The guide was very knowledgeable and personable (Cat). She interacted with the kids and adults. It is a reef tour, so we saw a lot of that. The tour before us reported they say dolphins! Parking is tricky at the pier, come early to find parking.
      Written September 20, 2019
    • montanablanche
      0 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fun
      Nice little boat trip, if you just want to feel the Hawaiian breeze or spot water tortoises. I’d suggest this for people with children.
      Written March 31, 2019
    • Wesley E
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fun for everyone!
      We took the tour as a friend was visiting from the mainland. Everyone of us learned a great deal and had fun doing it. We’ll definitely jump aboard again!
      Written February 15, 2019
    • debbietaylor57
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Not just for children
      What a lovely way to see the local marine life. The lady on board certainly New her stuff about all the coral and marine fish. Very informative and interesting.
      Written February 12, 2019
    • momripp
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great experience
      We booked this excursion through our Norwegian cruise. It was very entertaining and well run. Kat was our guide, and she was one of the best we have ever encountered! She was so knowledgeable, and entertaining at the same time. The water was crystal clear and we saw so many types of coral and fish. We were lucky enough to see an eagle ray, and when some guests saw a Manta Ray, the captain did his best to turn around and find it again. Even for a cruise excursion, this was reasonably priced. We highly recommend this tour!
      Written January 9, 2019
    • Wendy T
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent must Do!!
      The boat is big and roomy and well maintained. It has lots of viewing portals so no one is crowded or can’t sea. The Lady narrating what we saw and answering questions was entertaining and informative. We saw so many beautiful fish!!!! Great price and well worth doing
      Written January 26, 2018
    • fly0nthewall
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Glass Bottom Boat Reef Tour!
      Beautiful sights, up close, otherwise hidden to the non water loving folk. Absolutely incredible views of the coral reef and all the creatures that call it home. So many kinds of neat colorful fish, eels, and urchins. Our tour ended with a lovely and surprising show from a coule of dolphins, magnificent. The tour is on a fairly small vessel so even on calm water is rockey and not great for sea sickness sufferers. The tour would have been perfect if it was a little shorter, lots of people were not feeling great by the end! Pricy but very much worth it of you are not into snorkeling or scuba.
      Written November 24, 2017
    • Yvonne T
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Relaxing tour
      Great way to spend a morning. Everyone on board can view the ocean bed through the glass section and take photos and video. Lots of coral but it was looking bleached, not colourful. Saw a few different species of fish, the bright yellow ones were easy to spot. Our guide was very knowledgeable and kept the info flowing. Nice little trip.
      Written August 25, 2017
    • fulmerbot
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      If you don't snorkel, this is the next best thing.
      They were very courteous. We were running a little late and they called us to check on our arrival rather than just leaving without us. The gal that was facilitating was very knowledgeable about the reef and the fish. This is a very kid friendly excursion. No sunscreen required.
      Written August 8, 2017
    • Laura J
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great experience for a toddler
      We brought our 22-month old daughter aboard so she could check out the fish we'd been swimming with all week. She really enjoyed getting to see all of the colorful fish and had a lot of fun on the boat. We were impressed by the excellent visibility, definitely a lot crisper than seeing the fish through a snorkeling mask, and the diversity of wildlife in the area we visited - despite being relatively close to shore the while time. The guide was very knowledgable and friendly and taught us a ton about the flora and fauna we were seeing.
      Written July 9, 2017
    See all 187 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    4.5
    4.5 of 5 bubbles156 reviews
    Excellent
    113
    Very good
    22
    Average
    17
    Poor
    3
    Terrible
    1

    Pathfinder671195
    Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam8 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2021 • Friends
    The business is an interesting idea, the tour guide is friendly, cool, and knowledgeable. However, the part of the ocean that we were visiting barely have good variety of fish or any big fish/sea creatures. Nothing interesting in the surrounding ocean area to see either, if you look out the boat windows or stand near the rails instead of look down once awhile. This tour is more suitable for families with young children. We are a group of 4 adults above 18 and did not enjoy it. We thought we would go way further out but it was actually a very short tour from the shore. Rating the service against the US$200+ tickets fee, I could honestly give 3/5 rating.
    Written January 2, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Aloha and thank you for taking the time to review our tour. We are glad that you enjoyed the tour guide. Sorry to hear that the tour, as a whole, did not meet your expectations. Many folks find the reef that we view and the rugged lava coastline fascinating. It is true that the reef creatures are mostly small, but colorful. They are naturally a bit smaller as they use the reef for home, food, and protection. We sometimes do see larger creatures such as turtle, dolphin, or seasonal whale. However, these are special treats and only occur when the animals come near us, so we do not guarantee those sightings. The reason we do not go far from shore is that the reef in Kona is a fringe reef, meaning it acts as a fringe to the island and therefore very close to shore. We do go out deep for a bit to give guests an idea of what that area looks like. Since most of the action is near shore, we spend most of our reef tour there. For those that are reading this, we want to clarify the $200 + paid was for all four adults not each person.
    Written January 4, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    herbiek19
    Sacramento, CA2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2022
    Eden was an excellent guide! Very knowledgeable and fun. Answered all questions and engaged with my kids when they shared their knowledge. Small tour made it feel personal, and great value for money for the time and expertise.
    Written August 7, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for the wonderful review. It is wonderful to know that you enjoyed the guide and the information provided aboard our glass bottom boat tour. Glad to hear that you found it to be a great value.
    Written August 9, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    jillnStPaul
    St Paul, OR12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2020 • Family
    What a great trip we had on the glassbottom boat! We were a group of 7 adults and 3 small children. Age range was 2 to 70!. This activity is a win! Duration of an hour was perfect for the kids, everyone can see, comfortable set up. We saw spinner dolphins in addition to all the coal, fish and anemonies we saw through the glass bottom. The naturalist gal was too notch.
    Overall, a win for the whole family.
    Written March 10, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    sundeshss
    San Francisco, CA10 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2021
    I was sceptical about this as an avid snorkeler but, was pleasantly surprised. You could see as much as if you were snorkelling truly. Love it, highly recommend it for people who can't or don't enjoy snorkelling. We did it with our 2-year-old and he thoroughly enjoyed it. Suggest taking some Dramamine though if you suffer from sea sickness.
    Written August 19, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for the great review! Many other avid snorkelers have also expressed they are pleasantly surprised how similar our glass bottom viewing experience is to snorkeling. The biggest advantages are often that you may enjoy the experience with those that are not be able to snorkel, such as your two year old, and that you can talk, and learn, about all that you see below. It can be a little difficult to talk with a snorkel in your mouth ;) Mahalo
    Written August 22, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Mariann S
    Landenberg, PA18 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2024 • Couples
    As lovely as it was to be able to see through the panes in the bottom of the boat, the best part of the tour was Brittney, the host, or emcee, or tour guide -- whatever you want to call her. She was SO knowledgeable, as well as skilled at moving from topic to topic as the sea life did their thing. She was terrific! And the reason to take this tour!
    Written May 10, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    We're thrilled you enjoyed your time on the tour. It's always great to hear when our team members make such a wonderful impression. Mahalo for sharing your experience! 🐠
    Written June 26, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    02katyd
    9 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2021 • Family
    The organizer was very prompt and even called us to make sure we would be on time. The boat was clean and our guide Amy knew a lot about the fish along the reef. The windows were kind of small but all of the kids and families had a great time!
    Written April 13, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    We are so glad that you enjoyed our tour! Thanks for the review.
    Written April 14, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Sara H
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2021 • Couples
    Awesome experience. Only down side is the motion. If you are prone to even a little motion sickness prone I do not recommend. You will be looking down and it adds to the intensity. The tour operators are awesome and the tour was excellent but that motion- whew!
    Written October 19, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    So happy to hear that you found the tour to be "absolutely worth it." Motion on boats can be an issue for some so we do recommend taking precautions. Also, looking up now and then during the tour can help. Mahalo for the great review!
    Written November 7, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Mella
    Burlington, VT4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2023
    I loved it! I am not into snorkeling and was really excited about a chance to still see the sea life here at the Big Island. The boat is conveniently laid out with seats around 4 large boxes in which you can see the glass bottom. This way it is not crowded and you have a good view wherever you sit. The guide and narrator Amy is really knowledgeable and could share a lot of interesting facts. I would recommend this to anyone that is not snorkeling specifically.
    Written July 16, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Aloha! 🌺 Delighted to hear you enjoyed the tour and Amy's insights. Mahalo for recommending us! Warm regards from the Crew.
    Written January 21, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Les H
    Mason, MI7 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2023 • Family
    The tour guide seemed to be very knowledgeable and tried the best she could to assist. However, they had several toddlers that were very dissatisfied. The guide spent a lot of her time trying to placate and control the children to the point that she didn't have sufficient time to help the older participants. I don't know how they could control that, but it made what would have been a great tour into a so-so tour.
    Written October 23, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Aloha, thank you for your feedback. We appreciate your understanding of the challenges with younger guests. We're always striving to balance the needs of all our passengers and will take your experience into consideration for future improvements. Please feel free to reach out at info@konaglassbottomboat.com for further comments or suggestions. Mahalo. 🌅
    Written January 10, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Liz W
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2023 • Family
    The crew of this boat made all the difference for my family and I, our 19 month old son only lasted about 15 minutes before he became a little restless and they were so helpful and accommodating. The let him play with the stuffed animals they have on board and we could get up and move to the front of the boat. The hand out water or gingerale as well as some ginger chews and peppermints incase you get a little sea sick. Our 6 year old daughter had a blast seeing all of the different reef fish and they really take you over some incredible spots.
    Written November 25, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Aloha! We're overjoyed to hear that our crew's support and accommodations helped make your family's experience enjoyable. It's wonderful that your son could be entertained and your daughter could delight in the reef fish🐠and scenic spots. Our aim is to ensure comfort and enjoyment for guests of all ages. Mahalo for choosing us and sharing your story. Warm regards, Kona Glassbottom Boat and crew. 🌊🐬
    Written January 7, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Glass-bottom Boat Reef Tour provided by Kona Glassbottom Boat - Kailua Bay Charter Co.

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