Kona’s Best Morning Snorkel: Captain Cook & Kealakekua Bay

We had an amazing experience yesterday on the Fairwind! I have been many times but I brought 2 guest from New York with me. First, we saw dolphins right away which was great! Breakfast was delicious and our captain and crew were fabulous! The water was so warm and the bay was extremely calm and clear. Saw tons of fish! Went down the slide and jumped off the high dive too! Lunch was also delicious and their ginger soda is to die for! Try it! On the way back you get a delicious cookie and/ or a mai tai, or both! I call it the Ritz Carlton of snorkel boats! Highly recommend!

Fantastic day with our grandsons and our kids on a trip of a lifetime for all of us! The water was perfect. The sightseeing was amazing and the crew pointed out all the marine life for the kids to enjoy. Felt super safe throughout the trip.

Second time on the Hula Kai and it was another lovely experience. Crew was awesome and kept us safe and well fed. (Food was really yummy)

We took three grandsons and they absolutely loved it. The captain and crew were great and the snorkeling was beautiful. Would do it several times a week if I could. Highly recommended! The new purple lavender coral was gorgeous and watching the little fish circle each other and play was so cute. Also saw a big eel!

Great tour for all ages, easy entry boat, easy to get on and off boat when snorkeling. Food was delicious! Staff was outstanding, it was a fantastic day.

Plan to get there a bit early as parking is along shoulder of road and it can get busy. Plan to walk a bit to get to the boat. We loved the vegan breakfast and lunch. If that is not your thing, have some breakfast ahead of time otherwise you will be hungry as it is a long day. The first location was quiet and it was really lovely. When I got tired of snorkeling, I stored my gear and then just went swimming. We went to the Cook monument second and it was very busy there with multiple boats and rafts and snorkelers--I did not want to get kicked in the head. Bring something warm/dry as you will be cold coming back. The crew was very nice.

Awesome , wonderful knowledgable crew. Very safe! Best water fun for the whole family all ages. Thank you.

Lovely boat and crew on the Hula Kai

Best snorkeling trip ever! We’ve done several trips in the past and this is far the best one we’ve ever been on! The crew and the captain were very informative, helpful, and friendly, and would like to give a special shout out to Lily. She was amazing with the children and the rest of the people on board. I would highly recommend this snorkeling trip for anyone who comes to the big island. For the person that gave the negative review two days ago, we can’t understand the negativity. The only thing I would suggest to anyone thinking about this snorkel trip is to adrive early because parking is very llimited. We found the trip perfect in every way!

Our trip started off very “exciting” with the staff saving my son’s life after he fell into the water getting onto the boat. That alone deserves more than 5 stars! The staff were all extremely helpful, sweet, accommodating, and knowledgable! They provided us with great food, all of the snorkeling amenities that a family could need, and fun facts about the island! The snorkeling was such a fun experience and we saw lots of sea life. Highly recommend for families and anyone wanting to have a memorable time!

Amazing tour and crew. I cannot say enough good things about the captain and his team. They were so welcoming, friendly and kept us entertained throughout the experience. The captain went out of his way to chat with all the visitors. They accommodated my non-swimmer kid and provided him with all kinds of floatation devices. We all had the best time! I highly recommend this trip to anyone.

Ride over was fine. Captain and crew very nice. Nice touch was a Hawaiian blessing when we were leaving the cove. We’ve done this cruise several times before, but this was a big disappointment… The boat has seen better days. One of the starboard railings leading down to the water was broken and they were trying to make it work by putting a fin to hold up the hand rail. This is violation of Coast Guard regulations and Marine negligence. This breaches their obligation to protect passengers. The food was disgusting and inedible. It’s all vegetarian and the lunch most people threw out or didn’t eat it all. Chick pea and bbq jack fruit??? … if you go on this, expect just the basics and bring your own food. Also nothing to drink except water until lunch and then only full sugar sodas. Would not recommend this again. Sad as it used to be lovely and first visit was in 1999. Been back 3 other times so I brought my children and grandchildren. But never again!

Do this! I have done a few other snorkel trips—one just last year in Maui. This was fun for the whole family, ten of us ages two-66. We all agreed it was a highlight of our trip. Well worth it! The crew, food, snorkeling, slide and high jump were outstanding

Just a wonderful experience overall - the staff were friendly and professional and the snorkeling experience was one of the best I've ever had - calm waters with such diversity of fish and coral! Not over-crowded, we were able to sit together as a family on the boat and had plenty of space to explore in the water. My youngest has been a little nervous on previous snorkeling trips but he felt very comfortable throughout and even went on the slide. I personally appreciated the plant-based meals (my kids disagreed but did eat everything...) and the emphasis on sustainability throughout the experience really resonated with me. Great family experience, would absolutely do it again!

Have done this trip with Fair Winds several times in the past. Never disappointed. Crew was very attentive and accommodating. The large catamaran is spacious and comfortable. In my opinion this is the best snorkel experience available.

We had a fantastic day with Fair Wind cruises! The snorkelling was fun & easy with kids. Our kids were having a blast on the slides & high jump until the very last warning that we were leaving! Yummy banana bread for breakfast. Great hosts! Biggest boat & best time. 👌 🤩

Our boat did not dock at Kona due to the hurricane. This company refused to refund my money so I lost $387. Do not book with this company if you are on a cruise ship because they are one of the only companies in Kona that will not refund your money if the boat does not dock

Always a beautiful experience on FairWind II!! We ended up coming before a storm coming in and felt completely safe and was such a nice calm bay! I saw a big eel, so awesome. This has been at least the 12th time I've been on this tour and just amazing. Great food and snorkel trip!! I always recommend this trip to my out of town guests!! Mahalo for a nice discount to locals like me! 👍🏼 😊

Had an absolute wonderful day! Weather was perfect, crew was fabulous, food was exceptional! Would do it again!!!

This excursion is a must for your Hawaiian vacation. Crew is super friendly, good food, and great mix of education and fun! Some interesting facts are shared about the area and landscape. While adding in fun like high fives, slides, and of course snorkeling! I booked it once and would absolutely book again! 1000/10!

5-Star super chill snorkel at beautiful Kealakekua Bay with delicious breakfast and lunch with snacks! The crew took such good care of us and my 74-year old mama. Top-notch service, definitely recommend! P.S. we saw dolphins! 🐬🌊💕

What an amazing day! My husband booked this for my birthday and we had the best time. Process was easy to book and get on the boat. Food was delicious! Great commentary on sites along the way. Beautiful reef to snorkel at with helpful guides for mask, fins, etc. Loved the whole day and experience!

Fantastic tour! Great boat, food, and drinks! The snorkeling was absolutely incredible and I appreciated Captain Mauricio’s engaging and funny commentary about what we were seeing on the coastline or in the water - we were lucky enough to see dolphins! The whole crew was so nice and competent. I got sea sick, but I’m very very susceptible to it (I’ve gotten seasick surfing). Even with that I’d do the tour again, totally worth it. None of the rest of my family got seasick (even my sister who is also pretty motion sensitive was fine) and all had a great time. Loved the free sunscreen as well!

This tour was awesome! Our original booking got canceled due to surf and it was so easy to reschedule with them. We got to the area about 30 mins early to find parking and make our way to check in. The boat was said to be full but we had plenty of room on board. The staff was amazing, captain told us facts around the island as we road out to captain cooks, and the rest of the crew were more than happy to help with anything. Breakfast and lunch were handed out around the boat. I really appreciate how much detail went into this trip, my friend and I had a great time snorkeling and hanging out on the boat.

Grand Adventure. Reasonable price. Great crew. Easy access on/off the nice boat. Sights. Sounds. Points of Interest. Dolphins. Fun slide off the boat. Warm water. Reef. Many many fish species. Drinks. Chips & Dip. Mahalo.

Had the best time Weather was beautiful, sea calm, crew. And captain so helpful Snorkeling was so fun Live this trip

The crew and the experience was absolutely fabulous! Saw a manta , dolphins and beautiful tropical fish. I also enjoyed the nice lunch.

Great views along a fun boat ride that includes interesting stories on history and culture. When you get to the snorkeling bay it is truly amazing with wonderful service as well. All sorts of fish and wildlife, knowledgeable and helpful staff and great food! 100% would recommend and will do again.

Amazing experience, highly recommend. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Fun, comfortable boat ride. Tons of gorgeous fish. We also saw dolphins and flying fish! We appreciate Fair Winds’ values of environmental sustainability and animal welfare.

Such a fun day on the water. Staff is very friendly and funny. The slide was a fun bonus. Definitely worth the money

Excellent trip for the price! On time, professional, everything went smoothly with ample time for snorkeling, snuba diving, playing in the water, eating and relaxing. Crew was polite, captain added personality. I would give 4.5 stars if an option. We’ve been on 2 other snorkel trips - the only downsides were the food (I knew in advance), the crew was professional and cordial but not very personable (this one aspect can add so much to the experience), and specifically with the dive instructor - it seemed like he had done it so many times that he was on autopilot. The overall, an excellent trip.

It was a lot of fun and anyone looking to spend a great time on the water and being able to see a ton of different sea life will love this.

Great experience and a great time. I’d be a 5 stars review if they served regular food and not plant based food!

We have been snorkeling numerous times and this trip was probably the best all around snorkel experience. The crew was chill in the best way. They were informative, accomodating, and funny (dry humor that the adults understood; the kids not so much). Our family enjoyed the delicious food, great snorkeling, and crews committment to sustainability. Thank you for a wonderful adventure.

Professional friendly staff and great location. Kids loved jumping off the boat and the water slide. Son in law said Snuba great except guide was a little “controlling “. One tip: go back out snorkeling after lunch. Most of the people are gone and lots more fish come out.

We also went on the night snorkeling with Manta Rays with Fair Winds. They offer a discount for booking both and we used that. They were excellent and the port they use was very close to where we were staying in South Kona. Excellent crew. Excellent boats. All of the equipment they used was top notch. They had prescription masks available. Teens loved the slides and diving boards on the daytime snorkeling boat. Great food. I’d book with them again anytime.

This tour is a must do!!! Especially if you enjoy snorkeling. Crystal clear water and saw lots of fish, including an octopus. The boat is very clean and seats are well shaded. The Staff is very friendly and helpful. This cruise included breakfast and lunch. The food was so fresh and delicious! We had an amazing time! Will do it again.

Wonderful experience. The service was prompt, the snacks were good and the snorkeling was great. Saw lots of fish and a Moray eel. The guides were great; very informative and helpful. The presentation by Derek about the fish after we snorkeled was very appreciated. Definitely recommend.

Had a great time. My grandson enjoyed the slides and diving areas as well as all the different fish we saw. Priced good.

Wow what an amazing experience! Very well organized and executed. We had a family of 10 ranging in ages from 3 to almost 80 and they had resources on boat for everyone to enjoy themselves. My children got to see so many fish while riding comfortably on a boogie board with viewer and my mom who cannot swim was able to use an inner tube and a viewer to also explore the ocean. The staff were very patient and helpful. Thank you for an amazing experience!!

I highly recommend this snorkel trip - excellent guides and captain, great food, friendly and supportive staff. Only drawback was recommended arrival time approx an hour before boarding...lots of waiting around in heat/sun. Once we got going though, a great day!

Our snorkel tour was one of the best experiences of our trip to Hawaii. We are a three-generation family, from 3 years old to 73 years old, and we all thought it was fabulous. The boat was well-equipped with snorkel gear, the staff was friendly and helpful, the food was delicious....everything was perfect. The boat was full of guests, but not so many that it felt crowded. The bathrooms were very clean, and the boat provided plenty of shade when we needed to get out of the sun. The amount of time that was allocated for actual snorkeling was perfect -- everyone was tired and ready to go back to the hotel. We highly recommend this tour!

What a wonderful experience with my daughters! The captain and the crew were informative, delightful and attentive. The breakfast and lunch served was delicious. The views and the snorkeling were just amazing. Highly recommend this excursion to couples or families. I'd love to come back for the nighttime with the manta rays, another time.

All I knew is I wanted guidance while snorkeling and this tour seemed like a good fit. But it was so much more than that and I would do this experience over and over again as it is a great value for the admission fee. The guides told me it was a sold out tour, but the boat did not seem crowded at all and there was plenty of seating and places to leave our gear without bumping into others. On the cruise out some dolphins joined us and the crew slowed down so we could all see and they could tell us about them. They graciously passed out a delicious oatmeal breakfast as we traveled to Kealakekua. When we arrived the captain told us about the history of the bay and Captain Cook and before we stopped to park we took a silent moment to pay our respects to the land and to the people who came before. The snorkeling was fantastic and we saw at least 20 kinds of fish AND more dolphins. We were able to break for lunch when we wanted and the lunch was, again, delicious and the portions generous. I did not feel I had to wait too long before getting in the water again. For the kids, there were slides and inner tubes and looky-boards. For my 79 year old Mom it was so easy to walk down the steps, sit to put on fins, and just glide into the water - no jumping or diving in. The whole morning was about 4 hours and it felt like just the right amount of time. And on the way back you can buy a Mai Tai to put an exclamation point on the morning. So, yes, you should invest your vacation budget in this experience. Bring your underwater cameras and a towel. They have everything else: snorkel masks & fins, sunscreen, and floats. Enjoy!

Absolutely the best snorkel adventure. The crew was very accommodating and fun. They provided great service always with a smile. The boat was clean and very comfortable with lots of shade from the hot sun. The gear they provide is top notch and allows even those who cannot swim to get in the water and enjoy the fascinating reef life.

Awesome tour, great boats, and crew! We researched a few different companies, but ultimately went with Fairwinds - it was absolutely the right choice! The crew is knowledgeable and helpful, the boat was clean, they served a great breakfast and lunch. We saw amazing fish and dolphins. The boat was also positioned in one of the best parts of the Bay. The boat has two waterslides, which we all tried and loved! Highly recommend, looking forward to doing it again!

This trip is an absolute must do. The crew was extremely friendly and helpful to everyone on board. The breakfast and lunch were both great. The snorkeling was really great with lots of marine life to see. But what I thought was truly awesome was how family friendly this cruise was. Even though we did not have children with us, we couldn't help notice how great the crew was with the kids on board. They had a diving platform, two slides, and several different types of floatation devices available which gave anyone the opportunity to enjoy the water. The cruise out had stunning views of the coastline. It was such an enjoyable morning trip. I highly recommend this trip, especially if you are here with children.

Wonderful tour. Amazing guides. Delicious food. Knowledgeable and accommodating crew. Great spot. Sights were incredible! Pod of porpoises came by and hung out with us showing off their tricks. It was WILD! Super cool.

The Hula Kai vessel and crew took great care of our family - ages 7 to 82. Loved the smaller tour experience and enjoyed the amenities of the boat. We didn't have the perfect weather and still had an amazing time. The plant-based breakfast and lunch were amazing and such a treat. Highly recommend!