We love seeing and snorkeling near turtles in Hawaii and for an upcoming trip to Oahu we weren't sure we were going to be able to see them. I read about the excursions off Waikiki that all but promised seeing Honu. I did some research and chose to book with Captain Max Boat Tours and their Turtle Canyon Snorkel. I read reviews and what really attracted me to this outfitter was the fact they ran semi-private boat tours with only 6 guests. Correspondence (email) leading up to the excursion was clear and helpful. We arrived a few minutes early and visited their small shop while checking in. We waited just a few minutes and then were walked over to their boat dock, meeting both the guide, Sophia and the boat captain, Stephanie. They gave us safety information and prepared us for the short boat ride out to "Turtle Canyon". Our craft was a zodiac type inflatable raft with a mounted seats and a windscreen for the captain. We glided out to the snorkel zone with Waikiki beach before us, a grand ocean view of this famous beach. Sophie helped the other guests get their snorkel gear (included in the price) except for us - we bring our own snorkel equipment. We put in the water and after all guests were in, Sophia called in the direction she was leading us. On the way over we swam through schools of fish. This was an awesome experience we did not expect - we snorkel a lot and love seeing the marine life. We learned that some outfitters feed the fish out here and so they stick around instead of swim away, which we're used to experiencing. In about 20 feet of water our guide pointed out several turtles on the bottom. Lucky for us, one of them swap up for air - and stayed near the and stayed near the surface for quite a few minutes (longer than we usually see) which allowed us to get a great view of this beautiful creature (all the while, maintaining a safe distance to protect the turtle). Sophia led us to two other spots nearby, seeing fish on the reef below and several more turtles. Once again we were fortunate to have another turtle swim up to the surface for a few breaths. I'm very glad we chose Captain Max as some of the other outfitters that bring larger groups would have been a very different experience with a group clamoring for views of the few turtles that were out there. Our guide was knowledgeable, approachable, and friendly - and ensured we were all safe (and the marine life were also protected). On our way back to shore we were treated to another great view of Oahu, with Waikiki and Honolulu in the foreground and the mountains behind. Thanks Sophie and Captain Stephanie for a memorable excursion! NOTE: We know that early in the morning is generally the best time to snorkel as the water tends to be calmer, visibility better and fish ore active. We had a 930 start but next time would be the early time (730) as I learned there are even fewer other outfitters out on the water at that time. read more

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So glad we went with Capt Max! The small group was key to the best dive. Wiki wiki boat got us to dive spot fast for more dive time. Great crew helped and made the experience awesome. Thanks Again! Will be back soon! read more

Captain Max Boat Tours - Turtle canyon did not disappoint! Lots of fish and turtles. - Boat Tours Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

OMG! This was such an amazing experience! Alex and Jordan was our awesome host and guide. Since it was a small boat that only fits 6 guests it ended up being a private tour out to turtle canyon. It was an absolutely gorgeous day and a smooth 15-20 minute boat ride out. Water was clear with visability down 15 feet clear and if you're at the water surface while snorkeling it was visible all the way to the bottom (30 feet). Snorkeling gear was included in this tour and the water was warm! Before going into the water we were already greeted by a sea turtle. Jumping into the water we saw even more sea turtles of varying size and an array of fish ranging from the humuhumu ele' ele (black trigger fish) humuhununukunukuapua'a (Hawaiian state fish), parrot fish, trumpet fish among others. There was an octopus that our guide Jordan tried coaxing out of the rocks and we got to hold a fairly good size sea urchin. 45-60 minutes in the water with the sea turtles with nothing but the sun, fish, turtles and hearing the sound of myself breathing was such a relaxing and fun experience. The ride back was nice and warm with the breeze and wind in my hair and they provided us with juice and water. Was it worth it? Definitely! Will we do this again when we are back visiting? Absolutely! This is a must do experience when visiting the island of Oahu in Waikiki! read more

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I booked the Turtle Canyon snorkel tour with 5 of my friends and family. It was wonderful from start to finish. I was very happy with the online booking process and the thoroughness of the pre-tour information letter. We found parking and the boat slip with no problems and were completely prepared on where to meet, what to wear and bring on the boat. This prep ensured an on-time departure and maximizing the time-in-the-water of this tour. The boat was well-equipped with our choice of two kinds of (optional) flotation devices; comfortable, covered seating and lots of places to hang on. Our boat captain, Eric, was competent, friendly and gave very good safety briefings about the boat, weather/wind/ocean currents and personal conduct during the dive. Our dive guide and photographer Sophia was, above all, an excellent skin diver and group leader, knowledgable about the animals we encountered (turtles, variety of fish, puffer fish, eagle rays). She took an amazing number of photos and videos, making sure to get some of every member of our group. A super souvenir of the experience! A very big mahalo to Capt Max Tours and all of the crew. read more

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Had a lot of fun! I don't remember their names too well, but the two women who took us on the tour were really funny and informative! They made sure we were safe and having a good time. I recommend this place! read more

Captain Donovan and Sophia were fantastic! We saw so many turtles - what a rush! Highlight of our entire trip.

Highly suggest these guys! Booked a tour with them on our most recent trip and I have no regrets! Small group of people, max 6, we only had 4. Trip out to the spot was smooth and a great location. We went early and there weren't any other charters out yet (highly recommend early). Max and Santiago were super friendly and accommodating to everyone on the boat. Santiago was our guide in the water showing us cools spots, pointing out turtles, and even educating us on the different types of fish. They also offer a picture package, really happy I got it. Got some really awesome pictures. Would definitely recommend booking with them, solid crew! read more

Captain Max Boat Tours - Boat Tours Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I can't get over how amazing this experience was! I was afraid to snorkel but they made it so easy and the small group made it more intimate. Swimming with the fish and turtles is life changing! I think snorkeling is my new favorite hobby and I highly recommend Captain Max if you're in Oahu! read more

Captain Max Boat Tours - Boat Tours Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Garrett and Santiago were fantastic guides on our boat tour with this company. We got to see several turtles and SO many fish while we were snorkeling all the way out in the middle of the ocean by Waikiki. They had lots of water and juice for us and they offered fresh pieces of pineapple on the way back! Our group actually had a medical emergency and the way that Garrett and Santiago handled it was exceptional, and we all really appreciated their care & willingness to act when we needed it most! You should definitely book with Captain Max Boat Tours!!! read more

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Great experience. Fun energy. Learned a lot Beautiful scenery. Great vibes. Enron and. Captain Stephanie were great

Absolutely amazing tour! We love our guide, Sophia. She knows all the good spots to see turtles and other wildlife. It's worth ever penny and we can't recommend them enough. read more

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I am so glad we booked a semi private snorkel boat tour with Captain Max! My kids ages 8, 10, and 12 really enjoyed it! The captain ( I apologize, but I forgot his name ) and Santiago were great! Santiago was an excellent tour guide! We got to see lots of turtles and fish as well as a sea urchin! I thought it was really awesome how they take pictures of the whole snorkeling experience and offer a package of pictures for purchase to make it truly memorable. My 8 year old daughter enjoyed it so much that she asked to go again! read more

We had a great time on our snorkeling adventure! Alex and Santiago took very good care of us and got us back on shore safe and sound. We got to see some awesome dolphins on the way then there were so many fish and turtles to swim with when we were snorkeling. Santiago even offered to take some photos and videos of us during the trip for a good price and we got a bunch of great pictures! I would definitely recommend and I can't wait to go back and do it again. Thanks Captain Max! read more

Captain Max Boat Tours - We got a close-up view of some dolphins! - Boat Tours Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Booked a snorkeling with turtles trip with Captain Max and Sophia. It was amazing. Very interactive and fun. Not overcrowded like the other boats. Ours felt like a private tour!Definitely recommend getting the GoPro photos added to your package. Photos turned out amazing. Thank you Max and Sophia!! read more

Captain Max Boat Tours - Snorkeling with turtles - Boat Tours Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Once again Captain Max Tours was amazing. We saw Whales, Dolphins, Turtles, and beautiful Fish. Garrett and Kyla are always amazing and go above and beyond on the tour. Kyla dove and found us a Sea Urchin. Lots of Turtles, beautiful Dolphins. The two always make the trip a delight and attentive to exploring. Thank you Captain Max and Crew, Garrett and Kyla! P.S. Thank you for the fresh cut Pineapple and Juice! read more

Captain Max Boat Tours - Garrett and the Helm! - Boat Tours Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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This review isn't about a tour with captain Max. It's even more interesting than that, sort of. ;) My husband thought it was a good idea to swim out to turtle island from Waikiki beach. It was a long swim, maybe a mile or more. Anyhow, long story short, he couldn't swim back and captain max and his crew came to our rescue. They had a family on the boat but were willing to give us a ride back to shore. They sorta saved us from drowning. Very gracious of them. Thank u. My husband is sleeping on the sofa for a year! read more

*Update 10.26.2024* Just got a message a month after returning from HI from the owner on a burner account: "Your of my small families biz is horrible we have to reschedule all the time for maintaine and weather and parades and flash floods just because your absolutely inflexible isn't a negative reflection of my business remove your review" This is how he communicates and runs his business, trying to get me to remove my completely honest review. Weather and flash floods happen, but constantly having to reschedule due to maintenance issues should not be a regular occurrence. You are in the business of running boat tours yet your boats are constantly breaking down to the point of having to frequently reschedule or cancel? The people taking these tours are visitors on very tight schedules, not locals who have the luxury of flexibility. Again, do not support this business. There are countless others that do the same thing that will be much more professional and are not in the habit of attempting to reschedule as they please. *Update #2 10.26.2024* This just gets better and better, look at his response now in the screenshot LOL. If this isn't helping you make your decision on who not to do a tour with I don't know what will! read more

Captain Max Boat Tours - Very professional and grammatically correct message from the owner on a burner account requesting that I remove my honest review. - Boat Tours Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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My husband booked a tour with Captain Max Boat tours last minute for 8/20 and it was a great experience. It's a small tour which I prefer.. they take a max of 6 guests. Garret and Ricky were awesome! Very Chill and laidback.. provided us all the information and guided us through the whole experience. It was my sister in law and her kids first time snorkeling and they were very patient and supportive of them as they eased into it. They brought us to a popular spot with Ricky's knowledge of the fish and turtles! The boat ride was fun as well. Provided us with life vests, felt safe and had a good time. We would all definitely do it again and recommend to others! read more

Captain Max Boat Tours - Boat Tours Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I cannot say enjoy great thing about this tour. My wife and I had read all the great the reviews here and on Facebook and they were all spot on! Santiago and Camilla were great they gave us information about the area, the reef and even some great things to do after the the tour. We went on the 8 am tour and it was worth it. We were told there was more activity and this was true. We showed and parked. Parking is cheap $1 an hour and you do it through an app which is super easy. We have used the app before. The app is Parkmobile. At 8am parking was a breeze but when we left at 945 the lot was full so plan accordingly. The crew greeted us and got us to the boat. After a quick safety briefing we were off. Normally 6 per tour we were lucky and only had four. The crew had waters and some juices available in a cooler as well. The boat ride was smooth no big seas. Yes the boat does rock a bit but there is so much going on there is no time to worry about the swells. A quick ride out along Waikiki and we got to the spot. This company guaranteed turtles and we got them and more! On the way out we also got to see dolphins galore ! We actually saw more dolphins than turtles. Santiago was great he was in the water the whole time with us pointing out where to look and go. The dolphins and turtles were around us the whole time. The turtles are much easier to photograph than the dolphins as they were too busy playing. My wife and I are strong swimmers so we went the noodle route but they have life jackets available. The other couple we were with the wife wasn't a swimmer and the crew made her feel at ease and took extra care. They brief you on how to use the equipment. You can opt for using fins or not, I wish I had. The fins allow you to cruise a bit faster. The tour is right over a turtle cleaning station so you will see plenty of turtles and fish. The visibility was great as well. We paid the additional for the GoPro service and it was worth it. Instead of trying fumble with a phone or camera it was nice to have someone who knows where to look so it for us. We took our phones and the crew took pictures with them for us. Before we got off the boat we had all our pictures and videos! Luckily the crew had iPhones so they just Airdropped them to me. We saw other tours with tons of folks and big boats but it was nice to be in a small group on a small boat. This tour makes it feel like your own personal charter because of the small size. I always look to support the little guy or gal. This tour was much less expensive and I know the experience we got was just as good if not better than a more expensive tour. read more

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This boat takes only a maximum of 6 passengers so you're not in the water with dozens of others smacking you with their swim fins. Very professional and knowledgeable staff. Sophia was the most amazing tour guide; so knowledgeable about the local sea life, so kind, and safety-minded too! She put us all at ease, even those who had never snorkeled before. She's also got mad underwater photography skills...I highly recommend you purchase the photo package to remember your amazing experience. I promise you will have an unforgettable day! read more

Always a good time! This is my second time with Captain Max and I will continue to go out with them! I travel to Honolulu for work and was looking for a good, reliable, small company to go out with and have found just that with Captain Max. The crew is always fun and informative and they make the trip fun and safe. You always see turtles and lots of fish. This trip we got to see an octopus! Been out with Garrett, Eric, and the ever helpful in water guide, Christina. Everyone is kind, knowledgeable, and there to make your adventure great. Turtle canyon can get crowded but the Captain Max team is small and they keep you away from the crowds. I will definitely go out with Captain Max whenever I am back and have time! Mahalo for a great time! read more

Found Captain Max Boat Tours through an AirBnB Experience. Our snorkel guide and boat captain were great. Both were super knowledgeable and friendly. I also liked how it's a small, intimate group of 6 guests max, especially when you get to the snorkel spots and see other boats of 20 trying to wrangle themselves together. Bring cash for a tip. **O'AHU DOES NOT REALLY HAVE ANY BRANCH OF MAJOR BANKS SO WITHDRAW BEFORE YOU FLY** read more

Captain Max & his crew were amazing! On May 20, 2024, I and my wife experienced snorkeling through 'Captain Max Boat Tours.' I wear glasses with a high prescription. Knowing the company did not have prescription snorkeling gear, I reserved prescription gear through Snorkel Bob's the night before and was able to snorkel with it. Since I can't swim, Alex provided almost personal guidance, staying close to help and watch over me. Thanks to him, I was able to snorkel safely and see many schools of fish and sea turtles! I'd like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude. This Boat Tour left me with precious memories, despite not being able to swim and wearing glasses. I highly recommend it to many others! Tip: If you bring a waterproof fish guide, you'll be able to better identify the fish you see! read more

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Our crew were awesome. Some of us struggled quite a bit but the crew was encouraging and supportive the entire time. 10/10 would recommend read more

Captain Max Boat Tours - Getting ready for our first dive in. - Boat Tours Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Terrible service ! I purchased a Groupon and made a reservation. He confirmed and never showed and stop answering my calls. Very unprofessional very rude read more

Awesome Snorkeling Tour out to Turtle Canyon. The tour consisted of 4 guests (6 maximum) and the 3 guides. The tour guides were very talkative and welcoming as we sailed out about 5-10 minutes to the snorkeling area. Our tour guide Kyla got into the water with us and spotted out lots of turtles and even offered to take a couple photos / videos for us on our GoPro. We couldn't ask for any more out of this group, as the tour was absolutely amazing. This boat tour was definitely one of the highlights of our trip and we would highly recommend it to anyone looking to snorkel at Turtle Canyon. We would love to come back and do it again! read more

What a fun adventure! We were warned by Alex and Santiago that the water was choppy, and the ride out was quite the roller coaster ride. Being in the small 6-person boat was definitely an advantage in the rolling surf. Visibility was great in the water, and we felt safe with Santiago in the water with us. We saw tons of fish and a couple of turtles. Santiago took photos and video for us (for a reasonable additional charge) which was great and let us focus on enjoying the experience. Highly recommend Captain Max Boat Tours! read more

Captain Max Boat Tours - One of the sea turtles we saw. (Photo by Santiago) - Boat Tours Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Captain Max's Oahu Turtle Snorkelling tour was nothing short of amazing. My friends and I were all snorkelling virgins but it didn't make a spit of difference. The small group size meant our guide, Kyla, was able to make sure we were all comfortable with what we were doing. We saw all sorts of different fish and, most importantly, had a lovely time swimming with the turtles. One of them even felt the need to return and voyeurism and surfaced to get a good look at us. This tour was a highlight of our trip of a lifetime and if... No... When I head back to Hawaii, Captain Max's is one of the first things I'm booking. (Next time I'm heading over during whale season!) read more

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Will absolutely go out with this small, friendly tour company again when we come back! They were chill but professional, super attentive, and even helped our kids learn to dive under with their snorkels. We saw so many turtles and whales! They also gave us great tips for other things to do on the island. Pay for the photos and videos because you'll want them. THANK YOU from our happy family! read more

Had an amazing experience with Captain Max tours and saw lots of turtles, fish and a monk otter/lion. The water was great and the small group was very nice. Garrett and Kyla our guides were top notch however I don't recommend sitting in the front of the boat on the way out unless you are up for Mr. Toads Wild Ride :). I was pretty nervous and rode behind Garrett on the way back which was enjoyable as all get out. Highly recommend - worth every penny. read more

We are so lucky we found captain Max boat tours on Yelp. I loved how knowledgeable our guides were. The best captain Max boat tours is that it's a small group I think the max amount is 6 guests. We had two guides telling us where to look and the captain was on the boat pointing out turtles. It's easier to listen when you aren't in a giant group like other tours on the island. We even got to see dolphins jumping out of the water and playing with each other. The team was amazing, friendly, knowledgeable we had a blast today. I took stunning videos. We will be back. read more

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Garrett and Christine were great. Made it such an amazing experience. Highly recommend. Couldn't have chosen a better way to spend my birthday. read more

Captain Max Boat Tours - Boat Tours Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We had the best time! We did the 2 hour snorkeling tour and our crew (Chamille and Devon) met us right on time and we headed out! They were so fun and gave us all kinds of great information and tidbits about the island and the ocean life! We got to the spot for diving and Devon went right in with us and pointed out all kinds of interesting fish and sea life and of course God us right over where the sea turtles were swimming. It was a beautiful spot with so many fish and sea life. Would highly recommend Captain Max's boat tours and his wonderful crew. read more

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Excellent! Alex and Jordan were outstanding! The small group size was perfect for being able to follow Jordan and seeing things. With large groups you get mobbed and can't swim and can't really see things. Jordan was awesome at keeping us away from the big groups and knowing exactly where turtles would come. I highly recommend this very personal tour! read more

IF YOU THINKING ABOUT IT, DO IT my girlfriend and I wanted to go snorkeling near Waikiki so we looked up some options on google and found Captain Max. we ended up choosing captain max because the listing said "Escape the crowds" and we were not disappointed. The boat ride itself is an experience worth paying for, and Devin and Camille were fantastic guides. They're personable, friendly, and super willing to help and take pictures for you. We went in late April 2022 and were able to see the sea turtles, even saw big Momma Definitely worth the money. the boat is BYOB and you can even walk to get delicious fresh poke at Ala Moana after also recommend bringing a gopro or some type of waterproof camera! devin is great at getting shots in the water read more

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Crew was nice. Very disappointing. No Kamaaina (local) discount. Jammed packed with HUGE swarms of crowds of tourists who literally run into you in the water as you are trying to look at a turtle!!! Ludicrous and ruins the experience. The tour groups need to be better coordinated so there aren't swarms of people in one small place. the captain threw food in the water to attract the fish which is not recommended and bad for the coral. Go on the West side to Wild Side Specialty Tours which is 1000 times better. Waste of money. Just swim/snorkel in nature for a better experience. read more

They are great with little ones who were first time snorkelers. Tip well. Going with a smaller group is the way to go.

This is our first trip to Hawaii and our first time snorkeling ever! I wanted to take the time to thank Savannah and captain Max for an amazing time. They are both super nice and informative took the time to tell me and my family about the different types of fishes and sea turtles. They focused on making our experience super personal and private I love how Savannah called each one of us by our names that's not something you see every day. I will definitely recommend all my friends and family to take tours with them. Thank you for the wonderful experience. Stay awesome! read more

Captain Max Boat Tours - Boat Tours Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Garrett and Alex were our crew and led us on an amazing tour! Was my first time snorkeling and I am not a strong swimmer, and I wasn't worried about safety at all. We saw multiple turtles and so many different kinds of fish. Garrett and Alex both checked in multiple times with us during the trip to make sure we were doing ok and provided some great info about the local fish and turtles as we saw them. The water and juice after hit the spot. We would definitely recommend this experience to anyone looking for a small group snorkeling experience that doesn't take up all day. read more

This was the best experience ever! There were so many snorkeling companies but I would bet that we had the best. Captain Alex and Santiago were very fun and made us feel so comfortable. They explained the whole tour to us and helped us through each step. I was so embarrassed because I got sick towards the end and Alex helped me get through it calmly - no judgement..lol..and Santiago was in the water with us to guide us and tell us so much about what we were looking for...just the BEST experience - you will not be disappointed!! read more