Super Raft Snorkeling Safari from Kona with Body Glove Hawaii

I love being on the water in Hawaii, no matter what island we are on, but being able to experience it in a different way is always something exciting for us. The Body Glove Hawaii Super Raft from Kailua-Kona is one of the most fun and surprising snorkeling trips we’ve done. It’s part snorkeling tour, part wildlife safari and part high speed boat trip. You really do get the best of what the Kona Coast has to offer, but because it’s a fast boat, it’s not for the faint of heart (but it’s very safe. If you’ve not gotten to go out with Body Glove Hawaii before, they provide an awesome experience and doing the super raft snorkeling trip is really cool.

Do you need a fun adventure that’s not your average snorkeling tour? Maybe you’re looking for something where you get to be on the water AND you get to learn something? We’ve done lots of snorkeling tours around the Hawaiian Islands and the Body Glove Super Raft is my favorite daytime trip to date (I love nighttime manta ray snorkeling too). If you have any questions about going out on the Super Raft for snorkeling or about visiting the Kona Coast in general, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and love to help others plan a wonderful Aloha trip!

Why do the Super Raft Snorkeling Safari from Kona?

For all the boat tours we’ve done and wildlife we’ve seen, our trip on the Body Glove Hawaii Super Raft is one of the most memorable. Now, I know that it doesn’t happen on every trip, but what we experienced on the Super Raft was something extremely special. While on our way to our Kona Coast snorkeling destination, a super pod of pantropical spotted dolphins merged and swam with us for nearly an hour. We were absolutely surrounded by dolphins on all sides, jumping, surfing our wake, swimming under the front of the boat interacting with us… It was amazing.

I bring this up as a huge deal because having been on many boat tours, in Hawaii, the Florida Keys, Alaska and other places, I’ve never had an experience with a captain or company where they allowed the passengers to enjoy a wildlife experience to the max like this. Our captain didn’t approach the dolphins or allow us to get in the water with them (she knew the laws well) but managed to let us float and drift with them for such a good long while, and then as we departed we left at a slow enough speed as to be safe as they said goodbye to us. It was amazing.

Book the Body Glove Hawaii Super Raft Snorkeling Safari here!

Getting back to the rest of the experience, our Body Glove Hawaii Super Raft tour really was a safari. We headed out to deep waters to look for sharks and watch boobies at sea, we enjoyed more dolphin watching with a pod of Hawaiian spinner dolphins, we had some epic whale watching and then, of course, had a great time snorkeling. With the Super Raft, Body Glove Hawaii is able to go far fast, allowing for more time snorkeling or watching wildlife instead of being in transport.

For our trip, we went to Kealakekua Bay, which is a very popular spot for snorkeling. This is at the Captain Cook monument, so if you’re doing a snorkeling tour, it’s likely this may be your stop. For us, we were here on this tour because the swell had been quite big so other snorkeling spots weren’t very clear, so our captain took us to the best, most protected one for the weather. It was epic, as is usually the case with Kealakekua Bay. We could hear dolphin whistles in the water as we snorkeled the drop off and the reef, with our crew guide in the water near us finding cool fish for us to check out. From start to finish the Body Glove Hawaii Super Raft snorkeling was and exceptional experience.

What is a Super Raft Safari for Snorkeling?

The Body Glove Hawaii Super Raft is a retired military grade, rubber sided watercraft. This of it like a large Zodiac raft. It’s ready to take on big waves or small, it’s fast, and it’s a great option for adding adventure to what could be a standard boat tour. The Super Raft has a large bimini, so the seating is mostly covered and provides plenty of shade. The seats all have dry storage within them and there is even a head (restroom) onboard. I really liked being out on the Super Raft snorkeling trip as an alternative to a catamaran tour, even though I do love the Kona whale watching tour with Body Glove Hawaii on their catamaran.

Tips for a Great Super Raft Snorkeling Trip

Book your Body Glove Hawaii Super Raft adventure for the morning. This is a great time to be on the water when the wildlife is most active. Also, the seas tend to be more calm early in the day, so if you are worried about motion sickness, a smaller swell should be helpful in making sure you enjoy your trip. Also, I think it’s good to have had breakfast before getting on a boat. I’m not talking a huge breakfast, but at least some toast or scrambled eggs that are gentle and help keep your stomach calm. The Super Raft is pretty smooth, even in big seas, but some people are more sensitive to the motion than others, so just be smart about it so you can feel your best!

Gear for the Body Glove Super Raft Snorkeling Tour

Something that’s become very important is using reef-safe sunblock. If you’re planning on getting in the water, and you’ve booked a Super Raft snorkeling trip so I’m sure you are, you need to use reef-safe sunscreen and it needs to be applied at least 15 minutes before getting in the water. Body Glove Hawaii does provide reef-safe sunblock onboard, but if you’re getting yourself ready before getting to the boat be sure you’re using a Hawaii approved product. When it comes to gear you may want to bring onboard the Super Raft snorkeling tour, it’s up to you what’s important. Snorkels, masks and fins are provided, but you’re welcome to bring your own. Towels are nice if it’s a cooler day, but between the sun and wind I don’t find them to be necessary.

For my photography pals out there, I do have a few recommendations to get great photos on this trip. Because the Super Raft is a combination snorkeling and safari on the Kona Coast, you may want to bring both your underwater photography gear and your regular camera. You’ll have opportunities above the water to see sea birds and breaching humpback whales, as well as dolphins and sea turtles, so a fast camera with a telephoto lens is nice to have. I find that on a moving boat a 600mm lens or higher is very difficult to manage, so up to a 400mm lens is good for wildlife photography. I mostly use my 250mm lens when I’m on a zodiac or the Super Raft.

For underwater photos, a good waterproof phone case is invaluable. If you’re able to get one rated to 15 meters that is best because there are some cool shelf spots to snorkel on the Kona Coast. A GoPro is also a good option. if you’re using a GoPro, be sure you have a good extension stick so you can get closer photos and video without disturbing creatures.

Parking for Body Glove Hawaii Snorkeling Tours

You’ll catch the Body Glove Hawaii Super Raft from the Kailua-Kona Pier, just next to the King Kamehameha Hotel. If you’re staying on Ali’i Drive or nearby, you can easily walk to the pier when it’s time for your tour. If you do need to drive, there is free parking at the Body Glove Hawaii office just up from the pier (address below). You can check in at the office and then walk the two blocks to your departure point. Free parking and a changing room at the office are both nice to have.