Big Island: Afternoon Sail & Snorkel Captain Cook Monument

4.89

(245 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect to laugh so much on a snorkeling tour, but that’s what happened as we set off from Keauhou Bay. The boat felt just right—not too crowded, not too quiet—and the crew had this way of making everyone relax. I kept catching whiffs of sunscreen and ocean air mixing together, which somehow made me feel like a kid again. As we sailed down the Kona coastline, our guide—her name was Malia—pointed out old lava flows that looked almost frozen in time. She told us stories about Hawaiian kings and how the land shaped their lives. I tried to imagine living here before roads or boats like ours existed. Kind of hard to picture, honestly.

The water at Kealakekua Bay was clearer than I’d expected—like swimming in glass with flashes of yellow and blue darting past my mask. I fumbled with my snorkel at first (always do), but Malia just grinned and handed me a flotation noodle without making it weird. There were these moments underwater when everything went quiet except for my own breathing and the distant clicks from fish nibbling coral. Someone on board spotted spinner dolphins in the distance—everyone rushed to one side to see them, which made the boat tilt and set off a round of nervous laughter. I still think about that view of the Captain Cook Monument from the water; it’s smaller than you’d guess, but somehow feels important.

We snacked on fresh fruit and chips after snorkeling—nothing fancy, but it hit the spot when you’re salty and tired. The sun started dipping lower as we headed back, turning the lava cliffs gold for a few minutes before everything softened into evening light. If you’re looking for an afternoon sail & snorkel tour near Captain Cook Monument with people who know this place inside out (and don’t mind if you’re clumsy with your gear), this is it. I’m still finding sand in my bag days later, but I don’t really mind.