Ultimate Ocean Encounters Midday Snorkel in Big Island of Hawaii booking from $64.63

Ultimate Ocean Encounters Midday Snorkel

Overview

On this 3-hour excursion you can expect to see and snorkel with as much sea life as possible. Trust our Captains and Crew with their knowledge of the Kona Coast and all the beauty it has to offer. Keep your eyes out for spinner dolphins, turtles, whales, colorful schools of fish and vibrant reef. Our crew will be happy to share some fun historical facts, snorkel tips, and fun fish stories.

Strap on your snorkel gear and get ready to jump into the warm Hawaiian sea, for the Ultimate Ocean Encounter.

City: Big Island of Hawaii

Mon 23 Dec

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Starting at $64.63

Make a reservation

Mon 23 Dec

Starting at $64.63

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Soda/Pop

Bottled water

Snacks

Snorkel Mask and Fins

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

What To Expect

Honokohau Marina & Small Boat Harbor

On this 3-hour excursion you can expect to see and snorkel with as much sea life as possible. Trust our Captains and Crew with their knowledge of the Kona Coast and all the beauty it has to offer. Keep your eyes out for spinner dolphins, turtles, whales, colorful schools of fish and vibrant reef. Our crew will be happy to share some fun historical facts, snorkel tips, and fun fish stories. Strap on your snorkel gear and get ready to jump into the warm Hawaiian sea, for the Ultimate Ocean Encounter.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (25)

Sunshinejoaniej

Apr 2022

Reviewing 230pm snorkel tour with Groupon. The young lady who checked me in was friendly and the process was easy. Captain Lena's enthusiasm set the tone for the trip. She was so happy you'd have thought it was the first time she'd seen spinner dolphins! Very positive & professional woman with a warm smile. Crew members Connor and Cher were both friendly and helpful as well. I needed extra help boarding due to a physical challenge and they were all accommodating and lent me their strength. They seemed attentive and friendly to all of the guests. We saw the aforementioned spinner dolphins, a manta ray and a honu from the deck of the boat. There were plenty of reef fish to swim with at both sights. It would be a nice touch if the boat had laminated ID cards so people could identify what they saw. Also, this is not Fiji, so set your expectations of coral accordingly. There is quite a bit of motion both aboard the boat and in the water, so set yourself and your children up for success and take seasick meds before you check in if you are prone to mal de mer. There were maybe 16 of us and there was ample room for everyone and our stuff. I don't know what capacity is, but it didn't feel crowded. Noodles were available for those who desired them. Water, juice, and the typical snacks were provided, as was de-fog for your mask. I didn't check it out, but there is a head available if you need it. There is limited shade available, so if you need to stay out of the sun, make sure to position yourself near the front of the pack as you follow your crew down the walkway so that you can board first. My only complaint is that it is a 3 hour tour, so now I have the Gilligan's Island theme song stuck in my head. Overall a pleasant experience. Remember it takes a whale to tip the boat, but only you can tip the crew.

ndser

Mar 2022

We booked the Ocean Encounters (or was it the Bite Me Company ... hard to tell .. they seem to use both names and boats) mid-day snorkel tour in March using a combination of a Groupon, an additional discount and a Groupon credit that reduced the cost to less than $10 for the two of us. I wish I could say it was worth that much. We have dived & snorkeled in the Caribbean, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia, Bali, Central America, Canada, and I have to say that I have never encountered such a poor selection of dive sites, a staff so uninterested in their customers or such unethical behaviour. Where to start? First, the dive sites – one just south of the harbour entrance and one in an area just south of the airport – were barren with virtually no live coral, few fish and very poor species diversity (although clarity wasn't bad, it wasn't much of a benefit with little to see). Second, the crew's interaction with their customers almost non-existent, consisting of a very brief introduction to explain procedures then ... nothing. When the boat was running, they disappeared – either forward near the head staring at their electronic devices or talking to each other, or up on the flying bridge with the pilot. When we were snorkeling, they were off on their own, totally ignoring their customers as they looked for their prey. When we were re-embarking, they were out of sight, offering no help to the people climbing up the ladder with their gear (and many were inexperienced and needed the help), something I have never seen before with any other operator. Third, and in my mind, most importantly, was the unethical practice that we observed. One of the staff caught an octopus, which she showed to a few customers as she brought it back to the boat. We watched her as she swam surreptitiously to the bow, hoping to get a photo when she released the animal. We were quite shocked when she killed the animal and passed it in a plastic bag up to the pilot standing in the bow. Now, I don't know what the Hawaiian recreational fishing regulations might be, but that isn't the point. This was advertised as an ocean encounter, not a hunting trip. I had to wonder if the sites were chosen, not for what the customers might see, but for what the crew might take home for dinner. In summary, bad snorkeling, bad crew, and an apalling level of unethical behaviour. Avoid this one regardless of the price.

alwayz_on_vacation

Mar 2022

A disappointing experience. We fortunately used a Groupon making the afternoon snorkel excursion under $60 for the two of us. Our trip was changed from 1 pm to 2:30 the day before departure and instead of being a 3 hour trip we were back to the marina after 2.5 hours. Later realizing the same boat left at 5:37 for the manta ray night sunset and snorkel so obviously why we were back early. The boat, amenities, etc. were disappointing and the service even worse. The crew was uninterested in educating, assisting, interacting and hung out on the upper level with the captain and in the water snorkeling on their own and then at the end asked for tips . . . really?!?! We stopped at 2 snorkeling spots with somewhat rough conditions and limited fish. Did see a small eel at the second stop. I cannot recommend this excursion/company!

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