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Kaimana Ocean Safari: A Tailored, Intimate Wildlife Experience Along The Kona Coastline
4.9
225 Ratings
Kailua-Kona
Embark on a tailored and intimate wildlife experience along the Kona coastline with Kaimana Ocean Safari. Discover diverse marine life and create lifelong memories on our small-group tours.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- 74 Kealakehe Pkwy - The adventure begins the moment you set foot on our vessel! Our tours are set up safari style which means from the start of the tour we are going to be scanning the gorgeous and dramatic coastline of Kona for any type of wildlife to observe and interact with. With the rapid and deep drop off of the sea floor along the coast, we have the potential to see shallow water animals as well as pelagic (deep, open ocean) marine life. While nature is unpredictable and we cannot guarantee any specific interactions or observations, we have the potential to see sea turtles, various fish species, dolphin and whale species, sharks, and manta rays. We’ll have four hours on the water to provide you with the best experience imaginable. Please note we go into deep water for open ocean wildlife on nearly every tour & the search for pelagic life can take some time. Please note you should be able to swim, have a degree of athleticism, & climb up a ladder to participate in the water. This may not be the tour for beginners or some children. *Please review our cancelation policy & if you are joining from a cruise ship you need to confirm with them 24 hours prior they will let you off of the ship.
What's Included
- Snacks
- Use of snorkeling equipment
- Bottled water
What's Not Included
- Towels, rash guards, sun protection are not included. Please bring reef safe sunscreen (zinc only).
Additional Information
Join us at Kaimana Ocean Safari for a curated oceanic adventure with our trained ocean ecologists, boat operators, and marine photographers. You’ll explore the vibrant Kona coastline and interact with a variety of marine species. With a maximum capacity of 6 guests, our tours far outdo the impersonal experience offered by larger tourist vessels. Our excursions operate on a ‘safari’ model, covering expansive portions of the coastline on our vessel in pursuit of diverse marine life. The thrill of the chase is part of the adventure we offer, letting nature dictate the course of your journey. Embark on an unforgettable expedition with us and create memories that will last a lifetime! Please check out our Instagram pages to get a glimpse of the possible sights. A kind reminder, we do not assure sightings or offer refunds in the event of no sightings. We strive to explore as much as we can as marine life is unpredictable in nature.
- We have a 4ft height limit for children
- We have an in-water weight limit of 300 lbs- must be able to climb ladder
Location
74 Kealakehe Pkwy
Kealakehe Parkway
Tours meet at Honokohau Harbor north side bathrooms 15 minutes prior to departure. Enter Kealakehe Parkway from Queen Ka’ahumanu Hwy, Make your first right & turn left after the gas station on your left. Park at the bathroom pavilion & meet staff.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(225 Ratings)
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Tracif992
Aug 7, 2024
The best snorkel experience on the Kona Coast - I have traveled to Hawaii a few times, and done a few snorkel excursions, but this one by far was the very best I had ever been on. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Incredible experience! Will definitely be back.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emilybb8100nu
Aug 5, 2024
Best Boat Tour!! - Book with them for 3 days in a row and it was an experience I’ll never forget. Might even say life changing?? I had never been on a boat tour like this and they set the bar very high. They provided snacks and drinks throughout the tour, and education on all wildlife we saw. They walked us through safety in and out of the water and were very descriptive on everything they did so that we always felt in the loop and included on the decisions being made. Will definitely be coming back if I get the chance to visit Kona again.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mgriffis22
Jul 19, 2024
Awesome Family Ocea. Safari - We booked the private ocean safari with Cam We booked the private ocean safari with Cam and Devin.Unfortunately due to rough conditions, they suggested postponing for two days so we rescheduled. Our rescheduled tour was led by Kayleigh and Devin. They were a great team and took us to multiple sites where we snorkeled with turtles, pilot whales and tons of fish. They had snacks aboard and couldn’t have been better hosts Highly recommend. and Devin.Unfortunately due to rough conditions, they suggested postponing for two days so we rescheduled. Our rescheduled tour was led by Kayleigh and Devin. They were a great team and took us to multiple sites where we snorkeled with turtles, pilot whales and tons of fish. They had snacks aboard and couldn’t have been better hosts. Our sons (8 & 5) had their first open ocean experience which was very smooth and memorable. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
207sharia
Jul 12, 2024
Another beautiful day on the water! - Our day with Cam and Shelly was beautiful! It was a blue skies and calm water day, so we were treated to a really cool cave dive. We were also fortunate to see a mama bottlenose dolphin with her baby swimming right along side of her. They looked so peaceful. The best part of the day was toward the end of the tour and getting in the water with a couple of oceanic whitetip sharks and feeling completely safe with Cam in the water with us. It was my first time swimming with sharks, and I have to admit I wasn't completely sure that I'd get in, but Cam did a great job of making me understand what to do while in the water with oceanic whitetips. I highly recommend you book this adventure. Even if you don't get lucky and see any pelagics, seeing the Kona coastline from the water is to see another side of the beauty of the Big Island!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Curiosity20045954010
Jul 8, 2024
Phenomenal - Had a blast going out on this adventure! Got to see a lot of wild life! The crew was amazing, also very helpful! Thriving to show us an amazing time! Most definitely will be back! When in Kona 🤙🏽
Review provided by Tripadvisor
260kristad
Jul 2, 2024
Fantastic Ocean Safari - Wha wha whaaatttt?!!?! I got to see 2 new species of marine animals to swim with on this amazing tour! First of all, the day was beautiful, the boat was comfortable and the crew was great!!! Really loved chatting with the crew and getting to know them and search for some amazing animals in these beautiful Kona waters! I’ve been wishing for and hoping for some bottlenose dolphins and they delivered! We found a small cuddly pod or bottlenose to hop in with and drone as well! Then we went offshore and found a huge pod of very comfortable pilot whales (with babies!) and my 2nd new species an oceanic whitetip shark! I was so stoked, our shark friend was a well behaved gentleman, maybe because the pilots were keeping a close eye on us! Cam and Morri were amazing to be on the boat with and I’m so grateful for my time in the water on this tour! Mahalo!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
J2167cuah
Jun 28, 2024
Great Day on the Water with a Terrific Team - Kay and Cam are great and very knowledgeable and experienced. Love the the small size of the tour, which means you can see animals without scaring them away. We snorkeled and saw pilot whales, lots of fish, frog fish, flying fish, flying squid. Was a fun day. Highly recommend! Also recommend going in the morning
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Melody_c
Jun 26, 2024
I swam with a pilot whale in 4000' deep ocean. - Our guides were knowledgeable and welcoming. They were gracious to a range of comfort levels in the group and everyone had a great time. It's a small, comfortable boat. Just being on the water with amazing views was wonderful. We found a pod of pilot whales and were able to get in the water and observe them in a way that felt respectful to the animals. A strong swimmer with no snorkeling experience, I felt safe. After that encounter, we snorkeled in Captain Cook, which ensured that those who were not comfortable in the open ocean could participate and have some memorable moments on the reef. The photo package upgrade was a nice option. It allowed our group to just experience the moment and not worry about photos.
Review provided by Viator
Stevenmq9943yf
Jun 24, 2024
Awesome adventures! - Kayleigh, Cam, Morri, Devin, Laurie, and Shelly are amazing! I come to the big island 2 to 3 times a year and always go out on as many ocean safaris as possible. With them I’ve seen oceanic whitetip sharks, many pods of pilot whales, lots of manta rays, bait balls, Honu, rough toothed dolphin, bottle nose dolphin, many cool snorkeling/ dive sites, and today a leatherback turtle! Awesome experiences with awesome people!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jpress
Jun 17, 2024
Fantastic - We took the 8am tour with Kaimana Ocean Safari and there were only 5 of us…four grown ups and one 10yr old. We encountered a pod of pilot whales and joined two pair in the water as quietly and gently as possible. Absolutely beautiful to see them underwater. Later, we saw two reef sharks, a med sized one and a larger one closer to the ocean floor. I also saw a large eel. We experienced a large pod of silver bait fish, also. Fantastic trip and well worth the money. The captain and crew were very professional and friendly. Fresh water, sodas, fruit and snacks were provided. *Note: the child was not allowed in the water with the pilot whales or sharks. She was was allowed in when we went in search of rays/turtles which is where the bait fish were.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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