Reef Snorkel & Whale Watch

Join us every morning for the best snorkeling on the Big Island. Spot dolphins & other wildlife including seasonal humpback whales, & snorkel at a beautiful coral reef.

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$139* per person

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*Not inclusive of tax or gear. Peak pricing subject to change.

Reef Snorkel & Whale Watch

Visit The Best Snorkeling Spots

Perfect for the whole family! Join us for a morning of snorkeling & whale watching along the Kona coast. We'll moor up at a secluded coral reef, then cruise offshore in search of humpback whales & other cetaceans. This charter requires excellent swimming skills. You can snorkel or practice freediving, and swim with tropical fish. Bring a camera during winter months for incredible humpback whale photo opportunities!

Prerequisites

Each guest on the boat must be at least 10 years old and be able to confidently swim in the open ocean without the assistance of a flotation device. It may sound counterintuitive, but we don’t allow flotation devices to be used while you’re in the water. These guidelines are in place for your safety as well as the safety of our crew and the other snorkelers in the group so concessions cannot be made. For safety reasons, all guests joining any of our vessels must be able to understand and communicate with our crew in English.

Included

Mask, fins, snorkel, and wetsuit. Snorkelers are encouraged to bring any personal gear they wish to use. For safety reasons, full-face snorkel masks are not permitted on any of our charters

Please Bring

  • Any additional snacks or non-alcoholic beverages you’d like.
  • Dry towels and something cozy to wear on the way home
  • Exposure protective clothing, and only non-aerosol reef-safe sunscreen. Please read this short article. If your local store doesn’t carry it, don’t worry! We have a variety of reef-safe sunscreen available for purchase in our shop.
  • Guests who are prone to motion sickness are encouraged to use anti-emetic such as Bonine or Dramamine before boarding the boat.

All Trips Include

Professional snorkel & dive guides, dive lights (for night dives only), tanks, soft weights, a variety of snacks, filtered water, and the best customer service in Hawaii! Please remember to bring dry clothes and a jacket or sweatshirt for night charters, as the ride home can be chilly.

Cancellation Policy

All reservations cancelled with at least 48 hours notice will not be charged. Reservations cancelled with less than 48 hours notice will be charged the full cost of the charter, unless Big Island Divers is able to fill the seat(s) on the boat. Lastly, all Charters require a minimum of 3 participants to go. While charters are rarely cancelled due to a lack of participants, Big Island Divers will make every effort to reschedule customers to another day or with another company.

Fitness Medical Considerations

SCUBA Diving and snorkeling are physical activities that require you to be able to swim and be in good physical health. If you consider yourself overweight, or have any medical conditions, please consult with your doctor and complete the Diver Medical Waiver. Your doctor can advise you on the safety of these activities given your health. If you are not an avid snorkeler, we suggest you first work on those skills before snorkeling at night on our manta charter, or on our more advanced morning whale and reef snorkel charter. Both activities are conducted in the open ocean with no chance to stand up at anytime while in the water and therefore require confident swimming skills. If you are incapable of completing the charter, or we determine that in your and our best interest you do not go or allowed on the charter, we have the right to refuse services and still make applicable charges for the booking, at our discretion.

English Language

We require that all participants be able to understand and communicate in English for the safety of our other guests and crew. Please be advised that should we feel that we are unable to effectively communicate with a guest, we may not permit the guest to continue on the charter.

About Marine Life & The No Manta Guarantee

Manta rays, dolphins, whales, and other marine life are wild creatures and their presence is affected by surf conditions, seasonal changes and the quantity of food in the water. They are wild animals and we cannot guarantee their presence. Manta Rays (and all other marine life) are wild animals, and no guarantees can be made for their presence. If no Mantas are seen on a Manta Ray charter, Big Island Divers will offer EITHER a 50% discount to guests for a guaranteed seat on another manta charter, OR a 100% discount on standby availability seats for another one-tank manta charter. Standby availability is not guaranteed and is determined by management the day of the charter.

SCUBA Refreshers

Divers that have not dove within the last 2 years may be required to take a refresher course before coming to dive with us. Please call us for more details. Refresher sessions are tailored to each diver, therefore they must be scheduled over the phone. You will work privately or in a small group with a certified Divemaster. Maximum of 4 divers per Refresher Course. The cost to schedule a refresher is the charter price + $289 for your private Divemaster. Give us a call to reserve your adventure! Regardless of dive history or experience, we have a 10 minute time limit on your first descent - if you are unable to comfortably descend. we'll ask you to sit the dive out. Refunds will not be given

All Other Policies

Our Charters can be enjoyed by anyone age 10 and up who feels confident swimming in the open ocean without a flotation device. for guests getting into the water, anyone with previous experience using a mask and snorkel is welcomed to join us. For your safety, full face snorkel masks are not permitted on our vessels. Snorkeling and ride along participants that are under 18 years of age must be under the direct supervision of their parent or guardian on all charters, at all times. Any scuba participant under 18 years of age, must be accompanied while on the vessel by their parent or guardian. Our "minor divers" policy is that any diver 10-11 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and have a private divemaster on the charter (add an additional $289 per charter). Divers age 10-11 are not permitted on Long Range, Advanced, or Black Water charters. All divers joining the Advanced morning charter and the Blackwater night dive charter must have the ability to climb a floating vertical ladder unassisted while wearing their SCUBA gear. These guidelines are in place for your safety as well as the safety of our crew and the other divers in the group so concessions cannot be made. Divers 12-17 years of age must be accompanied on the charter by their parent or guardian at all times. Any minor under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. If the minor has to leave the regular dive group for any reason, they must be accompanied by their parent or guardian at all times. For private charters, we can accommodate guests under the age of 10. Please contact us for more information.  

Safety

All Big Island Divers’ crew are trained & practiced in Emergency First Response, AED, and emergency oxygen provision. Our captains are United States Coast Guard certified. All guides are lifeguard certified. All vessels are Coast Guard inspected & equipped with AEDs, emergency oxygen kits, EPIRBs, life jackets, throw rings & first aid kits.

Carbon Offset

We make every effort to run our fleet as efficiently as possible, and pay to offset our carbon emissions. When you book your charter you may contribute to our offset fund- help us protect our precious ocean ecosystem. Learn more about our carbon offset.

Good Practices

We do not allow touching or harassing wildlife on any of our charters. We do not use hull lights on our vessels to avoid harming manta rays. We adhere to community-established manta tour operator guidelines. We utilize the west Hawaii mooring system to avoid anchoring on the coral reef.

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How should I tip my crew?

Tipping is common in the recreational dive industry. Gratuities in appreciation for excellent service are greatly appreciated. The general recommended amount is 20% of your charter fee.

Sport Diver: What To Tip Your Dive Guide

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2024's #1 Dive Operator in Hawaii

with a 5 star reputation

Manta Ray Night Dive

What a truly amazing experience!! Nearly an hour of down time with dozens of large mantas putting on an incredible show. Jenna, and Captain Kevin made it a pleasant and safe trip. This is a must do while staying on the Big Island.

RichGiff on TripAdvisor

Big Island Divers
5
2019-05-07T11:32:39-10:00

RichGiff on TripAdvisor

What a truly amazing experience!! Nearly an hour of down time with dozens of large mantas putting on an incredible show. Jenna, and Captain Kevin made it a pleasant and safe trip. This is a must do while staying on the Big Island.

One of the Top 10 Dives in the World!

Believe It, it really is one of the most phenomenal dives we have ever done! Laying on our stomachs on the ocean floor around the "campfire" was unforgettable as the beautifully graceful Manta Rays soared directly above our heads, over and over. They performed ballet moves with each other, sometimes as many as 4 at a time feeding on the plankton.

Susan R on TripAdvisor

Big Island Divers
5
2019-05-07T11:33:00-10:00

Susan R on TripAdvisor

Believe It, it really is one of the most phenomenal dives we have ever done! Laying on our stomachs on the ocean floor around the "campfire" was unforgettable as the beautifully graceful Manta Rays soared directly above our heads, over and over. They performed ballet moves with each other, sometimes as many as 4 at a time feeding on the plankton.

Excellent

We have been diving the BID on multiple dives over multiple trips and we keep coming back to them because of the high quality service that they provide. Definitely a step above the usual dive shops.

Dreamer6739 on TripAdvisor

Big Island Divers
5
2019-05-07T11:37:50-10:00

Dreamer6739 on TripAdvisor

We have been diving the BID on multiple dives over multiple trips and we keep coming back to them because of the high quality service that they provide. Definitely a step above the usual dive shops.

Manta Night Dive Lives Up to the Hype

I recently went on the sunset reef dive & manta ray night dive. I was a little hesitant about my expectations because I heard so many great things and didn't want to be disappointed. Cannot say enough great things about the company, captain and DM - highly recommend and will dive with them again.

ulintza on TripAdvisor

Big Island Divers
5
2019-05-07T11:38:42-10:00

ulintza on TripAdvisor

I recently went on the sunset reef dive & manta ray night dive. I was a little hesitant about my expectations because I heard so many great things and didn't want to be disappointed. Cannot say enough great things about the company, captain and DM - highly recommend and will dive with them again.

Excellent Staff

We had a great two tank dive with BID last week! Our dive master Amy was excellent all the way around and our captain Rob was not only a great captain but very knowledgeable about Hawaii and even served hot chocolate on the way back to the Marina.

bridgetsheahan on TripAdvisor

Big Island Divers
5
2019-05-07T11:39:31-10:00

bridgetsheahan on TripAdvisor

We had a great two tank dive with BID last week! Our dive master Amy was excellent all the way around and our captain Rob was not only a great captain but very knowledgeable about Hawaii and even served hot chocolate on the way back to the Marina.

Incredible

It was so amazing that it made me feel like a kid again - this is coming from someone who has traveled a lot. I talked to other divers who described the Black Water Dive, and I wish I would have done that one instead of the twilight dive.

Steve9172

Big Island Divers
5
2019-05-07T11:40:19-10:00

Steve9172

It was so amazing that it made me feel like a kid again - this is coming from someone who has traveled a lot. I talked to other divers who described the Black Water Dive, and I wish I would have done that one instead of the twilight dive.

Great Dive Experience

Great dive experience underwater and while on the boat. Experienced staff gave all of the direction and assistance needed but did not "over-guide" the trip as is often the case.

Compass0726 on TripAdvisor

Big Island Divers
5
2019-05-07T11:40:52-10:00

Compass0726 on TripAdvisor

Great dive experience underwater and while on the boat. Experienced staff gave all of the direction and assistance needed but did not "over-guide" the trip as is often the case.

An Amazing Souvenir

I booked the night Manta Ray snorkeling tour. It was simply awesome. In addition of the amazing experience to observe the Manta rays in their natural environment, the crew was just perfect, always helpful and offers us a warm hospitality. I definitely recommend this tour.

tomlecube on TripAdvisor

Big Island Divers
5
2019-05-07T11:41:47-10:00

tomlecube on TripAdvisor

I booked the night Manta Ray snorkeling tour. It was simply awesome. In addition of the amazing experience to observe the Manta rays in their natural environment, the crew was just perfect, always helpful and offers us a warm hospitality. I definitely recommend this tour.

Two Tank Dive

This is the dive shop to go with for great service and knowledgeable staff. I went out for a refresher dive since it had been 9 years since my last dive. Becca was great and by the end of the second dive I felt comfortable being back in the water.

BryonB690

Big Island Divers
5
2019-05-07T11:42:13-10:00

BryonB690

This is the dive shop to go with for great service and knowledgeable staff. I went out for a refresher dive since it had been 9 years since my last dive. Becca was great and by the end of the second dive I felt comfortable being back in the water.
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Big Island Divers
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