Kona has many snorkel tours and it is worth researching each one before making a selection. We selected Body Glove's Kona snorkel tour based upon a reduced price gained by attending a timeshare
presentation. The big draw of the tour is the tour's reasonable price so it attracts large groups and big families.
This is a photo description of a Kona Bodyglove snorkeling tour in June 2008. We did the morning tour which started from the Kona pier.
You can bring your own snorkel gear or they will provide it. For an additional fee you can scuba dive if you are licensed. Body glove provides a guide and equipment.
The Body Glove boat headed out of Kailua Bay to the north.
The boat has seating under cover and in the interior if you want to stay out of the sun.
The top area of the boat had additional seating.
The staff served breakfast and lunch which are included in the tour. They also serve alcoholic beverages which are available for a fee.
The continental breakfast served was fruit and donut holes with coffee and juice.
Once we reached the snorkel spot, we jumped into the water next to the boat.
Rather than using an anchor, the boat ties up to a mooring to protect the coral.
The snorkeling area where the boat moored near Kona airport is next to a beach with jagged rocks. We had to keep from being drawn into the shore and crashing against the rocks.
This is a video of above and below the water while snorkeling.
This is video of coral and fish seen while snorkeling.
The scuba divers may have seen more than we snorkelers did since they could go down much further to the coral.
While snorkeling, lunch was served in the interior cafe area. The lunch buffet was deli meats and cheese, bread and condiments. Chips and drinks were also provided. You could eat all you want and they seemed to have plenty of food.
The boat had a diving board and slide. A lot of families had a really fun time playing on them.
As the afternoon wore on, the ocean became more choppy.
We got back onto the boat on a ladder. The Bodyglove staff were very helpful getting folks up the ladder, which was tricky when the ocean got choppy.
On the way back to Kona, we saw a parasailor.
And we saw a pod of dolphins swimming near the bay.
Except for a few people that got sea sick, everyone had a really good time on the tour.
