Search for seasonal humpback whales aboard a fast retired Navy SEAL boat
2 hours
Up to 18 people
Drinks, snacks
Set out aboard Orca to search the Kona coast for humpback whales migrating to Hawaii's warm waters to mate, give birth, and nurse their young. This fast retired Navy SEAL boat can cover more coastline as you watch for a spout or flipper in the clear blue water.
Refundable tickets: full refund or free rebooking up to 48 hours before start. Non-refundable tickets: no refund; rebooking up to 48 hours before start. With the Flexible Cancellation Upgrade, refundable tickets canceled up to 12 hours before start receive a 50% refund. No refunds or rebooking for no-shows or late arrivals. If the operator cancels, receive a full refund or reschedule based on availability.
Product ID: V5YDSS
Bring sun-protective clothing, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a camera with a zoom lens. Shade is limited, so wear a sun-protective shirt over swimwear.
Expect sea spray while underway on Orca. Storage space is limited, so leave most belongings on land and bring a small dry bag for essentials.
A limited supply of binoculars is available to rent for the whale watch.
Kona Snorkel Trips, 74-381 Kealakehe Parkway Suite E, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
If manta ray encounters are on your bucket list, this is the operation to book. Reviewers consistently rave about getting up close with mantas, spinner dolphins, sea turtles, and even the occasional sandbar shark. The wildlife sightings sound genuinely spectacular, not just lucky one-offs. The crew gets called out by name constantly, with guides like Tori, Adam, Ty, Amy, and Shari earning praise for being knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and great at keeping groups engaged and safe. That personal touch seems to elevate the experience well beyond a standard boat tour. With nearly perfect ratings across thousands of reviews and zero consistent complaints to speak of, the pattern here is hard to ignore. The manta ray night snorkel in particular gets described as a trip highlight by almost everyone who does it. If you're on the Big Island and on the fence, the overwhelming consensus is pretty clear: just go.
Amy, Tori, Adam, thank you for the most amazing night with manta. This is definitely the highlight of the whole trip. Highly recommended.
Ivy Zhang
September 2, 2026
Amy, Tori, Adam, thank you for the most amazing night with manta. This is definitely the highlight of the whole trip. Highly recommended.
Ivy Zhang
September 2, 2026
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