Snorkeling on the Kona coast at a glance
This page covers snorkeling on the Kona coast, the drier west side of Hawaiʻi Island. Boat trips leave from Honokōhau Harbor and Keauhou Bay near Kailua-Kona, and the classic destination is Kealakekua Bay with the Captain Cook Monument. From shore, Kahaluʻu Beach Park and Two Step near Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau are the main entry points.
A tour takes care of gear, the boat ride and a crew in the water. Shore snorkeling costs less but needs more planning: you judge the waves, the current and your own fitness yourself. Either way, the reef rules below apply to everyone.
Our picks: snorkel tours in Kona
The catamaran trip suits you if you want lunch on board, and the three-hour reef tour is the simpler, shorter option. Choose the dolphin and BBQ boat when you want to watch wildlife from the water.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Dolphin watch, reef snorkeling and BBQ lunch
- BBQ lunch
- Snorkeling equipment
- Floating mat
Three hours on the water with a wildlife watch, a reef snorkel and a BBQ lunch. You watch the dolphins from the boat, since swimming with spinner dolphins is not allowed.
Check availability →
Captain Cook reef catamaran trip with lunch
- Catamaran trip
- Lunch and snacks
- Guide on board
A 4 to 4.5-hour sail with sandwiches, fruit and snacks on board. Snorkel gear depends on the option you pick, so check that when you book.
Check availability →
Captain Cook reef snorkel tour
- Mask and snorkel
- Water and snacks
Three hours of reef snorkeling with mask and snorkel, bottled water and snacks included.
Check availability →Kona snorkeling tours
Snorkel cruises to Kealakekua Bay, dolphin watch trips with reef snorkeling and small-group boats near Kailua-Kona, with live prices and availability.
Kona snorkeling tours: the trip types
What the Big Island snorkeling tours include, by type.
Morning cruise to Kealakekua Bay
The longest daytime trips run 4 to 4.5 hours and head to the Captain Cook Monument. They start at Honokōhau Harbor or Keauhou Bay. Lunch is part of most of them, from sandwiches and fruit to a deli buffet, and some add breakfast. Extras on some trips include flotation noodles, underwater view boxes, reef-safe sunscreen and a briefing by a marine naturalist. On one catamaran, the snorkel gear depends on the option you book.
Kealakekua Bay guide →Afternoon family trip
A 4-hour afternoon trip from Keauhou Bay also goes to Kealakekua Bay. It has two water slides, a dive platform, inner tubes and snacks instead of a full meal. It suits families who want time in the water without an early start.
Small-group trips of about 3 hours
Smaller boats leave Keauhou Harbor for a 3-hour snorkel in Kealakekua Bay with fruit, chips and drinks. Another 3-hour trip combines a reef snorkel near Captain Cook with sea caves and dolphin watching. The gear on these trips can be limited to mask and snorkel, so check whether fins are included.
Dolphin watch with reef snorkeling
From Honokōhau Harbor, dolphin watch trips last 2 hours in the afternoon or 3 hours with a barbecue lunch cooked on board. You watch the dolphins from the boat and snorkel on a reef. Swimming with spinner dolphins or approaching within 50 yards is banned under federal rules, so no trip can promise it.
Boat tours guide →Short trip for beginners
A 2-hour snorkel trip includes instruction and in-water help for beginners, flotation gear, drinks and light snacks. It is the easiest way into the water if you have never snorkeled.
Guided kayak and snorkel
One guided tour combines kayaking and snorkeling in Kealakekua Bay over 4 to 5 hours, with all gear, a guide and lunch. It starts on land in Kealakekua and does not include a hotel pickup.
Big Island snorkeling tours compared
Typical lengths and inclusions, 2026.
| Trip type | Length | Starts at | Food | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning cruise to Kealakekua Bay | 4 to 4.5 hours | Honokōhau Harbor or Keauhou Bay | Lunch, some with breakfast | First visit to the bay |
| Afternoon family trip | 4 hours | Keauhou Bay | Snacks | Families, later start |
| Small-group bay trip | About 3 hours | Keauhou Harbor | Fruit, chips, drinks | Smaller groups |
| Dolphin watch and reef snorkel | 2 or 3 hours | Honokōhau Harbor | Snacks, or barbecue on the 3-hour trip | Wildlife watching from the boat |
| Guided kayak and snorkel | 4 to 5 hours | Kealakekua, on land | Lunch | Active paddlers |
| Manta night snorkel | About 1 to 3.5 hours | Honokōhau Harbor or Keauhou Bay | – | A night in the water |
Hotel pickup is usually not included, and neither are tips. For most first-time visitors, a morning cruise to Kealakekua Bay is the simplest choice: it reaches the bay without a permit question and feeds you on board. Families who want slides and a later start may prefer the afternoon trip. If you also want to see manta rays, read the manta ray night snorkel guide, because that is a separate evening trip.
Snorkeling on the Big Island: bays and entries
Three places on the Kona coast. Conditions and access differ, so check the signs and the lifeguards on the day.
Kealakekua Bay
The bay is a State Historical Park, open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. with free entry. Every boat in the bay, kayaks included, needs a State Parks permit, and landing at the monument is restricted. The simplest way to snorkel here is from a tour boat or on a guided kayak tour.
Kealakekua Bay guide →Kahaluʻu Beach Park
This shore entry near Kailua-Kona has lifeguards daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. That does not mean the water is always open or calm. Follow the signs and the lifeguards on the day.
Two Step at Hōnaunau Bay
Two Step is at the Hōnaunau Bay boat launch, outside the Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau park. The park's Royal Grounds at Keoneʻele are not an access point for swimming or snorkeling, and you may not enter them with snorkel gear. The rest of the bay is not closed by that rule.
For sandy beaches with lifeguards, such as Hāpuna and Magic Sands, see the Big Island beaches guide. If your trip continues to the next island, snorkeling there has its own page in the Maui snorkeling guide.
Reef care and safety in the water
Hawaiʻi's state law has banned the sale and distribution of sunscreen with oxybenzone or octinoxate without a prescription since 1 January 2021. The law targets sales, not what you bring in your bag, but a mineral sunscreen avoids the question.
Do not touch coral or marine animals, and do not stand on the reef. Keep at least 10 feet (3 m) from sea turtles, in the water and on land, and at least 50 feet (15 m) from Hawaiian monk seals; for a mother with a pup, keep about 150 feet (45 m). Taking sand, dead coral or coral rubble is banned statewide, and live coral and rocks with growth on them must stay where they are.
Practise breathing through the snorkel and clearing the mask before you swim out, and choose a spot that matches your ability. A calm beach is no statement about the current. If in doubt, swim at a beach with lifeguards or join a tour with a crew in the water.
More on the Kona coast
Pages that fit a snorkeling day.
Snorkeling Kona: frequently asked questions
Where can I snorkel near Kailua-Kona?
Kealakekua Bay, Kahaluʻu Beach Park and Two Step at Hōnaunau Bay are the main spots. Kahaluʻu is a shore entry with lifeguards. Kealakekua Bay is usually reached by tour boat or guided kayak tour because of the permit rules.
Do I need a tour to snorkel on the Big Island?
No. Shore entries such as Kahaluʻu and Two Step need no booking. A tour makes sense if you want Kealakekua Bay without dealing with kayak permits, or if you prefer a crew in the water and gear provided.
Can I swim with dolphins on a snorkel tour?
No. Swimming with spinner dolphins or approaching them within 50 yards is banned under federal rules. Dolphin trips combine watching from the boat with snorkeling on a reef.
Is snorkel gear included?
On most tours, yes, but it differs. Some include fins and flotation, others include only mask and snorkel, and on one catamaran the gear depends on the option you book. Check the inclusions before you pay.
Which sunscreen should I use?
Sunscreen with oxybenzone or octinoxate may not be sold in Hawaiʻi without a prescription since 2021. A mineral sunscreen is the simple choice. Some morning cruises supply reef-safe sunscreen on board.