Boat tours to see lava BI
 

Has anyone done this and can you make a recommendation on a company that does boat tours to see flowing lava. How do I know if the lava is in fact flowing into the sea? Helicopter or sea tour? which have you done and how did you like it....thanks for any help Going in September 2015

There are no flows into ocean now. That, of course, could change.

http://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/lava2.htm

IF it were, I

opps.

IF it were, I remember being told that you don't get really close on the boats because the VOG is really bad and dangerous to breathe.

It can be very dangerous to do the boat tour (and potentially hard on your back) even if they were running, which they're not, as Debit says. In addition to gas, there could be shelf collapse and other hazards.

The best bet to see actual lava (since any lava flowing right now is in areas closed to the public: http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea_update/viewing.pdf) is a helicopter tour, which will give you a flyover (usually near the Puʻu ʻŌʻō vent, where the breakouts are); most from the Hilo airport include some local waterfalls. With coupons/discounts you can get a ride for ~$150.

You can see the glow from the lava lake at the summit in the park (when it's dark), and you may luck out and see lava there if the lake rises (as it did for a few days recently); keep aware of the possibility at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/activity/kilaueastatus.php

My fear of a boat trip IF the lava were flowing would be a shelf/bench collapse. I saw a video years ago and it was intense.

You could not pay me to do this even if the lava were flowing into the ocean, which it has not done for many months now, there have been reports that the boats may not be properly insured in addition to the concerns raised by others above.

Many years ago during an eruption a friend and I chartered a small plane to fly around and over the volcano. I loved it. It was out of Hilo airport. If they're still doing it I recommend it. They can fly fairly low and it gives one a much better idea of it all than I'd imagine from a boat.