Try Scuba Diving, Honolulu's Guided Snorkel Tour + Free Videos - Honolulu costs from $49 per person and includes all snorkeling equipment and free GoPro videos. Captain Max Boat Tours runs its Turtle Canyon Snorkel (Semi-Private Boat Tour) for 1.5 hours from $99. Budget, group size, time on the water and the meeting point decide the rest.
How to choose
Budget and group size set most of the price. Try Scuba's tour and Pink Sails Waikiki's Turtle Snorkeling Adventure + Guaranteed Sightings, which costs from $79 per person, are both priced per person. For a group that wants its own boat, the Adventure / Snorkel Tour from The Adventure Boat is priced per group at $625 and is described as a private boat.
| Tour | Price from | Length | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Snorkel Tour + Free Videos - Honolulu | $49 per person | - | 8 and older |
| 2-Hour Waikiki Snorkel & Ocean Playground Adventure | $69 per person | 2 hours | - |
| Turtle Snorkeling Adventure + Guaranteed Sightings | $79 per person | - | - |
| Deluxe Snorkel and Wildlife Cruise | $89 per person | 1.5 hours | 3 and older |
| Snorkel with Turtles | $99 per person | - | 6 and older |
| Semi-Private Turtle Snorkel & Catamaran Cruise | $109 per person | 2 hours | 5 and older |
| Waikiki Turtle Snorkel Sail with Lunch | $149.95 per person | - | - |
| West Oahu Dolphin Watch and Turtle Snorkel Sail w/ Lunch | $149.95 per person | 3 hours | - |
Next, decide how long you want to be out. Living Ocean Tours' Deluxe Snorkel and Wildlife Cruise runs 1.5 hours. Hawaii Nautical's West Oahu Dolphin Watch and Turtle Snorkel Sail w/ Lunch runs 3 hours.
Then look at the age limits. Several tours set a minimum age, so the children in your group may decide which tour you can book.
Prices and what is included
Living Ocean Tours' Deluxe Snorkel and Wildlife Cruise costs from $89 per person and includes a 2-story waterslide and a water trampoline. Hawaii Nautical's Waikiki Turtle Snorkel Sail with Lunch costs from $149.95 per person and includes a sandwich or wrap, beer, wine and tropical cocktails.
Confirm the current adult price with the operator before you book, because the unit of Captain Max's fare is not stated in its listing.
Higher prices often buy more on board, as the West Oahu sail shows. Hawaii Nautical's West Oahu sail costs $149.95 per person and adds a sandwich lunch and a shuttle from Ko Olina hotels. The Ko Olina Exclusive Snorkel + Lunch costs from $105 per group and includes lunch and snacks.
What should you expect: how long it lasts and where it starts?
Tours we list run from 1.5 hours to about 4 hours, and their meeting points range from Kailua to Waikiki. The Active Oahu Sharks Cove Self-Guided Snorkel runs about 4 hours and starts at a Kailua address.
Plan to reach the meeting point early, because we list no departure times.
Who does it suit, and who should skip it?
Families with younger children should start with the age limit, which runs from 5 to 8 years on the tours we list. Captain Max's Turtle Canyon tour requires guests to be at least 5 years old. Guests who prefer not to be on a boat for long may choose the 1.5-hour or 2-hour options.
What are the tours to book?
GoHawaii's 2-Hour Waikiki Snorkel & Ocean Playground Adventure costs from $69 per person and runs 2 hours. The name promises sightings, but the sighting terms are not spelled out, so do not count on seeing turtles.
How do booking, cancellation and weather work?
Active Oahu gives a 100% refund if you give more than 48 hours' notice. Captain Max Boat Tours requires 24 hours for a full refund and gives no refund within 24 hours of departure. The Adventure Boat gives a full refund or credit with 48 hours' notice.
Plan a spare day in case conditions change.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Oahu snorkel tour cost?
Try Scuba's tour costs from $49 per person, and The Adventure Boat's private boat is priced per group at $625.
How long does an Oahu snorkel tour take?
Captain Max's Turtle Canyon tour is 1.5 hours, and Hawaii Nautical's West Oahu sail is 3 hours.
What is included with an Oahu snorkel tour?
Captain Max's Turtle Canyon tour includes snorkel gear and a life vest or flotation device. If you want food on board, the Hawaii Nautical Waikiki sail includes a sandwich or wrap.
Where does an Oahu snorkel tour start?
The Try Scuba tour meets at Magic Island in Honolulu, and The Adventure Boat meets at Ala Wai Harbor in Waikiki.
