Big Island Snorkel
 

I saw that a lot of people have taken the snorkel trips to Kealakekua Bay. I've looked at both Sea Quest and The Fair Wind.

It seems like Fair Wind is at the bay longer but Sea Quest goes to the lava tubes/caves and snorkels at the Place of Refuge. I know you can get to there from the shore though.

I'm also little concerned about the size of the boat for Sea Quest since I do have motion sickness problems. We wanted to go some place that you can't get to from the shore so is Kealakekua Bay worth it?

We've snorkeled a lot and don't want to spend $100 for something that wouldn't be any better than what we could do off the shoreline.

Aloha,
littlehouse

The fairwinds morning trip is excellent! We went 3 years ago and loved it! I know it is expensive but they give you 2 meals plus the snorkel equipment so you can look at it that way. I think we will do it when we go again this June. The Sea Quest does look interesting but I do hear it is quite bumpy! I vote for fairwinds. Be sure to book well in advance.

We did SeaQuest and loved it, but I would not recommend it to someone who suffers from motion sickness. But, yes, Kealakekua Bay is really primo snorkeling and not easily reached by shore. We once did do a horseback ride down to the Captain Cook monument, snorkeled in K Bay, had lunch and rode back up. That was a lot of fun if you are looking for something really different from a boat snorkel. Here's the website if you're interested: http://www.konacowboy.com/welcome.htm

Another option is a kayak trip across K-Bay to snorkel at Capt Cook monument whereby you determine the lenth of your visit. The lava tubes/caves are OK, just wasn't a particular highlight of the trip for me (Dolphin Discoveries tour). Definitely visit Two Steps (Honaunau Bay).

Thanks for all the great responses. I believe we'll go with Fair Winds. At least we get a lot of food supplied and a long time to snorkel.

I side with bluefin, Rent a kayak and kayak across the bay. Most days you can sit in the middle of the bay for a while and get a great wild dolphin show. (Go early)

All of the activity around a party boat tends to scare the dolphins away.

Having a couple of dozen spinner dolphins jumping within twenty or thirty feet of you kayak makes for an unforgetable experience. Total cost: $25.00 for two.

The party boats tend to tie up close to Captain Cook's monument so you could walk down the trail and get to pretty much the same place.

As one who also succumbs to motion sickness:& I appreciate your concerns and agree Sea Quest has been bumpier in our experience then the Fair Wind II, though we did not get seasick on any of their trips and followed tour operator recommendation of taking ginger((F)) prior to the trip.

Of all the boat trips we have done in Hawaii, Sea Quest has provided the most exciting close up and personal guide to coast line features like caves, lava tubes, and blow holes, and on one occassion we chanced across three different types of dolphins, like no other tour we have been on. However as stated, Sea Quest also visits Honaunau Bay in addition to K'bay and would like to mention that they put us into the water a bit farther out from where we snorkeled from land and as a result we saw a lot more in terms of coral then when we snorkeled while parked at Place of Refuge. :S-

Thanks John! I'll check out Sea Quest again but will probably stick with Fair Winds since my parents may go with us. My dad is not to happy about small boats.