Body Glove's Deluxe Snorkel and Dolphin Watch is a 4.5-hour Kona snorkel cruise on the 65-foot Kanoa II from Kailua Pier, with breakfast, BBQ lunch, a waterslide and about 2 hours at Red Hill. It suits families and first-time snorkelers who value amenities. The main drawback is that 3 of the 5 reviews we read found the reef itself underwhelming.
Highlights
Departs Kailua Pier in downtown Kailua-Kona at 8:00 am and returns about 12:30 pm, every day
About 2 hours of snorkel time at the Red Hill marine sanctuary, with a 20-foot waterslide, high-dive platform, paddleboards and flotation mats off the boat
Breakfast (fruit, yogurt, granola, danishes) and a BBQ burger lunch are included; vegan taro burgers with 48 hours' notice
Wheelchair accessible via a custom ramp, with an accessible lower deck and restrooms; capacity up to 105 passengers
Dolphin sightings are not guaranteed; one 2019 reviewer was offered a free future trip after seeing none
What to Expect
You check in 30 minutes before departure at Kailua Pier, sign a waiver and board the Kanoa II; the boat leaves on time and does not wait for latecomers.
Breakfast is served as the catamaran cruises north along the Kona coast, with the crew watching for spinner dolphins.
At Red Hill the boat anchors and the crew gives snorkel instruction and hands out masks, fins and flotation gear; you have roughly 2 hours in the water.
Between snorkel sessions you can use the 20-foot waterslide, the high-dive platform, paddleboards and the floating mat.
A BBQ burger lunch is served on deck, and the cash bar opens for cocktails and craft beer.
The boat returns to Kailua Pier at about 12:30 pm; there is no going ashore during the trip.
What's Included
Continental breakfast and BBQ lunch (beef burger, chips, cookie; vegan taro burger with 48 hours' notice)
Soft drinks, juice and snacks
Snorkel mask, snorkel, fins, life vests and prescription masks (-1.5 to -7.0) at no charge
Reef-safe sunscreen, ginger pills and ginger drink for seasickness
20-foot waterslide, high-dive platform, shade, restrooms and two freshwater showers
What's Not Included
Cocktails, craft beer and spirits from the cash bar
Wetsuit rental ($10 on board, per Tripster)
Towels; LoveBigIsland notes they are not provided
Hotel pickup; taxis, Uber and Lyft are the suggested options
What to Bring
Swimsuit, towel and sunglasses
Cash or a card for the bar and retail items
Your own snorkel gear if you prefer it; full-face masks are not permitted
A handicapped parking placard if you need accessible pier parking, requested at booking
Restrictions and Requirements
Full-face snorkel masks are not allowed
Children of all ages may join, but must be accompanied by an adult 18 or over
Liability waiver signed at check-in; no smoking on the vessel
Dolphin and whale sightings are not guaranteed
No refunds for late arrival or motion sickness
Cancellation Policy
Full refund if you cancel at least 48 hours ahead for parties of 9 or fewer, 72 hours for parties of 10 to 19, and 7 days for parties of 20 or more; full refund if the operator cancels. Checked October 2026 on Greetwell. Note that the VELTRA (hawaiiactivities.com) listing applies stricter 3-, 4- and 8-business-day windows for its own bookings.
Kailua Pier, north end of Ali'i Drive, downtown Kailua-Kona, in front of the Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel
Check-In
30 minutes before departure (about 7:30 am for the 8:00 am cruise)
Parking and Getting There
Free parking at the Body Glove office, 75-5629 Kuakini Hwy, one block from the pier; paid parking at the Courtyard King Kamehameha hotel; accessible pier parking is very limited
Ratings from every source we could find
TripAdvisor
4.5
5,114 reviews
Google
4.8
3,400 reviews
GetYourGuide
4.8
153 reviews
Other
4.6
11,501 reviews
Google Maps — Summarized by Our Team
Body Glove's Kona snorkel cruise is a long-established, high-volume operation; general sentiment favors the onboard amenities (water slide, lunch/refreshments) with the trade-off of a larger group size than boutique boats.
Last checked 2026-09-15
Ratings and review counts are checked periodically and may not reflect same-day changes on each platform.
What the Reviews Say
We read 5 individual reviews: 3 on Tripster (October 2015 to June 2019), 1 on VELTRA/hawaiiactivities.com (September 2025) and 1 Google review republished on Greetwell (September 2026). Star ratings were shown for only 2 of them. Platform scores were collected in October 2026.
What Reviewers Praise
Friendly, helpful crew(4 of the 5 reviews we read)
Even the two reviewers who were disappointed by the snorkeling praised the crew, and the two most recent reviews call the staff the best part of the trip.
— Google via Greetwell, 5★, September 2026: the crew and the ship are exceptional
Well-equipped boat with toys and flotation(3 of the 5 reviews we read)
Reviewers mention the paddleboards, the large floating mat and the quality of the snorkel equipment, which is relevant for groups with non-swimmers.
— VELTRA, September 2025: staff, boat and equipment were excellent, and it was fun for a first-time snorkeler
Plentiful food(2 of the 5 reviews we read)
Both older Tripster reviewers called the lunch tasty and generous and the breakfast adequate.
— Tripster, June 2019: the continental breakfast was fine and the lunch was tasty and plentiful
What Reviewers Complain About
Snorkel site at Red Hill is less rewarding than shore snorkeling(3 of the 5 reviews we read · outside operator's control · most recent: June 2019)
Three Tripster reviewers said they saw more fish from shore and that the reef had less variety than expected; one had expected Kealakekua Bay, which this cruise does not visit.
— Tripster, October 2015: one of the weakest snorkel spots in seven trips to the Big Island
Operator response: One reviewer in June 2019 was told they could book a future tour free because no dolphins were seen.
Expectations about dolphins are not met(2 of the 5 reviews we read · outside operator's control · most recent: June 2019)
One reviewer saw no dolphins at all; another expected to swim with them and only watched a sleeping pod from the boat. The operator states sightings are not guaranteed and there is no in-water dolphin encounter.
— Tripster, October 2015: do not expect to swim with the dolphins
Waiting around when add-ons are booked(1 of the 5 reviews we read · operator issue · most recent: October 2015)
A reviewer who booked a Snuba add-on had to wait for a second group and missed part of lunch service; this is a single, dated report.
— Tripster, October 2015: booked Snuba but had to wait for a second group while food was served
About the Operator in General
Body Glove Hawaii's listings across platforms score 4.5 to 4.8 with thousands of reviews, and the same Kanoa II vessel runs the operator's Historical Lunch Cruise in the afternoon.
Our Verdict
Tripreviewall's Take
At $150 to $180 per adult, this Kona snorkel cruise is worth it for families and nervous snorkelers who will use the waterslide, flotation gear and included meals, and the 4.5 to 4.8 ratings across more than 8,000 reviews show most passengers leave satisfied. Experienced snorkelers chasing the best reef should look at a Kealakekua Bay trip instead; 3 of the 5 reviews we read rated Red Hill below a good shore snorkel. Treat dolphins as a bonus, not the reason to book.
Book This Tour If…
You are traveling with children, non-swimmers or first-time snorkelers who need flotation gear and a calm, amenity-heavy boat
You want breakfast and lunch included so a morning on the water covers a full meal
You or a companion uses a wheelchair; the ramp and lower deck are built for it
You are staying in Kailua-Kona or Keauhou, within 45 minutes of Kailua Pier
Skip This Tour If…
You have already snorkeled from shore at Kahalu'u or Two Step and want a clearly better reef
You expect to swim with dolphins; this is watching from the boat only
You get seasick easily; there are no refunds for motion sickness
You are staying in Hilo or Volcano and face a 3-hour drive each way for a morning trip
Tips From Reviewers and Operator Notes
Park free at the Body Glove office on Kuakini Hwy, one block from the pier, rather than paying at the hotel lot
Order vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free meals at least 48 hours ahead by phone
Bring your own towel; LoveBigIsland notes they are not provided
Sit on the lower deck if you are prone to seasickness, and take the free ginger before departure
Compare prices: in October 2026 Tripster showed $149.99, Greetwell $173.43 and LoveBigIsland $180 plus tax for the same adult ticket
Assessed by the Tripreviewall editorial team, last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Body Glove Kona snorkel cruise depart from?
The Body Glove Deluxe Snorkel and Dolphin Watch departs from Kailua Pier at the north end of Ali'i Drive in downtown Kailua-Kona, in front of the Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel. Boarding starts 30 minutes before the 8:00 am departure, and free parking is available at the Body Glove office one block away on Kuakini Highway.
How long is the Body Glove snorkel and dolphin watch cruise?
The Body Glove snorkel and dolphin watch cruise lasts about 4.5 hours, leaving Kailua Pier at 8:00 am and returning around 12:30 pm. Roughly 2 of those hours are spent snorkeling and using the waterslide at the Red Hill marine sanctuary, with breakfast on the way out and BBQ lunch on board.
Are dolphins guaranteed on the Body Glove cruise?
Dolphins are not guaranteed on the Body Glove Deluxe Snorkel and Dolphin Watch, and the operator states this on every listing we checked. Spinner dolphins are watched from the boat only, with no in-water encounter. One June 2019 reviewer who saw none was offered a free future trip, but that offer is not a published policy.
What food is included on the Body Glove Deluxe Snorkel cruise?
The Body Glove Deluxe Snorkel cruise includes a continental breakfast of fruit, yogurt, granola and danishes, then a BBQ lunch of a beef burger with chips and a cookie, plus soft drinks, juice and snacks. Vegan taro burgers and gluten-free or vegetarian meals are available at no charge with at least 48 hours' notice.
Is the Body Glove Kona snorkel cruise wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the Body Glove Kona snorkel cruise on the Kanoa II is wheelchair accessible through a customized ramp that fits manual and electric wheelchairs and scooters, and the lower deck including restrooms is fully accessible. Accessible parking at Kailua Pier is very limited and first-come, so request a pass at booking and bring your placard.
What is the cancellation policy for the Body Glove snorkel cruise?
The Body Glove snorkel cruise refunds in full with 48 hours' notice for groups of 9 or fewer, 72 hours for 10 to 19 people and 7 days for 20 or more, according to Greetwell in October 2026. Bookings through VELTRA use longer 3-, 4- and 8-business-day windows. There is no refund for late arrival or seasickness.
Can you use a full-face snorkel mask on the Body Glove cruise?
Full-face snorkel masks are not permitted on the Body Glove Deluxe Snorkel and Dolphin Watch cruise. The crew provides standard masks, snorkels and fins, including prescription masks from -1.5 to -7.0 at no extra charge, and you are welcome to bring your own conventional snorkel gear instead.
Contact
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TripReviewAll is an independent review site and does not operate this tour. For changes to an existing booking, contact Body Glove Hawaii directly.
