Craig did an amazing job from the first time we connected. When we got together before the snorkeling, he did an amazing job of going over all the fish we might see. Did you know a particular fish can actually change their sex to proliferate their species! As a marine biologist he definitely knew his stuff! What a great guy too. We highly recommend hiring him for your snorkeling tour on Kauai. Mahalo. read more

We had the best time snorkeling with Reef Guides! My husband and I opted for a private tour. Craig was our guide, and he is so knowledgeable. He didn't make me feel bad about being terrified to snorkel at first before I got comfortable breathing underwater. He made sure to point out all the different types of fish and sea creatures throughout our time snorkeling on the north side of Kauai. He was very organized and came with all of the necessary gear for us. He even took pictures with his super cool underwater camera! We also appreciated that he didn't charge us until after the tour - that shows real integrity. We weren't sure the conditions of the water and wouldn't be charged if it was too murky to see anything. Highly recommend Reef Guides if you're looking to snorkel in Kauai! read more

If you aren't expert at snorkeling or are unfamiliar with the area, the key to a great snorkeling experience is your guide. If I were to describe the perfect guide it would start with the character of the guide: kind, compassionate, caring, patient, and honest. That is Craig Hawkinson of Reefguides.com. He cares more about your experience than his bottom line for sure. Qualifications are important too. How about rescue diver, marine biologist, a lifetime in and around the ocean? With all his years in Kauai, he knows all the good spots. You won't find anyone more knowledgeable about the marine life here. And then there's the equipment. The equipment all looked new, he uses dry snorkels (they won't fill with water when you dive). He has everything you will need. read more

We went snorkeling with Craig this morning. It was amazing! 5 stars! He was very knowledgeable about the fish and turtles as well as the ecosystem. He took great care orienting us to equipment and water safety. We were very confident going on. We saw numerous turtles, reef fish, eels and 1 octopus. Weather great. Strongly recommend. read more

Once in a Lifetime Experience  We decided to book a guided snorkel tour because we were having a hard time finding a good spot etc. We chose Reef Guides Hawaii based on the good reviews. Everything about our experience was superb. Our guide (Craig) is a marine biologist and shared a ton of fascinating information. The equipment was top of the line and he made sure it fit properly.  We saw at least 20 Green Turtles and hundreds of tropicsl fish. I was so emotional I actually cried in my mask. Craigs demeanor was calm and kind with much respect for the environment. He made the whole experience so special and memorable. We highly recommend! read more

Reef Guides - Up close with sea turtles. - Tours Near Me

Snorkeling with Craig was one of the highlights of our trip to Kauai. It was the perfect combination of learning, discovery, and just plain fun. read more

Don't be suspicious of the consistently stellar reviews here- it is a great outing and just go ahead and book it right now :) I did the turtle snorkel on the north shore and it was a fantastic morning outing complete with high quality gear, education about marine life and photos to remember it all! read more

Craig was an amazing guide! I've never seen so many sea turtles! This outing was fun, educational, and so easy to arrange. I just let him know our shoe sizes and he had fins and snorkels ready to go when we got to the gem of a beach that he directed us to. He even had swim shirts at the ready so we wouldn't get sunburned. After a quick overview of what we might see, we were in the water and WOW. He took some nice pictures of us with the turtles as well. I will absolutely be calling Craig the next time I am on Kauai. I'll be sure to call ahead because he does book up in advance. read more

My wife has been snorkeling many times, but I am a novice. Craig from Reefguides did everything possible to ensure that each of us would have a great experience. His knowledge as a marine biologist and his experience as a guide were apparent. He brought top-notch equipment for us including half wetsuits, and he monitored and guided us to help us see as much as possible. This was the highlight of our week in Kaua'i, and when we return, I will book it again. read more

My wife and I had a great tour with Craig! We were able to swim with turtles and see all types of fish species and coral. This was my first time snorkeling and I am so glad we chose a private tour with Craig to show us the ropes. I highly recommend his tour while you are Kauai. He has all the gear and a huge boogie board so you can just cruise and enjoy ocean life! Thanks Craig! read more

Reef Guides - Tours Near Me

Craig kindly helped me when I was struggling with my snorkeling scooter. my husband and I are both in our sixties. We had snorkeled before but not with a scooter. Craig left his guided tour for a few minutes to help me out. his kindness's is appreciated so much. This was on June 27, 2024 at Anika beach near Princeville and the Anatolia marketplace. We had inadequate instructions from the company with which we had booked. It was not a guided tour. We highly recommend and will only book with reef guides in the future. Craig, thank you so much for your kindness! read more

This was the most fantastic snorkeling experience that I have ever had. Craig took us to a quiet spot and educated us on what we would see and the history of turtles in Hawaii. We had our own snorkeling gear, but Craig was prepared to lend us equipment had we not had any. We swam with the turtles while Craig took photos for us. That was so helpful. I don't think I could have kept track of a camera and all of the sights. Try to book in advance. We wanted to go twice in one week and they were already booked when we made the decision. We'll definitely be back. read more

Craig was a phenomenal guide! He had so much to share about the ocean and all the creatures in it. You could also tell how passionate he is about ocean conversation and education. We really appreciated his knowledge and time as he took us around the lagoon at Anini Beach. Seeing the Sea Turtles and local fish in the reef up close was an experience I will *never* forget. It was truly an incredible experience that everyone should treat themselves to. Thank you again, Craig! read more

Reef Guides - Tours Near Me

We had an amazing snorkeling morning with Craig. Saw, and learned, so much. Members of our party came to the experience with a broad range of experience and comfort in the water and he kept everyone happy and safe even on a (to us) choppy day. The photos he provided were a bonus and a wonderful way to remember our trip. read more

Our time with Reef Guides Hawaii and its owner, Craig Hawkinson, was as good as it gets! First some background, then a detailed review of our snorkeling adventure! I'm an accomplished swimmer -- former lifeguard, current triathlete (including open water swims) -- and an avid water person, with both snorkeling and scuba experience. My wife of 33 years is . . . well, the opposite. She is neither a swimmer, nor very comfortable in a pool, much less the ocean. Many years ago, while in Maui, I tried to get her snorkeling on a boat tour with 10-15 others. It was (how can I say it), traumatizing. With little instruction, ill-fitting equipment and a deep water launch from the boat in a far-from-individualized setting, she was left to flounder and I to help her keep from panicking. Needless to say, I wasn't sure I'd ever get her in the ocean to experience the amazingly colorful fish and marine life. But on our trip this past week in Kauai, we landed upon the idea of a private tour at Reef Guides Hawaii. We called on Thursday and spoke (three or four times) with the delightfully helpful Jemaa, before landing on the idea of a private tour. Unfortunately, with a Monday departure, Friday and Saturday private tours booked, and Sunday being their day off, Jemaa informed us that she would check with Craig to see what might be possible. To my amazement, Craig offered to take us on his day off! Craig met us at the top of the boat launch in Poi Pu 10 minutes before our scheduled time. He was set up and ready to have us sign waivers and talk through safety and marine life "do's" and "don'ts," all of which took about 10 minutes. He spent another 10 minutes questioning and understanding our strengths and weaknesses in the water (with considerable patience towards my wife, and a little skepticism towards my bravado). Then we moved into a full review of where we would snorkel, what we might see, and a fair amount of time spent fitting the equipment for each of us individually. Craig had different sizes and types of masks, fins, and wetsuits (shorties) for us to try, until we found the perfect fit, all of which were immaculately clean. After gearing up (including with a very large boogie board for my wife to hold onto), we were into the water within 45 minutes, to spend nearly 1.5 hours swimming with fish and turtles. Craig was attentive and caring. As others have noticed, he is all business when it comes to safety, and relishes in spending time sharing his considerable marine biologist knowledge. His easy-going style put my wife at ease and provided her with (her words) "the highlight of our trip!" Craig showed us turtles sleeping (who knew they could stay under water for up to four hours when they sleep), amazing fish schools, anemones, coral and lots and lots of curious turtles swimming about. And yes, he shot lots of pictures which we could purchase at the end of our guided tour for $40 (a price we gladly paid). We are excited to get back to Kauai, to take our daughters, and to snorkel again with Craig sometime in the summer months, from the Princeville launch. We cannot possibly recommend him highly enough! read more

See all

Out of everything we did while on Kauai, Snorkeling with Craig was in out top 2! He took the time to talk to us about the creatures and fish we would be seeing and also made the experience generally really fun and enjoyable. We saw a turtle and many wonderful fish. Excellent experience!! Don't miss out on this unforgettable experience. read more

Reef Guides - Tours Near Me

See all

My husband and I booked a turtle tour during our recent trip to Kauai. I decided not to go out since the surf was pretty rough that day, my husband had a fantastic time! Craig's education and background in marine biology is super impressive and interesting - he's clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about marine wildlife. He spent time with both of us sharing details on the types of fish we could expect to see as well as interesting info about each type of fish. My husband said it was some of the best snorkeling he has ever done in Hawaii - we'll definitely book another tour with Craig the next time we're in Kauai. Hopefully the surf will be calmer and I'll be able to go next time. BONUS: Craig takes AMAZING pictures during the tour! read more

Reef Guides - Tours Near Me

Craig is a wonderful instructor and guide! We had a blast exploring the local reef and swimming amongst the fish and turtles. Craig takes the time to educate you before your snorkel so that you know what to look for and what you're looking at. His marine biology background makes it all the more special to learn from him. We had such a great experience and will be sure to recommend Reef Guides to our friends and family. Special perk: you don't have to take a boat ride to explore the reefs! Craig takes you to his special spots around the island you're able to walk right into the water and begin your swim. Don't miss out on this experience! read more

This snorkeling adventure was spectacular and Craig is incredible knowledgeable. couldn't had a better time. I highly recommend it.

This was so cool! The hotel you leave from is gorgeous for one and then they have their own beach area and that's where you start. It was such a cool experience, I love our guide she listened to us and basically took really good care of us. My kids and I kind of got sea sick and she pretty much drug us back to shore by herself. She was an amazing woman! If you get the chance to do this, it's so worth it. read more

Craig and associates took us out today for some great upscale snorkeling. Saw all sorts of fish. Swam with several large turtles too. They hosted us for lunch afterward at the Beach House in Poipu. Since it was winter, we did our snorkeling in the Poipu side of Kuaui. In summer I think they go somewhere on the North side of the island. Craig has permits to take folks to some of the better reefs. We had a great time! read more

Reef Guides - Tours Near Me

If you're going to do one thing while in Kauai -- do the turtle tour! Craig was absolutely amazing, very knowledgeable, kind and made the overall experience amazing! He took the time to go over everything with us before we even started & then taught us about the sea life we might see. Within the first few minutes of being in the water we saw at least 6 stunning turtles and tons of sea life! This was by far the most exciting thing I have done and would totally do it again. It was worth every penny and couldn't recommend it enough! Thank you Craig, you are awesome! read more

Craig was absolutely amazing! Not only is he very much experienced, but he educated my husband and I on the ocean and it's beautiful fish better than our schooling :). I would definitely recommend Craig! read more

I have been on a Turtle Tour with Craig both on the North Shore and the South Shore of Kauai. Snorkeling with Reef Guides Hawaii is a true ecotourist experience. Anyone can take you to a reef to bob around to look at the pretty fish. But Craig and his team really help you understand the ecosystem of the ocean and the struggles we have in Hawaii with reef health and the changing climate. You get an all-round education in the fish of Hawaii, what you will see out on your tour and a bit of history of the ecosystem. When you are out in the water, you are super safe with Craig and his crew. A rest and hang on the rescue board will be filled with discussions on what you see and time to answer any questions. And absolutely purchase the underwater photo package! read more

See all

Went snorkeling with reef guides on our honeymoon in May. We booked through our resort and were very happy to had gone with reef guides. I wish I remembered everyone's name, but Jimmy was the main guy and he was awesome. We met up at the St Regis resort (free valet) and waited for the rest of our group. Went down to the pool area and had a brief instructional "class". We were given information of the native fishes and wildlife we could expect to see. I enjoyed this as it gave us something to look for instead of just seeing a bunch of fish. We suited up and the staff made sure everything fit correctly. They also went through a function test on the equipment. We walked down to the beach and got in the water. My wife didn't not feel as comfortable swimming on her own, so she held on to the boogie board that was towed by one of the guides. Before long, they had her feeling comfortable enough to venture off on her own. We swam through some channels of reefs and it wasn't long before we saw the wild life. Before I knew it, it seemed like we were out a couple hundred yards from the shore. You never would've been able to tell as it was not very deep below. The surf was gentle and the currents weren't bad at all. After heading back in, we talked about some of the sea life we had seen while enjoying an included lunch. read more

See all

I'm a novice at snorkeling and Reef Guides took great care of me until I felt comfortable. More importantly, the educational component and passion that Reef Guides has for their work makes the experience even more spectacular. Awesome day w awesome guides. read more

If you have never snorkeled before or are a beginner snorkeler, or you are simply uncomfortable swimming in the ocean, this is the snorkeling tour for you! This is done in Hanalei Bay coming straight off the beach of the St. Regis Princeville. Craig is the new owner of this company, and I believe he said that he bought it last year. It looks like he's made this a very educational sort of tour, which is why I think it's great for people who know little to nothing about marine life and have even less experience snorkeling. There is a fun educational at the beginning, which Craig gives the group the option of speeding through or going into detail, and our group chose to go into detail because we were all eager to learn. It was very informative and you can tell Craig is very knowledgeable, and his background in marine biology and teaching really shows. But I love that this introduction allows you to have more knowledge once you're in the water and actually identify all the coral and fish you're seeing. Jimmy reported that the waters were a little murky that day, so Craig gave us the option of going to Aniki Beach instead. But he warned us that it would be a carpool over with all the gear and that there'd be less chances of seeing sea turtles, so our group opted to stay. In the end, while the water was definitely a bit murky, we still saw a ton of coral and fish, and most importantly, several sea turtles! Once we were ready to head into the water, Craig and and his associate Jimmy took their time going through safety instructions. They made sure everyone had fitted gear (which was provided, although you are welcome to bring your own) and demonstrated how to properly use them. Jimmy also had a board which was great for people who couldn't swim well or simply got tired and needed a lift (which I did once or twice). So I felt very safe and comfortable before we even got into the water, and continued to feel like I had a literal life raft next to me if I ever needed it. At first I was a little nervous when we got into the water (never swam in the ocean before), but they made sure everyone was ready and comfortable before slowly proceeding out straight from the beach. Both Craig and Jimmy kept a really good eye out on everyone, and would immediately call people back if they saw you swimming too close to the breaking waves. They also said they'd just come and get you if you didn't hear them, but fortunately that didn't happen in our group. We swam past the breaking waves and hung around there, and Craig dived constantly to look for things and point them out. We eventually made our way to what they called the Turtle Bowl where they found us several sea turtles to see! A few of us ended up getting seasick, which I didn't even know was possible, so Jimmy took us back a few minutes early. The rest of the group stayed out with Craig for the full hour of snorkeling. Once back on land, we rinsed off and then gathered at our table to be served lunch, provided by Nalu Kai Grill at the St. Regis. The food was decent, but not as good as I expected of the St. Regis, which of course is no fault of Reef Guides which is why it doesn't affect my rating for them. But it was fun to talk over lunch about all the different things we saw, and Craig went through the many pictures that he took of us while we were out there. I loved that he had an underwater camera and he captured some pretty amazing shots, which you can purchase on a CD. Overall, an amazing experience for my first time swimming in the ocean and snorkeling, and one of our main goals on this trip was to see sea turtles which we did right off the beach! Craig and Jimmy were amazing guides, very friendly and fun, and you can tell they both love and enjoy what they do. If you don't have a lot of experience with snorkeling and you're eager to learn in a safe and comfortable environment, Craig and Jimmy are the way to go. read more

We are 3 generations of women who took his private snorkeling class and tour. He was patient, kind and he kept us all safe while we enjoyed the amazing world beneath the surface of the ocean. I highly recommend his tour to anyone. Do it, you'll be glad you did. read more

This was my first experience of snorkeling And it was wonderful ,all because of Craig,our snorkeling instructor. I had never swum in the sea before and I was nervous. Craig,managed to lull our mind ,into relax mode ,by talking and sharing his knowledge (which is vast).He is a marine biologist and he even carried a card with fishes names &pictures...into the sea ND stopped and identified any fishes which we pointed out during d snorkeling . We also got to see a variety of marine life. The sea,was having a little rip,which made it difficult for a first timer like me,but he made sure that we were very comfortable and took utmost care,during snorkeling. All in all, I would definitely recommend reef guides for a great snorkeling experience. read more

Yo my main man Craig and his assistant Danielle were absolutely wonderful. They were calm and nice like no other. They took this non-snorkeling interstellar genius and change my perspective on this little blue planet called earth and it's oceanic marvels. In all seriousness they have made a memory I will always cherish. Thank you reef guides!! read more

I would highly recommend a tour with Craig if you have the chance. He's very friendly, very knowledgeable, laid back and cool. He took us on a lovely tour around Hanakaape bay and it was amazing. So many fish to see, we swam with about 8 sea turtles around us as well. The lunch after at the Beach House was pretty good too. read more

Jimmy did a great job making us feel comfortable with getting info the water and snorkeling. We were able to see a lot of different fish and actually were able to see and swim along with a turtle (this was not a turtle tour, just an added bonus). The information before the tour was a great addition to the tour so we had an idea of what we might see. If you're snorkeling for the first time, or your 100th time, I would definitely go with Reef Guides! read more

Reef Guides - Tours Near Me

This was a great way to start our trip in Kauai! My husband and I were first time snorkelers, and I was a little nervous since I didn't have any experience swimming in the ocean, but Craig was an excellent instructor/tour guide! He took the time to help make sure we were comfortable in appropriate-fitting gear, and was patient with me getting used to the snorkeling mask. After about an hour of instruction and some information on some of the sea life, we headed out to the water! We saw a turtle within the first 15 minutes which was awesome! Craig also helped take pictures throughout, and made them readily available for an extra $40 fee. Although I got seasick about 45 minutes in-despite taking Dramamine before- I still am very happy with our decision to do this! I hope we can try again next time we are in Kauai! My only advice is to definitely take Dramamine if you get seasick, and wear shorts over bikini bottoms- the life vest definitely hikes up into a wedgie! read more

We had booked the Malama Ka Tai Lunch Tour, which begins at 9 and goes on till around 1 PM. Craig is the guide, who is also a Marine biologist. All his knowledge and experience shows up as he starts describing the marine life we find in Hawaii, and what we might encounter during the snorkel. He also encouraged a whole lot of questions we had. Lucky to have witnessed a little whale activity as he was giving us the description. This is followed by the instructions about the Snorkel Gear, and also Snorkeling in general. Once snorkeling began, Craig showed amazing skills to handle 2 beginners, and also did a great job with the photography.. He very well inter-weaves the knowledge and enjoyment part of the activity. We snorkeled for around an hour, and saw a great variety of Marine life. We could identify the different types of fish, thanks to the description given earlier. What better way to follow up snorkeling than a nice lunch !! Had a nice chat over lunch, where he also showed the photos which were taken. Definitely must try !! read more

This was the best experience so far in Kauai! We were hesitant to book because it would be my first time snorkeling. With the guidance of Craig, by the end of it I felt like a pro. The water was calm and clear and we saw so many vibrant beautiful fish (the ones Craig taught us about prior to getting into the water) As we were heading back to shore, we saw 2 sea turtles and Craig photographed beautiful pictures of my husband and I swimming with them. Such an incredible experience- HIGHLY recommend it!!!! read more

Website showed availability but would not book us, said to call. Call was never returned, nor were 2 separate emails sent direct & via web. To be fair pandemic's still pretty oppressive right now. We went with Kauai Zodiak who were SUPER!! [can see my review there] read more

Craig!!!!! Thank you so much for such an awesome and beautiful experience! We will never forget our very first snorkeling adventure with you!!! The ocean is truly a magical world! Also thank you for sending our cd as you promised!! Your the best! Hope to go on another fabulous adventure with you! You're great at what you do! Please keep it up!! Thank you!!! James and Michelle read more

Our novice family just had an incredible first snorkeling experience. Craig went over the equipment and process I detail before making sure everything fit properly. He even had prescription masks for my wife. He took time to explain what we would see and showed us our route in the water. Once we were in we were able to see incredible schools of fish throughout the reef and swam with several turtles. He was taking pictures throughout, which is a wonderful add-on to document the experience. Very genuine, kind, and caring individual providing and incredible family experience we will never forget. We will definitely book with Reef Guides Hawaii if we ever come back to Kauai. read more

Craig is awesome and made our snorkeling adventure incredible! He goes the extra mile to make sure that we are comfortable and safe. He is incredibly knowledgeable about the fish and the workings of the reef, and it was so fun to see the fish doing exactly what he said they would be doing as we snorkeled through the reef. Highly recommended! read more

Craig was great in providing instruction and the gears needed to make an excellent snorkeling experience. I am not a strong swimmer but have always felt safe during the tour. He captured photos of our adventure with the turtles and other marine wildlife which was available for us to keep for a fee. I liked that I was able to enjoy snorkeling and not worried about shooting photos. I highly recommend!! read more