Kona Ocean Adventures
Kona Ocean Adventures
5
Scuba & SnorkellingSwim with DolphinsBoat ToursPrivate ToursDolphin & Whale Watching
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Full view
About
Winner of the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018,2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and now 2023 Travelers' choice winner! Come Experience the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii like never before. Private charters are our specialty! With a small tour, experience amazing wildlife and discovery miles of piscine coastline, daytime snorkeling, night snorkel with manta rays, whale watch, scuba dive, light fishing or with a private charter, customize your water experience with Kona Ocean Adventures. No crowds, no rush, just a safe and exceptional trip for all. Family vacation, a spiritual journey, honeymoon, or simply looking to experience a once in a lifetime adventure, you have come to right place. We now have 3 boats to accommodate various size groups. With over 17 years of experience working the Hawaiian Islands, Captain Danny, Captain Laure and their crew will make your adventure a memorable one. We speak English, French, Japanese and Spanish.
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingSimilar Experiences
Kona Ocean Adventures
Booking unavailable on Tripadvisor
Want other options you can book now?
Show optionsTravelers talk about
Contribute
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
2,126 reviews
Excellent
2,044
Very good
52
Average
20
Poor
6
Terrible
4
MarkBev2020
Calgary, Canada1 contribution
Feb 2020
Although we selected the tour to swim with the dolphins in the wild we truly had an adventure. Kona Ocean Adventures took us out and we experienced so much more than the the dolphins. Swimming with the dolphins in the wild was exceptional. We did four passes with them and were close enough to almost touch them. We also encountered a new whale calf, mom and the escort. Our boat with 8 people floated with this family and watched as the baby played, jumped, tail slapped and frolicked. At one pont the male escort whale cruised directly underneath the boat and surfaced just beyond. We paid for a whale watching trip in Maui that didn't compare. As we continued on our captain spotted manta rays and had us jump in to hang out with them. Again, as they passed by multiple times they were close enough to touch. Finally we snorkelled a reef encountering turtles and a reef shark. After all this we had a healthy home made lunch that was over the top. This probably was the best tour out of many we have done in Hawaii and would highly recommend springing for the extra dollars to do it. Very up close and personal.
Written February 27, 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 thrilled you had a "True Adventure" with us. Please come back for more! There is a lot more we can show you. See you soon!
Mahalo nui loa,
The entire KOA crew
Written March 1, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sherri L
Chugiak, AK10 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
We had a great couple of days on the boat with Kona Ocean Adventures. They only take small groups, which is much more personal! Our daughter did a discovery dive, and she felt super comfortable being in the water. We did four dives total, and got to see a lot, including a tiger shark and an octopus. Everyone was super friendly and relaxed, the fresh fruit and other snacks were great--there was even homemade guacamole after a dive! Matt was a great captain and worked hard to make sure we got to see great stuff, and Nick and Troy were wonderful in the water. Overall I would completely recommend them to anyone wanting to go with a smaller, more intimate company.
Written January 8, 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,
Wow, what a review! We are thrilled you had fun with the boys. We couldn't do it without them!
Please come see us again soon!
Mahalo nui loa,
The entire KOA crew
Written January 13, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
monkeymouse
New York20 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
We had an amazing dolphin snorkel excursion with Kona Ocean Adventures on February 15, 2020. Captains Lawrence and Momi and crew member Samantha deftly and thrillingly shepherded us across shimmering waters to the site where spinner dolphins were frolicking. We had about four opportunities at different spots to get in the water with the dolphins which were very playful. The dolphins were easily visible and allowed us to swim with them at close range but were never threatening or aggressive. It is so cool to see a dolphin coming up from the depths like a torpedo and shooting up out of the water in a gorgeous spin! Along the way we were lucky enough to see an enormous manta ray up close, and way more whales than we could possibly even count, breaching and showing off their tail fans and even presenting us with great views of mother and calf alongside the boat, with the crew always respectfully taking care to keep a legal distance. This was an added bonus on an amazing and unforgettable morning excursion, capped off with a snorkel at an offshore reef where Momi pointed out a white tipped reef shark, a large green sea turtle, an octopus, and many other species. After snorkeling we were given a beautiful light and healthy buffet lunch right with homemade salsa, sandwiches, crudités, and fruits on board the boat.
As amazing and wonderful as it was to see and swim with such breathtaking wildlife in its natural splendor, it was just as rewarding to experience the joy, enthusiasm, and skill with which the Kona Ocean Adventures crew do their jobs. They are really impressive navigators, swimmers, and divers. They share their knowledge about marine life freely and even brought out an amplifier so we could listen to the dolphins and whales singing and chattering underwater. We especially appreciated how they took great care with our nine-year-old daughter who was thrown right in the mix with the dolphins and the rest of us. They kept their eyes on her like hawks, so that my husband and I could focus on enjoying the dolphins and other marine life without worrying for her safety or enjoyment. She had a great time — as did we — thanks to their encouragement.
The booking experience was extremely pleasant and the customer service goes above and beyond. All the gear was clean and plentiful aboard the boat. This is a great experience and operator—don’t hesitate to book with them as you will not be disappointed. Other people on the boat with us had done their manta ray nighttime dive and said it was great too.
Mahalo!!!
As amazing and wonderful as it was to see and swim with such breathtaking wildlife in its natural splendor, it was just as rewarding to experience the joy, enthusiasm, and skill with which the Kona Ocean Adventures crew do their jobs. They are really impressive navigators, swimmers, and divers. They share their knowledge about marine life freely and even brought out an amplifier so we could listen to the dolphins and whales singing and chattering underwater. We especially appreciated how they took great care with our nine-year-old daughter who was thrown right in the mix with the dolphins and the rest of us. They kept their eyes on her like hawks, so that my husband and I could focus on enjoying the dolphins and other marine life without worrying for her safety or enjoyment. She had a great time — as did we — thanks to their encouragement.
The booking experience was extremely pleasant and the customer service goes above and beyond. All the gear was clean and plentiful aboard the boat. This is a great experience and operator—don’t hesitate to book with them as you will not be disappointed. Other people on the boat with us had done their manta ray nighttime dive and said it was great too.
Mahalo!!!
Written February 25, 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,
All I can say is Wow! What an eloquent description of your adventure! Thank you for taking the time to recognize our Super Stars and sharing this Unforgettable experience with the world!
We hope you come and play with us again very soon!
Mahalo nui loa,
The entire KOA crew
Written March 1, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
jrc530
California62 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
Amid unprecedented swells on the Big Island, we ventured out with Troy and Captain Matt in hopes of seeing the huge manta rays feed off the coast of Kona. When we reached our destination, we entered the water. There were a lot of other tour companies there doing the same thing as us. KOA takes only small groups (we were 6 on our boat). This was nice compared to the other very large groups of people in the water trying to observe the mantas’ show. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any mantas. We later learned that the other KOA boats didn’t see any either that night. Mother Nature was disrupting the natural order of things. But, Matt was determined that we see the mantas. Two people on board were celebrating birthdays that night (my older son being one of them) and Matt didn’t want to disappoint. We climbed back in the boat and the guys kept searching. They found one! We quickly got back in the water and got to see the beautiful manta ray do its dance. I’m not sure if we saw one ray several times or multiple rays, but it came so close. We could see it flap its giant wings as it approached and then when it somersaulted we could see its underbelly with all its spots. It was an awesome experience. I’m so thankful that Matt and Troy made it happen that night for us despite the obstacles.
Written January 3, 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 thrilled Matt and Troy took such great care in finding a manta for you! We are very lucky to have them on our team! Please come back and play with us again soon!
Mahalo nui loa,
The entire KOA crew
Written January 5, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
rrdean
Woodside, CA5 contributions
Jun 2020 • Family
I believe we were the second trip with Momi and Nick from Kona Ocean Adventures after the Covid restrictions on them were lifted. We had an amazing evening cruise where we witnessed an unbelievable sunset and spectacular show put on by two beautiful manta-rays. We were the only boat in the water, and, as always the Kona Ocean Adventures crew was second to none!
Written June 16, 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 thrilled you you had an amazing adventure with Momi and Nick. Mahalo for supporting us during these times!
We look forward to seeing you all again next time!!
Mahalo nui loa,
The entire KOA crew
Written June 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
sohamshah225
1 contribution
Jul 2022
I Highly recommend Kona Ocean Adventures for your big island snorkeling trip. The tour operators have strong lights which attract tons or plankton tempting fish and of course manta rays to come close to the board! There were only 9 people on our sunset tour which was perfect as we got very close to the manta rays. Other tour groups in the water had like 20-30 people on a board. The small group experience is amazing. The crew was very nice as well. They made sure we got time with the manta rays and extended our time as the rays were hanging very close to our raft. Towards the end we were one of the last boats in the area since they gave us so much extra time. We were in the water for about an hour and it was very nice.
Written July 31, 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.
Andrew G
Toronto, Canada88 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Words cannot describe how great our dolphin swim was with Captain Danny and Alexis. My wife and I were in awe of the entire experience. Hundreds of dolphins swam under and around us. After they would pass by, the team would move the boat and then we would get back in the water and do it again. Then as we were about to head back, a mom and baby whale kept breaching in front of the boat. Must have seen them come out of the water two dozen times. Truly a magical day in the Pacific Ocean by the Big Island. The stories, lunch, and time on the water were all great but the animal encounters were unforgettable. I would give them 10 stars if I could.
Written February 7, 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 for giving Captain Danny and Alexis 10 stars, we couldn't do it without them!! We hope you come play with us again soon.
Mahalo niui loa,
The entire KOA crew
Written February 9, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Patricia M
madrid35 contributions
Feb 2020
When another company cancelled my trip in the last minute, Kona Ocean Adventures replied to my phone call and did their best to accommodate us in one of their trips in the very last minute. Lory from their office made a few calls and finally was able to confirm our trip, thank you :). We are so happy we finally made our trip with these guys! The level of service was top, including hot shower, hot chocolate and hot towels in our way back, as well as uncrowded boat and surf lights to see the mantas. We were a bit apart from all the other boats and lights and we had two mantas during the full snorkel just for ourselves! We could see them very close and they flipped under our lights. Our guides were extremely informative and friendly and overall, we cannot recommend this company more!
Written February 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 thrilled we were able to accommodate you. It means the world to us that you took time to give us this review.
Please come play with us again very soon!
Mahalo nui loa,
The entire KOA crew
Written February 11, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lauren A
Oakland, CA2 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
We had a great time with Alexis and Mike on our whale watching tour last Saturday. It was a beautiful afternoon on the water; however, the whales were not as active as they were accustomed to seeing. The staff empathized with our silent disappointment and offered to extend our tour in order to hit another location. Jackpot! We found a baby humpback, mother and male escort leisurely swimming along. They showed off their tails several times and the escort even rolled on his side to wave goodbye before they took a final dive. We were ecstatic! We also saw several dolphins and a huge manta ray. We extremely appreciated the staff’s dedication to exceeding our expectations and clear passion for their job. They do this every day and were under no obligation to work late on our behalf. Thank you!!
Aside from the wildlife, Alexis provided great snacks and refreshments, including fresh pineapple, avocado, chips and homemade salsa, and chocolate! She educated us with cool facts about the island’s history and the ocean and it’s beautiful creatures. The boat was very comfortable, safe, clean, and fast!
My only suggestion for management would be a little more detail on their website regarding tour specifics and how to dress / what to bring. We figured it out and most is obvious, but I noticed competitors had robust FAQs and additional good to know details. Luckily the reviews sealed the deal for me and I’m thrilled we chose Kona Ocean Adventures for our excursion.
Aside from the wildlife, Alexis provided great snacks and refreshments, including fresh pineapple, avocado, chips and homemade salsa, and chocolate! She educated us with cool facts about the island’s history and the ocean and it’s beautiful creatures. The boat was very comfortable, safe, clean, and fast!
My only suggestion for management would be a little more detail on their website regarding tour specifics and how to dress / what to bring. We figured it out and most is obvious, but I noticed competitors had robust FAQs and additional good to know details. Luckily the reviews sealed the deal for me and I’m thrilled we chose Kona Ocean Adventures for our excursion.
Written February 27, 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 for sharing your great day on the water with us, we couldn't do it without our super crew! Please come visit us next time you are in town.
Mahalo nui loa,
The entire KOA crew
Written March 1, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Thierry E
5 contributions
May 2022
Spending a few days in Big Island, we booked an afternoon + night mantas snorkeling and diving session on May 15, 2022. Wonderful moment with a great and nice team. Friendly, attentive and competent. A first shallow dive in the afternoon where Sean showed us every fish he could, at first a furtive shark, then several eels and various exotic fishes (pictures on Instagram @tepicier). Then, an exciting and impressive night dive with Mantas, more than 15 swirling and dancing around. Gorgeous! A great boat journey on return at night, with warm water on the boat to rinse, snacks and fruits, and a nice music for company! Go on this way guys!
Written May 26, 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.
Would someone be able to compare the late night/moonlit manta ray snorkel versus the standard sunset many’s ray snorkel?
Is one option better than the other?
Thanks!
Written September 6, 2024
Hello! If I am going to do the manta Ray snorkel can I bring a go pro and record? Also how long are you in the water for? Thanks in advance!
Written January 3, 2019
I have done this trip twice and took excellent footage with my Go Pro on both occasions. We were in the water about 40 minutes. The first time was in the winter, in deeper water, with a fairly strong swell which made hanging onto the floating board more of a challenge while trying to shoot video with the other hand. There were three mantas doing underwater ballet -- it was stunning. DEFINITELY invest in a floating device handle that you can hook around your wrist, in case you are forced to let go of the camera due to swell. The second time was during the summer, in shallower water, the surface of the water was flatter. There were considerably more people out there in the summer. We had one manta beneath us and the Go Pro footage was still excellent. My video is posted on the Vimeo website -- search for "Liquid Flight - Dance of the Manta Rays" and you can see for yourself.
Written January 3, 2019
We will be on the Big Island for Thanksgiving. Will you have whale watching tours then. I’m finding that most don’t start until December. We are really hoping to go on one.
Written September 9, 2018
Aloha typically the whales start to show up in December. I would recommend booking a snorkel tour to Kealakekua bay and on the way we will look for all sorts of animals. Thanksgiving tends to be really busy so book today! Mahalo
Written November 4, 2018
debbieannjohnson
Napa, California
Hi, Debbi Johnson, so the back of the raft ladder is how we get in and out of the boat?
Written August 15, 2018
Aloha yes we have a large and strong ladder at the back of the boat. The ladder actually goes into the water which helps a great deal when climbing in and out. Mahalo
Written August 15, 2018
How can I book the tour before my trip to Hawaii?
Written April 24, 2018
Our company is Kona Ocean Adventures and we depart from the honokohau Marina. We are not My kona Adventure.
Written June 26, 2018
I am interested in the Manta Ray Snorkeling Night Tour. How long is the boat ride? And is it a typically choppy boat ride or relatively smooth?
Written June 20, 2017
Boat ride was only 20 minutes or so.
We had choppy ride coming back in bit I imagine it varies.
Written June 20, 2017
grandmarymec
Charlottesville, Virginia
I would like to take my 10 year old granddaughter on a night swim with the manta rays. She is an excellent swimmer, much better than her grandmother. If we go with you, do you have someone who goes into the water with us while we swim to the float?
Mary Collier
Written May 19, 2017
The Boats & Crew of Kona Ocean Adventures
Take time to include le’ale’a in life!
With over 30 years of experience navigating the Hawaiian waters, Laure, Danny and their crew are a true treasure chest of local knowledge and insider information about where to go, what to do, and how to do it, but their attitude is what really makes them special. You’ll feel like you’re on the boat with good friends… who happen to be local expert guides and coast guard licensed captains… We are passionate about what we do and love the ocean.
With Kona Ocean Adventures we are not just another tour but a true adventure every time you step aboard our boats.
We have chosen to remain a small boutique company in town to keep doing what we do best…. Continue to provide the best service possible with Aloha everyday! While on board, be sure to sample Captain’s Danny home made salsa. That is his specialty after all.
Written February 13, 2018
Hello, do you have tours over where we can see lava going into the ocean, if not, what reputable company do you recommend?
Written November 13, 2016
Aloha Angela,
Thank you for the email, unfortunately we do not do lava tours. Our company is based in Kona and the lava flows on the Hilo side which is on the other side of the island.
You can try Lavaocean tours.
Mahalo,
Laure
Written November 13, 2016
I'd like to book a group trip for October 3rd in the morning if possible, for 4 people to see waterfalls and Dolphins, some in the group may want to snorkel. We cannot afford to charter a boat. What do you suggest?
Written July 1, 2016
We are arriving in Kona on 3/12/2016 and would be interested in a party of 4 for whale watching/dolphin swim. We are thinking about Tuesday 3/15 and we are wondering if there is availability and what the cost of the excursion would be? There are 2 adults and 2 - 17 year old boys.
Written March 2, 2016
Aloha!
We have 5 spots left! The price is $189 pp plus tax. Let me know if you want to go.
Warmest Aloha,
Lori
Written March 2, 2016
Showing results 1-10 of 20