Island Splash Tours — Local services in Honolulu

Let me be clear, book this snorkeling adventure with Island Splash Tours!

As with several other tours we took in Oahu, this one also seemed to be run by kids! (I’m getting old) But, let’s be clear, these people knew their stuff. Two captains on board, certified life guard, etc. every one of them professional, helpful, friendly, funny, and they all exuded an air of confidence and security. They made me feel comfortable bringing my kids out on the ocean and letting them snorkel.

When you book, because you’re going to want to, let’s cover the boring stuff first, parking.

First, get there early because it’s likely you’re going to be feeding a meter. But, here’s the cool thing, while in Honolulu I found the street parking to be quite reasonable. I think all the meters were less than a dollar an hour. This is a great price compared to where I live.

Second, tour group size. There were maybe 20 to 25 people in our tour group. Compared to four tour guides on the boat this was a perfect ratio. Overall, there was plenty of space to move around.

Third, getting on and off the boat was pretty easy. There was always someone to help. Admittedly, for me it always look daunting but, plenty of hand holds and you just glide on into the water.

Lastly, they do have refreshments on the boat and you were always near enough to the boat that if you got tired, you could swim back and chill.

I’d like to note that, people can get sea sick, in fact, we had a passenger get sick during our tour. I felt really bad for them but let’s be clear the crew was compassionate, helpful, and got them back to the boat and made them as comfortable as possible. They really did an awesome job. Also, it’s important to note that this probably happens at least once daily on any boat tour. But, you’re not in a confined space and forced to sit next to someone being sick.

Also, I’d like to note that my littlest one also got cold while swimming and one of the tour guides got her back to the boat to warm up.

Ok, let’s talk turtles. One word, amazing. We were given very straightforward instructions on the do’s and don’ts. We were provided with all the equipment necessary and an inflatable life vest which was awesome, as it kept us from running out of energy while snorkeling!

It was such an amazing time. I just quietly swam along and took pictures. But the team guided the group around and spoiler alert, we saw turtles and a host of other amazing things! If I lived in Oahu I’d go back again and again, it was just something to behold. Absolutely fantastic!

I do want to share one special part of my tour. At the end of our tour one of the tour guides group had an octopus climb onto him. He gently brought it to the surface and while floating in the water, asked if anybody wanted to touch it. Of course, my daughter, the “beastmaster” wanted to look at it and hold it. He gently placed it into her hands and it crawled onto her and she spent a good 10 minutes just letting it crawl on her while she talked to it. It was amazing. It’s a memory she’ll get to keep for the rest of her life.

I cannot recommend this...

Snorkeling in Turtle Canyon with Island Splash Tours was a 5 star experience all the way!!! Captain Alex greeted us and got us checked in right away. Then, the crew (Holly, Emma, and Elle) welcomed us aboard and were so warm and welcoming. These young ladies were thorough in explaining safety procedures and what we could expect during our adventure. They were all helpful with getting us fitted with snorkel gear and showed a real enthusiasm for their work, and sharing the joy of snorkeling with all of us.

We were one of probably 4 or 5 other tour groups out there, but there was still plenty of space for everyone.

One key thing I noticed was that our crew made sure our safety was a top priority and did an outstanding job regularly checking in with everyone in our tour group. This seemed to be a missing element with the other groups. Elle and Emma did an excellent job at keeping our group members together. Holly swam with a rescue buoy (making it easy for us to spot) and she would alert us to where all the turtles were.

Meanwhile, Elle was swimming amongst all of us taking pictures and video. She pulled each tour member aside to make sure everyone was photographed. And she was SUPER patient and encouraging when I was trying so hard to dive down a bit to get some cool pictures with her. For the life of me, I could not get my legs to kick up enough to propel me down into the water. (SMH) Elle was a phenomenal cheerleader while I tried over and over to dive down a few feet. I'm sure it must have been quite a comical sight! LOL

My friend ended up getting seasick and had to swim back to the boat early. He said Captain Alex and the young ladies did all they could to help him manage his nausea and to help him feel better.

It was such a pleasure to snorkel with Island Splash Tours. My friend and I HIGHLY recommend them. You won't be...

BOOK THE TRIP, you won't regret it :)

Firstly, if you have the availability to go out early, take it, as the waters will be much calmer due to less boat activity and the sun won't be as high.

Hospitality: Captain Preston has done an amazing job of setting up this tour and for being a newer company, they are setting the bar. Alex and Nate were our guides this morning and I am very grateful to have had them there. They are engaging, fun, kind, and informative. I felt at ease going into the water and never felt unsafe or uncomfortable in their presence.

They thoroughly went over safety rules and how to use the equipment. As well as providing tips for sea sickness, if needed. They also ensured us they would be nearby if we needed assistance or got tired.

Complimentary drinks such as juice, water, and soda were provided. Nate also went around and ensured everyone got photos both before and after we got in the water.

Experience: Since we did have a smaller group, both Nate and Alex jumped in with us and guided us around the water as we snorkeled. We spotted over a dozen turtles and hundreds of fish (I counted like 12 different species). We were out in the water for almost an hour; first timers or if you're not confident about your swimming abilities, this is the perfect amount of time to be out there. Prepared to be wiped out and wanna take a nap afterwards.

Bring sunscreen, a towel, and a gopro if you can!

It was truly a magical and surreal experience that you can't get anywhere else. If and when I return to the islands, I will definitely book again. Thank you to the captain and crew once again, y'all...