Great experience. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. This place has a lot of experienced individuals on their staff. They truly have a passion for the sport and it shows. I did a refresher class with them since it had been a couple of years since I had gone diving, but they made it happen with an online link to refresher training, an exam to determine retention of information and a skills test done in their pool. YES, they have a pool inside their shop. Makes things super convenient. The instructor was willing to work on any additional skills I wanted to do once he completed his portion. I thought that was cool. I appreciate the staff and their flexibility and level of customer service. read more

I wish I knew this BEFORE I got taken in and ended up booking with this company but mantas aren't on the Hilo side of the island, they are on the Kona side, which was sold out. Despite the description on this site, the story line they pitched when we actually showed up (with only 3 other people to be taken out on a small dinghy because their larger boat was "broken" - a woman even refused to go out when she saw the boat) was that we should remember this was a manta "discovery" tour and the group wouldn't necessarily see any mantas they were going to go out to try and see if they could "discover" any. This was supposed to be funny at $150? We were asked to show up at 5, fitted for a wet suit and left sit boiling on the dock for 90 mins, then taken out on a rickety fishing boat, told to hold on to a small surfboard/raft with a light on it to look at literally nothing in the water for an hour. Maybe a few fish. There was never going to be any mantas, which is disappointing. Do yourself a favor and stick to the Kona side for this. Seems from other reviews that there are experiences this company offers that are great - like snorkeling, seeing dolphins or seeing the shoreline. But they should sell what they've actually got to offer and be honest about what that is. In this instance, they didn't do that. Beware of the manta "discovery" tour. You won't discover anything but an empty wallet and empty water. read more

The staff are so friendly and helpful! The shop has everything you need to have fun on the water! Great prices on snorkel gear!

I called Hilo Ocean Adventures about scheduling a whale watching trip over the holiday weekend. The very helpful woman I spoke with indicated that they were having a Black Friday sale and I should call back then. I did and was able to get a bit of a discount. The trip was fantastic, we saw breaching whales, snow on the mountain top and incredible rainbows. The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable. Thank you Hilo Ocean Adventures! read more

DO NOT book this tour if you're expecting a leisurely cruise up the coast to photograph some waterfalls. This is an unsafe and traumatizing experience that you should very much reconsider. First of all, the boat pictured in the photographs is not that boat you will be on. You will be on a small inflatable raft with a motor attached, and you'll be expected to sit on the sides of that raft that has all of the handles ripped off of it. You will not be provided life preservers, you will be not given a safety briefing. This tour operates rain or shine, no matter what the weather or water conditions are which is absolutely insane. We sat in this raft in the middle of the bay for over an hour in an absolute downpour as our guide rambled on and on his own perspective of the history of Hawaii which he made up off the top of his head. After that, we headed out into the ocean with 20ft swells, still in the pouring rain, bouncing up and down, fearing for our lives the entire time. The hard rain on our face that felt like knives was the least of our worries on this tiny inflatable raft. Even if the weather was perfect, if the water was smooth as glass, and had we been on an actual boat, the tour itself and the sights we saw are not worth the price of admission. Tiny little waterfalls off in the distance, so small it looks like someone just left their faucet running. Our guide was completely silent for this second half of the tour, by the way, once he has finished up his tall tales in the first half, he had nothing more to say. The tour ended at 4:30pm and we simply couldn't bring ourselves to do anything else the rest of the day. We were traumatized. If I knew what this "tour" really was, I never in a million years would have done this, nor would I have signed any sort of waiver. This company should be shut down. This tour is NOT safe. read more

Hilo Ocean Adventures is amazing. Matt and Alex were our guide for whale watching and theynwere amazing. Both were very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. When I got into the water Alex was very helpful and had lots of patience with me. If we could give 10 stars I would. I highly recommend booking your adventure with them. Mahalo For making our trip memorable. read more

Forrest was a great instructor, he walked through every detail of the scuba process thoroughly and everyone that participated on the dive had a smooth, fun experience. Doesn't get any better. read more

Alex and others were really good with my kids. They learned to swim. They even gave us an update on skills and where the kids were and what their progress was. read more

I signed up for the shore dive and refresher course for 1/13/2022! To start, I did the refresher course because I hadn't done a dive in 2+yrs and it was considered mandatory. My dive instructor was Matt and he was great! He's got a thorough, yet casual demeanor which helped me feel comfortable with sharing any of my concerns greatly. Super important! Same day, we did the shore dive tour! It was a small group (instructor + 2) so that made for a nice group. Matt was very good at spotting things for the tour (sea turtles, whale song, and OCTOPUS) and very attentive to making sure we were ok. I'm a novice diver so it was very helpful since I'm still working on my buoyancy control. One thing, which was promptly addressed and dealt with, was if you're booking online, it offers a 2nd tank option. I had signed up for it, but it is the same dive (didn't know that), so they offered if a refund if I didn't want to do that. I took the refund. It's a fareharbor thing (not the dive shop!) So it's recommended to just do the one tank dive. They are working on getting the option removed since many people have had the same issue (ball is in your court, fareharbor!) Other than that, it was a great time! Highly recommend going there and I would love to get a chance to get on the boat dive next time! read more

I had a great time diving with Hilo Ocean Adventures on 2/15/20. I think I got lucky as it was just me and the dive master that morning. We went to a nearby site where we were lucky enough to see several turtles at a cleaning station and various beautiful reef fish. Conditions are so warm, beautiful and clear compared to CA! The dive master was very knowledgeable about local sites and conditions, patient and understanding of diver experience level, and had snacks and drinks for after the dive. Apparently sometimes you can hear whale song while diving in the area, though we had no such luck that day - conditions weren't optimum for many whales to be around at the time. So, I'd love to go back and dive in the area again sometime and would go with Hilo Ocean Adventures again! read more

Hilo Ocean Adventures - We were lucky to encounter several sea turtles during the dive - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

My great granddaughter enjoys her swimming lessons with Ms Courtney & has developed more confidence in swimming.

We were so happy to find this establishment at Hilo. We wanted to go for a kayak only tour at Hilo but couldn't find anything on popular booking sites. As soon as we entered this business, the employees were very welcoming and helpful, they helped us choose the right option. They also communicated well post booking . Our guide Raimee, was amazing and she took us around Hilo bay and the coconut island. We loved our 2 hours in the water . In addition it was at this location that we got to see the sea turtles. Even though we are not too experienced in kayaking, Raimee made it super fun for us. read more

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Spencer is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. I can in looking for a new snorkel mask and he helped me find exactly what I need! Spencer is happy, energetic and seems like he loves his job. I will have my new gear for years to come and am so happy Spencer was there to help me read more

Hilo Ocean Adventures - Awesome snorkeling - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Great service! Dylan was amazing tour guide and so much fun! Devin was great help in booking and arranging an amazing day trip for my family and I. read more

Hilo Ocean Adventures - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Matt and Jackson were a lovely duo to kayak with, they brought us some nice snacks and drinks to have out on the water! They price was a little high for 2 hours. read more

Went on a kayaking tour with Chris, he was amazing and very friendly! Only issue was we didn't know you could go swimming on coconut island, I wish I had known to bring bathing suits read more

Excellent adventure boat dive along the gorgeous Hamakua coast. We've always had good experiences with this company. Dainty delicate types might not like the rough waters around Hilo. This is not Kona. The water is less clear. The coral is healthier and more colorful, and there's more fish. Also, the windward coastline is far more beautiful imo. read more

Incredible summer program filled with attentive guides and engaging activities. My 11 year old and his friend had a wonderful time and it was great that they sent photos so we could see what adventures they were having. Wish it was longer than one week, so much fun! Extra bonus: you don't need to pack lunch and snacks, they provided everything. read more

This was by far so worth it ..the guides knew what they were talking about and spent quality time showing us what is under water ..we would of never know what to look for ..I would recommend doing this for the adventure of snorkeling read more

Hilo Ocean Adventures - Richardson beach - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Swim lessons are just what we needed for our 3 1/2 year old. Everyone is very kind and helpful. Instructor is great. Facility clean and comfortable. read more

We booked a 7 AM kayaking tour and went out on the water with Adam and 3 other guests. We met at the store and drove down the street together to the waterfront, where Adam unloaded and set up the one-person kayaks. One member of our group hadn't every kayaked before, and Adam was helpful in teaching him how to navigate the boat. We paddled around a small peninsula, about three quarters of a mile, and stopped at Coconut Island, where we got out to have some water and snacks. There is an old Navy diving platform on Coconut Island, and Adam helped those of us who wanted to jump to get up to the top. The trip there and back was very relaxing. Everyone moved at a relaxed pace and enjoyed the beautiful scenery around us featuring views of the open ocean, early morning sun through clouds, and a unobstructed view of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. Adam was friendly and had great stories about life on the island, and was very attentive, checking in on guests in groups to make sure everyone was having a good time. This was a beautiful way to start the day! read more

So great, so knowledgeable and so fun. We got caught in the rain out there but you really know you're with great guides when the trip doesn't "keep with the plan" and stays so fun and interesting. We snorkeled and saw turtles, saw whales and heard a lot of interesting information about marine life. And the group is such a perfect size at 6. Highly recommend these guys. read more

This was the perfect Introductory class for scuba diving. It gave me a real sense of whether I would want to commit and go for the longer certification process. My instructor Forrest was great and knowledgeable and I felt super safe. And we saw some sea turtles and fish when we did the open water portion of the class. read more

This was our first time kayaking and we had an absolutely amazing time. I thought I'd have sore arms the next day but it was much easier than I expected. Adam was a great guide. read more

Matt was super sweet and helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed our paddle board adventure. He was kind to the both of us as we had never paddle boarded before. Once we got the hang of it we were off. The river was gentle and the perfect place to learn. I'm going to go back and rent a board and try it again. I have always wanted to do it and wish I hadn't waited so long to do so. I highly recommend them and Matt specifically. Thanks so much. read more

Please be advised - they do not recognize National Weather Advisories. They will go out in unsafe weather conditions. When presented with this information the day of the trip (note is was issued at 3:49 AM that morning), they would not issue a refund. Their policy is no refund within 24 hours unless they decide it is unsafe - not a trusted third party. Fortunately, we have sailed the Pacific and knew where to verify the conditions. While we did not receive a refund for $278.04, we made the right decision not to go out as we could see white caps from standing on a bluff overlooking the ocean. read more

Hilo Ocean Adventures - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Amazing service run by Japanese+Dutch couple. Highly recommended. They also provide gears if you need.

We enjoyed our relaxing kayak tour to Coconut Island. The highlight was a friendly juvenile green sea turtle who swam up to our kayak!

I live in Hilo and decided to go on the Myths and Legends of Hilo Bay Tour. I lucked out and was the only passenger on the boat. Kimo did a great job of relating history and interesting information about the bay. I want to go again. There were drinks and snacks available. It was a beautiful day. read more

Hilo Ocean Adventures - View up Wailuku River - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Mattie and staff are all excellent! Mattie went above and beyond to help our party of 3 enjoy our SUP experience. He was thorough and knowledgeable. We had a great time and highly recommend HOA! read more

Getting certified been a lifelong dream. Forrest and Akara helped make this happen. I had the time of my life! They made me feel comfortable and safe. They were so much fun as instructor and now friends. I learned everything, plus they coordinated a few dives with my daughter. Hilo Ocean Adventures are the best! read more

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My first time doing a shore dive was with Hilo Ocean Adventures, and I had a great day! The team was great, very friendly and professional with a wealth of knowledge on the sea life in the bay. We saw several turtles and eels as well as a scores of beautiful fish. read more

I booked last minute a snorkeling excursion and it was awesome. Matt guided to two different beaches, once in the water he point us different fishes, explaining characteristics and names. Finally, we went to a local spot to see turtles. I definitely recommend this adventures. Service and gears were excellent! read more

My dive master was very knowledgeable, I felt very safe, all the staff people were very nice. Will definitely book with them again

Hilo Ocean Adventures is a great place to get your snorkel or scuba gear while in Hilo. Rental equipment is in great shape, staff are very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about where to go dive or snorkel. Strongly recommend. Michael read more

First of all don't go scuba diving on the Hilo side of the island if you are a novice. We reached out to Hilo Ocean Adventures and let them know we were two novices who wanted to charter a private two tank diving trip (4hrs). They picked us up from the cruise port. We drove to the shop, and were fitted in wetsuits and booties and mask. Everything else was packed in the truck. We drove to the marina and waited for the boat to be loaded. Avoid these gross public bathrooms at any cost at the marina. We could not understand why they asked us to use that disgusting bathroom while we were waiting for them to load since the fairly new boat had a bathroom. You should know this is a fishing boat, with a small ladder with a small landing. Captain Kimo seemed as though he wanted to create a memorable experience. He did arrange for a floral lay for each of us to celebrate our anniversary. We saw some spinner dolphins. Forrest was to accompany us in the dive, he was a young man who seemed very knowledgeable. On the way to the dive site, the captain discussed some of the local marine life. Forrest reviewed some hand signals. Here is where we think this excursion could have improved. First, we should have tried our bcd's on BEFORE we went in the water, to make sure they fit well. That was our fault, but as novices we take the lead from the master diver. We did not know we were going to put our bcd's on in the water. We had never done that before. Had we known this before hand, we would have practiced it. Second, we should have been warned about the current. I would say Hilo really isn't ideal for novices. Also, we should have been told that once we entered the water we needed to quickly descend. We certainly would have insisted on trying on the bcd's if that were made clear. Third, because it took us so long to get our bcd's on, especially since my husband is 6'6" and difficult to get fitted, we drifted off and captain Kimo told us he would need to throw the three of us a rope and drag us back to the reef. This happened twice, because we lost a fin once. At one point we felt as though we had been dragged for almost 20 minutes. Imagine the amount of salt water we swallowed. Once we got to the spot, we descended, around 30 feet but the current was strong so we descended to 50 feet. I have never had problems equalizing, it happens easily when I swallow. However, after swallowing so much salt water I could not produce a drop of saliva. It was miserable. The dive at 50 feet was ok, however the visibility was probably about 15 feet and it was murky, and the current was moving us side to side and up and down. My husband noticed that his dive computer was not working when he tried to time the safety stop, it showed a low battery. We ascended and it was challenging to get back on the boat. We decided not to take the second dive. they did provide a box of snacks, and they had a cooler of drinks. We took a cruise to the waterfalls and took in the sights. We did give a great tip because we thought Forrest had his hands full with two novice divers. When we returned to the cruise ship the cruise concierge told us he knew of someone else who was dragged, and decided to forego the entire dive after that experience. read more

I hadn't dived in 3 years but they very patiently reviewed with me (I arranged this in advance) so I felt safe. The staff made the on-land parts interesting and fun for the other participant and me. They showed us neat stuff including a nudibranch and 6 turtles underwater. read more

No flexibility with rescheduling. They took my money and provided no services. Strongly not recommended!

I've never snorkeled. Siobhan gave me great, friendly customer service fitting me with a mask, snorkel, and flippers. She patiently answered my questions and made sure the kit fit right. I'm looking forward to the ocean tours. read more

We choose a kayak tour over just renting kayaks and Kyle was the reason. This cat was awesome. Informative and funny he took us places we would not have gone on our own. Learned Hawaiian culture past and present, awesome. read more

Hilo Ocean Adventures - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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