Waikiki: Small Group Turtle Canyon Snorkelbådstur

Wonderful small boat experience! Everything is provided. We saw lots of turtles and lots of fish. Plenty of time in the water.

Everyone was fantastic i learned along from them.

Crew was awesome and attentive, nice boat, very fine day in a very windy ocean.

This was a fabulous experience for a beginner snorkeling event and a not so strong swimmer. The crew was so patient, friendly and confident 10/10 recommend.

This tour was one of the highlights of my trip! I did the earliest tour, which gave our group some alone time in the water before the crowds showed up. The crew was amazing! Sam was incredibly personable and funny, and the boat ride out to Turtle Canyon was so relaxing and beautiful. The in-water guide Hailey was very knowledgeable about the marine life and great at pointing out the sea turtles to us. My photos really don't do it justice because we were able to get SO close to the turtles and fish around the reef. I loved every second of it, and I will absolutely book this tour again on my next trip to Oahu.

+2

Believe the hype. When it says turtles guaranteed, they were right. We deliberately booked the 8am session (Friday 18 September 2026), as this time was recommended as the best time to see the turtles due to calm conditions and when they are most active. The water was so clear that you could see the reef an ocean floor (about 20 feet or 6 metres). You could see the turtles feeding at the bottom, and they would regularly come to the surface to breathe, so close that we would have to back off to be the minimum distance away (10 feet or 3 metres) as regulated by law. To be this close to dozens and dozens of turtles across the 90 minutes in the water was astounding. Definitely one of the best experiences of our lives, and something our kids will never forget. If you are going to book the snorkelling experience, Hawaii Ocean Charters should be your first choice operator. Communication between booking and the tour was clear and timely. As a small group of maximum 20 people, they catered brilliantly to everyone’s ability. We had 3 children who had never snorkelled before, and Erica and Gerald took amazing care of them the entire time. They made sure that all of the gear, including snorkel, googles, flippers, and floatation vest, wear appropriately sized and comfortable. In the water, Erica constantly stayed nearby the kids, happily answering all of their many questions. When my daughter had enough swimming, Gerald happily allowed her to hang onto his surfboard while they paddled around together. Adults also had flotation devices (waist belts), but strong swimmers are best without it. Having some basic swimming experience is suggested, so that you feel comfortable face down in the water, and pick up the kicking action with flippers quickly. With other tour groups out there too, the whole team were fantastic in ensuring our group remained together, and were safe distances away from other boats arriving and departing. Our captain (sorry, name forgotten) was friendly, professional, and highly knowledgeable, picking a fantastic spot to find the turtles, as well as ensuring a safe and comfortable ride. The boat was extremely well maintained and had a range of seating options, from the main deck at the back, to an elevated deck where the captain was, and an option to ride at the front of the boat. Meanwhile, Erica was very experienced in guiding us in the water to find the best spots to see turtles, fish, and other aquatic life around the reef.

There was an error with our Viatour booking but Francesco sorted it out quickly and we changed from the small group tour to the larger group and were definitely not disappointed. Had a great time with the crew, saw so many turtles and fish with the Waikīkī skyline as the backdrop in this beautiful location. If you’re Aussie and looking for good coffee, they can also recommend a quality cafe. Hard to find an activity that will top this mornings experience. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great experience. The crew was very knowledgeable and helpful in explaining everything. It was also nice that it was a small group

We had a wonderful time! The caption and entire crew are fantastic. The made sure that everyone in our group had what they needed and that we were all safe.

We had such an incredible time on our catamaran snorkeling trip! Jake and Sam truly made the experience everything we hoped it would be-and more! They were fun, personable, knowledgeable, and kept us laughing with their jokes throughout the trip! Thanks to their expertise, we were able to snorkel with sea turtles and see so many different species of beautiful tropical fish. They knew where to take us and made us feel comfortable and well taken care of on our first snorkeling trip. Jake and Sam were an absolute joy and really made this one of the highlights of our Hawaii vacation. 100% recommend this experience! Mahalo for such an unforgettable day! 🌸🤙🐠