We got onto the boat at 8 am. It's a large two story open air boat. The staff is very nice and…read morehelpful. We headed towards Captain cook's monument and snorkeled in famous Kealakekua Bay. It's the BEST SNORKELING in all Hawaii's islands. It has a diversity of thousands of colorful fish and coral. It's the inspiration for the movie finding Nemo. After 1-2 hours of snorkeling, we boarded the boat to try the water slide and second floor diving board. It was super fun. The crew provided sandwiches, chips, fruit and soda/water. On the way back we hugged the coastline for great pictures. We stopped and watched a pod of dolphins who came to the boat. It was a magical tour for any snorkeling lover. The crew and boat were outstanding. We loved it.

We did the "Big Island: Captain Cook Snorkel on a Power Catamaran with Lunch" 4 hour snorkel trip…read morethrough Hang Loose Boat Tours while in Hawaii, and it was one of our highlights, if not the highlight. From start to finish, the crew at Hang Loose took great care of us: friendly check-in, clear directions getting on the boat, and guided tour or beautiful music the whole ride. Once at Captain Cook's Cove, the crew helped us get setup with our gear and snorkeling tips. They provided small floaty noodles to folks so they felt comfortable staying afloat. I did not use this, but almost everyone else did, so don't worry about wanting one in advance: you'll be in good company. Once in the water, that's when the magic happened. Everywhere we looked was stunning and full of life. We saw all the tropical fish imaginable and coral. Sea urchins were everywhere as well, so don't step down...stay afloat! Some highlights included an eel, a green crown of thorns of starfish, and a giant needlefish. We had such a blast and had at least 2 hours to snorkel, if not more. Some folks headed back early to the boat and they setup a slide on the top deck for folks to use to slide into the ocean. Once back on the boat, they set us up with refreshing sandwiches, fruit, chips, and drinks. After so much swimming, this was a much needed nourishment break. The boat tour back we have a few more scenic stops for photo shoots. It was stunning and we learned a lot about lava tubes, the coastal scenery, and some island history. The four hours flew by. Once back, the crew let us know where to go near the dock to find sea turtles. Such a great tip! They were correct and we saw three! This tour was well worth the money. We'd recommend it for all visitors as it truly was a magical experience!

We had the most amazing time! Patrick, Preston and the captain provided the best experience! We not…read moreonly saw several manta rays but also some sharks amazing! This is a must when visiting Kona!!!

Captain Taylor. Preston and Patrick were phenomenal!! They did EVERYTHING within their control to…read morehelp find a Manta Ray!! Patient kind and everything you want for a crew to make you feel comfortable and at ease in the water!!!!! Perfect!

Amazing time. Crew was very expressive on the trip and was very professional. Showed us dolphins…read morewhen they didn't have to. Made sure everyone on the trip enjoyed and experienced something wonderful. Offered insight on anything, let us enjoy the water before showing us the manta rays. 10/10 experience and highly recommend!

We had a wonderful time with Tyler and Captain Alan. Really nice, down to earth people. We got…read moretwo swims at lovely coves and a spin To Kona. Highly recommended. A memorable day.

Everything was great! Big shout out to Gabe & Michelle! They were both knowledgeable, kind,…read moreconsiderate and funny! Kept all on their toes on safety! We got to see Tiger shark, several sandbar sharks, lots of spinner dolphins and several bottlenose dolphins! The place we snorkeled at had a great abundance if different fish! We had an amazing time!

This was such an amazing experience. The captain and crew are not only knowledgeable but work to…read morebetter their environment and share this knowledge. Highly recommend for people looking for a fun adventure and an ethical, local company. My group did the 10 AM mid day tour and it was the best! Colin knows how to safely work with the animals and approach in a manner that is not stressful or disturbing to them/ the environment. Thank you Colin and Amy for such an amazing experience.

Great and fun! We did the "newer" tour (2/26) that's faster and more adventurous. I searched Yelp…read morefor this and couldn't find so wanted to post. Since it's a smaller boat u can go faster and get maybe closer to the action. The drawbacks compared to a more traditional "ferry" type wld be ferry has bathrooms and comfy seats and shade. This one we did had saddle seats which were ok but comparable to a padded bike seat. Not so comfy for males especially perhaps. If u go, u can bring your own waterbottle, make sure to wear copious amounts of sunscreen and bring more to reapply. I (female) was happy I wore a long sleeved rash guard and long light colored leggings. Can wear any shoe that cld get wet, tho we did not get wet. Could wear sneakers if ur ok if they get somewhat messy. Wish I wore water shoes for the grip and the sun protection bc my feet got so much sun exposure in flip flops and not much grip. We left most of our stuff in the hotel room safe and just brought keys and drivers license. Wish I had brought cash for a tip for the driver and tour guide. Can bring phone for photos. If u are the first to arrive to the dock, you may be able to snag the seats right in front of the driver, which would be the way to get any sort of shade. Wear a hat, preferably with a chin strap or affix a baseball hat to your ponytail (ladies) or flip cap backwards as a guy when the boat goes fast so not lose hat. Wish I had had some more neck protection. Drink water. Reapply sunscreen. You'll be fast then will stop to look around so there's time to stand up, reapply etc. Great and informative narration by Dennis. Captain driver was also great. Wld recommend but again consider your needs for shade, seating, and can't go to the bathroom for three hours. Nice bathrooms at the harbor tho, flushable booklets, water and soap. Hope this helps!

We signed up for both whale watching and the night manta ray snorkel with Hawaiian Adventures Kona;…read moreboth experiences were phenomenal and a MUST-DO if visiting the Big Island! Captain Andrew and Olivia were excellent guides, they had great energy and humor while sharing information about the wildlife. Their boat, the Artemis, is the "Rolls Royce" of whale-watching boats that I've been on; clearly designed for optimal wildlife viewing and passenger comfort. We saw multiple humpback whales, three species of dolphin, and many manta rays during our trips with them. The crew is clearly very knowledgeable about the local wildlife and did a fabulous job finding animals, as well as positioning the boat for viewing them. On the manta ray night snorkel... DO IT! It exceeded my expectations tenfold and I would reckon it's one of the most unique ocean experiences anyone could have. You get to float effortlessly (with a board and pool noodle) while watching these majestic animals feed all around you! The boat is a great platform for this too, as there is a hot water rinse available to you when you get out of the water. I will book trips with this company EVERY TIME I visit Kona in the future! Both experiences were completely awesome and I can't wait to be back.

We booked a 5 hour fishing excursion with Cpt. Craig, with three of us in attendance. The boat was…read moreroomy enough for us without tripping over each other. We enjoyed our trip tremendously and Cpt. Craig was very informative about local history if inclined to ask. All equipment and bait was provided, and included in the overall cost. Although there are no guarantees you would catch fish, when fishing, we were fortunate enough to do so. We each landed a yellow fin tuna. We had never used the gear necessary to hook up and land these delectable fish, but Cpt. Craig was patient and informative on how to do so. At the tail end of our trip he filleted our catch and bagged it up for us. We were provided beverages and snacks, if interested. There was great communication before and up to our charter. I/we highly recommend this charter! Should we ever return to the Big Island we will do this charter again, no doubt. I may, if the others were inclined, charter it for the whole day. Thank you, Cpt. Craig, for an outstanding adventure. For me, personally, it was the funnest part of our week stay on the island. Here are a couple of tips. (1) Keep in mind - there is not a restroom on this boat. So, you should plan to flush the pipes before launching unless you want to waste valuable time returning to the launch ramp. (2) You can get some of your catch through the TSA and Ag checkpoints at the airport if desired. We froze some of our fillets and had them in zip bags, placed within our carry-on luggage.

My husband and I visited Kona for the first time and.went.out.with the C Hawk to fish. Craig was…read morevery knowledgeable and friendly. He works hard for his guests. He made sure we were comfortable on the boat. My husband and I were a little rusty and he explained everything to us. We laughed when my husband and I caught tuna but by the time we reeled them in the dolphins surrounding us got to the fish before we did. We relocated and ended our day each catching Wahoo. I was able to catch some sun lounging in front of his boat. We made a friend and the next time we visit we will definitely be on Craig's boat again. Highly recommend. I wish I could give him a 10 star!!! Craig, thank you for making our visit that much prefer special. Alpha!

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see giant manta rays in their natural habitat!…read more Manta Adventures is a top notch tour company and I would recommend them to anyone that wants to experience this rare opportunity. It's a little creepy being out in the ocean at night, but you get used to it fairly quick. There are tons of other boats out there with people in the water. The Rays we saw I'm guessing had about a 6ft wingspan and they literally get within inches of you while feeding on plankton. One thing to note. If you are susceptible to motion sickness I would recommend Dramamine or the bracelet. My wife threw up along with a couple of other passengers.

Wonderful experience. The crew was super awesome. Tanner and Shawna were very kind and informative…read moreand helpful. They had homemade cookies, pineapple and water for us. Captain Bill knew his stuff but wasn't as easy going. They were kind enough to wait bc construction was horrible going south to get there. They provided wet suits and snorkels. The boat is nice. Bigger. The ride out was about 25 Mins. The sunset gorgeous. We departed around 430. Got there little around 5. Sat around til almost 645 before we entered water. I felt like he sitting a round was a bit long. The dive itself was PHENOMENAL!!! AmaZing views of 3-4 mantas swimming right below me; mouth open eating. Incredible. Must do!! Took 6,7,9 year old kids. I wouldn't recommend kids under 10. My 9 and 7 did pretty well. Lasted about 15 Mins jn the water; my 6 year old cried and refused (she swam in a cage with sharks 2 weeks ago) i think the darkness and open rough waters scared her. She could still see some swimming from boat. But parents save your money; leave them with grandparents and go without them. Holding on to the board with the waves was a bit challenging. I'm pretty strong and the waves beat ya a bit. I could only last 20-25 Mins and i had to get out bc i was freezing. Nice hot showers and a ride back. Bring dry clothes to change into. Bathroom is large enough and 2 towels. One to dry off. One to cover up with. Highly recommend

We've done the night manta ray snorkel with Kona Ocean Adventures many times, and there's a reason…read morewe keep coming back! This was my 5th trip, my parents' 9th, and my kids' 3rd--and we wouldn't choose anyone else. The crew is consistently professional, knowledgeable, and focused on both safety and making sure everyone has an unforgettable experience. They genuinely care about the mantas and the guests, and you can tell they love what they do. Every trip has been incredible, and Kona Ocean Adventures has continued to deliver a first-class experience! If you're trying to decide which company to book with, stop looking--Kona Ocean Adventures is the one. We'll be back again and again. Mahalo for another amazing night!

What an amazing experience! We were a group of scuba divers and a snorkeler. We had 2 dive/snorkel…read morespots. This first dive we saw a shark, fish, and an eel. The 2nd dive was incredible!! We sat at the bottom of the ocean with lights and HUGE manta rays swam all around us! Kate was our dive guide and I can't remember the snorkel guides name but they were both great! I hadn't dove in about 2 years and Kate was so patient with me. I was a little nervous but she made me feel at ease. My husband even saw a baby tiger shark when he was snorkeling! They provided fruit, hummus sandwiches and drinks. If you're on the Big Island this is a must! They even took go pro videos and sent them to us!!

Took family on the Manta Ray night dive. The experience was amazing. Saw up to 6 Manta Rays inches…read morefrom me. You a tell the difference from there spot on their under belly''s. The crew was also mazing and explained in detail what we would be experiencing from how to enter the water, how to float and relax, how the Manta Ray encounter experience would be, and most importantly how to protect the Mantas by not touching them. My wife was hesitant to get in the water having never snorkeled. She decided to remain on boat. Captain John cautiously maneuvered boat so she could see them yet not risking swimmer in the water. They run smaller boats to allow them the do that. A lot of the bigger boats out there would never have been able to do that for my wife. Definitely would go again with the Kona Manta Diving.

Many had recommended this activity, so we had to give it a try. I had some trepidation about…read morenight-time diving, length of activity, and getting cold. I didn't need to. The team (especially Mads, our guide) made this easy. We held onto a surfboard which had a light to attract the plankton, and the mantas came to us to feed. It was easy, and it was spectacular! My husband and I had debated whether to scuba or snorkel the adventure. I'm not sure how the scuba experience could have been better as the mantas came within inches of us over he course of the dive, putting on their own show. Truly wonderful experience. Kudos to the entire team (including the boat captain) who made this such a wonderful experience!

First of all, anyone leaving a bad review for this place must have not gone to the right place…read more.. this woman and her crew are amazing! We had the pleasure of not meeting her just once, but twice. She is super knowledgeable and their love for the ocean and taking care of it was so nice, we even stopped to remove trash from the ocean. They bring everything you need, supply you with everything, and when your on their boat it feels like family. We have had the privilege to be in Hawaii and live amongst the locals the last few times here and their sense of ohana and just overall life gets me every time. And being with Nancy and her helper Cody brought it all back. This is not the kind of tour where you sit on a boat with 30 other tourists and listen to facts, if you want to actually be in it and , and experience the ocean, take this tour. Their knowledge will come through in casual conversation and you will learn so much more. They do though know the limits of the ocean, and if something is dangerous, they won't do it.. Now on to the dolphin part...within 15 mins of getting out of the harbor.. Nancy took us to a spot where dolphins came to us and began playing with the boat. In another 5.. we were in the water, and within 5 mins, I was surrounded , this happened for the next few hours, at one point.. 35 of them around us. At another one came up under me, surfaced just under my body, and turned around and looked at me and motioned with his nose for me to follow. It honestly didn't feel real.. and I still can't believe it happened. We then for the last part went to a reef and did some snorkeling. This was amazing, Nancy was amazing, and I will return... if I could give it ten stars I would.

OMFG!!! LIFE CHANGING!!…read more I'm still in awe about this truly amazing experience! We did the half day dolphin excursion with Rich as our captain and Rusty as our right hand man. Even Sailor(their dog) joined in on the ride. Since nobody else booked the tour for that day, we had the boat all to ourselves! Before we started, Rusty fitted us with snorkeling gear and fins. Gear was top of the line and well maintained. As we started out, Rusty explained in detail what to expect and the do's and don't of swimming with dolphins. Our first stop had no dolphins, but no worries, Rich took us to a Manta Ray "wash" station. There we were able to get in and watch these majestic animals get "cleaned". Unreal! After watching them for about 20 min or so we were off to find dolphins, and find them we did! Rich positioned us about 100 yards in front of the pod and Rusty helped us get geared up and into the water. Once in you could here the dolphins communicating in the water before you see them. The all of the sudden BAM they are all around you!! Dolphins of all shapes and sizes and even babies were just casually swimming by checking us out. So EPIC! Once the pod past, we swam back to the boat and were off again to find more. After a couple of hrs we had lunch on the bow of the boat while the dolphins put on a show for us. Sadly, Rich informed us that it was time to say Aloha and we headed back to the harbor. Man time went too fast. I could have stayed watching the dolphins all day. Overall the trip, staff, and food was first class all the way. Great family owned local business. If you are ever on the Big Island, DO THIS!!! They also offer a great kama'aina rate as well! Thanks Dolphin Journeys for this once in a lifetime treat!!