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EXPLORE ALL THAT IS BEAUTIFUL IN KAILUA KONA
**Waterfalls, beaches, volcanoes . . .** Hawaii really has it all. You’ve driven along the coast and have seen Humpback Whales breaching, the stunning ocean surf, and watched the green flash as the sun set over the horizon. Now it’s time to explore what’s under those crashing waves. The Big Island of Hawaii has some of the best snorkeling in the world and they go to great lengths to protect the surrounding reef so the aquatic life is abundant and plentiful.
One of the best places to snorkel on the island is the Marine Sanctuary located in Kealakekua Bay. This location is popular with both visitors and locals alike and is home to the World Famous Captain Cook Monument. In addition to the vibrant reef and sea life, Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins are also often spotted playing in the bay.
We love all the adventures Hawaii has to offer but when it gets dark we have to admit our favorite part of the island is night snorkeling with manta rays at Keauhou Bay. This tour is an incredible experience unique to the Big Island.
Your Sailing and Snorkeling Adventure Begins Here!
### HISTORY OF VESSELS
### KEAUHOU BAY
Keauhou Bay is located in beautiful South Kona on the Island of Hawaii, fronting the Sheraton Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay. Sea Paradise is located just north of Keauhou Bay at the Keauhou Shopping Center. This historic area was the birthplace of King Kamehameha III in 1814. He was the second son of Kamehameha the Great, who united the Hawaiian Islands in 1810.
### KEALAKEKUA BAY
Snorkeling in Kealakekua Bay has always been one of the top things to do in Kona, Hawaii. Located on the Kona Coast on Hawaii Island, a dozen miles south of Kailua-Kona, Kealakekua Bay area is home to many historical sites, like the ancient village of Ka‘awaloa and the Captain Cook Monument. In 1973, it was put on the National Register of Historic Places and was also named a Marine Life Conservation District
### CAPTAIN COOK MONUMENT
Although there are theories that Spanish or Dutch sailors might have stopped here much earlier, the first documented European to arrive was Captain James Cook. He and his crew on the HMS Resolution and HMS Discovery sighted Kealakekua Bay on the morning of January 17, 1779. He estimated several thousand people lived in the two villages. On January 28, he performed the first Christian service on the islands at a funeral of a crew member.
### HUMPBACK WHALES
During the winter months from about December to April, humpback whales can be spotted in the waters as you sail to your snorkel site.
North Pacific Humpback whales migrate from the Gulf of Alaska to the warm waters of Hawaii every winter. Called “Kohala” in Hawaiian, humpback whales have great cultural significance to Native Hawaiians and should be treated with respect.
## MANTA RAYS
“Sea Paradise” was a custom made, 32-foot dive boat based on the popular “Radon” style boats of California. “Sea Paradise” offered comfort and convenience to its passengers, with easy access to the water from its wide swim step.
### SPINNER DOLPHINS
The spinner dolphin is a small cetacean with a slim build. Adults are typically 129-235 cm long and reach a body mass of 23-79 kg. This species has an elongated rostrum and a triangular or sub-triangular dorsal fin. Spinner dolphins generally have tripartite color patterns.
### MO BETTA BOAT
Habitat conservation is a land management practice that seeks to conserve, protect and restore habitat areas for wild plants and animals, especially conservation reliant species, and prevent their extinction, fragmentation or reduction in range. It is a priority of many groups that cannot be easily characterized in terms of any one ideology.
#### SEA PARADISE
Departures at Keauhou Bay
Phone: 808-322-2500
* Monday - 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
* Tuesday - 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
* Wednesday - 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
* Thursday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
* Friday - 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
* Saturday - 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
* Sunday - 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Keauhou Bay is located in beautiful North Kona on the Island of Hawaii, fronting the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa. This historic area was the birthplace of King Kamehameha III in 1814. He was the second son of Kamehameha the Great, who united the Hawaiian Islands in 1810.
This area was once a hideaway for Hawaiian royalty and today, there are many restored heiau (Hawaiian temples) and sites in Keauhou that should be treated with the highest of respect.
If you’re looking for things to do in Hawaii, Keauhou Bay is best known for being a gathering place for manta rays. The graceful manta rays are harmless to humans and come out at night, feeding on plankton. Sea Paradise was one of the original , helping guests experience swimming with the Keauhou manta rays since 1985.
## Tours At This Location
### Morning Snorkel Tour
Depart Keauhou Bay sailing down the Kona coast to snorkel in the pristine waters near the Captain Cook Monument in Kealakekua Bay and “Red Hill.” Breakfast and lunch included.
### Afternoon Snorkel Tour
Snorkel in crystal-clear, Kealakekua Bay, home of the Captain Cook Monument. You can also whale watch during the winter months. Light snacks included.
### Manta Ray Snorkel Tour
Snorkel with the gentle manta rays at night at the world-famous “Manta Ray Village” outside of Keauhou Bay. This unforgettable manta encounter is guaranteed.
Kailua Kona, Hawaii 96740
Snorkeling in Kealakekua Bay has always been one of the top things to do in Kona, Hawaii. But Kealakekua Bay is so much more than one of the best snorkel spots in Hawaii.
Located on the Kona Coast on Hawaii Island, a dozen miles south of Kailua-Kona, Kealakekua Bay area is home to many historical sites, like the ancient village of Ka‘awaloa and the Captain Cook Monument. In 1973, it was put on the National Register of Historic Places and was also named a Marine Life Conservation District.
Shielded from winds by Mauna Loa, Kealakekua Bay’s waters are calm and clear, making it perfect for Kona snorkeling. Plus, as a Marine Life Conservation District, its waters are full of colorful varieties of fish and sea life. Sea Paradise offers  and  to Kealakekua Bay departing from Keauhou. When it comes to things to do in Hawaii, snorkeling Kealakekua Bay should be at the top of the list.
“Ka’awaloa in 1779” by John Webber, artist aboard Cook’s ship, documents Cook entering the bay during the Hawaiian celebration Makahiki. This was a traditionally peaceful time of year, so he was welcomed and given food. Cook and his crew stayed for several weeks, returning to sea shortly after the end of the festival. After suffering damage during a storm, the ships returned two weeks later, on February 14. This time relations were not as smooth.
After the theft of one of Resolution’s small boats by a native Hawaiian, Cook attempted to lure Hawaiian chief Kalani’opu’u aboard to hold as hostage until the boat was returned. A skirmish ensued during which Cook was struck in the head and stabbed, near the spot where he had first set foot on the island. This death was depicted in a series of paintings “Death of Cook.”
A large white stone monument was built on the north shore of the bay in 1874 on the order of Princess Likelike and was deeded to the United Kingdom in 1877. The chain around the monument is supported by four cannons from the ship HMS Fantome, each placed with their breaches embedded in the rock in 1876. It marks the approximate location of Cook’s death.
The monument is unreachable by road; this remote location is only accessible by water or an hour-long hike along a moderately steep trail. Many visitors have rented kayaks and paddled across the bay, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from its southern end, however as of February 1, 2013 a moratorium prevents kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, surfboards and bodyboards from entering the bay. The pier at Napo’opo’o can be accessed down a narrow road off the Hawaii Belt Road. The beach sand was mostly removed by Hurricane Iniki in 1992.
Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins frequent Kealakekua Bay, especially in the morning. The bay serves as a place for them to rest and feed, and as a nursery for mothers and their calves. Due to the calm water conditions, extensive coral reef, and thriving underwater life, Kealakekua Bay offers some of the best snorkeling and diving in Hawaii. The shallow waters adjacent to the monument are best for snorkeling and scuba diving. About 180 acres (0.73 km2) around the bay was designated a State Historic Park in 1967, and it was added as a Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 as site 73000651. The 315 acres (1.27 km2) of the bay itself were declared a Marine Life Conservation District in 1969.
North Pacific Humpback whales migrate from the Gulf of Alaska to the warm waters of Hawaii every winter. The whales also come to the warm Hawaiian waters to give birth to their calves before they begin their long journey home.
Called “Kohola” in Hawaiian, humpback whales have great cultural significance to Native Hawaiians and should be treated with respect.
During whale watching season, we often see these Kohala, ranging from 40-50 feet and weighing up to 45 tons, breach the surface of the ocean, giving our Sea Paradise snorkel tour guests an unforgettable show. Book a Hawaii snorkeling package with Sea Paradise during the winter months and you may get a humpback whale watching tour included for free!
A manta ray night snorkel is an exhilarating experience, but you may ask, “What are manta rays and are they safe?” Called “Hahalua” in Hawaiian, manta rays are one of the largest animals in the ocean, ranging from 2 to 20 feet wide.
Manta rays are gentle giants of the sea and DO NOT have stingers so they are harmless to snorkelers. Manta rays come out at night year-round to catch microscopic plankton in their wide, cavernous mouths. Many manta rays reside in the Keauhou Bay area on the Kona Coast, at the dive site called, “Manta Ray Village.”
Sea Paradise offers  to safely snorkel with these amazing creatures. Manta rays, attracted to the plankton that are drawn to the lights from the state of the art manta floatation device, gracefully glide and loop through the water, sometimes coming within inches of awe-struck visitors. Manta rays also each have unique spot patterns on their ventral side which accurately identifies them. They have unique names like Kailey Ray, Big Bertha Ray, etc. Manta ray snorkeling with Sea Paradise is a once in a lifetime experience and is often the highlight of visitors’ trips to Hawaii.
### Manta Ray SNORKEL Tour