A Hawaii snorkel tour is a guided boat, kayak or sea scooter trip to a reef that is hard to reach from the beach, with mask, snorkel and fins supplied and a crew on hand. The best-known sites are Turtle Town and Molokini off Maui, Turtle Canyon off Waikiki, the Na Pali Coast on Kauai and the manta ray site off Kona. We took the lowest listed price for all 18 snorkel and manta ray tours we sell. Prices checked October 26, 2026.
Quick Answer: A shared snorkel tour in Hawaii costs $109 to $235 per person in 2026, with a typical price of $139. Three things set the price: how long you are out, whether a meal is included, and shared versus private. Maui has the cheapest boat and kayak snorkels, from $109, a manta ray night snorkel in Kona costs $135 to $219, and a five-hour Na Pali Coast snorkel cruise on Kauai costs $169 to $235 with lunch. A private snorkel charter costs $350 to $3,250 for the whole group.
Fun Fact
- Cheapest snorkel tour: kayak and snorkel at Makena, Maui, $109
- Typical shared tour: $139 per person for 1.5 to 4 hours
- Turtle Canyon, Waikiki: $131 for three hours
- Manta ray night snorkel: $135 to $219 in Kona
- Na Pali Coast snorkel: $169 to $235, lunch included
- Private charter: $350 to $3,250 for the boat
How We Got These Prices
We sell all 18 of these snorkel tours, and each one is booked through the operator’s FareHarbor calendar on our site. On October 26, 2026 we took the lowest price listed on every tour’s booking page, along with its length, what is included and how the price is quoted.
Most prices are per person. Private charters are quoted for the whole boat, so we kept them out of the per-person ranges and show them separately. The typical price of $139 is the middle of the 12 shared tours.
Hawaii Snorkel Tour Prices by Format and Island
This is the table to start with. It shows the price range for each type of tour on each island.
| Format | Maui | Oahu | Kauai | Big Island |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shared boat or kayak snorkel | $109 to $149 | $109 to $205 | $169 to $235 | None listed |
| Manta ray night snorkel | None listed | None listed | None listed | $135 to $219 |
| Private tour, per person | $199 | $270 | None listed | None listed |
| Private charter, whole boat | $2,880 to $3,250 | $350 to $995 | None listed | None listed |
Maui is the cheapest place to snorkel from a boat, and Kauai is the most expensive, but the Kauai prices pay for a five-hour Na Pali Coast cruise with meals rather than a 90-minute reef stop. The Big Island is where you go for manta rays, and all three of our manta tours leave from the Kona side.
Maui Snorkel Tour Prices
| Tour | Price from | Length | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kayak and Snorkel at Makena Paddle to Turtle Town’s lava ledges, groups of 10 | $109 | 3 hours | Per adult |
| Morning Snorkel Aboard the Quicksilver Maalaea to Coral Gardens, waterslide, hot dog lunch | $109.95 | 3.5 hours | Adult, child and family rates |
| Turtle Town Snorkel for Beginners Turtles guaranteed by the operator, free photos | $129 | 1.5 hours | Per person |
| Turtle Town Sea Scooter Snorkel A sea scooter pulls you along | $149 | 1.5 hours | Per person |
| Private Turtle Town Snorkel Your party only, sea scooters | $199 | 1.5 hours | Per person, private |
| Private Afternoon Snorkel and Sail Pali Cliffs or north Kihei reef, lunch, sunset anchorage | $2,880 | 4 hours | Per charter, up to 6 |
| Private Snorkel Boat Charter Molokini, Turtle Town and West Maui reefs | $3,250 | Full day | Per charter |
Most Maui snorkel tours head for Turtle Town and the reefs off South Maui. The Makena kayak tour is the cheapest, but you paddle to the reef, so it suits fit swimmers. The three Turtle Town boat tours are short and simple, and the operator guarantees turtle sightings. Only the private charter lists Molokini Crater, so if Molokini is a must, ask about it when you book. Our guides to snorkeling on Maui and Turtle Town by boat, kayak or sea scooter compare them in more detail.
Oahu Snorkel Tour Prices
| Tour | Price from | Length | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-Private Turtle Snorkel Catamaran Off Waikiki, six guests max | $109 | 2 hours | Per person |
| Waikiki Turtle Canyon Snorkel Cruise Sea turtles with Diamond Head views | $125 | 2.5 hours | Per adult |
| Turtle Canyon Snorkel Off Waikiki, in-water naturalist, ride-along option | $131 | 3 hours | Per adult |
| Afternoon Catamaran Snorkel Sail North Shore, 16 passengers max, summer months | $139 | 3 hours | Per person |
| Morning Catamaran Sail and Snorkel From Haleiwa, 16 passengers max, summer months | $139 | 4 hours | Per person |
| Ko Olina Morning Catamaran Snorkel Sail West Oahu, dolphins, turtles and seasonal whales | $195 | 3 hours | Per adult (13+) |
| Ko Olina Afternoon Catamaran Snorkel Sail West Oahu, sandwiches and drinks included | $195 | 3 hours | Per adult (13+) |
| Waikiki Couples Yacht Swim and Snorkel Three couples max, hosted bar | $205 | 2 hours | Per person |
| Private Waikiki Snorkel and Lunch Cruise Up to six guests, lunch and hosted bar | $270 | 2.5 hours | Per person, private |
| Oahu Private Boat Charter Turtle Canyon snorkel, fishing or cruising | $350 | 2 hours minimum | Listed for a group of 6 |
| Private Catamaran Cruise and Turtle Snorkel Off Waikiki, your group only | $649 | 2 to 4 hours | Per charter, up to 6 |
| Ko Olina Private Wildlife Snorkel West Oahu, marine naturalist, spinner dolphins and turtles | $995 | 2 hours | Per charter, up to 6 |
Turtle Canyon off Waikiki is the closest boat snorkel to most hotels, at $131 for three hours with an in-water naturalist and a ride-along option for anyone who wants to stay on the boat. On the North Shore, the two catamaran sails from Haleiwa run in the summer months only, when the sea is calm. Our Oahu snorkeling guide covers the best sites by season.
Kauai and Big Island Snorkel Tour Prices
| Tour | Island | Price from | Length | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manta Ray Snorkel and Sunset Cruise Kona, about 30 minutes with the mantas | Big Island | $135 | 2.25 hours | Per adult |
| Manta Magic Night Snorkel From Keauhou Harbor, wetsuit included | Big Island | $139 | 50 minutes | Per adult |
| Na Pali Coast Tour on the Amelia K Sea caves, snorkel stop, deli lunch | Kauai | $169 | 4.5 to 5 hours | Adult and child |
| Whale Watch and Manta Ray Snorkel December to April only | Big Island | $219 | 3 hours | Per adult |
| Na Pali Snorkel and Sail Breakfast, lunch, beer and wine | Kauai | $235 | 5 hours | Per adult |
On Kauai, both of our snorkel tours are Na Pali Coast cruises from Port Allen. The $169 Amelia K is a power catamaran with sea caves and a deli lunch, and the $235 sail adds breakfast, beer and wine and sails with minimal engine use. See our guide to snorkeling on Kauai and the Na Pali Coast.
On the Big Island, the manta ray night snorkel is the trip to book. You float on a lit board while manta rays feed on plankton below you. Our manta ray night snorkel guide explains how it works.
What Your Money Buys at Each Price Level
| Budget per person | What you get | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Around $110 | A three-hour kayak snorkel or a 3.5-hour morning boat with lunch | Makena kayak, Quicksilver from Maalaea |
| $130 to $150 | A guided boat snorkel with turtles, a North Shore sail, or a Kona manta night snorkel | Turtle Canyon, Turtle Town, manta ray tours |
| $165 to $235 | A five-hour Na Pali Coast cruise with a snorkel stop and meals | Amelia K, Na Pali Snorkel and Sail |
| $199 to $270 | A private tour priced per person: your party only | Private Turtle Town, private Waikiki cruise |
| $350 to $3,250 per group | A whole boat and crew, with the route set around you | Oahu and Maui private charters |
Costs the Tour Price Doesn’t Show
- Reef-safe sunscreen. Hawaii state law requires reef-safe sunscreen. Some boats provide it, but bring your own to be safe.
- Tips. The private Maui sail notes that a 20% gratuity is customary and not included. Crews on shared boats also welcome tips.
- Photos. The three Turtle Town tours include underwater photos and video at no extra cost. On most other boats, bring a waterproof camera.
- Season. The North Shore sails on Oahu run in summer only, and the Kona whale and manta combo runs December to April only.
- Minimum numbers. The Manta Magic night snorkel needs at least six passengers, or the tour is rescheduled.
Kids Snorkel Tour Prices and Minimum Ages
Families pay least on Maui. The Quicksilver has adult, child and family rates, a waterslide and a hot dog lunch, and the Amelia K on Kauai quotes one price for adults and children.
Minimum ages vary: 4 on the Amelia K, 5 on the Turtle Town tours and the Makena kayak, 5 on the Na Pali sail (no children under 5), and 7 on the Manta Magic night snorkel. Turtle Canyon on Oahu has a ride-along option, which works for a child who wants to watch from the boat. Our guide to swimming with sea turtles in Hawaii has more on family-friendly spots.
Our Take
How to Pick in 30 Seconds
- Cheapest: the Makena kayak snorkel at $109, or the Quicksilver at $109.95 if you would rather not paddle.
- Staying in Waikiki: Turtle Canyon at $131.
- Nervous swimmers: the sea scooter snorkel at $149, which does the swimming for you.
- One unforgettable night: a Kona manta ray snorkel from $135.
- Scenery plus snorkel: the Na Pali Coast on the Amelia K at $169.
- Your own boat: the Oahu private charter, listed at $350 for six.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a snorkel tour in Hawaii?
A shared snorkel tour in Hawaii costs $109 to $235 per person in 2026, with a typical price of $139, based on the 18 tours we sell. Private charters cost $350 to $3,250 for the whole boat.
What is the cheapest snorkel tour in Hawaii?
The cheapest snorkel tour we sell is the three-hour kayak and snorkel tour at Makena on Maui, at $109 per adult. The cheapest boat snorkel is the Quicksilver from Maalaea at $109.95.
How much is a snorkel tour on Maui?
Maui snorkel tours cost $109 to $149 per person for a shared boat or kayak tour, $199 per person for a private Turtle Town tour, and $2,880 to $3,250 for a private charter.
How much is a snorkel tour on Oahu?
Oahu snorkel tours cost $109 to $205 per person on a shared boat, including Turtle Canyon off Waikiki from $125. A private Waikiki snorkel cruise costs $270 per person, and private charters cost $350 to $995.
How much is the Turtle Canyon snorkel tour?
Our Turtle Canyon snorkel tour costs $131 per adult for three hours from Waikiki, with snorkel gear, an in-water marine naturalist and light snacks included.
How much is a manta ray night snorkel?
A manta ray night snorkel in Kona costs $135 to $219 per adult. The Manta Magic night snorkel is $139, the sunset cruise and manta snorkel is $135, and the winter whale watch and manta combo is $219.
How much is a Molokini snorkel tour?
Among the tours in this guide, only the private Maui snorkel charter lists Molokini Crater, at $3,250 for the boat. Our shared Maalaea boat goes to Coral Gardens, and the other shared Maui tours visit Turtle Town.
How much is a Na Pali Coast snorkel tour?
A Na Pali Coast snorkel tour on Kauai costs $169 on the Amelia K power catamaran and $235 on the Na Pali Snorkel and Sail, both about five hours from Port Allen with lunch included.
Is a private snorkel charter worth it?
It can be for a group of six. The Oahu private charter is listed at $350 for six, which is less than six shared Turtle Canyon tickets at $131 each, and you set the route. On Maui, private charters start at $2,880.
What is the minimum age for snorkel tours in Hawaii?
It depends on the tour. Minimum ages on our tours range from 4 on the Amelia K to 7 on the Manta Magic night snorkel, and most Maui tours take children from age 5.
Using this data?
Bloggers, journalists and travel planners are welcome to quote these prices or reproduce the tables. Please credit Hawaiian Activities and link to this page: https://hawaiian-activities.com/hawaii-snorkel-tour-prices-2026/. We recheck the prices regularly and update the date at the top.
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Pricing disclaimer: prices are the lowest rates listed on each tour’s booking page on October 26, 2026. Snorkel tour prices, routes and sites change with the season and the ocean, and can change without notice. Final prices, availability and inclusions are confirmed at checkout with the operator.
