We had the most incredible experience with Living Ocean Tours during our last visit to Oahu. We had gone to Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve on a prior trip, but had not done anything guided and did not have any luck seeing turtles (though it was still beautiful and we saw plenty of fish). My partner loves turtles, which is why we were so eager to find a memorable experience during our next trip. We found the Living Ocean Tours Turtle Canyon experience through Viator and paid about $80/person which we felt was incredibly reasonable. We saw prior reviews stating that the best time to go is early morning, so we decided to take the first boat out. This was honestly a pro tip as we were not only one of three small groups on the boat, but were also the first boat out to the canyon making the experience feel intimate and memorable! We met the amazing crew who were so knowledgable, friendly, and safety-savvy. The ride itself took about 15 minutes each way. Once we arrived, we felt totally confident swimming out with the provided snorkels, life jackets, and flippers after completing the safety lecture. The crew also emphasized protection of wildlife, instructing us to do our very best to stay 10 ft away or more from the turtles. At times, the turtles would come close to us without our knowledge, so we were also instructed on how to gently swim away when this occurred to maintain safe distance. We spent about an hour and a half total in the water, which was more than enough time to see loads of turtles. When it was time to return, we enjoyed complimentary snacks and drinks on the boat. Thank you Living Ocean Tours for providing us with the experience of a lifetime! We would recommend Living Ocean Tours to friends, family, or anyone looking for a safe, comfortable, and immersive turtle viewing experience! read more

Amazing crew! Thats the number one thing, you can get on a boat and snorkel just about anywhere in Hawaii and see amazing reef fish and wildlife, but to have such an educated and attentive crew was a big change compared to my usual snorkeling/diving excursions. Lola was our main guide and not only was she well educated, attentive, and a great tour guide -- she also would go above and beyond to make your tour incredible. None of the other guides from other companies got off their boards, let alone free dove 40ft to try to get the reef shark to leave its rock so everyone could see it. She also provided many of our crew with their own free dive instruction so that they could try as well. Amazing trip, amazing sights, even better crew! read more

This was so perfect! Our son (11 y/o) was a little nervous to go snorkeling but the slide, water mat and trampoline setup helped make the idea of it feel more fun and he was willing to give it a try! The crew was so lovely and helpful that we all had an amazing time. We didn't end up using the fun accessories that much because we got more into the snorkeling than we expected but a little girl with another family did the slide maybe a dozen times. So fun. We were not on the turtle focused tour but did see a few turtles out there. read more

I'm the girl who wants to go snorkeling even though she gets sea sickness and can't really swim because I love animals and I want to experience snorkeling with turtles and fish at least once in my life. We did the turtle tour on 5/13 at 8:30 in the morning. They teach everyone how to use the given gear, they antifog the goggles beforehand and sanitize all the gear well afterwards. They have snacks, water, and ginger ale. We saw two turtles within a couple arms lengths at the surface (you can't touch them but gosh they were so close!). We also saw about seven turtles chilling on the bottom. Tons of reef fish swimming so close to us too. The crew makes sure to point out turtles so you don't miss them. It was my first time in open water and the crew was welcoming from the start. They separate the groups so if you can't swim or are not great at swimming, you can stay back and hold onto a blue mat in the water where they teach you and help you feel comfortable in open water first. Even though I vomited afterwards (yes I took plenty of motion sickness medication ahead of time!), I highly recommend the experience. It's unlike anything else. The crew is so funny, they normalized not being able to swim well or motion sickness so you don't feel embarrassed. They get in the water with you (not all crews do!) and were super attentive, and encouraging. I felt safe enough that I was able to learn, get confident in the water and join the others and I still felt like I had plenty of great snorkeling time. Overall, GREAT company for actually seeing turtles! GREAT for inexperienced swimmers and people who get motion/sea sickness! If you're determined, you can still do it. The crew made me feel safe the entire time! You've got this, you only live once! read more

Living Ocean Tours - Snorkeling Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Fun 5/5 Snorkeling 4/5 Service 5/5 Informative from staff in safety 5/5 Price for value and time 5/5 Overall 5/5 Wow you guys are truly amazing. I didn't even get off the boat and my son already asked me "can we come back to this same boat again next time!" From the gate B, which is your entrance, make sure you read your additional info after your confirmation email, especially if you are taking a Uber or Lyft, or else you can get dropped off at the main area and have to walk and find gate B! It's a long walk if you do not specify, our u er drive was the one that asked me, what gate sir, or else you have a long walk. Thank god he asked us! So from the gate to the entire experience, it can be overwhelming, it's a lot to do, it's a ton of fun. I rated 4/5 for the snorkeling because it's open ocean vs doing this inside a "bay" You first get a cruise down the waters and learn about the city and the captain t Story tells you a lot of history and the buildings while we are cruising and then we turn around to the play and snorkeling areas! Wow! But knowing my kids they want to also PLAY! Thais is the boat, you have a water trampoline, a water floating board that you legit can lay on or stand on and play balance and or just lay, and a huge slide!!!!! Wow! And drink and snacks are included! We didn't even get a chance to grab a beer! lol (for additional $ on your own) Just look at the view and the photos. So this entire experience is just 5/5 We booked through TripAdvisor. This is 100% recommend, since this is also at open ocean, it's easier if you can swim and not afraid of the waters. They do offer life jackets and self blown floatation vests, your choice. Must do!!!!! See you next time! read more

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Unbelievable! Crew was so awesome! They were great with my three kids that never snorkeled before, let alone in the ocean with waves and currents. We saw many sea turtles in about 30' of water. Water was so clear. Crew was super friendly and fun. Lots of drinks to choose from (soda, water, green tea- great choices). I had a blast as an experienced snorkeler. Had to pinch myself thinking I was offshore Waikiki the whole time. Thanks Captain, we loved to return! read more

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Crew was awesome, we saw a spectacular sunset from the boat and had a very nice time.

Highly recommend this company to anyone trying snorkeling for the first time. The Living Ocean Turtle Canyon Snorkeling team was amazing and made the whole process, from embarking on the boat to getting into the water, easy, fun, and an absolutely memorable experience. For anyone nervous about trying snorkeling or unsure if you'll see turtles, you're in good hands and great company with the Living Ocean Turtle Canyon Snorkeling team. read more

10/10 an amazing experience, the captain and the crew were so friendly and welcoming. We got to see a handful of sea life. Would recommend to anyone wanting to try something new and fun. The water slide, trampoline and lily pad were neat additions. read more

Living Ocean Tours - Snorkeling Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We had a incredible time snorkeling for the first time and seeing the sea turtles & fish with our two daughters (ages 6 & 10). We definitely want to come back with our extended family! read more

I had a blast going snorkeling in the afternoon. Kate, Hannah, and Annabelle were super friendly and helpful both in and out of water. They made me and my friends feel calm even though it was some of our first time's snorkeling. We got to see about 8-9 turtles around 3 pm. The team had deep really cool knowledge on the specific fish and other creatures in the water too. Everything was super clean and the included snacks/drinks was definitely a plus! read more

The turtle snorkel tour was fantastic!!! This was a late min booking because we got a long flight delay and I'm so glad we booked this!!! Amazing crew, nice boat, felt very safe and had an amazing turtle snorkel experience!!!!! Worth the price! read more

Fun group of young professionals guiding and educating. It was super fun and interesting. Highly recommend it for anyone who's comfortable with snorkeling - even if you are not, you can still enjoy the sea life. read more

Living Ocean Tours - They also have these cool stickers! - Snorkeling Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Great team on board! Safety is the number 1 priority, but they made sure guests had a lot of fun! My friends, their 3yr old, and I had an amazing time during the sunset cruise! read more

Living Ocean Tours - Snorkeling Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Check-in was easy. Boat was clean and comfortable, crew was friendly and safety conscious, they offer cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages and snacks. We had an amazing sunset. It was an excellent experience and a value. Don't miss this sunset cruise! read more

Living Ocean Tours - Waikiki reflecting the beautiful sunset. - Snorkeling Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Captain and crew were very friendly and knowledgeable. We saw lots of fish and turtles. We had a great time and would definitely recommend.

Not Family-Friendly This honestly felt misleading. They advertise the tour for ages 3+, yet there was little to no support for families with young children. We were basically left on our own. In our experience, the captains came across as passive-aggressive, and it felt like making the sale was more important than actually taking care of customers. If you're traveling with young kids, read the reviews carefully before booking. I would choose another company. read more

Very fun experience! We saw several pods of dolphins, up close (and some even woke up and started jumping alongside the boat) and that was just about 12 minutes into the start of our excursion. Cpt. Kevin was extremely knowledgeable and gave great bits of information about the dolphins, as did Missy and Andres about the other sea life we encountered like the turtle. Missy found an octopus but couldn't get him out of his little cave, she also dove roughly 25 ft. down and brought up a sea urchin for all of us to see (she was awesome!). The slide, floating pad and trampoline were an awesome extra addition as well, the kids absolutely loved it! This was a great excursion, big thanks to Cpt. Kevin, Missy, Andres and Tanner. Only suggestion; I wish there was a photo package because we absolutely would have paid for one for our family. NOTE: There are complimentary drinks and snacks on board the boat. read more

Living Ocean Tours - Diamond Head Crater - Snorkeling Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Amazing crew and an awesome experience! Highly recommend. Compared to the other tours out in the water, they seemed the more knowledgeable and wanting to show you around instead of sit in one spot! read more

I would highly recommend this tour to anyone in the area visiting. All of the staff were incredibly kind and attentive with any needs on board. I like that they had plenty of snacks and drinks needed. We saw at least 3 sea turtles and so many fish in the area. My only suggestion is that you listen to their recommendations if taking motion sickness meds before arriving. I tend to get motion sickness and even with meds I was still sea sick. This has nothing to do with either the boat or the tour company, it's just rougher waters than what I'm used to from the Atlantic Ocean. Regardless of my sea sickness they were all wonderful and if you choose a tour company this should be the one to go with for your vacation. read more

We had the best time! The entire crew was amazing and Gracie was an awesome life guard! She made it feel safe even with really choppy waters! We saw turtles and even dolphins! We had such a good time and would recommend this to anyone!!!! read more

Living Ocean Tours - Snorkeling Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Very nice and very patient with our young grandchildren. Equipment was clean and worked great, They were very safety oriented. I would recommend this tour for anyone read more

WHAT AN AMAZING ADVENTURE THIS WAS!!!!! Came to Hawaii with my two son's for a Mom & Son's trip, the week before Christmas, and I surprised them with this excursion. I booked through Viator but I should have just booked directly through Living Oceans Tour and saved some money. I chose the 12:30PM time slot as I figured they could still sleep in, get a light breakfast in, snorkel and then be ready for a heavy meal by the time we get back. I believe our boat was full. The Captain and Crew were awesome from beginning to end. Check in was super easy (fill our your waiver beforehand). They had snacks, drinks and seasickness bags just in case. They are pretty thorough with their instructions you will still get at least one if not a couple on the boat who can't follow instructions to save their lives. Although my patience was tested the crew never showed anything but grace and patience. There was even one gentleman who strongly resembled Aquaman. Even allowing an octopus hitch a ride on his arm so the group could see it up close. Also, if you are bringing small children on the boat you as the parent or guardian should keep your eyes on them and not let them hang off the stairs..ijs...again even after crew members gave multiple warnings this 7ish yr old still proceeded to do it and fell off the stairs. Watch your kids, the crew is NOT your babysitter. Also, no matter how many times it was said there still was ONE know it all that still wore his flippers to walk from one end of the boat to the other and almost tripped...duh, exactly why they said not to do it *face palm*. You get some decent time out in the water. They are super patient with you if it's your first time. They even allowed you to stay around the boat if you didn't want to go as far out as the rest. Even if you stayed behind there were still turtles to see and a couple even came up to the surface to get some air. There was a school of fish that stayed by the boat because they had fish food on the boat for the younger kids so they could feel like they weren't missing out. I sometimes get car sick. But the boat ride to and from didn't make me sick, so that was awesome. The view of Waikiki from that vantage point was BEAUTIFUL! BRING CASH to tip the crew at the end. They put up with a lot and still make you feel catered to. I have sang this tour it's praises and have told anyone and everyone who would listen to book a trip! I'd do it again next time we visit, that's how much I enjoyed it! read more

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Awesome time! We were able to see so many cool tropical fish, a sea turtle and then playing on the water toys! The crew was awesome and wanted to make sure we had a good time and see everything. Water, juice, sodas and some snacks. Beer and wine for purchase. Would definitely recommend and will do again. read more

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Our family (two kids, 14 & 9) had the best time snorkeling in Turtle cove today. Briana and Malcom were the best. Briana was super kind and patient l and Malcom was a great guide and even dove down to get an urchin everyone could hold. Both were hilarious! We saw multiple turtles, tons of fish, and learned a lot! read more

We went out yesterday on our nearly 5-year-old's second ever snorkel and it was great. We saw turtles, lots of fish, and had a great time. Highly recommend. read more

Super fun trip. Perfect amount of time in the water. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable of the area! Would recommend 100%. read more

Living Ocean Tours - Snorkeling Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We arrived at 7:45 for our 9-11 tour and got one of the last few parking spots. Our family of four experienced snorkelers had a great time on this trip! But it looks they have snorkel instruction for anyone new as well. We had a great day with amazingly clear waters filled with all kinds of fish and around 10 turtles. Not a lot of coral. The water was around 30-50 feet deep. The guides were super friendly and helpful to everyone. Loved it. read more

Living Ocean Tours - Snorkeling Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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The tour was great! We got good angles to take photos. My friends and I didn't make it to the top deck because it capped at 12, but it was better riding on the bottom deck because we could roam around and talk to the staff and they took photos of us! Kyle was so great and personable, so friendly and helpful. Andres and Eve were so friendly too. My friend got seasick and Eve helped her with some tips on where to stare and sit and gave her some gingerale and water. They have seasick bags on board. They do 20% off for repeat reservations. The drinks were High Noons and canned wine (don't recommend that). The only thing was the bathroom door was hard to close and the waters were a bit choppy. The views more than made up for it though! read more

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We booked Living Ocean Tours the day before Thanksgiving, and it ended up being one of the absolute highlights of our trip to Hawaii! My wife, kids, and I had an amazing time from start to finish. The crew was incredibly friendly and welcoming--they made us feel right at home the moment we stepped aboard. The kids were thrilled with the slide and the water trampoline. Honestly, watching them shoot down the slide and bounce around with huge smiles made the whole experience worth it by itself! Once we got out on the water, we saw tons of beautiful fish, way more than we expected. The guides were great at pointing things out and making sure everyone felt safe and comfortable in the water. Even our youngest, who can be a bit timid, ended up loving it. We also really appreciated the complimentary beverages after snorkeling, such a nice touch and perfect after swimming and playing. All in all, Living Ocean Tours delivered an unforgettable day for our family. If you're looking for something fun, family-friendly, and full of good vibes, this tour is absolutely worth it. We'd do it again in a heartbeat! read more

This wasn't a bad tour, and we did get to see turtles, which was great. But because this is such a small area and it seems like every snorkeling company goes to the same spot, the experience felt extremely restrictive. You constantly have to react to instructions, move as a group, and follow commands almost like you're in the army. You're only allowed to go where you're told, and it felt like we spent more time making sure we weren't doing something wrong than actually enjoying the ocean. The two guides seemed happiest when they were talking to each other in the water. As a guest, I felt more like a problem to manage than someone they wanted to share the experience with. Maybe that's just how it came across to me, but it definitely affected the trip. I've been snorkeling on Maui and Kauai, and those experiences were completely different. They take you to a beautiful reef, say, "Take your time," and let you explore at your own pace. You feel relaxed and free, surrounded by incredible marine life. Here, it was difficult to actually enjoy the snorkeling. It felt as if the tourists were an interruption to the guides' day rather than the reason they were there. This tour is definitely a good fit if it's your first time snorkeling or if you're nervous in the water. read more

Took my gf on a whale watching tour and we did see a few whales at the end. The sunset was beautiful and the crew was great. read more

Living Ocean Tours - Snorkeling Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Super fun boat tour that gets you snorkeling, sliding and sightseeing! I booked this one specifically because of the ginormous inflatable slide and inflatable trampoline. I think it only takes 40 people so it's not super crowded and they provide Lifest snorkeling equipment snacks and drinks. They have a good ratio of staff to guests so there's always someone watching out for you. Easy to get to from Waikiki. Make sure you're sharing the aloha spirit and tip the crew after! I don't think a lot of people tip them but we did because we appreciated their service and want to support the locals! read more

Living Ocean Tours - Waterslide! - Snorkeling Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We saw so many sea turtles and every fish I saw the crew could tell me about. 10/10 life changing for those who appreciate nature so beautiful. They gave a very comprehensive safety briefing so great for beginners like me! Gracie our guide was especially helpful and cool. She and the crew made the whole experience super rad and gave us the best poke recommendations. Mahalo! read more

Booked the snorkel tour! Mahalo to the entire crew for their friendliness! Captain Kev and his crew are total pros!! They know how to handle seasick passengers! Definitely recommend this tour! Mahalo!! read more

Tour was amazing! Sean, Annabelle, Taylor and Chase do an Amazing job! Safety precautions are always measured. Has 2 separate groups for beginners and more advance snorkelers. All groups were well managed and enjoyed the excursion. read more

Living Ocean Tours - Snorkeling Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Captain Kevin and his crew could not have been kinder when I got seasick. They made a very unpleasant feeling better by taking good care of my needs. They also did a good job organizing the group by assisting the less experienced. Of course, it was also wonderful to see the turtles. I recommend this adventure. Just take dramamine if you get motion sickness. read more

These guys are who to book for sure. The crew is amazing! They are so knowledgeable and friendly! Can't recommend them enough and we had an epic time! Turtles, baby!!!! read more

Absolutely loved this sunset cruise and we're so glad we did it. The staff was so so kind and helpful. They also had complimentary snacks and drinks on board. We absolutely loved everything! read more

Living Ocean Tours - Complimentary Drinks - Snorkeling Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We had a great experience! Did the whale watching tour. Was successful in locating a few :)! Staff were wonderful, fun and very informative. A gorgeous sunset to top it off. Thank you Living Ocean Tours for a wonderful time!! read more

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