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The different cruise ship companies have different arrival times into Kailua-Kona. If your cruise ship arrives at 9 a.m., then you should have enough time to make the 12pm tour. Regardless of when your cruise ship arrives, there are a couple factors that will determine if you can get to Keauhou Bay or Honokohau Marina in time to board one of our cruises. Make sure that you are aboard one of the tender boats that will ferry you from the cruise ship (anchored) to the pier in downtown Kailua-Kona by 9:30 a.m. You will also want to have a taxi waiting for you at the pier to bring you to Keauhou Bay or Honokohau Marina. You can make arrangements with the ship concierge to reserve a taxi for you. It is a 25-minute taxi ride from the Kailua-Kona pier to Keauhou Bay and 10 minute ride to Honokohau Marina in Kailua Kona.
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The morning does not offer any additional experiences not available to the afternoon trip. The same number and type of fish are present in the bay and ocean throughout the day. The main difference is you are more likely to have clear skies in the morning and a few more clouds in the afternoon. But visibility, warmth and sea life are the same.
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Slippers or sneakers are fine, but you will spend the majority of your time walking barefoot while on-board. No need for reef shoes since guests are not allowed to step on coral while in the water.
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A waterproof camera is recommended. A non-waterproof camera in a baggie works fine. The boat is relatively dry, so as long as you don’t drop the camera/phone into the water or have wet hands after snorkeling, almost any camera is good to bring.
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Towel, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, camera, and a warm cover-up are recommended.
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Kealakekua Bay is where you find the Captain Cook Monument, and you will be able to see the monument aboard the Captain Cook Snorkeling Tour.
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Dolphin swims are no longer permitted by the State of Hawaii. We do have a manta ray trip at night that is very interesting and we recommend. The manta ray swim if for experienced snorkelers and swimmers only.
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It’s not necessary, but some people do pack their phone in a dry-bag. Our vessels are designed so water does not come splashing overboard. But wet hands after snorkeling can also be a problem for electronics.
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Yes, our captains and crew take first aid and emergency response courses.
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We are happy to report sunny skies and calm waters are common on the west side of the Big Island, so we cancel less than 20 cruises a year due to bad weather. If the captain feels the weather will affect the safety of our guests, then they will cancel the cruise and guests receive a full refund. Also, staff will do their very best to have you rescheduled on another cruise before you return home. Tropical weather is known for quickly passing rain showers and changing weather conditions. Because of this, our captains address weather concerns on the day of the cruise.
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No, in order to protect the coral reef and the safety of our guests, no one is allowed to climb onto land. Your vessel will act as your private retreat, allowing you to come and go as you please while you enjoy your day at sea.
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Once booked, your seats are guaranteed — we don’t resell and we don’t overbook the boat. For those reasons, Captain Cook Snorkel Cruises has a no cancellation /no-refund policy since your seats are guaranteed until the day of your trip. We do not offer refunds or cancellations for illness, death in the family or any other reason you cannot attend your reservation. The only exception to this policy is in the event of dangerous sea or weather conditions – the captain will cancel a trip and guests have the option to receive a reschedule or refund of their trip.
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We recommend at least a week ahead or more. For wedding parties, large groups, etc., reserving a month or two ahead is best to ensure you get the date and times you want.
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If you typically get seasick when on the water/ocean, we suggest you take seasickness medicine at least two hours before your trip. But most people find they do not get seasickness due to the type of movement on our boat.
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A ladder is available to return back into the boat after snorkeling. Initially getting into the water is just a hop off the side.
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There is a public restroom where we begin and end our trips. We highly recommend all guests using the facility – even if they don’t really need to before leaving dock. The trip is about 3.5 hours from beginning to end and using a porta potty aboard the boat is to be avoided, if possible.
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Both our boats have shaded canopies or tops for escaping the sun. We also have sunny parts of the boat open to the sun, which is very nice if you are chilled after snorkeling. However, a light cover-up is still strongly recommended.
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We serve granola bars, fig bars, trail mix (nuts), chips, and bottled water. No meats or cheeses.
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There is a very good chance of seeing dolphins all year-round. The most common species are the spinner dolphins, which go out to deep water at night to hunt but spend their days swimming, playing, and resting in the shallow water and bays near shore. There are, of course, no guarantees when it comes to wildlife, but we encounter dolphins on about half of our cruises. Dolphins are protected, and we do not actively pursue them. The best opportunity to see whales is between late December and March, when the humpback whales migrate to Hawaii from Alaska.
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Standing on the ladder is always an option if you are a beginner. We recommend Captain Cook Monument and Kealakekua Bay for guests who are new to snorkeling. Kealakekua Bay is a very well protected bay that offers calm pool-like conditions all year-round. We provide basic snorkel use onboard the boat for anyone who requests help but cannot and do not provide basic swimming classes for those who are not good swimmers. We do not recommend anyone entering the water who is not proficient at swimming. We have floatation devices such as pool noodles to assist you while in the water, but floatation is not a replacement for prior swimming ability. Non swimmers and poor swimmers can join us for the ride to the bay but should not enter the water.
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No, our insurance policy requires that all parties have at least one member who is 18 years old or older.
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No. Due to the boat being tied to the dock, rocking back and forth with the movement of the water, each passenger will need to be able to cross from the dock to boat under their own power (there is not a ramp from pier to vessel). To help ensure the safety of our guests, no one is permitted to be carried across the gap between the boat and dock.
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Anyone needing snorkeling instruction may ask a crew member if you’d like a review of the basics. However, we do not provide swimming lessons and essentially you need to be proficient in swimming to snorkel. This is not a place to learn to swim or snorkel. You are entering the ocean with waves, currents and other boats motoring in the area. This is not a safe environment for those who are inexperience swimmers or snorkelers.
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Keauhou Bay is the closest boat harbor to the snorkel sites, so you may spend more time snorkeling and less time motoring to the site. Honokohau Harbor gives a much greater chance of seeing dolphins since it begins at a common resting place for the dolphins and the route to Kealakekua Bay transits numerous dolphin resting sites. Both trips are very scenic – you may want to try them both!
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Essentially, no. Sharks are very rarely seen while snorkeling, but when we do, they are typically small reef sharks that quickly swim away once they notice the snorkelers and/or boat.
