If you visit Hawaii, It is mandatory to explore the Pacific Ocean. We booked a snorkeling excursion with Captain Zodiac Raft Expeditions. We took a midday tour, meeting at the Captain Zodiac tour office in Gentry’s Kona Marina. The marina was easy to find and offered free parking.

We were offered a warm greeting at the tour office as we signed our waivers and were fitted for equipment. Upon booking the tour, I asked about a changing room, as the excursion was far from our hotel and I didn’t want to be stuck in my bikini all day.

It turned out that the “changing room” was actually a small bathroom that all of the local businesses use, including a bustling restaurant. It was awkward to change with a queue of women waiting to use the toilets. If we take this excursion in the future, I will definitely just wear my bathing suit under my shorts.

Make sure to wear sunscreen and make sure that it is designated “reef safe.” It’s also not a bad idea to bring a hat with a tight strap and sunglasses. The sun is intense and we all returned pinker than we left.

As soon as the other guests arrived ( about ten of us in total, including several older children) Captain Rick and his assistant, Amanda, walked us over to our zodiac boat.

At first, the ride was a lot of fun. I was laughing and having a great time. I hadn’t been on a zodiac raft in many years and I forgot how bumpy the ride can be, especially when we hit open water. We had to lean forward and keep a minimum of one hand gripped on the safety rope as our feet were tucked under a different rope.

After about twenty-minutes the ride turned from thrilling to uncomfortable. I was white-knuckling the rope. If you want to feel old ( I was forty-one at the time) go on a zodiac raft ride. You will feel every ache and pain in your body. The following day, Dan and I could barely move. There are warnings regarding this not being a great excursion for people with neck/back conditions and other medical problems that might be aggravated, but for us, it was simply being in our 40’s. Ouch!

That said, the ride had beautiful views and it’s always a joy to be out on the water soaking up the sunshine.

And we saw dolphins…loads of dolphins!

We stopped at Kealakekua Bay for about two hours to snorkel. We were told that Disney animators came here to get inspired for Finding Nemo. It’s a calm snorkeling spot with plenty of fish.

It’s not easily accessible by land, so the bay was filled with various excursion operators. There is a trail that takes approximately 2.5 hours to the Captain Cook Monument, a memorial with an obelisk for the explorer that is said to be on the spot where he died. This tiny area of land is technically British soil. Cook is a highly controversial historical figure, having bullied his way into many indigenous populations, causing them harm. He met his demise in Hawaii, when the Hawaiians fought back.

Captain Rick and Amanda gave us our life jackets and snorkel gear. They also had pool noodles for anyone who wanted extra floatation help. Despite having little snorkeling experience, Zoe and Dan jumped right in. I was nervous. I have no fear of swimming in the ocean and I’m a strong swimmer, however, I had a claustrophobia issue the last time that I went snorkeling and panicked. Amanda was very kind in talking me through my panic attack and I felt brave enough to give it a try. Felix and I jumped in the water at the same time and started exploring.

The minute I hit the water, I felt confident.

Colorful fish were everywhere! These pictures absolutely do not do it justice. It was far more bright and magical. I clearly remember the underwater crunch sounds that I was later told were fish eating sand.

Before our bouncy ride back, we were given snacks: fresh pineapple, chips, cookies, juice and soda. On the way back, we took a slightly different route, so that Captain Rick could show us some special points of interest. We went near sea caves, saw teenagers cliff-jumping into the ocean, and visited some rock faces where Disney animators found inspiration for Moana. I think Disney animators are just finding excuses for Hawaiian vacations!

I can’t remember if the rate is the same as what we paid in 2019, but the current prices for this tour are 125.00 for adults and 90.00 for kids. Plus, don’t forget a tip! My only negative was the aches and pains from the zodiac ( I think Dan would agree), but the kids thought it was fun. Captain Rick and Amanda did a professional job and the tour included many wonderful experiences. We recommend Captain Zodiac Raft Expeditions.