Kona Shore Excursion: Dolphins & Captain Cook Reef Snorkel in Big Island of Hawaii
Big Island of Hawaii, United States

Kona Shore Excursion: Dolphins & Captain Cook Reef Snorkel

Outty Ranking 70 4.7 · 81 traveler reviews3 hoursFrom $149

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September 2026

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Outty Ranking

70/100

Solid Choice. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

4.7/5

Based on 81 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Kona Shore Excursion: Dolphins & Captain Cook Reef Snorkel worth booking?

Kona Shore Excursion: Dolphins & Captain Cook Reef Snorkel is a 3-hour experience in Big Island of Hawaii, United States, from $149 per person. It scores 70 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice, based on a 4.7/5 rating across 81 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
70 / 100
Rating
4.7/5 (81)
Duration
3 hours
From
$149 per person

Snorkel at a colorful protected reef known as Kealakekua Bay located next to Captain Cook's monument. A truly historical sight! Encounter wild dolphins, sea caves, and more! Your lunch is also included consisting of a de

What you get

    About this experience

    Snorkel at a colorful protected reef known as Kealakekua Bay located next to Captain Cook's monument. A truly historical sight! Encounter wild dolphins, sea caves, and more! Your lunch is also included consisting of a deli wrap or sometimes BBQ hot dogs, fresh fruit, chips, granola bars, juice, and water.  All snorkel gear and flotation devices are included. Cruise Ship Guest Depart from the Kailua Kona Pier- 32 ft Zodiac Max 19-28 passengers. 8:45 am Check in 9:00 am Departure **While most of the time we depart at 9:00 am, there are some dates we must adjust departure time in order to accommodate cruise ship guests according to their ship itinerary ***

    What's included

    Included

    • Snorkel gear equipment
    • Includes lunch, snacks & refreshments
    • Worry-Free Shore Excursion Guarantee
    • Flotation devices
    • Port pickup from Kailua Kona Pier
    • Professional local captain and crew

    Not included

    • Gratuities
    • Private Tour
    • Towel and Sunscreen

    Where it starts and ends

    Meeting point

    Big Island of Hawaii

    CRUISE SHIP GUESTS: Check-in Time 15 min prior to departure time. This tour departs from the Kailua-Kona pier. When you get off your tender look for your guide holding a sign that says " C Big Island / Dolphin Reef Snorkel"

    Hotel pickup

    Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 15 minutes before departure.

    Ends at

    CRUISE SHIP GUESTS: Check-in Time 15 min prior to departure time. This tour departs from the Kailua-Kona pier. When you get off your tender look for your guide holding a sign that says " C Big Island / Dolphin Reef Snorkel"

    Options you can book

    • Ruby Princess 10:00 am

      Duration: 3 hours 10:00 am : Check in 9:45 am Pickup included

    • Carnival Luminosa

      Duration: 3 hours 10:00 am : Check in 9:45 am Pickup included

    • Ruby Princess 12:00 pm

      Duration: 3 hours 12:00 pm noon : Check in 11:45 am Pickup included

    • Westerdam 10:00 am

      Duration: 3 hours 10:00 am : Check in 9:45 am Pickup included

    • Ruby Princess Snorke 10:00 am

      Duration: 3 hours 10:00 am : 9:45 am Check in Pickup included

    • Royal Princess 12:00 pm

      Duration: 3 hours 12:00 pm Noon: 11:45 am check in Pickup included

    • Norwegian Spirit 10:00 am

      Duration: 3 hours 10:00 am: Check in 9:45 am Pickup included

    • 9:00 am Cruise Ship-Kona Pier

      Cruise ship passengers : 8:45 am check in time / 9:00 am depart. Your ship will anchor in Kailua Kona Bay. You need to take a tender from ship to pier Pickup included

    • Hollnd Americ Zaandam 10:00 am

      Duration: 3 hours 10:00 am : 9:45 am Check in Pickup included

    • Ruby Princess 10:00 am snorkel

      Duration: 3 hours 10:00 am: 9:45 am check in Pickup included

    • Celeb. Solstice 10:00 am

      Duration: 3 hours Pickup included

    • Afternoon Snorkel - NCL Pride

      Pride of America : The afternoon snorkel departs from the Kailua Kona Pier 12:45 pm check in 1:00pm departure Pickup included

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Languages
    en
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Every day
    Group size
    Up to 15 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    C Big Island Tours

    Know before you go

    • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
    • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
    • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • Minimum age is 5 years
    • Boat is not wheelchair accessible
    • Weight limit is 265lbs (125kg)
    • Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name
    • Suggested items to bring: sunglasses, sunblock and towel
    • Please have your bathing suit on before the trip begins.

    Photos

    Kona Shore Excursion: Dolphins & Captain Cook Reef Snorkel in Big Island of Hawaii, photo 2Kona Shore Excursion: Dolphins & Captain Cook Reef Snorkel in Big Island of Hawaii, photo 3Kona Shore Excursion: Dolphins & Captain Cook Reef Snorkel in Big Island of Hawaii, photo 4Kona Shore Excursion: Dolphins & Captain Cook Reef Snorkel in Big Island of Hawaii, photo 5Kona Shore Excursion: Dolphins & Captain Cook Reef Snorkel in Big Island of Hawaii, photo 645 ft Zodiac

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 79 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    Knowledge and storytelling

    4 mentions

    Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    Food and drink

    3 mentions

    The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.

    The guide

    2 mentions

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Organization

    2 mentions

    Pickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.

    Traveler reviews

    79 verified traveler reviews for Kona Shore Excursion: Dolphins & Captain Cook Reef Snorkel. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    66
    4 star
    7
    3 star
    3
    2 star
    0
    1 star
    3
    Sort
    DEBORAH_P · August 2026

    Great excursion!

    Kris and Mary are the best host and hostess! They made sure we were all happy. The food was delicious that they served us for lunch. Snorkeling was great! They went out of their way to share information about the sea caves and the history.

    Response from the operator: Thank you for the 5 stars.

    via Viator

    leah_r · July 2026

    Must Do While In Kona!

    Took my mom and daughter for a birthday excursion (daughter eight years old) and the experience could not have been better. Kris and Elayo were fabulous! I recommend this excursion with this team to anyone who wants an exceptional snorkeling experience paired with thoughtful snacks and kind, informative conversation.

    Response from the operator: Mahalo Leah for the 5 stars! It was a pleasure being part of your Big Island experience. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to see you on another adventure in the future.

    via Viator

    beth_z · May 2026

    Captain Cindy!!

    Boat captain Cindy and her crew, Lindsey were awesome! Very attentive, informative and friendly. Truly made this experience 5 star. Cindy had great information about the area and was a phenomenal captain!! The snorkeling equipment was of good quality and the fish and coral were beautiful. Highly recommend.

    Response from the operator: Mahalo Beth for the 5-star review! 🌟 We loved having you on board and are so happy your experience with C Big Island Tours was unforgettable.

    via Viator

    T_B · April 2026

    Snorkel, Reefs, Dolphins

    Kris with Aloha Ocean Excursions was our guide to Dolphins, Sea Caves & Snorkeling. What a great trip. I would highly recommend Kris for your adventure.

    Response from the operator: We’re thrilled you had such a positive experience 🌺

    via Viator

    Evangeline_H · March 2026

    Fantastic snorkel tour!

    We were only in Kona for a day on a cruise. I chose this because of their willingness to work with cruise ship passengers in terms of scheduling/cancellartions, etc. I really wanted to see the famous reef and the Captain Cook site. They also offered pick up and drop off right from the cruise port so it was super convenient. It was myself, my husband and our two kids (aged 10 and 14) and we all had a great time. It was extremely well organized and easy to find the bus right off the cruise ship as promised. It was a short bus ride to the boat and at the harbor they had bathrooms and a check in station where we all left our shoes. Our tour guides/captains/wait staff were Trevor, Maddie and Diego. They were all super nice and safety conscious. Knew a lot about the wildlife and from the boat we spotted dolphins, many many fish, and even a shark. The snorkeling was great and visibility was amazing. They had reef-safe sunscreen on the boat and a large amount of free snacks and drinks. This was the best snorkeling I have done in a long time. I’m really glad we chose this company to do it with. We had a great day out. Couple of things to mention: 1) I would recommend you have a baseline level of mobility for this tour. You really need to be able to climb down into the boat and out again. The guides were awesome about helping everyone and very strong but I would just say, be realistic about your limitations about this. 2) this is not a large boat and so there is no bathroom available while actually on the ship. Again this wasn’t a problem for us but just worth mentioning. There were not a lot of people on the boat, maybe 20? So that was very nice. All of the other passengers were super nice and there was another set of (younger) kids on board, they provided everyone with anti-fog treatment, masks, fins, snorkels, life vests and pool noodles. All in all a great day out. Honestly if more businesses ran their business this way a lot more people would do this rather than forking over the extra money to do the “excursion” through the cruise ship.

    Response from the operator: We truly appreciate your 5 stars! ⭐ Nothing makes us happier than knowing our guests had an incredible time 🌊

    via Viator

    Good to know

    Duration
    3 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Every day
    Hotel pickup
    Available for selected locations
    Booked in 30 days
    28
    Verdict
    Solid Choice

    Why this scores 70

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)79
    Review evidence (18% weight)56
    Booking momentum (14% weight)50
    Value for money (12% weight)73
    Listing quality (10% weight)83
    Local standing (8% weight)44
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    Kona Shore Excursion: Dolphins & Captain Cook Reef Snorkel: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Big Island of Hawaii.

    How much does Kona Shore Excursion: Dolphins & Captain Cook Reef Snorkel cost?

    +

    Prices start at $149 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Big Island of Hawaii usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does Kona Shore Excursion: Dolphins & Captain Cook Reef Snorkel take?

    +

    Plan for about 3 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Big Island of Hawaii is not rushed.

    Is Kona Shore Excursion: Dolphins & Captain Cook Reef Snorkel worth it?

    +

    It holds an Outty Ranking of 70 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.7/5 across 81 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Big Island of Hawaii, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

    Can I cancel or reschedule Kona Shore Excursion: Dolphins & Captain Cook Reef Snorkel?

    +

    Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

    Is Kona Shore Excursion: Dolphins & Captain Cook Reef Snorkel suitable for kids and families?

    +

    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 3-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book Kona Shore Excursion: Dolphins & Captain Cook Reef Snorkel?

    +

    Around 28 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Big Island of Hawaii can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

    +

    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Big Island of Hawaii and add a light layer if any part of the 3-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does Kona Shore Excursion: Dolphins & Captain Cook Reef Snorkel start and how do I get there?

    +

    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Big Island of Hawaii within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in Big Island of Hawaii?

    +

    The Big Island is volcano country: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park tours, Mauna Kea summit stargazing, night manta ray snorkels off Kona, Waipio Valley lookouts and coffee farm visits. Summit tours have real altitude rules, so we weight safety detail. On Outty we rank every Big Island of Hawaii experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include KONA Manta Ray Night Snorkel - FREE re-ride if no Sightings, Big Island in a Day: Volcanoes Waterfalls Sightseeing and History, Big Island: Captain Cook Snorkel On A Power Catamaran With Lunch. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit Big Island of Hawaii?

    +

    April to October, though the island runs year round. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in Big Island of Hawaii?

    +

    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

    +

    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

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