Fair Wind Cruises, Kailua Kona

We were recommended to Fair Winds by our concierge at the 5 star hotel we stayed at. They said this tour operation was the best. Well it may have been once upon a time. The check staffs were friendly and polite. From there it just went downhill. The Dive Master gave no dive briefing that was relevant to the manta night dive. We then were told there was only one light per diver. This is completely against any safety recommendations of all Dive institutions. During the dive the DM, made all divers do an emergency ascent and then proceeded to yell – I mean he raised his voice and YELLED - at us because we were not doing what he wanted us to do. We had no idea what this was as he never told us at the briefing. He then told us we could continue to dive if we wanted, once again against all dive standards. Half the divers aborted the dive due to safety. All divers on the boat were very experienced and had all dove in many different places all over the world. They were all speechless at this terrible behavior. The following day we call Fair Winds to explain the dive experience, in the hopes they would not do this again and ruin other future other divers experiences. The manager who was argumentative and even more rude. He promised to call us back but guess what…he never did. I would HIGHLY recommend any divers to not go diving with Fair Winds!!

Did the night dive with the Manta Ray and was the best night of our stay in Hawaii. Recommend this very much. You get very up close and personal with them all.

We were in Kona during the first week of October 2008 and took the adult excursion and had a wonderful time. The boat was clean and orderly; the staff friendly and very informative of what to expect, how to be conscious of the environment, and identifying the boundaries during the snorkeling, to make certain everyone had a safe and enjoyable time. The two locations we stopped to snorkel in were filled with colorful fish and many different varieties. It was early for whale migration but when a pod of Pilot whales were spotted, the Captain took us close enough to take a few photographs. Last, but not least the food was also very good and even had veggie burgers for those few vegatarians onboard. If you thinking of going on a nice snorkeling trip, you just found it.

We went to Kona for my nephew's wedding. In Nov 2005. Most of the immediate family deciced to go try out Fair Winds by a suggestion from a close friend of my oldest sister. Her friend has lived in Kona for years. The crew was very friendly and very helpful. We had a nice tour to our destination, which was Captain Cook. They fed us breakfast on the way there, with some fresh fruit, my favorite was the pineapple, when we get our pineapple in Washington state, they tend to be on the sour side and a bit stringy. I took my kids snuba diving, which was very exciting. Our guide was very good. He would point out things to see. After some more snorkeling, they fed as lunch, they had a barbequer in the back of the boat, they did burger and hotdogs. I highly recommend doing this tour.

My husband and I have been on a couple of snorkeling trips with Fair Wind Cruises through the years and we have never been disappointed. Two days before Thanksgiving, 2006, we took one of their cruises to Kealakekua Bay for the afternoon. It was�predictably, since it�s Fair Wind�a perfect afternoon. The crew is very upbeat and each one of them seems to be genuinely enjoying himself and truly interested in the guests. One thing I noticed when I was relaxing after finishing my snorkeling: although they all appear to be very laid-back and mellow, they are in fact hyper-vigilant. I was sitting around, people-watching, and I realized that all crew members were staring intently at the guests all the time�several watching guests in the water (both from the boat and from the water), someone near the ladders, someone near the water slide, the high board. This monitoring is very subtle, and you�d never notice it if you were involved in any sort of activity (which I wasn�t at the time). Don�t think Gestapo; think�well�TOLERANT NANNY. Any one of them would eagerly assist a guest with anything, and no one interfered with or chastised the guests for their behavior; they just took us to this wonderful venue where we could all play at whatever we chose while they remained alert for danger or problems, at which point they stepped in and put everything right.. It�s a wonder, really. Elegantly done. They are genial, gracious, helpful, professional folks�and they�ll give you the cruise of your life!

the ride was good and the boat is smooth riding. you can see spinner dolphins and flying fish on the way if you get lucky. The staff are very good at there job and very helpful. the bounderies for your snorkeling that they give you is very small and they do not let you get out of the water so you can see or take pictures of captin cooks monument. If you go to hilo hatties and ask for there 2 for 1 cupons, there is one for this boat ride, some restrictions aply but we use it when we go.the snorkeling is OK there. I have been to the Island alot and for the best snorkeling go to the refuge. It is kinda hard to get in the water but there is a natural ledge to get in just watch were the other locals are getting in, or go the the little beach by the boat ramp for an easyer spot. dont try to get in anywere else! there is Lava tubes you can swim threw on the refuge side of the shore line. great coral in all colors cascading down to the bottom. Lots of fish and turtals. nothing like this on the boat tour! I also saw a 5 foot white tip reaf shark this last time in Aug. resting in one of the lava tubes as I swam threw it.( scared the sh** out of me) white tip reaf sharks rarly atack so dont let this stop you from seeing some of the best underwater sites on the island! the second is the ever most popular spot at Keauhou beach, right next to the keauhou beach resort hotel, they have great cheep lunch menue from 11:00 to 3:00. This beach is always packed it and is alot smaller area for snorkeling but the fish are more confind so you might see more fish at one time here but the people almost out number the fish!Easy access into the water from the sandy beach and they have shower there, the refuge does not so bring a few gallons of fresh water to rins off with. this is all the secrets for today so I hope this helps and enjoy your stay. Aloha!

We've been taking the Fair Wind Cruise yearly for about the last 16 years. We wouldn't miss it. The snorkeling is the best on the islands, the crew is always attentive and polite. Pricey, but so relaxing and enjoyable.

When you ask a 16 year old, 11 year old and a jaded CFO what their favorite experiance on a trip to Hawaii and this get top ratings from all you know you have something. The crew was so experianced and helpful it made our trip wonderful. Probably the best thing they do is make it safe and fun so that almost anyone can enjoy it. If you can't get in the water with this group, break out the blow up pool and put dip your feet in if you dare. They take you to a great location and feed you while there all part of the package. If you have a young son, make sure and park your self on the aft (backside) lower cabin so that as the boat is trolling while on the way out they may be able to reel in a fish. Pretty cool!

We went on the cruise on June 4, 2005. We had a wonderful time and recommend the cruise. Please be careful when parking your car. We parked in their lot and when we returned we found that our rented convertible was slashed on the roof in a break in. Fortunately, there was nothing to steal, but the damage and time spent in the police and rental agency was not pleasant. Keep nothing in your car or trunk and leave doors unlocked. Then you can have a great time without worrying. Tourists are targets!