Kaimana Ocean Safari

From start to finish, hands down one of the best snorkeling experiences we have had! (2nd and definitely not last time with this amazing crew!)

Please book this tour if you want to have the time of your life! Everything was super easy from the meet up location to the chill vibes on the boat. Everyone including the crew was stoked to be there and excited for what ever we were going to find. We did two days and we saw short finned Pilot whales, spotted dolphins, oceanic white tip shark and spinner dolphins as we were leaving the harbor. We had so much fun speeding around in the boat and swimming with species we haven’t before. My only tip is wear a lot of sun coverage if you get burnt easily. My only regret is not booking more days before we flew home. Book this tour!!

We booked 3 tours in Big Island during our vacation with 3 different companies and this one was THE BEST! The crew was really nice and we had a blast because we saw a shark whale, we know the risk of not having the luck to see anything but what we also love the most is that the crew made everything possible for us to have the best experience and to find something interesting and THAT is what makes the difference! Keep doing a great job!

Very interactive, small group on a boat people very helpful and professional but not cold, personal touches such as snack and soda or water

I give one star for the friendly and cool crew/guide, one star for the grey reef sharks and one for the pilot whales. Ofc you can never know what you’ll see but it was just too expensive for what we saw. I also found it too bad that we were only snorkeling in the water for about 5 minutes per stop (there were 3 stops in total) before having to get out quickly. I’d have appreciated more snorkeling time and there was still a quarter of an hour of the booked time left at the end. It was still a nice experience after all and I can recommend it.

We loved every minute !! Our 8 year old snorkeled more than ever. I thought she never would and she came in for the mantas! We saw mantas, a shark and dolphins and the crew was so good with all 4 kids!

Absolutely amazing! Three young kids, two adults, so many cool spotting! Sharks, dolphins, rays, unforgettable! Wish we did it twice!

Knowledgeable fun staff. Small boat and group make it way better than big boat tours for us. Getting in the open ocean with wildlife is such an amazing rewarding experience.

I had such an incredible experience with Kaimana Ocean Safari. The staff were kind, fun, and extremely knowledgeable, which made the whole trip feel relaxed and welcoming. I’m not an avid snorkeler and was probably the weakest swimmer in the group, but I still felt completely safe, supported, and included the entire time. We saw dolphins and sea turtles, and later went on a search for a sperm whale—which we actually found! It was such a magical and rare sighting, and something I’ll never forget. The photo package is absolutely worth it. Knowing the staff were capturing photos and videos allowed me to stop worrying about documenting everything myself and just fully enjoy the moment. I also loved the small group size (I think around 6–8 guests max), which made the tour feel personal and flexible. There’s no fixed route—they take you wherever the ocean leads that day. If I had more time on the Big Island, I would absolutely book another trip with them. Highly recommend this experience if you're visiting Kona. As a solo traveler and not the strongest swimmer, I especially appreciated how safe, welcoming, and inclusive the crew made the experience feel. This is a great tour for both experienced snorkelers and beginners—especially if you want a small-group ocean adventure that feels personal and safe.

The ocean safari with Kaimana was absolutely magical. I went with my 12 year old daughter and the crew was so nice, accommodating, and made us feel safe snorkeling with the whales! There was only 6 guest total on the boat which is so nice compared to other boat trips Ive been on with 20+ people. We saw dolphins leaving the harbor right next to our boat, we swam with a pod of pilot whales, and a sperm whale! I am still processing the magic of this experience. The crew did great making my 12 year old daughter comfortable and helping her. This experience was worth every penny & I would love to go again next time we visit. You will not regret it, book your trip today!

We had the most amazing experience with Elizabeth and the crew. The day we went out we found a sperm whale carcass and dove with tiger sharks and oceanic white tip sharks. The team was informative, professional and fun, while keeping us safe during our once in a lifetime experience. I would highly recommend Kaimana Ocean Safari! I’m sure no 2 days are the same, but they will offer you the best day possible with an amazing team to explore the ocean.

We had a phenomenal time with Kaimana Ocean Safari! They were super informative and made us feel very safe. We had a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Tiger Sharks feeding on a whale carcass. We also saw spinner dolphins from the boat and snorkeled. I feel very reassured that this semi- private tour (6 individuals) in a small boat afforded us this unique opportunity. Worth and difference in cost!!

This was a great trip! My wife and I saw whales, dolphins, a shark and more!! Morri and cam were great the whole time. We will use them next time we are on the big island!

This Ocean Safari from Kona exceed my expectations in a big way. I got on the water with a dozen Manta rays, what a magical experience. We saw spinner and bottle nose dolphins and several humpback whales. One whale came up to the boat to check us out it was epic! Cam and Dev were excellent guides and the personal care and customer service was excellent. I am impressed with the teams knowledge and care for the marine environment. This trip was not inexpensive but it was a good value for the experience IMO. I highly recommend this experience!

That was the best experience with these guys! Dolphins, false killer whales, humpbacks and spinner dolphins! Loved it!

Wow!! What a great experience. The Crew was incredibly knowledgeable and gave us the experience of a lifetime! We were so lucky to have the conditions and see the wildlife we did. We will definitely be back!

Lovely day on and in the water. We didn’t see much for large wildlife but did see spinner dolphins at the end of the tour. It was a great way to end the safari. Saw plenty and a variety of fish at the three snorkeling spots. Cam and Kay were knowledgeable and helpful. Professional small group tour operators.

The crew was so friendly and kind. They were looking for good whale spots and we saw humpbacks and dolphins in a good amount of time.

Our ocean safari was absolutely incredible and truly one of the highlights of our trip. Being out on the water and witnessing the wildlife in their natural environment was unforgettable, but what really made the experience exceptional was the crew. From start to finish, they went above and beyond to ensure we saw as much wildlife as possible that day. Their knowledge, attentiveness, and genuine enthusiasm made every moment feel special. Just as importantly, they made everyone feel safe, comfortable, and completely at ease. They were welcoming, kind, and clearly passionate about what they do. One of the best parts of this safari is the small group size. You never feel rushed, crowded, or lost in the shuffle. It creates such a personal and relaxed atmosphere that by the end, you truly feel like you have shared something meaningful with the people around you. We walked away not only with amazing memories, but also with new friends. I cannot recommend this ocean safari highly enough. It is an unforgettable experience made even better by an outstanding crew.

This was an awesome trip. Cam and Morri are great hosts. Got to snorkel with an oceanic manta ray and a huge pod of dolphins. Great day on the water, I highly recommend this company and this trip. They are great people that work hard to make sure you have a good time! Will be going with them again next time on the island.

we had an excellent experience with Kaimana Ocean Safari. Kayleigh and Cam took extremely good care of us, we very friendly and ethical regarding the Safari and overall contributed to a very pleasant and wholesome experience would recommend to my friends and i'd definitely come back again!!

The crew were great! They were enjoyable, helpful and fun to be with. They seemed to enjoy doing the tour and we will take this tour if we ever come back to this Island.

We had an unforgettable experience with Kaimana! The Ocean Safari was absolutely incredible! We got to see and swim with melon headed dolphins and spotted whale sharks, which was beyond anything we could have imagined. The crew was so friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about the ocean and marine life. They made everyone feel safe, comfortable, and truly connected to the experience. We can’t recommend Kaimana enough! An amazing team and a once-in-a-lifetime adventure!

A. Beautiful way to visit the island, get some sun, see some marine life...and definitely have some enjoyable time with the crew who were all very friendly, accommodating, as well as funny! 😊

Guide were great, helpful and knowledgeable, we were able to see lots of marine life, hey assisted with all equipment needed.

This safari was one the highlights of our trip. Cam and Dev were an amazing crew to spend the morning with. They are very knowledgeable and you see that they love what they do. We were super lucky to have a lot of wildlife that day: bottlenose dolphins, pilot whales, spinner dolphins, a manta ray and even a white tip shark as a surprise guest! Their security briefing was extremely clear and was very useful when we had the encounter with the shark. We felt safe the whole time and that was very important for me especially since it’s very impressive to have this kind of experience. The boat was very comfortable and the trip was great. Thank you!

My friends and I live in Kona and have for decades. My friends are die hard snorkelers and love to swim with ocean mammals.Im getting back into it now that I'm retiring. This trip, like the whale watch I went on with them was TOTALLY epic!! They swam with white tips, we saw dozens of pilot whales - it really was amazing. Highly recommend this boat, you will have a blast, guaranteed

This is our second time on the Kaimana Ocean Safari and it did not disappoint. Hands down our favorite excursion on the Big Island. This team has a true heart for the ocean and community, and they do a wonderful job. Worth every penny. We will be back 2026.

We went on the 4 hour "safari" excursion, with the specific purpose of seeing and (if possible) swimming with sharks and (especially) whales and dolphins. We got exactly what we were looking for. We were a small group of 5 in total (myself and my wife, with 3 others who rounded out the group); this made for a calm, "tailored" wildlife- viewing experience. The crew, led by Elizabeth, was experienced and knowledgeable, and expertly guided us to various sites to look for critters. They carefully explained what we would be doing when we found animals to look at, and made sure we would all behave safely and respectfully of the wildlife. We were lucky enough to see a huge pod of pilot whales -- probably 12 or so -- swimming beautifully through calm oceans, and the crew expertly positioned us so that we could snorkel in the ocean while they safely approached...and dived right under us as we watched! Elizabeth knew we were especially interested in dolphins, so worked hard to find some pods: we saw a small group of bottlenosed dolphins (with whom we are allowed to get in the water with) who also swam right beneath us as we watched; we also saw a pod of spinner dolphins (protected, and therefore forbidden to swim near) which we watched from a distance. It was a perfect wildlife viewing experience.

Overall very kind and welcoming staff, experience was both educational and fun. Team took both animal encounters and snorkeler safety very seriously making for a comfortable environment for both myself and the animals.

The crew worked so hard to make sure we saw a lot of animal life, and they delivered! We saw many animals in each of the four dives. They were very welcoming and knowledgable. Safety first. They were highly respectful of the wildlife, keeping a proper distance and collecting trash.

Cam, Kay, Morri, and Devin are the best and take you on incredible adventures! I’ve been swimming with them for years and they are amazing.

As someone who went out to the middle of the ocean for the last time about 12 years ago, the boat ride with Kaiman Ocean Safari was incredible. Kayleigh the captain and Mori gave us equipment, making sure everything is tight and waterproof before even going on the boat, gave elaborated explenations about what we're about to do, how long it will take and safety guidance and instructions. As it is the ocean and it's not predictible, it took about 1.5 hours when Mori spotted Oceanic Whitetip sharks and we put on our gear. Kayleigh led the team to the water, and was very high alerted - when she noticed there were actually 3 sharks, she sent a few of us back to the boat, leaving smaller group in the water and switched us in intervals of 2. Was highly responsible for our safety and it was noticed! Later on we went back on the boat, and after a little while we spotted a group of 8 whales. Kayleigh sent us back in the water, making sure we are both getting a good view, while not disturbing the wild life, felt like a great balance - the views in both occasions were amazing. Kayleighy and Mori, thank you for a great experience, truly once in a life time thing. keep up the good work!

We went on our honeymoon in Big Island not knowing what kind of sea animals we’d see. We found the sperm whales early in our voyage and had a chance to get closer to them watching almost a dozen of them. Deven and Cam were both super helpful and nice and made sure we felt comfortable. Recommended for who love to get in the water and see things in action.

The best snorkeling tour we were on during our trip on Hawaii. We were snorkeling with a shark, group of dolphins and even with pilot whales! The crew was really nice and we felt safe. Also they really care about wildlife and avoid any situations that might be harmful for the animals. Great was also that it was only for small group of 6 people. Totally reccomend!

What an amazing day on the ocean with Morri, Cam and four other guests! We snorkeled with pilot whales, oceanic whitetip shark, bottlenose dolphins and a manta ray. Absolutely amazing to see the animals underwater and get the whole sense of them. And such a great way to do the trip in a small boat and intimate setting so you feel really close to the ocean. Very respectful way of observing the wild animals, very educational and safe. Cannot recommend enough!

I had an unforgettable adventure with Kaimana Ocean Safari, and I can’t recommend them enough! Captain Cam and safety diver Devoni were both outstanding—professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly passionate about the ocean. Their expertise made the experience both safe and exciting. My friends have been recommending Kaimana Ocean Safari for years, and now I understand why. We were lucky to have beautiful encounters with a pod of short finned pilot whales, followed by an amazing reef snorkel where we swam alongside graceful mantas. To top it all off, we ended the tour with a magical sighting of bottlenose dolphins. Throughout the trip, Captain Cam navigated seamlessly while sharing fascinating insights, and Devoni ensured everyone felt comfortable and secure in the water. If you’re looking for a well-organized, breathtaking ocean adventure with a team that truly cares, Kaimana Ocean Safari is the way to go. Huge thanks to Captain Cam and Devoni for making this such a memorable experience—I can’t wait to book another trip!

We were able to swim to a pod of sperm whales - truly a unique. Small intimate group of only six guests. Captain and dive master were great- patient and knowledgeable.

I have gone out several times with Cam and Kayleigh and they are amazing at finding the most awesome animals to see and swim with. I just swam with fin whales!!! They really care about your experience and the ocean itself. I can't wait for my next adventure and highly recommend them!!!!!

I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Morri and Cam were amazing and provided us with an experience of a life time.

One of the best boat tours ever! Only 6 guests & 3 crew, so it's very personal. They are so knowledgeable, friendly and respectful of the wildlife we encountered. We saw Oceanic White Tip Sharks, Pilot Whales, a Humpback Whale with her calf, Spinner Dolphins and a large Green Sea Turtle (Honu)! I live on the Big Island and have been out with many boat operators & this was one of my all-time favorites. I'll be back.

Very cool experience, the crew was very knowledgeable and fun. I felt safe the entire time. Would definitely do again.

The ocean safari was one of the best excursions we did while on the island. I was on the fence whether this would be worth it, or a big disappointment. It ended up being very worth it and might have ruined us on being happy with just snorkeling with fish over coral. We saw humpback whales, but they seemed hard to miss this time of year. It's illegal to swim with the humpbacks, so you will just view them from the boat at a distance. The highlight was being in the water as a pod of pilot whales swam under us and swimming with dolphins! We also swam over some manta rays by the resort, but we'd already done the night experience with them swimming right next to us. The pilot whales and dolphins were bucket list items for us. The crew - Cam and Devon - were very personable and friendly. Keep in mind they can't guarantee sightings of anything, and your experience will depend greatly on what they are able to find out in the ocean. You should be an experienced snorkeler, as you may need to quickly get into the water. They may want you to stay in a tight group, which can be tricky when you are trying to watch the wildlife underwater and trying to see where everyone's at, and trying to hear if the guide is talking.

The experience was definitely spectacular. The captain and the instructor were great. They explained everything to us with great patience and clarity. They gave us some delicious snacks, but the best of all was being able to swim and see the pilot whales in their natural environment. I also saw a shark, a manta ray and many fish. Words are not enough to describe this magnificent experience.

WOW what a special experience this was. Our safari took us out in both the near-shore and deepwater areas outside of Kona, looking for interesting animals, and when they're spotted, you get the opportunity to hop in the water and snorkel with them (from a safe respectable distance)! We saw and swam with dolphins, pelagic sharks, and manta rays. The boat is modest-size and only fits small groups, but it's quite comfortable. The crew are extremely friendly, professional, and knowledgeable, helping to keep you safe and well-informed. As long as you're not phobic of sea creatures, this trip is an extremely unique and amazing time.

Amazing experience every time. Kay, Kam, Morri, Devin, Lauri, and Shelly are the best. I’ve been to Hawaii well over 100 times - everyone adventurous needs to do this!

On the good side, small group and nice boat. First stop we saw a manta ray. After that we just boated around. In 4 hrs did 2 short stops and saw only the one manta ray. It was a pleasant boat ride but that wasn’t what we thought we would do. One error I. Judgment was to pursue a competitor to see what they were viewing only to find out it wasn’t the competitor at all but a fishing boat. At that point, too late to do any more pelagic dives. Oh well.

Excellent trip with Cam and Shelly. We saw so much - pilot whales and oceanic white tip shark while in the water (snorkeling); lots of whales and dolphins from the boat and also a hammerhead shark from the boat. Great crew, great boat, great trip - we would do it again! Favorite excursion for my 15 year old son (which says a lot!).

During my trip planning, I found myself in a dilemma between booking a night tour to snorkel with mantas or choosing the Ocean Safari with Kaimana. Ultimately, I decided on the Kaimana Ocean Safari, hoping to see a variety of marine life—and perhaps a manta ray as well. I knew there was a possibility we might not see anything, as even seasoned experts can't predict the ocean's whims. It was a small gamble I was willing to take, and I couldn't be happier with my choice! The Kaimana team was incredible—so welcoming and knowledgeable. We had the chance to swim with two different dolphin species and even spotted whales on our return to shore! It truly exceeded all my expectations and the Kaimana crew made the experience unforgettable.