Big Island Snorkeling

The Fair Wind will be in drydock for maintenance and not available for tours from 11/1/2008 to 12/14/2008

Advanced reservations prior to arriving on the Big Island are required if you hope to join them for a morning tour! A credit card is required to guarantee your reservation, but no charges are made at the time of your order. You pay for the tour when you check in on the day of your cruise. There's no reason to wait ... make your reservation today so your space is guaranteed!

Snorkel at historic Kealakekua Bay, a site known for incredibly clear water, frolicking spinner dolphins, and healthy coral reefs teeming with colorful fish. The Fair Wind II has an exclusive mooring at this beautiful place, where you snorkel within sight of the Captain Cook Monument. This bay was the scene of the first Europeans landing in Hawaii in 1787. Captain Cook died here a few months later at the hands of some locals during an unfortunate skirmish over a dinghy.  

 

The wide steps on each side of the boat provide easy access into the ocean. The water is so clear here that the reef makes the ocean look like you are swimming in a sea of gemstones. How's this for uncrowded snorkeling??? The reef here is very healthy, the water is very clear, and there are lots and lots of fish.

Daily morning departures are at 9am from Keauhou Harbor, about 10 minutes south of downtown Kailua-Kona. The trip includes breakfast, BBQ lunch, and snorkel gear. The tour is 4.5 hours long. A cash bar is also available on-board. 

A final option you might want to consider at the end of the day ... the Fair Wind produces a custom video that is available for purchase at the end of your cruise. It makes a great souvenir!!!

If you absolutely cannot go in the morning because of a convention or other commitment, they also operate an afternoon  trip at 2pm. This tour is based upon demand, so it may not be available during off-peak times of the year. Call us toll-free at 1-877-678-7333 to check availability.

CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS

The Fair Wind is available for cruise ship passengers whose itinerary shows a 7am arrival in Kona, but this schedule is rather tight. A cab ride of 10-12 minutes from the cruise ship dock in Kona is required. Check-in time is 8:30am. Kona is a tendering situation, so ample time is required to make it to shore. Fair Wind recommends that cruise ship passengers take their sister ship the Hula Kai instead.

Activity Tips

My wife and I snorkel a lot ... and it takes a lot to impress us. We own our own sailing catamaran, so we are used to going to places that aren't crowded and where the snorkeling is good here on Maui (our home). We recently went to the Big Island to evaluate some of the activities there, and I was pleasantly surprised to find a snorkel trip that was just outstanding, even by our standards!

The Fair Wind II ... the thing that makes this trip special is that they have an exclusive mooring at Kealakekua Bay, site of the Captain Cook monument and home to one of the best preserved coral reefs and some of the clearest water I have ever seen while snorkeling! The boat is FUN too ... they offer a LONG waterslide and a high jump/dive platform from the upper deck. The BBQ lunch was terrific ... a bar is available for beer, wine, and cocktails but those need to be purchased separately. The morning trip is 4.5 hours ... there is an afternoon trip but I'd go in the morning. Seas are calmer and it's a longer trip. The snorkeling at this place is SO GOOD that I wouldn't want to do a shorter afternoon trip.

This is THE snorkel trip to take on the Big Island ... I think it's probably the best commercially-operated snorkel trip that I have done anywhere in Hawaii. Advanced reservations are a must ... they can sell out up to a week or more in advance during the busy season.

Cruise ship passengers can do this tour if they arrive in port in Kona at 7am, but there is a risk involved. If you don't do your best to get off the ship as soon as possible or fail to arrange a cab in time, there is a chance you'll be running late. If you miss the boat they will charge your credit card for a no show. We recommend doing the Hula Kai instead because that boat leaves 30 minutes later and provides more "cushion."

 

 

 

 

Big Island Snorkel Reservations

Upon submitting your activity reservation for processing, one copy is sent to your e-mail address so that you have a record of your order. We will make reservations for you and send an e-mail confirming all of the details. These confirmations are often sent a few minutes after your reservation, but some activities take longer to confirm than others. You will receive an e-mail confirmation by the end of the next business day at the latest. There are no tickets that you need to pick up prior to your event. Your e-mail confirmation will have all the details you need to check in and enjoy your selected activity. This saves you precious time when you arrive in Hawaii. 

A credit card is required to guarantee payment for your reservations, but in most cases WE DO NOT charge your credit card when your order is placed. Your credit card is typically charged five days before you leave for Hawaii, and a voucher is faxed to the vendor. Some activities are charged at the time of check-in and your e-mail confirmation will inform you if this is the case. If you cancel your activity after your credit card has been charged you will receive a refund less 10% to cover our credit card processing costs.

We do have one vendor that requires payment at the time that your reservation is made. These activities are clearly marked on our website with the words, "Payment required at the time of reservation."

After making reservations, you may reschedule or cancel your activity up until 48 hours prior to its start (a few activities have 72 hour cancellation policies ... see your confirmation e-mail for details). Within 48 hours of the start of your activity all reservations are final and non-refundable (unless the event is cancelled by the vendor due to weather or other factors). Due to our incredible climate here, weather cancellations are rare.  No-shows and cancellations without adequate notice are charged in full on the credit card used to secure the reservation and are non-refundable.