I'm the girl who wants to go snorkeling even though she gets sea sickness and can't really swim…read morebecause 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!

Fun 5/5 Snorkeling 4/5…read more 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!

We always come here for our snorkel rentals! We like their moflex fins- they're so much comfier…read morethan regular fins. When we came with family, we got some prescription snorkels and they worked great! Esae and Dee (sorry if I spelled those names wrong!) are always super friendly and helpful with making sure we get the right products and sizes on! If it's a busy season, make sure to reserve ahead of time. We usually just walk in but came during a holiday weekend once and they didn't have anything available and we had to run around to different shops to find fins. We ended up getting fins from a place in Waikiki that was much more expensive and they were unfriendly and honestly rude there, so we've been sure to make reservations ahead of time so we can pick up our things at snorkel bob's!

Really good snorkel gear for a reasonable weekly rate. Best to reserve it on li e ahead of time. No…read morecharge to do that. The gals working there really know their stuff and you get to try on their fins to make sure they fit before you leave. No charge to change sizes from your reservation. Overall great experience.

Nice to see the monk seals. At least they moved around a bit before the sunset. No rain so just…read morecool trade wind. Glad I found parking. Seals will be here a few weeks.

This is the spot where I do open water swims when I'm in Waikiki. One of my brothers is a resident…read morehere so he introduced this beach to me years ago. It's not really ever crowded and the water is just right to get a good swim in; the water is fairly calm so don't come here to surf. This makes it a popular beach for families with kids. You'll be with other open water swimmers and even people snorkeling, although I'm not sure there are a lot of fish to see.

Captain Krash, Margaret, & Sushi were great! Awesome experience! Our second time. It was just as…read moreawesome as the first time. If you wanna see sea turtles and fishes up close + explore another part of this island paradise choose Oahu Catamarans!

Shannon, Lucy, and Kareem were awesome! We saw a turtle and monk seal right away from the boat…read morewhich was so cool. They made sure everyone felt comfortable and understood how to use the equipment before getting in. They even had prescription inserts for the goggles which was great as I was worried I wouldn't be able to see well. 10/10 and the snacks and juice were great after snorkeling :)

Pro-tip: My family woke up at 4 am one day of our vacation to do a driving tour of O'ahu. Lanikai…read moreBeach was our first stop. No parking issues, and we had this stunning beach completely to ourselves for about 15-20 minutes as we waited for sunrise. When we left around 6:30 am, we also saw our first rainbow of the day! The early bird gets the worm. :)

It's always busy here any time of the day, doesn't matter if it's weekends or weekdays. Parking is…read moredifficult to find in this area. Do yourself a favor and park at Kailua Beach and walk over (please note that there are multiple access points). You have to maneuver around the hordes of visitors, but you won't regret it! The sand is powdery soft and the views of "The Mokes" are stunning!

Nyle was an amazing guide! We had such a great time! She was super accommodating and helped my…read moresister who was nervous to snorkel and she stayed by her side the entire time. We saw fish and even got to see two turtles!! Definitely would recommend!!!

I feel like we lucked into having the best experience of all the people we saw in Hanauma Bay that…read moreday. Nyle was the difference maker - I felt sorry for everyone else who only got to see what was in close. She showed us so much more and we had a great time. Nyle was everything you'd want in a guide and she even sent us great photos and videos afterward. If you aren't going to snorkel with Nyle, I would recommend doing something else.

Went on vacation to Honolulu with 10 friends to celebrate a big 5-O birthday. This catamaran…read moreexperience was amazing and perfect for our group. A couple of us jumped in the water (cocktails were involved) and floated on their Lily Pad for a bit. The views were spectacular, as you can see. They also let us choose our own music, BOYB and snacks. Mahalo!

We booked the fireworks cruise with Capt. Tom, Bella, and Savanah about 2 weeks in advance for my…read moredaughter's 18th birthday. The crew was super fun, easygoing, and made us feel right at home. The boat was spotless and we loved being able to connect to their bluetooth to play our own music. We brought along food, drinks, and a cake, and it turned into the best celebration!! Being out on the water with the city lights and watching the fireworks from the boat made the night unforgettable. We'll definitely be booking again!

With the famous blowhole behind, this is the famous cove used in many movies and TV shows. This is…read morea gorgeous spot to enjoy the scenery and think about the celebrities who have visited! Hey, you can join their ranks! I opted to not join the crowd, so my face is not in the photo.

Take a drive south past Waikiki along the shore and you will eventually see the signs for this…read morebeach. There is free parking at the blowhole lot and you will see this cove along the east side of the island. The view may look familiar as it was the site for filming in "From Here to Eternity" and it has also been used for a few other movies and TV shows since then. The view is beautiful and waters are usually a pale turquoise. It is a bit of a tortuous hike to climb down the cliff to get to the beach for this cove. Definitely wear water shoes or foot protection as there are sharp volcanic rocks that create the cove. The water can be rough. The depth of the water steps down quickly, so I wouldn't recommend it for weak swimmers or small children. Nevertheless, it is beautiful scene of another Oahu beach. If you walk to more to the southside of this area you will have the fun to see the natural blowhole as the tides come in and out. Once again, make sure to have decent shoes to get there. Makes for some great photos or videos so it is definitely worth the adventure. For those that are not physically able to make the hike or climb, the vista is beautiful by itself. There are definitely a fair share of tourists and locals who come here, but it is much less than the Waikiki crowd. You will need a car to get here from Waikiki. I recommend you experience this spot at least once on your visit to Oahu.

Here is my account of my kayaking trip to the sandbar. See accompanying pictures and videos. So,…read moreJohn at Go Bananas kayak rental strapped a long kayak with a skeg to my car. I drove off his parking lot, and arrived at the He'eia Kea Boat Harbor. On this windy and rainy day I launched off the Kaneohe Canoe Club towards where I thought the sandbar would be found. For my entire trip inching forward in that direction I was alone in the foreboding ocean, or rather they bay. But from my low vantage points, it looked as if I were in the middle of the deep ocean with breaking waves under me and dark clouds above me. John told me to aim for Kapapa Island, and he was right. Because as far as I could tell from my kayak it was just dark water all around me, except for that tiny speck of an island. All other boats I saw and thought to be tourist boats anchored at the sandbar all turned out to be decoys - they were docked so closed to shore in retrospect. Many a times I thought I'd reached the sandbar only to find empty boats in dark and deep water. Many more times I thought of turning back - it could be frightening being out there alone, even if I was prepared with all available safety devices. But I kept going. Then I sensed a change in water color. Shortly the sun poked its head out of the cloud. And magic happened. The sea all around me turned turquoise as soon as sunrays touched them, revealing that I was mere inches above sand now. I soon found a lone stand-up paddler lying supine on his board, drinking beer. I also ran into a birthday party dinning around a table half-submerged in water. Then Captain Bruce's boat showed up, dumping lots of merrymakers onto the sandbar. Now that I know the place, I would have no issues coming back again and finding it, next time. In some of the videos you will find dark clouds raining on entire towns, while I filmed the shore from the sandbar. That gives you a sense of how far the sandbar is from shore.

If you haven't made a visit yet to Kaneohe Bay Sandbar, do it asap because this is a once in a…read morelifetime experience. I had the hesitation to book it due to the fact my son is on the spectrum and wasn't sure how he was going to react during the experience. Took the chance and made a reservation through Hawaii Ocean Sports. They took us on a boat to access the beautiful Sandbar. It's nestled in the middle of the ocean 3 miles stretch of sand. Unfortunately, we ended up doing the afternoon tour where high tides took place water level up to our necks. During our ride there, we were served lunch consisting of a turkey sandwich, fruits, and a cookie. Very filling as we were on to our destination while we listened to live music entertaining us along the way. Snacks, towels, drinks, and a bar are available for additional cost. As we approached the Sandbar, we were required to do a brief safety class before heading into the beautiful water. My kids and I were surprised how magnificent the Sandbar was. Definitely a true paradise where our dreams came true. I didn't think I would ever experience this kind of beauty. My son and I were terrified at first as we entered the water, but our life jackets saved us as we were floating. Lots of activities offered which are part of the package including SUP, kayaking, volleyball, snorkeling, or relaxing at the dock while sipping on drinks. We mainly enjoyed ourselves floating in the ocean. The current did get a little rough as it started to pour rain right before heading back to the marina. One advice is to head out early onto the boat before everyone does because the changing and bathrooms can get wet with dirty grounds. Music was blasting with great hits as we ended the day. Made my son and I stand up desiring to dance. Truly this is an unforgettable magical experience. You bet I will make a reservation again when we return to Oahu next year!

No. Don't. Before you try to book this company, better do your own research or you'll end up…read moregetting bitter and expensive experience like us. We booked this company since we couldn't get reservation at Hanauma Bay. So this is the only option to enjoy Hanauma Bay with transportation BUT you still have to purchase Hanauma Bay tickets at the ticket counter BY YOURSELF. And depending on the time and hour, the wait can range between 30 minutes to 2 hours. So the point I'm trying to get across is BOOK YOUR HANAUMA BAY TICKETS AHEAD OF TIME so you don't have to purchase from any third party company. Second issue. is the driver. Unfortunately we had such a RUDE, IMPATIENT, and DISRESPECTFUL DRIVER, JAMES. I had two teenagers kids with me who unfortunately were late by 5 minutes by the time he picked us up. You know what he did/said? He made rude and degeratory comments, jokes all the way from the moment we sat down until he dropped us off. Also, this guy has a short temper problem for sure. The way he drives endangered the passengers. During the trip, somebody stopped in front of him and pissed him off. The guy ended up whipping out his phone and taking picture of him. Not long after that, two ladies were trying to cross the street, he didn't look carefully and almost hit them, then he got angry for no reason and gave them a hand. Those were just uneventful experiences that we witnessed along with 8 other passengers who sat inside the van. After reading all the one review from this company, there are some people who got irritated by the driver named James as well. I know I'm not alone. We still had an awesome time snorkeling in Hanauma Bay regardless this awful experience with the driver. Mind you we paid a lot for this transportation service for total of three people. But what's more painful is the feeling you received after someone made you feel less by his degeratory and sarcastic jokes in front of family and strangers.

We love snorkeling and were planning a trip to Oahu this month. We knew snorkeling on the North…read moreShore was out due to the high surf, so that left Hanauma Bay as our best opportunity. We know the state now has a lottery that requires you to sign up 2 days in advance, and the tickets go quickly. We did not want to risk not getting to go, so we booked an excursion, as they are given spaces for their guests.I checked the reviews and choices and booked with Hanauma Bay Snorkel Adventures several weeks before our trip. We know that mornings are best for water clarity and calmer surf - and we've found the fish tend to be more abundant in the AM, so we booked the morning slot. We received emails and were told the van would pick us up at our Waikiki hotel at 5:40 a.m. We were waiting a few minutes, and then the van came to our hotel. We climbed in, and with 2 other couples and the driver, we were off in the dark. First stop was their dive shop - on the way, on the other side of Diamond Head. Snorkel gear was distributed (we brought our own), and then we climbed into the van and drove a short distance to the Hanauma Bay entrance. We gathered as a small group and went into the park together (you'll bring $25 cash each person for the Hanauma Bay ticket - not included in the excursion payment). There is a mandatory short movie (around 15 minutes) that is primarily a primer to keep the reef and marine life safe. We took the free tram down to the bay (you can also walk - a bit of a steep hill). They have bathrooms with changing stalls at the beach. We were on the beach as the sun's first rays shone across the bay - it was a beautiful morning. We got in 3 separate snorkel sessions going out into zone 2 (through the buoys and past the first reef) where it's deeper, and we saw greater numbers of fish. If this is your first time snorkeling or you are less experienced, I would caution you to check with the lifeguards on the beach before doing this.About 3 hours later, it was time to pack up, and we took the tram to the top, where we waited a few minutes with the group we traveled with in the morning. Our van showed up and drove us straight back to our hotel. We very much enjoyed the day, but honestly would have preferred to be on our own so we could choose when we wanted to leave. But for many who visit Oahu and stay in Waikiki, this is a good way to snorkel at Hanauma Bay. NOTE: I do see a number of reviews that speak of rude staff and substandard transportation. Fortunately for us, we did not experience any of that on our trip.