THE BIG ISLAND · DOLPHIN WATCHING
Every trip has one free morning too few. These 15 dolphin watching tours justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to packing.
Ride a Zodiac to Captain Cook Reef for small-group snorkeling, sea caves, island history, snacks, and possible dolphin or whale sightings.
“David and Chip were awesome, knowledgeable and attentive. Captain Cook’s was amazing. Highly recommend!”
Review of Kona’s luxury catamaran snorkel cruise with dolphin watching, meals, water slides, two hours of water time, and practical tips.
“This was a very fun day. The snorkeling was nice and the slide was very fun for everyone, including my husband! We also enjoyed the food and music. The staff was very friendly. I would recommend this to all families.”
Review of Big Island’s Pelagic Whale Watch Tour, with boat details, wildlife odds, pricing, tips, and whether this Kona trip fits you.
“This excursion was excellent. The guides were knowledgeable, personable, and kind (especially to those of us prone to seasickness). My family loved this. Saw several pods of dolphins & whales, flying fish, and got lots of fun local info.”
Review of the small-group Kealakekua Bay snorkel tour, with clear water, reef fish, dolphins, whale sightings, timing, value, and tips.
“Oh, it was amazing a beautiful view. They were so nice so friendly. We got to see fish. I really enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend this to someone.”
Review of the Kealakekua Bay dolphin and Captain Cook snorkel tour, with small boats, sea caves, coral, practical tips, and value advice.
“Fun tour. Great guides which make for great company. Lots of interesting facts about the area, history, etc. Would definitely recommend.”
Review of Kona’s 3-hour dolphin and reef snorkel cruise, with Captain Cook, sea caves, lunch, small groups, price, and practical tips.
“This is a smaller group with the boat owner and one helper who took great care to make sure everyone had a good time. The snorkeling was awesome with tons of coral and we stayed in the water for an hour. Saw lots of lava formations and a few dolpins.”
Review of Kona’s 3.5-hour whale and dolphin cruise, with seasonal humpbacks, spinner dolphins, coastal views, pricing, tips, and drawbacks.
“This is a great tour - very manageable size of group and length of adventure. You will need transportation to the shopping center for check in and then down to the bay to get in the boat.”
Review of Kona’s 2.5-hour Captain Cook snorkeling trip, with a fast Zodiac boat, sea caves, dolphins, reef life, snacks, and practical tips.
“The boat ride & music was a blast! Erik & Lacey were great hosts and super accommodating for the snorkel experience. We plan to come back and do it again in April!”
Review of Kona’s 3-hour dolphin watch, two-stop snorkeling trip with BBQ lunch, wildlife sightings, boat details, price, and booking tips.
“I really liked the time spent in the water and felt relaxed about it. Seeing the dolphins was great and a marvelous experience.”
Review the Kona Tradewind Catamaran Day Sail, with coastline views, dolphin sightings, drinks, practical tips, value, and honest drawbacks.
“As it turned out, we were the only couple that was booked on this 2:15 afternoon cruise. However, instead of canceling the cruise, they did the right thing and took us out for a private cruise! They served us drinks and snacks, and our tour guide extraordinaire Jewel gave my sweetheart a Mother's Day bouquet of hand picked flowers. What a nice touch! Very sweet! Mahalo to Captain Michael X. and Jewel for being so good to us!”
Review of Kona’s six-person luxury catamaran snorkel tour, with yacht comfort, coastal stops, lunch, wildlife, costs, and practical booking advice.
“We had an amazing time and had a VIP treatment!!! A must when visiting the Big Island!”
Review of a private Kealakekua Bay snorkel tour with dolphin watching, Captain Cook Monument views, flexible plans, and family-friendly guides.
“Outstanding experience. First time snorkeling for my kids 13, 11, and 7. Very accommodating for them and overall loved our time. Would highly recommend!”
Review of Big Island dolphin watching and double reef snorkeling, with a small group, fast RHIB boat, gear, snacks, and practical tips.
“This was a great experience. Small group, great guide and wonderful snorkeling spots and so many dolphins.”
Review of Kona’s 3-hour dolphin watch, secluded snorkeling, turtle sightings, and hot dog BBQ, with honest advice on value and water conditions.
“we didn't see ANY dolphin, so excurtion name should be changed, no BBQ lunch on board, just half a sandwich per person.... just one Spot to snorkel that was nice. in my opinion over priced”
Review of Kona’s four-hour Kealakekua Bay snorkel and dolphin tour, with Captain Cook views, lunch, wildlife, price, timing, and practical tips.
“We had a great time snorkeling with Iruka. Our guides, Trevor and Maddy, found two terrific spots to see a huge variety of fish. It was our first time snorkeling and they gave us great tips. There were just 8 of us so we could easily spread out and not disturb the fish and sea creatures. We were the only boat on our first snorkel of 40 minutes and then had a small scuba boat near on our second snorkel. Very cool experience. I highly recommend Trevor and Maddy and Iruka.”
Pick a coast, or pick the kind of morning you want.
