Big Island of Hawaii

15 Best Kona Dolphin Tours

The dolphin trips: spinner pods resting in the Kona coast’s coves most mornings, paired with sea caves and reef snorkeling. Calm water is the norm on this side.

1.Kona Wild Dolphin, Sea Cave & Captain Cook Reef Snorkel Adventure

Discover Hawaii’s Big Island waters on this 2.5-hour combo tour with speedboat rides, wildlife encounters, and snorkeling in Captain Cook Reef.

Most Popular★ 4.5

“Loved the caves, pineapple after, boat ride back from snorkeling was way better than before. The ride to the snorkeling was way too rough. Obvious the driver was intentionally making the boat "jump". Snorkeling was disappointing and mine and my friend's leaked so much she…”

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2.Deluxe Snorkel & Dolphin Watch Aboard a Luxury Catamaran from Kailua-Kona

Experience the Big Island’s underwater world on a luxurious catamaran cruise, with snorkeling, dolphin sightings, delicious food, and stunning views.

★ 5.0

“What a great crew. Snorkeling was good. Lots of of amenities. Saw a pod of dolphins that was amazing and they were all around the boat. Overall, great trip.”

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3.Guaranteed Dolphin and Whale Watch Tour in Kona

Experience Kona's marine wildlife on this guided dolphin and whale watch tour. Expect expert naturalists, comfortable boats, and year-round sightings for $129.

★ 5.0

“The information given to us about the water animals we saw on the tour as well as information about the area items such as fish farms, sea horse farm, and other items were very informative. The marine biologist was excited about what”

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4.Kona Coast Cruise: Snorkel Kealakekua Bay & Dolphin Encounter

Experience personalized snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay with small-group tours, dolphin sightings, and expert guides on the Big Island of Hawaii.

★ 5.0

“Jason and Liza were great. We loved that there were fewer people on this snorkel trip than other boats we saw and we got to the site earlier so we had some time before the crowds. Jason also made a few stops on the way…”

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5.Dolphin, Sea Cave & Captain Cook Snorkel Combo in Kealakekua Bay

Discover the Big Island's vibrant marine life and stunning coastline on this 2.5-hour Zodiac snorkel tour. Perfect for adventure lovers seeking personalized, fun experiences.

★ 4.5

“Love the small group atmosphere on a small boat. Patty and David were lovely hosts and shared history and insights.”

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6.Kona Shore Excursion: Wild Dolphin Reefs Snorkel and Sea Caves

Experience the Big Island’s marine wonders with this 3-hour snorkeling tour visiting Kealakekua Bay, Captain Cook Monument, and sea caves, with dolphins and turtles.

★ 4.5

“We thoroughly enjoyed a morning snorkeling in two dive locations along with a stop to view the spinner dolphins. Out of concern for the dolphins safety, it’s no longer legal to swim with the dolphins. But we did delight in watching the dolphins jump and…”

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7.Humpback Whale and Dolphin Watch in Kona

Experience the thrill of seeing humpback whales and dolphins in Kona on a small-group, eco-friendly tour with expert guides, from December to April.

★ 4.5

“Awesome whale watching tour. Saw several humpback whales and a sea turtle. Awesome views of the coast and learned some history about the island.”

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8.Dolphin, Sea Cave, Captain Cook, Kealakekua Bay Reef Snorkeling

Experience Hawaii’s underwater world with an intimate Zodiac snorkel tour at Kealakekua Bay, exploring coral reefs, caves, and spotting dolphins.

★ 4.5

“The guides were fun, and the navy boat was a fun ride, but the pictures are misleading. We were disappointed that we didn't go into the caves as pictured. We went to Captain Cook as we did the day before and then went near a…”

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11.Luxury Hawaiian Sea Turtle, Dolphin Sail and Kona Snorkel

Experience a luxurious 4-hour sailing and snorkeling tour along the Kona Coast on a private yacht, spotting dolphins, turtles, and whales with gourmet lunch options.

★ 5.0

“From the moment we left the harbor we came across a group of resting dolphins then on to snorkeling the shoreline exploring an underwater cave. The whole trip was incredible. Our Captain Kirk and Liz were amazing. Sadly not enough breeze to actually sail but…”

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12.Private Kealakekua Bay Snorkel with Dolphin Watch

Discover the Big Island’s Kealakekua Bay with this private 4-hour snorkel and dolphin tour. Personalized, family-friendly, with free underwater photos.

“As pessoas eram super simpáticas, no passeio de barco até ao sitio de snorkelling vimos golfinhos e baleias. Quando vimos as baleias parámos e eles meteram um microfone debaixo de água para podermos ouvir as baleias a cantar. Depois fomos para dentro de água, foi…”

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14.Dolphin Watch Snorkel and BBQ in Kona, Big Island

Enjoy a 3-hour Kona boat tour with dolphin sightings, snorkeling in secret spots, and a Hawaiian BBQ — perfect for ocean lovers seeking authentic adventure.

★ 4.3

“we didn't see ANY dolphin, so excurtion name should be changed, no BBQ lunch on board, just half a sandwich per person.... just one Spot to snorkel that was nice. in my opinion over priced”

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15.Kona: Dolphin & Whale Watching Tour

Experience the thrill of dolphin and whale sightings on this 2.5-hour Kona tour for $108. Enjoy scenic views, captain narration, and wildlife encounters.

“We had a great time. We saw no breaches, but Robert did a great job of spotting whales, so we saw lots of pec slaps, tails, etc. In my experience, Maui is the best winter whale watching spot, but this was definitely worthwhile.”

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