About Pelagic Wildlife Excursion
Head offshore from Honokohau Harbor with Captain Zodiac for a Kona wildlife cruise focused on dolphins, whales, seabirds and other marine life when sightings allow.
Set course along the volcanic Kona shoreline aboard a powerful Zodiac Hurricane, the same style of rigid-hull inflatable favored by Navy SEALs. Your naturalist captain keeps watch for the 17 resident whale and dolphin species that frequent these deep Pacific waters, while Hawaiian monk seals, sea turtles and soaring seabirds add surprise cameos to the ocean safari.
With luck, ideal conditions may allow a detour to a secluded reef, so wear your swimsuit in case the crew invites you to slip into the clear blue and snorkel among coral and tropical fish. Whether you stay dry on deck or dive in, the morning promises close-up wildlife encounters and sweeping photo backdrops you will replay long after returning to shore.
Tour Highlights
- Cruise along the Kona coast and observe a wide variety of marine wildlife
- Plenty of great photo opportunities
Tour Inclusions
- If snorkeling is possible the day of your trip (good ocean conditions), snorkel gear will be provided
Activity Notes
Where & When
Check in at 8:45 am. Departure at 9:00 am. Return at 1:00 pm
Departs from Honokohau Harbor. View Map
Driving directions to Honokohau Harbor: Located approximately 5 miles south of the Kona Airport (fourth traffic light) and approximately 2 miles north of the town of Kailua-Kona (third traffic light). The harbor entrance (Kealakehe Parkway) can be found by looking for a sign on the highway marked HONOKOHAU MARINA between mile markers 97 & 98. After turning onto Kealakehe Parkway make your first right and look for a mall with a blue tile roof. Our office is the first on the right in the mall.
Restrictions
Children must be at least 7 years old to participate.
Due to the bouncy nature of the ride, pregnant women or people with back or neck problems may not participate.
Special Notes
Life jacket, snorkel and mask are provided. You are welcome to bring your own snorkel and mask.
As this is a marine wildlife watching tour, we cannot guarantee encounters, however with the abundance of year-round ocean residents, the chance of no sighting is low.
There is a minimum of 6 passengers for the tour to go out. If the minimum is not met on a specific day, we may move your reservation to another date (after confirming with you). In the unlikely event that we are unable to run a trip due to weather conditions, minimum not met and inability to reschedule, you will be fully refunded.
Operation Days
Saturday
Duration
4 hours
Capacity
Our rafts can hold up to 16 passengers. We are able to accommodate larger groups as we have multiple rafts! Just give us a call to organize.
Equipment
Tour is on a 24-foot Zodiac raft that is U.S. Coast Guard certified and inspected yearly by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Vendor
This activity is operated by Captain Zodiac.
