A Whale watching experience by Body Glove. Back to all Big Island tours.
Tour Summary: Unlike most rafts, this one has seating, shade, and a bathroom on board.
The Kona Explorer is equipped with twin Suzuki 350s for a fast and fun adventure, and is able to go to farther snorkel sites than most vessels. 
The Kona Explorer is is equipped with comfortable seating, shade, and a bathroom. A whale breaches the surface just off the Kona coast. Image: Body Glove Cruises Two whale fins breach the surface. Image: Body Glove Cruises
4 Tour Highlights:
- An on-board marine-life naturalist answers your questions about humpback whales and how they behave.
- Experience up-close encounters with majestic humpback whales in their natural habitat.
- The boat runs on twin Suzuki 350 engines.
- Hydrophones are available so you can listen to the whales as they communicate underwater
Important: Due to extreme exposure to Fun & Excitement (a fast and bumpy ride), children five years and younger, pregnant women or guests with regular neck or back pain, cannot join this tour.
Tour Information:
| Price: | Adult | Youth |
|---|---|---|
| (excluding taxes & fees) | $125 | $105 |
Tour Provider: Body Glove
Activity: Whale watching
Tour start time: 1:30 pm
Duration: 2.5 hours
Location: Kona Coast
Pick-up available? No
Included: Non alcoholic beevrages, snacks, and sunscreen.
Cancellations: Parties of nine or less will receive full refund with 48 hours notice of cancellation. Parties of ten to 19 require 72 hours notice to receive a full refund. Parties of 20 or more require seven days notice of cancellation for a full refund. Full refunds will be given in case of operator cancellation.
Read more: about whale watching in our Big Island whale watching guide.
Read more about this tour
This whale watch goes out on a 41ft super-raft to see humpback whales up close. Twin Suzuki 350 engines let the captain reach the whales quickly.
A marine-life naturalist on board answers questions about the whales. This Kona whale watching tour includes sunscreen, soft drinks, and snacks.
Speedboat or larger boat: the tradeoffs for whale watching
Pick the boat size before you book a whale watch: a speedboat and a larger, slower vessel each have tradeoffs.
Advantages of a speedboat over larger and slower vessels:
- Greater maneuverability: Speedboats turn quickly, so the captain can follow a whale that changes course.
- Closer Encounters: Speedboats are small and quick to reposition when a whale surfaces somewhere new.
- Faster Travel Times: Speedboats cover more water in the same time, so the tour can reach more whale pods.
- Reduced Environmental Impact: Speedboats burn less fuel and put out fewer emissions than larger vessels.
- Enhanced Visibility: Speedboats sit lower to the water, so you’re closer to whales at the surface and to what’s just beneath it.
Disadvantages of a speedboat over larger and slower vessels:
If stability, deck space, or shelter matter most to you, book one of these whale watching tours on larger vessels instead.
- Limited Stability: A small boat moves more than a large one. In rough seas you’ll feel more motion, and seasickness is more likely.
- Reduced Amenities: Many speedboats have less seating, little shade, and no bathroom. This raft has seating, shade, and a bathroom.
- Weather Dependency: Operators cancel small-boat tours more often than large-boat tours in high wind or rough seas.
- Noise Level: Speedboat engines are louder than a larger vessel’s, on deck and in the water around the whales.
- Limited Observation Space: A speedboat has less deck space to move around on while you watch.
About Body Glove
Body Glove Hawaii is certified by the Sustainable Tourism Association of Hawaiʻi which means that their tours are eco-friendly, culturally educational, and as sustainable as possible.
Affiliate Disclaimer
Booking through this page costs you nothing extra and is made directly with Body Glove. We earn a commission from the operator, not from you, and it is what pays for the research that keeps lovebigisland.com free and free of paid placement. We only list operators we would send a friend to. Details on our affiliate links are here.