Frequently Asked Questions

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 11:45 a.m. tour. Regardless of when your cruise ship arrives, there are a couple factors that will determine if you can get to Keauhou Bay 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. 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.

The morning does not offer any additional experiences not available to the afternoon trip. The same number of fish live 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.

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.

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.

Towel, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, camera, and a warm cover-up are recommended.

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.

As long as you take a noodle or flotation device of some kind and you pay attention to our instructions, non-swimmers can enjoy the dolphin swim too. But it is more challenging, and beginning snorkelers or non-swimmers would be advised to take the Captain Cook Snorkeling Tour first — that tour snorkels primarily in the most protected part of the island, Kealakekua Bay and Captain Cook Monument.

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.

Yes, our captains and crew take first aid and emergency response courses.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A ladder is available to return back into the boat after snorkeling. Initially getting into the water is just a hop off the side.

There are no bathrooms on board, but hop off the side and simply swim away from fellow snorkelers to find a place where you can find bladder relief. There is also a public restroom where we begin and end our trips.

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, sun-block and a light cover-up are still strongly recommended.

We serve granola bars, fig bars, trail mix (nuts), chips, and bottled water. No meats or cheeses.

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.

Standing on the ladder is always an option if you are a beginner. We recommend Captain Cook Monument and Kealakekua Bay for all people who are new to snorkeling. Kealakekua Bay is a very well protected bay that offers calm pool-like conditions all year-round. We conduct snorkel classes onboard the boat for anyone who is interested. We host many non-swimmers who want to join their family and friends on our cruises. We have floatation devices such as pool noodles to assist you while in the water.

No, our insurance policy requires that all parties have at least one member who is 18 years old or older.

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.

We provide snorkeling instruction on each trip. Ask your crew member if you’d like a review.

Keauhou Bay is the closest boat harbor to the best snorkel sites, so you spend more time snorkeling and less time motoring to the site.

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.