Open Ocean Safari
Photo Credit: Alexey Molchanov
Freediving and Snorkeling Kona with Whales and Dolphins
Join our partners on an epic expedition in search of Hawaii's biggest and best marine life. The open ocean safari delivers opportunities to see whales, dolphins, whale sharks, big pelagic fish, sharks, mantas, and more. The Ocean Warrior is Hawaii's fastest boat! Step onboard and you're able to cover miles of coastline, giving you the best chance for large animal encounters. The Big Island of Hawaii is home to 13 different species of whale and many can be seen year-round. With an ability to travel 50mph+ over the water, finding and swimming alongside large marine life is only a matter of time. Join our partner company for the thrill of a lifetime.
"What an experience, we saw a pygmy sperm whale, humpback wale and we got to swim with a school of hammerhead sharks after an amazing snorkel adventure in some "hidden" lava tube caves at the far south of the island. The top speed of the boat means you can range further than many other trips and Darren is a very passionate and knowledgable safari guide."
Mathew Jenkinson - Visited January 2017
Photo Credit: Alexey Molchanov
PLEASE BRING
Towel
Sunglasses
Reef Safe Sunscreen
Long sleeve shirt or rash guard
Swim suit
Mask and fins (if you don't they will be provided)
"Our trip was everything we had read and heard about and so much more. Brett the captain and Corey, his crew, were excellent as they found pods of Pilot Whales that we were able to snorkel with. There was also the opportunity to do likewise with sharks if we wanted! Watching a large pod of dolphins surfing in the wake of the boat was simply magical. Brett and Corey's descriptions of the marine life and the reasons for the whales and sharks being together were really informative and we thoroughly enjoyed the snorkelling opportunity in the bay where James Cook met his untimely end. While the sea life was wonderfull, the return trip when Brett put the boat through its paces at speed was simply exhilarating and something few outside the ranks of the Special Boat Squadron would have experienced. We would thoroughly recommend this experience to anyone looking for something special"
Ken B - Visited Oct 2017
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Who is this for?Freedivers or anyone that loves to snorkel. Kids with their families. Anyone that likes large ocean animals
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What kind of boat is it?The Ocean Warrior is a United States Coast Guard inspected vessel. Having served with Special Boat Team 12, the Ocean Warrior was a true Navy S.E.A.L. assault vessel that has retired to its tropical home in Kona, Hawaii. With its twin 470 HP Caterpillar engines and its KAMEWA Rolls Royce jet drives you can experience the power, thrill, and adventure of a boat ride like no other. This specific boat was designed to be extremely solid, fast, maneuverable and safe. Dubbed the Lamborghini of all the Navy S.E.A.L. boats, it can quickly get you snorkeling into remote and secluded sites once visited by only few people. Ocean Warrior is the only boat of its kind in the US to be made available for commercial use. So bring your sense of adventure and let's journey along with Wild Hawaii
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What are the physical requirements?1. MUST be over 4 feet tall 2. MUST be under 280lbs 3. MUST NOT have any neck or back injuries 4. MUST NOT have had any major surgery in the past 6 months 5. MUST NOT be pregnant 6. MUST be able to climb ladder (for snorkeling tours) 7. MUST be able to stand for ~4 hours
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Cancellation PolicyWe do require a 48 Hrs cancellation notice Please note: We require a minimum of 4 passengers to run our tours
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How does animal interaction work?We follow strict guidelines when it comes to animals encounters. We aim to minimize our impact on the marine wildlife and help protect our delicate ecosystem while respectfully observing it
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Are animal sightings gauranteed?We cannot guarantee animal sightings due to variable ocean conditions and the fickle character of mother nauture. In that case a fun boat ride and reef snorkel will be the days highlights