GENERAL FAQ
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We operate on the Big Island, in Kailua Kona. This is our only location.
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Our boats are located at The Honokohau marina in Kailua Kona, Big Island. We will meet directly at our Slip C-01.
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Yes, plenty of free parking.
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There are 2 ways to book; online via our website available 24/7. You can also call us directly for assistance. Our phone number is (808) 325-1687 and is available Monday thru Friday 9am to 4pm HST and Saturday thru Sunday 11am to 3pm HST.
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At least a week or 2 before your desired date(s).
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No, however, the island has taxis, Lyft, Uber, and rental cars available to book in advance for transportation needs.
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48 hours prior to the charter check-in time. This includes making any date changes. Canceling before 48 hours will result in a full refund. If you cancel within 48 hours we cannot offer you a refund or accommodate your changes. For Private charters, the cancellation policy is 1 week prior to the charter date.
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We will contact you via phone plus email and offer a chance to rebook or to receive a full refund. Our captains will check out the sites prior to charter check-in time and assess the situation.
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Yes, however, divers can rent a BCD and Regulator with a dive computer if needed. On the manta ray tour wetsuit, shorties are provided for snorkelers. On all dive charters full wetsuits, tank(s), weights, and dive torch* are provided. *Night tour only.
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Yes, all guests must be able to swim 50 yards unassisted, (without floatation devices).
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No, but you can bring your floatation belt that goes around your waist. Life vests/jackets tend to be too bulky and prop one straight up. For the snorkeling session you want to be abel to lay flat on the surface with yout face in the water. We do not provide life vests and only have life jackets for emergency use.
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Possibly, even on the calmest conditions, the boats will rock back and forth. We do recommend for those who are prone to seasickness or not used to being on a boat to consult with their doctor about taking Dramamine.
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We highly recommend our 2 tank morning Scuba Diving EcoAdventure and our 1 tank Manta Ray Night Dive EcoAdventure. Although not a dive tour, our Wildlife EcoAdventure is an advanced snorkel tour which is an amazing experience swimming with large marine life! Think sharks, various whales, and much more!
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We recommend purchasing an E-card from PADI. SSI & NAUI divers can pull their dive information off of their respective sites. Please take a screenshot and present it at check-in time. If you need further assistance, please contact us.
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We’ll highly recommend our morning Captain Cook & Kealakekua Bay Snorkel EcoAdventure and our Manta Ray Night Snorkel EcoAdventure. Both of these tours are great for the whole family!
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We’ll highly recommend our advanced morning Wildlife EcoAdventure, a great chance to swim with sharks and larger marine life. We also recommend our highly rated Manta Ray Night Snorkel EcoAdventure..
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Yes, we highly recommend booking our 2 tank morning Scuba Diving EcoAdventure as a Discover Scuba Diver. This option is great for a person who wants to experience diving while being led by a professional PADI Dive Instructor. All Discover Scuba Divers must know how to swim 50 yards unassisted.
MANTA RAY NIGHT DIVE & SNORKEL ECOADVENTURE
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Yes, we run this tour every night of the week all year round minus a few major holidays. There is an 85% chance of viewing the rays every night.
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Check-in times vary month to month to match the sunset and will be listed in your confirmation email. Here is a breakdown of check-in and return times:
- December & January – 4:30pm to 7:30pm
- February – 4:45pm to 7:45pm
- March – 5pm to 8pm
- April – 5:15pm to 8:15pm
- May – 5:30 to 8:30pm
- June & July – 5:45pm to 8:45pm
- August – 5:30pm to 8:30pm
- September – 5:15pm to 8:15pm
- October – 5pm to 8pm
- November – 4:45pm to 7:45pm
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No, please arrive at the time listed in our confirmation email. We will pull the gear and transport it to the boat based on the heights and weights provided in the reservations.
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No, for the safety of all guests and our crew members we do not allow this option. Anyone 17 years and under needs to be with a parent or guardian at all times.
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3 hours. It is about a 30-minute boat ride to the manta site, we’ll watch the sunset on the water, enter the water and view the rays for about 45 minutes to an hour. Then a 30-minute boat ride back to the harbor.
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The ride-along option is for those who wish to join their parties for the tour but not enter the water. They would enjoy a nice view of the Kona Coast and the sunset on the water. It is very unlikely a ride long will see the rays from the boat. All ride-alongs, 17 years old and younger must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
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If you are a certified diver we highly recommend diving with the rays. However, the snorkeling portion is also an awesome unclose experience with the gentle giants of the sea!
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Yes. Our No Manta Guarantee policy is if you do not see rays on your tour you can come back out with us again free of charge until you do see rays. If you cannot reschedule during your stay, we will honor the policy on your next trip to Kona. This cannot be transferred to another tour nor be used by another party.
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Yes, since this is a night dive per PADI regulations all divers must be at least open-water certified. If you are not a certified diver or are a 10-11 year Jr diver, or scuba diver we highly recommend snorkeling with the rays, it is an amazing experience!
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No, all snorkelers must remain with the snorkel guide at the surface.
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Yes, for certified divers the age requirement is 12 years and up. For snorkelers, the age requirement is 6 years and up. The ride-along option does not have a limit, however, anyone under 18 years old must be with a parent or guardian at all times.
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All year round. Over 200+ manta rays call the Kona Coast home and there is an 85% chance of viewing them all year round.
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Typically we go to Garden Eel Cove by the airport, however, the captain will pick the best site to go to each night based on ocean conditions and the recent number of viewed mantas.
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Each guest should bring a bag or backpack to store personal items. Please bring a towel, and jacket/sweater, and wear your bathing suit under your street clothes upon arrival.
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Our goal for this tour is for our guests to view the world-famous Kona manta rays! There are chances of seeing dolphins ride the wake by the boat and seeing other fish at the site.
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A lovely cruise along the Kona coast, viewing the sunset on the water, and in the water for about 45 minutes to an hour with the world-famous manta rays! All snorkeling gear: 3mm wetsuit, snorkel mask, and fins. A complimentary assortment of chips, cookies, soft drinks, and ice water will also be available onboard.
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A lovely cruise along the Kona coast, viewing of the sunset on the water, and 1 tank dive with the world-famous manta rays! Provided gear: dive torch, tank, weights, mask, and fins. (All over gear is available for rental.) A complimentary assortment of chips, cookies, soft drinks, and ice water will also be available onboard.
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About 45 minutes.
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35-53 ft.
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About 1 hour.
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No, we highly recommend waiting 18 hours or more before going to any elevation over 2000 ft.
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Yes, a complimentary assortment of chips, cookies, soft drinks, and ice water will also be available onboard.
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Yes, please book on our Divers & Snorkelers Boat, The Manta for this EcoAdventure. We also recommend booking the party under one reservation.
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The dive & snorkel boat accommodates parties of both divers & snorkelers with a capacity of 20 guests. For more info on the Manta, Click here. The Snorkel Only boat is Remora and will take a smaller more intimate group of 6 snorkelers only. For more info on the Remora, Click here.
SCUBA DIVING ECOADVENTURE
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8:30am and we return around 1-1:15pm. We offer this charter daily.
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No, please arrive at the time listed in our confirmation email. We will pull the gear and transport it to the boat based on the heights and weights provided in the reservations.
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Yes, a Discover Scuba Diver must be 10 years old and up.
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We provide 3mm full wetsuits, tanks, weights, masks, and fins. The following items are available for rental:
- BCD – $20
- regulator with dive computer – $20
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We are super lucky to have over 60 dive sites in the Kona area to visit, ranging from lively reefs, lava tubes, and tons of marine life! We will go to 2 different sites for the day. The Divemasters for the charter will ask all guests onboard what they are interested in seeing and pick the best sites to go to for the day.
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Yes, the price is $30 for 2 tanks. Simply contact us and we can add it to your reservation. Only available for morning Scuba Diving EcoAdventure.
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Yes, even though DSDs will be led by a professional PADI Dive Instructor, all must know how to swim as diving is an advanced recreational activity.
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Yes, we will provide a sandwich of your choosing and assorted chips, cookies, iced water, and soft drinks. If you have special dietary needs it is best to bring your own lunch.
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Yes, as long as you sign up as a discover diver as well. We only take 4 DSDs per 1 Dive Instructor per charter.
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16.
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6 certified divers to 1 divemaster.
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The Manta is used for this tour.
WILDLIFE SNORKEL ECOADVENTURE
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8:30am and return around 1:15-1:30pm.
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we need 4 booked guests for the charter to run. If we do not meet this minimum, we will contact you to reschedule or offer a full refund.
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An advanced snorkeler is a person who has snorkeled many times preferably on other boat tours in the ocean and is extremely comfortable and confident in their swimming abilities. All must be able to swim 100 yards unassisted. This is for the safety of all guests and our crew members.
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Yes, all snorkelers must be 13 years and older. The tour is almost 5 hours and we will be in the presence of very large marine life which may not be suitable for younger children. Also, please view the above requirements.
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6 guests maximum.
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Hopefully, tons of large marine life; oceanic white tip sharks, pilot whales, and bottlenose dolphins. Although rare we’ve had numerous sightings of sperm whales and even hammerhead sharks. These are all wild animals and we cannot in any way guarantee their sightings, however, our captains and crew members will work their hardest to bring you the best wildlife experience!
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Yes, we will have various sandwiches, chips, cookies, ice water, and soft drinks available onboard for all. If you have dietary restrictions such as gluten-free and/or vegan we highly recommend bringing your own lunch.
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Yes, various sizes of masks and fins, and snorkels will be provided onboard. We do not provide wetsuits as they are not needed during the daytime.
CAPTAIN COOK & KEALAKEKUA BAY SNORKEL ECOADVENTURE
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8:30am and we return around 12:45pm
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We recommend this tour for 6 years and up.
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You will visit historical Hawaiian sites, discuss the history of the Captain Cook Monument, and snorkel at the famous, gorgeous Kealakekua Bay.
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Yes, we will provide an assortment of wraps, chips, cookies, and soft drinks. Ice water will also be available on board. If you have dietary restrictions such as vegan or gluten-free it’s best to bring your own type of lunch.
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Yes, we will have various sizes of masks and fins, and snorkels are available onboard. We do not provide wetsuits as they are not needed during the daytime.
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6 guests.
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4 guests must be booked to go out. If we do not reach that minimum we will call you the day before to discuss rebooking for another date or offer a full refund.
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Remora is used for this tour.
THE MANTA BOAT
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Yes.
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Our 2-tank morning Scuba Diving EcoAdventure and the Manta Ray Night Dive & Snorkel EcoAdventure. The Manta can be used for any EcoAdventure as a private charter option.
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Yes, however, we highly recommend consulting with your doctor before booking a tour.
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Yes, we have pins available to store in a beach bag or backpack. We do recommend leaving anything extremely valuable in the trunk of your car.
REMORA BOAT
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Yes.
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Our morning Wildlife EcoAdventure, Captain Cook & Kealakekua Bay Snorkel EcoAdventure, and the Manta Ray Night Snorkel EcoAdventure.
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Yes, we have bins available to store in a beach bag or backpack. We do recommend leaving anything extremely valuable in the trunk of your car.