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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
Book Now A note on tips! Terms & Cancellation Policy*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 givenAll 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.
Uncle Cal's Dive Club: Tipping In Scuba DivingGear Rental And More
GoPro Hero 13 Black
Enjoy more control and stabilized footage with the new GoPro Hero 13 Black. Divers can take this camera to 130′. 32GB SD card and float handle included. $59/day
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