Small Group Snorkeling Expedition South Kona

I wanted a bit of an upscale experience and they did not disappoint. Unfortunately waves were so high we could not complete trip. Called it and gave complete refunds after visiting one dive site. Everyone was so professional and kind. I was disappointed but I would book with them again in a heartbeat.

Kevin and his crew were amazing today. Good vibes and patience with a strong willed kiddo. We saw turtles and a manta ray, so cool. Thanks for making it a great experience!! Loved this adventure. Highly recommend!!!

Our guides were wonderful! The fish were incredible. Our snack and lunch was delicious.

We had a great S. Kona snorkel trip with the two "B"s--Captn. B and 1st mate, Brooke. We saw a lot of beautiful fish and swam by a turtle! Brooke even dove down 40' to save my snorkel when it went overboard. Captn. B was bubbly, very positive and full of history, facts and information, and most importantly, when one of the snorkelers was stung by a man of war, she was extremely professional and immediately rendered first aid. After the snorkeler said she didn't want to head back early, saying she felt okay, B had the snorkeler stay with her the rest of the trip to make sure she was okay.

Hands down, this tour was amazing! Great snorkeling sights, great lunch and snacks provided. Captain Chris and Brooke were so knowledgeable and helpful for everyone on board. The next time I visit the big island, we will do this tour again and the tour company in what they offer because they were so great. Thank you for such a great experience and making our day on the water absolutely fantastic!

We took a group of girls bachelorette party for a day on the ocean. It was such a fun experience captain Skyler brought us to the black sand beach and we saw 2 different types of whales. It was truly an amazing unforgettable experience!

An unforgettable experience from beginning to end! The private boat trip was relaxing, luxurious, and so much fun. Captain Skyler was absolutely amazing and very informative with all the history facts of the coast. The highlight was seeing humpback and two pygmy whales! Snorkeling and exploring the private beaches was also a fabulous time. Lunch and fresh fruit on board was excellent and delicious! Captain Skyler and Kourtney went above and beyond to make the day special for us. I can not recommend this trip enough!

Perfect snorkeling spot - calm waters, coral and plenty of fish - great for all ages. Loved the history stops on the return Captain Danielle & Jake were awesome.

Captain B and Ally were super friendly and very knowledgeable. Even though we couldn’t do all 3 spots to snorkel because of bad weather, they still made it enjoyable and fun. They were very kind and easy going. They made our trip great by showing us dolphins, waves, blow holes and arches in the rocks and of course beautiful fish to watch

Our guides/captain are highly experienced and knowledgeable about the sea. They are also kind and thoughtful guides watching over our safety and comfort. As a bonus we saw a family of dolphins having fun. An experience of a lifetime.

Captain B was an amazing environmentalist who had deep knowledge of the Island and the waters we snorkeled in. Our boys loved it, and the three locations were stellar. The communication, coordination and execution by this female crew was simply amazing and we cannot wait to go again. Happy Birthday B!

Mike and Allie did a great job. 3 different snorkel sites, w/ best for last. I left fast and didn’t see a QR code. The gogo dancers at a club I go to on Capitol Hill have lighted QR code cubes. I recommend-nice to get compensated. One thing-mention b4 speeding up to old farts that might have back issues to stand-there was one wave hit that was pretty severe-I’d imagine that that could throw someone’s back outta whack. Terrific job!

Fun experience. Great that it was three different snorkeling spots. Our tour guides/captain Natalie and Brooke were fun and knowledgeable about the island and its history.

Captain Natalie & Mate Chloe were excellent at guiding us on this snorkeling tour. They made sure we were comfortable with the gear and knew what to expect on every dive. Natalie freely shared her knowledge of Hawai'i, it's history and the fish we saw. They were very helpful getting us into and out of the water. The sites we visited were perfect for snorkeling and each one was different. The lunch & snacks provided were good.

Had a great time snorkeling for the first time. Our guide, Skylar was AMAZING and extremely patient. Would highly recommend this excursion.

Trip was a lot of fun! Skylar was a great guide throughout the day, very knowledgable . It was fun to go to multiple spots and to hear about the history.

Captain Mike and Courtney were fantastic hosts. We loved being in a smaller group and being in a zodiac boat. Both were professional and cheerful and you could tell they love their job. Mike educated us and took us to locations that were not overly crowded. two out of the three places, we were the only boat. Obviously at Captain Cook’s Cove. There were other boats, but still was not overly crowded. Courtney cut up fresh fruit to have a snack. Snacks waited on his hand and foot and took care of everything. The food was good and fresh. We got more than our moneys worth on this trip. highly highly recommend this tour.

One of the most fun things we have done in over 30 visits to Hawaii. Everything is first rate - the captain/mate/support people, equipment, snorkeling, and the boat ride. We will do it again.

This was the highlight of my Hawaii trip. Absolutely wonderful in every respect. Captain and crew were excellent, boat was perfect, sites gorgeous. I highly recommend!

Such a great tour! We chose this because it limited the size of the group and they went to 3 snorkel locations. It is also a great way to see South Kona traveling by boat! We went to 2 step, a secret spot of theirs and finally Captain Cook monument area. After the first snorkel they provide snacks and after the last we had lunch which was a very good sandwich which you pre order, apples, carrot sticks, chips and cookies and non alcoholic drinks. A shout out to our all female crew and captain who provided history and all kinds of information as we traveled. The snorkeling surpassed all of our expectations and we snorkel a lot but never in Hawaii before. We also saw Spinner Dolphins at Captain Cook! A tour not to be missed. We would do this again and with Sea Quest.

Just got back from snorkeling and I’m so glad we booked the excursion! Natalie was our captain and she was great! We stopped at three different spots and they were all wonderful. Our group had 6 ppl total, so it was the perfect size. I would highly recommend!

Awesome day Eli took great care of us the. Captain Was very informative & told great stories. Loved this trip. Next is Manta Rays. Thanks guys

MJ and Capono were great guides, and me and my family had a fantastic tour. We saw turtles, octopus, muray eels and tons of beatifull hawaiian nature. The trip was legendary! Nice to be on a small group, where we could get stories about the areas history and geological heritage from our super crew!

Very helpful guide who took us to three great spots in a Rigid hull Inflatable Boat (RIB) with twin 250 HP outboards. 45 minutes at each spot. Good ladder and handholds for easy water exit. Slide-in or back roll-in entry. Lots of snacks. Very good sandwiches for lunch. This trip much farther south than other trips and we stopped at several sea caves on the way back.

Small group tour was worth it. Our hosts MJ and Carolina made it a very memorable trip. Learned about some local history, went to three great snorkeling spots. Lunch absolutely hit the spot!

No frills adventure snorkelling. Taylor and Captain MJ were excellent. Very attentive. Equipment was good quality. Lunch and another snacks were simple but yummy. I highly recommend bringing or hiring a wetsuit. It does get a bit cold, especially when speed rafting between snorkel spots. Excellent snorkelling experience.

Great attentive crew, the best snorkeling I’ve ever experienced. They went out of the way to make sure the day was unique.

Super grateful! Family owned business. They really care. Took my 10, 12 and 15 year old. For a full 5 hour snorkeling tour. Nobody was rushed. The group was small. And the experience was epic. We even saw a monk seal. And we had a school of porpoises chasing our boat. Epic. Thank you!

I joined Sea Quest Hawaii’s South Kona tour again this April, after experiencing their deluxe tour last July. That first trip was memorable in its own way, but this time—returning solo—the experience meant even more. Sea Quest continues to deliver outstanding quality and heart. The tour was just as well-run and thoughtfully guided as before, but I found myself enjoying the sea and snorkeling even more deeply this time. Captain Natalie is simply incredible. I’m honestly a huge fan—just seeing her on the boat, I knew it would be a wonderful trip. Her calm energy, humor, and genuine warmth make it easy to relax and enjoy the experience fully. I've been spreading the word—online and in real life—about how amazing and mentally grounding it is to be on the same boat with her. As long as Natalie is with Sea Quest, I know I’ll be back. Our new MC (I wish I remembered his name correctly!) was also lovely—cute, kind, and so considerate. I told him I was solo and not super confident in the water, and he gently helped me into the ocean and kept a quiet, watchful eye on me. Because of that support, I slowly built confidence—starting with a snorkel vest, then shedding it, and finally even swimming without the noodles. There were only three snorkel stops, but each one felt meaningful and safe in a way I hadn’t expected. It’s rare to return to a tour and feel like the second time is even more rewarding—but that’s exactly what happened. Sea Quest Hawaii isn’t just a well-run company—they’re a thoughtful team that helps people explore not only the sea, but their own sense of comfort and courage.

What a great way to see the island and get out of the busy downtown tourist area. So much to see. Marlon rocked it. He was knowledgeable, professional and courteous to all.

We had an awesome time with captain Brendon, Kaitlyn, and Sam. They took us to 3 great reef sites for snorkeling. It was so beautiful in the sea. All 3 folks were very kind, helpful, and attentive. They learned each one of our names. They gave us fruit and drinks early on and a nice box lunch later. They had several brief stops along the shore at points of interest. A very great day! Thanks guys!

Great snorkel spots with lots to see. B and Tayvn were great. Loved the history And additional stops at sea caves. Would recommend.

We have done the expedition snorkel at least half a dozen times. Best boat (comfortable and FAST), best group size (small), three spots with lots of time, wonderful professional crew, even really good lunch and snacks. HIGHLY RECOMNENDED.

(Note: we would give this 4.5 stars if this was an option.) My wife and I did the South Kona Snorkel Expedition, which is three sites covered over roughly five hours. Our guides, Kevin and Kaitlyn, were great - informative, attentive when it came to guests’ safety, and friendly - and they went out of their way to create a positive experience. The zodiac raft was comfortable, and everyone on-board seemed to enjoy the ride. We appreciated stopping to see some caves and lava tubes. Like others, we would have liked more time and effort to spot dolphins or whales, especially given the price paid. The snorkeling was fine. The spots were nice and had a decent variety of fish. We were astonished with the amount of coral bleaching and decay, though, which isn’t SQ’s fault. We had visited Big Island in 2006, so we remembered the reefs, such as Kealakekua Bay, being brighter and full of life, including turtles and clown fish. Neither were to be found at KB this time. I did spot a black-tipped reef shark, and we saw a turtle at the second site, and those were the highlights. A very good trip, nonetheless, and we enjoyed ourselves.

What a blast this tour was! Our captain Skylar and crew MJ were so incredibly welcoming and helpful! The reefs were gorgeous, and it was amazing to see all of the beautiful fish and wildlife. The captain cook monument was so cool, and the information that the captain gave us about the area was so interesting and really helped grow our knowledge of the culture that makes Hawaii so special. The boat was well cared for, and it honestly looked brand new. We so enjoyed all of our time with sea quest it was such a great day.

Very efficiently run and fun filled tour. Took us to 3 great snorkeling spots, the last at Cooks monument far surpassing the other two. Little side jaunts to caves, lava tubes and a higher speed adventure ride. They provided lunch, water and the tour guides gave great info and it made for a great day in Kona. You’re riding oboard a rib boat type vessel and be aware it can get bumpy. We saw a huge pod of spinner dolphins that were really showing off and also e joyed several whale sightings. The jostling about was more than worth it. We were cruise passengers on the Pride of America and ,tendered to shore. I missed this factoid until the night before so was hustling making last minute arrangements for a taxi the 20 minutes to the location. My error but Sea quest group wouldn’t hurt themselves by making this clear in the description on their Trip Advisor info. Highly recommend!

Fun day snorkeling at three different locations. Each unique and clear water. Great variety of fish. Skylar and Taylor did a great job hosting us. Cool seeing whales and dolphins as a bonus.

The boat was SO fun and sporty. Our Captain (Robbie, I believe) was so calm, patient, informative, and fun. You should make sure to be comfortable on the open water in a small boat to enjoy this trip. My kids are, but I would be cautious about anyone not comfortable in the water. Highly recommend this small group trip- it was so much better than a large boat.

We absolutely loved our Expedition South Kona snorkeling tour with Sea Quest Hawaii. Captain Brendan and crew MJ were fantastic! Everything was very organized and never felt rushed or chaotic. We enjoyed 3 terrific snorkel sites and lunch on the boat. The first two sites were not at all crowded so there was plenty of room to explore as we snorkeled. The last site - at the Captain Cook Monument was crowded, but still very beautiful for snorkeling. The highlight of the trip was seeing the spinner dolphins playing in the bay and jumping by our boat. The smaller boat allowed us to get close to shore and see many caves, lava tubes and rock formations that the bigger boats can't go to. The company was also very helpful with regards to our daughter's severe food allergies. I highly recommend Sea Quest and we will definitely return on a future visit to the Big Island!

We went on the South Kona Snorkel Expedition in late November; Kieran was our guide. The trip was outstanding! We saw see turtles at there "exclusive" location and were almost the only people there. They provided all of our equipment including masks with corrective lenses which make a huge difference for my wife and I -- we are both nearsighted. Our guide did a great job helping my wife feel comfortable snorkeling. Though a strong swimmer here last snorkeling experience a few years ago was not great. This time she was comfortable in the water within the first few minutes. Kieran also knew a ton about the local history, biology and geology which added a lot to the tour. The pace of the 5-hour trip was excellent. We had at least 30 minutes of snorkel time at each stop and SeaQuest provided plenty of food and drinks. One last note: the boat ride back was getting a little bumpy because some swells were coming up. One person on the boat with us starting feeling sea sick and Kieran did a great job minimizing the ups and downs. His experience and familiarity with the area was obvious.

Loved the south Kona snorkel experience! Well worth the money and the time. You get to snorkel 3 different very beautiful locations with a very small group. Only the last snorkel spot had a lot of other boats, otherwise you were just snorkeling with your small group of 11-12 people. Captain Steve and Eli were great, very knowledgeable. The caves along the way were stunning. Food provided was also tasty!! Highly recommend!

A fantastic trip! Nat & B were our guides and they were absolutely wonderful! Lunch and snacks/drinks were provided and lots of great information about Hawaii and the history!

We snorkeled with Captain Kieren in late November. Our group was myself, my husband and our two 11 yo sons. We are all beginners when it comes to snorkeling, and I’m certain we have now set an unmatchable bar for all future snorkel experiences. I chose this excursion specifically because it left a little later in the morning than other tours. The 8:30 am departure time was perfect for us, since we were on a sleeping schedule of roughly 10 pm - 7 am, so plenty of time to grab breakfast at a coffee shop nearby and make our way to the harbor. It was very easy to park and walk to the check-in area. There are restrooms (state park-like style) near the check-in location. We rented wet suits for the group and I highly recommend this. They help you float more easily and in late November the water was a little chilly if you’re more sensitive to the cold. With the wet suits we had no issues jumping right in and adjusting. None of us had ever worn wet suits before but the staff were very helpful in working with us to get the sizes right. They also have prescription goggles available on site as well - my husband ordered a pair for $75 before we traveled to Hawaii and thought they were well worth it since we plan to snorkel on future vacations, but if you don’t want to go that route they have several sets available in a range of prescriptions. Once we boarded there was a short safety review as we got underway. Before we even left the harbor we saw a couple of pods of dolphins who feed offshore and then hit “rest mode” in the mornings in the harbor. Within five minutes we were out on the ocean heading to the first snorkel spot. I have to say this was so much more than just snorkeling. Captain Kieren shared a lot of information about the history of Hawaii and the Kona coast as we traveled between stops. We learned more from him during the tour than the podcasts and other research we had done before the trip. He was very knowledgeable about the ocean, various sea life we were seeing (he also runs whale watching excursions), the traditions and history of Hawaii, the coastline itself, and took the time to get to know our itinerary for our whole visit and recommended some great hikes and local poke spots to try. The three snorkeling spots were quite different from each other. The first was a reef which depths to 200 feet, and felt like we were on top of some underground coral mountains. The second location was farthest south, deserted and much deeper. We saw a sea turtle there. We finished in the famous bay where Captain Cook met his end, which is a protected marine sanctuary. It was crowded but still plenty of room for us to explore. This was our kids’ favorite spot because of the variety of fish and the two giant eels we saw. On the way back we were fortunate to see a humpback whale, which Captain Kieren spotted pretty far off since he is so experienced with whale watching. He detoured us close to the whale so we could watch it for a few minutes, even though it meant getting back a little later than the scheduled end time. He also took the time to show us some sea caves, the sleeping Pele rock formation and the formation that inspired Moana. Finally, after every snorkel stop (35-45 minutes in each place) we had amazing fresh fruit and juice waiting back on the boat, in addition to the provided lunch. I can’t give this tour a high enough rating. Don’t overthink it, just book this one!

I just got back from the South Kona Snorkel tour with SeaQuest, and it was an absolutely amazing experience! Captain Skyler went above and beyond to make our day unforgettable. From the moment we stepped on the boat, his energy and enthusiasm were infectious. Our first stop was at Two Steps, where the snorkeling was fantastic! The water was crystal clear, and we saw an incredible variety of fish and marine life. Skyler made sure we had all the gear we needed and gave us great tips on where to find the best spots. The “secret spot” was a delightful surprise. It felt like a hidden gem, and the tranquility of the area made it a perfect place to explore underwater. Skyler knew just where to take us for the best snorkeling experience. We saw a couple of sea turtles, and some folks got to see a whale! Next, we headed to Kealakekua Bay, which was absolutely stunning. The landscape was breathtaking, and the snorkeling there was out of this world. Swimming alongside vibrant coral abundant sea life was the highlight of my trip! Throughout the tour, Skyler shared interesting stories about the region and its history, making the trip even more enjoyable. I highly recommend SeaQuest’s South Kona Snorkel tour for anyone looking to explore the beautiful underwater world of Hawaii. You won’t be disappointed! Thank you, Skyler, for a fantastic day on the water!

MJ and Kevin were so kind and patient with my husband during the snorkel trip. He was able to get in and see a fish. Although he spent the majority of time on the boat, he enjoyed the trip. The spots we stopped had so many fish! Kevin’s commentary was excellent. Thank you for a memory that will not be forgotten.

Very well organized, small group, nice snorkeling Spots, nice Lunch, Great Crew on Board. The speedy ride was Fun too

What a great and memorable snorkeling experience! We loved every minute of our expedition! All three locations were beautiful and had tons of fish and coral. We were lucky enough to see both spinner and bottlenose dolphins on our way to the different snorkel locations. Captain Brendan was great and provided us with the history of the locations we visited and made sure to stop whenever we saw wildlife so we could all get a good look. He also provided us with snacks and drinks after the first location, and with lunch after the last. Overall, I highly recommend this expedition if you are visiting the Big Island. We can’t wait to visit again and book another trip with Sea Quest Hawaii!

Awesome snorkeling experience! All 3 snorkeling spots were magical. A must do when visiting the Big Island.

Great snorkeling tour! We liked it so much we did it twice during our stay on the Big Island. Captain Steve and Captain Natalie were both fantastic and Libby too! We saw lots of fish, a sea turtle, moray eels, pilot whales and spinner dolphins in addition to sea caves, etc. Would highly recommend this expedition tour!