Afternoon Sail & Snorkel to the Captain Cook Monument
5
Afternoon Sail & Snorkel to the Captain Cook Monument
By Sea Paradise Sailing and Snorkeling Tours
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About
Kealakekua Bay is known to have some of the best snorkeling locations in Hawaii. Board a trimaran and head out into the bay on this convenient excursion that includes snacks, bottled water, snorkel and safety gear, and reef-safe sunscreen. Throughout the tour, your captain and crew provide little-known facts about the area’s history marine life, as well as snorkeling tips for guests with any level of experience.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 44 per group
Duration: 3h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Highlights
- Snorkel in secluded locations far from mainland crowds
- Instructors offer snorkeling tips and background about the area
- Panoramic views of the Kona Coast from boat ride
- Snacks, snorkel gear, flotation devices, and sunscreen provided
- Light Snacks (Chips, Fruit, Beverages)
- Masks, Fins, Snorkels, Flotation Noodles
- Snorkeling
- Reef Safe Sunscreen
- Snacks
- Filtered Water
What's not included- Gratuities not included but greatly appreciated
- Alcoholic beverages are available onboard for additional charge with a credit card purchase only
- Due to safety concerns we do not allow full face masks on our tours
- Start:
- Keauhou Bay, Kahaluu-Keauhou, HI 96740, USACheck in location for Hoku Nui is at 1:45pm at Keauhou Bay located at the end of Kaleiopapa Street continuing past the boat ramps. You may park on Kaleiopapa Street. Do not check into any buildings. Hoku Nui is a 50 foot Catamaran with a blue sail bag. The boat departs Keauhou Bay at 2pm.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 72709P2- Most travelers can participate
- Advise Staff of any Dietary Restrictions 48 hrs prior to tour
- 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 44 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: 72709P2
From
$136.19
per adult
Select date and travelers
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Itinerary
- Keauhou Bay, Kahaluu-Keauhou, HI 96740, USACheck in location for Hoku Nui is at 1:45pm at Keauhou Bay located at the end of Kaleiopapa Street continuing past the boat ramps. You may park on Kaleiopapa Street. Do not check into any buildings. Hoku Nui is a 50 foot Catamaran with a blue sail bag. The boat departs Keauhou Bay at 2pm.
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- reviewxy0 contributionsAbsolutely amazing crew and tour!!!I took my family on the morning sail and snorkel trip with Sea Paradise and had a phenomenal experience! Captain Brooke and 1st mate Denali showed great leadership and ran an impressive operation! Yeah ladies!!! Beau was great at meeting all our needs, from his impressive knowledge of the island, its history and historical points of interest, to his seamanship, as well as bartender skills…it’s clear he wears many hats and wears them well! Kayne was obviously a great asset to the team, always smiling and eager to jump in and assist wherever needed. Sierra was a pleasure to talk to enroute and her enthusiasm for the job is very evident! Two meals onboard and two different snorkel sites was well worth the cost of this adventure. Feeling like my family was safe and cared for, as well as properly entertained is absolutely invaluable. Thank you Sea Paradise for helping my family create memories that will last our lifetimes! We will be back again and again!!!Written October 8, 2024
- RED9450 contributionsGreat Experience.Really enjoyed our time. The boat was immaculate. The crew was friendly, and helpful. A huge plus…..the stairs to get back on the boat!!! I loved the historical stories, along with the funny and quip antidotes. Captain Brooke, and Crew were excellent.Written October 8, 2024
- Greg B0 contributionsAmazing catamaran tour of the coast of Hawaii IslandOutstanding crew and captain made this on one of the most enjoyable boat tours of our many stays in Kona. We saw pilot whales, two terrific snorkle spots and some really delicious plant-based breakfast and lunch. You will love this tour and the boat is wonderful with lots of seating areas and shade.Written October 6, 2024
- hotwire0 contributionsExcellent experience and crewWe enjoyed an evening swimming with Manta Rays. The experience was once in a lifetime and the crew was competent, efficient, knowledgeable about the Mantas, and fun to be around. Captain T-Roy (a transplanted Texan), 1st mate Sam, and crew members Sierra, Kapua, and Shar were great. I highly recommend this crew and experience.Written October 5, 2024
- Rayna3210 contributionsMust do! Great company.Seamless, perfectly friendly and helpful from beginning to the end. Cher, Sam, Troy and Kapua were a spectacular crew. However- that was all paled by the mind blowing experience of being with the Manta Rays!!! This is a Kona must do and this is the outfit to choose! I’m actually booking a second tour while here because it was so phenomenal I was actually speechless after I got out of the water.Written October 5, 2024
- kristenbL1847QA0 contributionsMantas everywhere!!!The best!!! Super friendly crew who knew all the names of the 13 Mantas that swam all around us. Even the other tour companies were coming over to hang out with our group! One of the most unique experiences we have done.Written October 5, 2024
- 612malindaw0 contributionsAmazing time!Absolutely amazing adventure. The crew was informative, spunky and great. The food and drinks were yummy! We would absolutely do it again!!Written October 4, 2024
- VanLaraLe0 contributionsAmazing staffAbsolutely worth the money! Vessel is well maintained, staff works as a team, and service with drinks and food was well coordinated. I have booked multiple Big Island boat tours in the past , but we LOVED how this company integrated Hawaiian history lessons during the sail. We were honored to hear a beautiful Oli (Hawaiian chant) when we arrived in Kealakekua Bay and appreciated the reef safe sunscreen and rinse showers. Mahalo!Written October 3, 2024
- N738MAcrystalm0 contributionsBook this experience!Such an amazing experience! I am definitely coming back with my family and friends! Thank you for an amazing experienceWritten October 3, 2024
- karenhN6215FE0 contributionsAmazing tour but arrive early or uber!The trip was incredible, and the crew was great. No complaints there whatsoever! Absolutely worth the money! However, multiple boat tours leave from the area and there is limited parking. BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU PARK BECAUSE THE POLICE WILL TICKET YOU WHEN THE BOATS LEAVE THE DOCK! Arrive early or Uber if you can!Written October 3, 2024
- Companion106405752730 contributionsThis one is the best.I 100% recommend this. The crew and boat were fantastic and very responsible and ethical. My kids (ages 10 and 12) had such a great time that they’re still talking about it a day later. This is worth every penny and clearly a good company to support. They obviously cared about and respected the mantas.Written October 2, 2024
- mknigh0 contributionsGreat Morning on the water.Great day trip, crew was great. Great snorkeling location, saw dolphins on the way out, crew was informative and answered any questions anyone had.Written October 1, 2024
- martinmU3838AS0 contributionsGREAT TRIP, COCKTAILS AND CREWAwesome trip! Crew was friendly and helpful. Good cocktails all around amazing experience. Would definitely do again!Written October 1, 2024
- martinmU3838AS0 contributionsGREAT TRIP, COCKTAILS AND CREWThe trip and swim spots were amazing. Good cocktails and beer. Crew were awesome! They shared some history of the areas and were friendly and helpful. Definitely would go back out again.Written October 1, 2024
- Treker6500 contributionsGreat Location and ExperienceSimply perfection! Excellent weather. Fabulous snorkeling: so many different species of fish, sea cucumbers, several species of urchins, crabs, eels, and even an octopus! The staff treated us with such care seeing to it that all guests were comfortable both in and out of the water. Provided a good assortment of complimentary snacks and beverages. Would definitely book through them again!Written September 30, 2024
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.
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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
5.0
214 reviews
Excellent
201
Very good
8
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
4
Julia K
5 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
My husband and I went on a couples snorkel adventure to the Captain Cook Monument and it’s listed as one of the top 20 places to snorkel in the world and we could totally see why! The reef is huge and the team of amazing staff provided all of the snorkel gear including flippers and floaties if needed and were extremely knowledgeable about the area and the monument as well as the history of Captain Cook himself, he died in the bay btw. The boat was clean and they served fresh fruit, drinks, and cocktails after snorkeling. There are only a couple of seats under the canopy so everyone else had to sit in the sun who didn’t come early but the ride was smooth and overall a 3 hour excursion. There are numerous tropical fish to see in the reef and although there are a few other boat tours that come by it is not crowded at all and plenty to see. We had about 45 mins of snorkeling, we only wish there was more time but it took time to sail there and back to the dock. We have heard some people see dolphins or turtles in the bay but unfortunately we didn’t, but still so many parrot fish and yellow tang and more! It was truly a great purchase and worth every penny! I most definitely recommend anyone to go if they are visiting the island, and it’s much harder to get to the bay with all the great snorkeling without a boat.
Written January 13, 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.
Aloha,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review. We are so happy to hear you enjoyed your time out with us and hope you'll come adventure with us again.
Mahalo and hope to Sea you soon,
Sea Paradise
Written January 16, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Holly K
Stow, OH27 contributions
What a great company! The trip was great… saw lots of colorful fish and coral! The water on the way to the bay was choppy but the boat sits low, and is wide and stable. As we headed out with the sail catching the wind, the boat had more of a up and down kind of movement instead of a rolling like a top in the water. ( like you were “ tubing” and getting pulled by a boat…) we sat in the front and got a sea spray and wind that was really kinda fun. I say this because my daughter gets very sea sick. She wore a scopolamine patch, but had no problem. They had ginger chews for us as well as some awesome ginger ale. The boat was sparkling clean… I saw them wiping down surfaces after the morning trip before we boarded. Because of Covid, the equipment was sanitized with disinfectant and then an extra step …. as it is then rinsed in bleach… it smelled clean, and I had no problem using it. As we entered the bay, the water was very calm and easy to swim. They explained a very interesting history of the bay and the sea cliff that is there. One staff member sang a beautiful Hawaiian chant ( like a prayer) as we entered this sacred Hawaiian place. Kinda brought tears to my eyes:)
The staff was concerned for our safety.… And in the water with us the whole time. They kept an eye on us and asked us if we were OK. We had swim noodles for us to use if desired. It was easy for me to get back on board the boat using a ladder with handles. There was someone to assist you by taking your gear from you before you claimed the 3 steps back in:). One other thing… my daughters mask did not suction well to her face, and kept leaking water… One of the staff members went back to the boat to get her a different one and brought it to her in the water! Over and above! On the way back there was a trash bag floating in the ocean. They stopped to retrieve it. Awesome people. I highly recommend this company and this trip.
The staff was concerned for our safety.… And in the water with us the whole time. They kept an eye on us and asked us if we were OK. We had swim noodles for us to use if desired. It was easy for me to get back on board the boat using a ladder with handles. There was someone to assist you by taking your gear from you before you claimed the 3 steps back in:). One other thing… my daughters mask did not suction well to her face, and kept leaking water… One of the staff members went back to the boat to get her a different one and brought it to her in the water! Over and above! On the way back there was a trash bag floating in the ocean. They stopped to retrieve it. Awesome people. I highly recommend this company and this trip.
Written July 11, 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.
Aloha Holly,
Thankyou so much for leaving this detailed review and amazing recommendation! We are ecstatic to hear you had a wonderful experience with our crew, your time on the vessel, and your time in the water. We especially love hearing of our crew stopping for a floating trash bag :) We can only hope to have the pleasure of you joining us on your future travels to the big island! Mahalo Nui Loa
Written July 14, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cyerca P
Oakland, CA95 contributions
Jan 2021
This was me and my husband's first time snorkeling and we had such an amazing time. On the way there we saw whales, dolphins, and a manta. It was cool to see the dolphins doing flips and so close to the boat. It was a very small group, only 7 of us. He said the boat could hold 50 and 22 due to Covid 19. The Captain was soooo funny, I wish I could remember his name. We went Jan 28th, at 2pm. I don't know how to swim and was so nervous but they made me feel like I could do it and another person on the boat was even willing to help. I was given a noodle to stay afloat and once I got the breathing down I was off on my own lol. We saw plenty of fish, and we were the only boat out there. I definitely recommend, and we will definitely be back on our next trip to Kona. I do wish the snorkeling part was longer than 45mins since it does take an hour to get there.
Written February 1, 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.
Aloha,
Thank you for leaving us a review! Yay! We are excited you were able to see dolphins, whales, and a manta! We would love to have you adventure with us again!
Written February 18, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bailey D
1 contribution
May 2021 • Family
Our family of 4 (two kids age 3 and 7) did the afternoon snorkel. The crew was amazing from the time we set foot on the boat. They were all so fun and energetic and you can tell they really love what they do. Our Littles loved seeing all the dolphins on the ride out and back. They didn’t make it the full time in the water but the crew was so kind to let them hang on the boat with snacks, allowing my husband and I to continue on and not miss out. We ended up doing night time manta-rays with another company and I wish we would have been able to do both with them. If you are looking for a good time, look no further!!
Written May 10, 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.
Aloha,
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review! We are excited to hear your family enjoyed sailing down the Kona Coastline, snorkeling, and
watching our Hawaiian spinner dolphins playing in the bay! We hope you join us again!
Written May 16, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JEG253
Tacoma, WA11 contributions
Great crew, very organized and entertaining. There were 4 crew members for 36 of us on the boat. The snorkeling at the monument was amazing and we even got a show from some spinner dolphins. There were varying levels of experience and the crew made sure everyone was safe and the reefs were respected. At least 2 of the crew were in the water at all times looking out for people. The boat was clean and they were very generous with the snacks and drinks. Very positive experience for our whole family. Beautiful sail boat with plenty of shade. Very fun to sit in the webbing at the front of the boat.
Written September 18, 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.
Aloha,
Mahalo Nui Loa for taking the time to leave us such a detailed review. We are ecstatic to hear of your experience. Thanks for thinking of us for your snorkel adventures, we hope to see you soon!
Written September 27, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mclaszlo2
Atlanta, GA9 contributions
Crew did a very nice job communicating with guests inserting appropriate humor along the way. The boat was beautiful and very clean, right down to the restrooms onboard. Plenty of room to move around and healthy snacks provided. Adult beverages are not served until return from snorkeling which is all for the best. The snorkeling was really good, plenty of fish and coral to see. Good safety and sanitation procedures. I’d absolutely do it again! Thank you to Capt. Eddie and crew!
Written April 5, 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 Mahalo for taking the time to leave us a review. We are so happy you enjoyed your charter aboard Hoku Nui and snorkeling at kealakekua bay. We think our captains and crew are pretty great as well :) We hope to see you next time you are on island for another fun adventure.
Mahalo for choosing SeaParadise and A hui Hou!
Written April 6, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
SpeekEZ
Richmond, KY70 contributions
May 2021
This was a wonderful experience. The enjoyed the 40 min boat ride to where we snorkeled. The entire staff was excellent. Safety was their priority. Soft drinks and snacks were included and there was a bar available after snorkeling that took credit cards.
The crew made sure that everyone knew exactly what they needed to do with the equipment to snorkel correctly and safely. They watched everyone from the boat to make sure there were no problems and there was always at least one crew member in the water to help to help anyone who may need anything quickly. We felt very safe on this tour and the fish and coral were amazing.
I do wish that on our time on the boat, there was more info on Hawaii discussed, but that's not a deal breaker. You will love this experience!
The crew made sure that everyone knew exactly what they needed to do with the equipment to snorkel correctly and safely. They watched everyone from the boat to make sure there were no problems and there was always at least one crew member in the water to help to help anyone who may need anything quickly. We felt very safe on this tour and the fish and coral were amazing.
I do wish that on our time on the boat, there was more info on Hawaii discussed, but that's not a deal breaker. You will love this experience!
Written May 12, 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.
Aloha,
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a great review! We really hope you are able to return to the Big Island and adventure with us again!
Written May 16, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
BHartMich
Northville, MI694 contributions
We took our family (8 of us) on this tour. We had a couple of kids (11 & 13) who did not have a lot of experience. We made a good choice because the sail is not overly long from the harbor to the Captain Cook’s Monument area where we snorkeled for nearly an hour. There is a wide variety of fish on the reef, and everyone really enjoyed the experience. The equipment was very good, the crew was excellent in providing all the help anyone needed.
Beverages and snacks were provided. The boat was super clean and nice. Highly recommend the tour if you are looking for a shorter snorkel experience, which is exactly what we wanted.
Beverages and snacks were provided. The boat was super clean and nice. Highly recommend the tour if you are looking for a shorter snorkel experience, which is exactly what we wanted.
Written February 28, 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 Bob,
Thank you for a wonderful review and thank you for choosing Sea Paradise to be a part of your family trip. Indeed, Kealakekua indeed is a world-renowned snorkeling spot because of it's wild marine species and reefs. Our crew will always be there to make sure that every one is comfortable and will always assist our guests. Hoku Nui would love to welcome you again on your next sea adventure.
Mahalo!
Written February 28, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
dlh22
San Carlos, CA141 contributions
Nov 2020
A perfect afternoon thanks to captain Tony and Eddy, our guide. While I've been to this spot before (on other boats in years past), this trip was a trip of a life-time. We were the only boat at the monument and with only 10 guests. The service was top-notch all around. I couldn't help noticing what a great job Eddy did helping the 4 first time snorkelers gain confidence. The variety of fish was amazing and with the lack of crowds it was more serene than I'd ever experienced. Thank you for a wonderful afternoon. Plus Eddy gave me a new 'holder' for my snorkel as my old one broke and fixed it prior to my entering the water.
Written November 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.
Aloha,
We are so happy you enjoyed the tour with us! The monument is our favorite snorkeling location. We would love to have you join us on a future tour!
Written November 26, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
TRIP123Usa
USA21 contributions
Moana. Yep, you will be serenaded with songs from Moana on your journey. This is one of the many small unexpected moments you’ll experience while taking a snorkeling trip with the Sea Paradise crew. It was great and worth every penny. I may be back home now a month later, crouched by the radiator and preparing to shovel out from another blizzard. But that trip brings back great memories and makes me laugh. Thanks guys. Great job. Although given what you do, and where you live... want to trade jobs?!? ;-)
Written January 18, 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.
Aloha,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review. We are so happy to hear you enjoyed your time out with us and hope you'll come adventure with us again (maybe as a guide this time, haha)!
Mahalo and hope to Sea you soon,
Sea Paradise
Written January 20, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
we are staying at the ocean tower Hilton. what are options for transportation to the pier?
Written January 16, 2022
We had a rental car. I would check with the hotel, there may be a shuttle. Uber may be available. It is difficult to get around the Big Island without a car.
Written January 18, 2022
If there are a couple of people in your party, can they just stay on the boat while the rest of us snorkel?
Written August 15, 2021
How many people will be on the boat? We have 6 in our party.
Written April 24, 2021
Hi. I am interested in sailing/snorkeling and wanted to ask if you are operating tours at this time. I am a party of one. Thanks, Denise
Written July 18, 2020
Is it safe to snorkel there if my son is not very good at swimming?
Written December 29, 2019
Yes it is safe, if you have basic swimming skills. You can use life jacket/ noodles to kepp you afloat. Just getting used to mask takes some time. But once you are comfortable with mask, things are not that difficult.
Written January 1, 2020
Will be in Kona on a cruise. What time does the sail leave return...and is there transportation to and from the cruise ship port?
Written December 8, 2019
I saw the cruise ship letting people off at a very nice snorkeling area. For the Captain Cook cruise, I recommend booking a head of time. They were so helpful to me problem solving so could help you make the trip happen. Just know where the cruise ship deboards in Hawaii and they will help you with the rest. Expect $84 trip.
Written December 16, 2019
A Tripadvisor member
Bend, Oregon
Hi, I am not sure, but there was a young girl about 6 on our trip, and they had appropriate gear for her. She seemed to have a great time. I would have been comfortable with kids 5 or up, but think younger than that, they may not get as much out of it.
Written September 20, 2019
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