Yolohawaii Snorkeling Tour Review: Swim with Turtles
Swim with wild sea turtles in Oahu even if you aren't a strong swimmer! Read our honest review of the Yolohawaii snorkeling tour with GoPro rentals and transfers.
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Swim with wild sea turtles in Oahu even if you aren't a strong swimmer! Read our honest review of the Yolohawaii snorkeling tour with GoPro rentals and transfers.
Even if you can't swim, don't speak English, or don't have any gear,
and even if you're traveling solo, this is a tour you can enjoy completely worry-free!
Hands down, this was the absolute best experience of my entire trip to Hawaii,
and I highly recommend this Hawaii Turtle Snorkeling tour.
I booked mine through Yolohawaii,
and I was so incredibly satisfied that I'd seriously do it again in a heartbeat.
Because they take you directly to the prime turtle spots,
there was absolutely no worry about missing out on seeing sea turtles.
From photo printing services, delicious snacks, and GoPro rentals
to clean restrooms separate from the shower facilities—
every single detail was perfectly thought out.
You could really feel their thoughtful hospitality throughout the entire Hawaii snorkeling experience.
While planning my Hawaii trip,
I spent a lot of time wondering which activity would make the most unforgettable memory.
I really wanted something special.
To be honest, this was actually my second time visiting Hawaii.
My first trip was a super short 4-day, 3-night itinerary,
so I didn't even get to do any tours—I just shopped and went home, haha!
While surfing or parasailing sounded great,
I wanted to connect more deeply with nature, get close to marine life,
and dive headfirst into the refreshing ocean.
That's why I chose Yolohawaii's Turtle Snorkeling tour!
If you can only do one tour in Hawaii,
I would boldly say it has to be this Hawaii snorkeling experience!
Book Your Hawaii Snorkeling Tour Here < Click
Since hotel pick-up and drop-off are included,
getting there and back was incredibly easy.
We booked the second session of the day,
which picked us up at the hotel at 9:30 AM
and dropped us back off at 12:30 PM.
The shuttle arrived right on time for pickup,
and the staff member who drove us was incredibly friendly,
making the ride comfortable and enjoyable.
For the drop-off, we asked to be let out in front of the Patagonia store,
and they happily agreed with a big OK! :)
Having a flexible drop-off service that lets you choose your spot
turned out to be incredibly convenient!
Of course, it has to be relatively close to the hotel zone—no far-off destinations allowed!
Here is the boat we went on!
Since it's a brand-new vessel, it was absolutely spotless,
so I felt completely fine walking around barefoot.
(And I'm usually someone who absolutely hates walking barefoot on boats!)
Living up to its modern build, the boat featured separate restrooms for men and women.
You could also rinse off with a quick freshwater shower after swimming.
Fins, life jackets, snorkel gear, and more
were all available to rent for free,
and they even provided delicious light snacks to enjoy after our swim.
They had cup ramen, snacks, musubi, drinks, and water ready,
and the musubi was actually from the famous Iyasume!!!
If you're planning a trip to Hawaii,
you probably already know how famous Iyasume Musubi is.
Instead of waiting in a long line, you can just hop on this Yolohawaii Turtle Snorkeling tour
and enjoy it right away! Haha.
I had my fill right here, so I didn't even need to buy any separately later! ><
Besides turtle snorkeling,
you can also try out paddleboards and sea scooters!
These were seriously so much fun, haha.
Highly recommended!
Once the boat sets sail, they give a quick safety and activity briefing.
The crew actually demonstrated exactly how to wear the snorkel mask, life jacket, and fins
by putting them on themselves!
We cruised for about 20 minutes.
One thing you might worry about during the boat ride
is motion sickness during the Hawaii turtle snorkeling tour.
Personally, I don't get seasick easily, so I didn't take anything.
But if you're prone to motion sickness, make sure to take some medication
about an hour before the tour starts!
Once you gear up with your life jacket, snorkel mask,
and fins as instructed,
it's time to splash into the water!
This is where YOLO Hawaii's amazing attention to detail shines...
They actually had hair ties ready! Wow... talk about prepared. haha
No worries if you forgot yours!
One of the main reasons this tour is so special
is that they take you straight to the ultimate Hawaii snorkeling spot—
the designated Turtle Zone.
The guides divide us into groups and guide us through the water,
so there's absolutely no need to worry, even if you can't swim!!!
Just hold onto the safety board and enjoy the ride. lol
Seriously, does snorkeling get any easier than this...?
I was a bit worried because the underwater visibility wasn't perfect that day,
but our guide knew exactly where the turtles were resting
and led us right to them.
With guides like this, there’s no way you'll leave disappointed.
Look at this!
I actually saw a Hawaiian sea turtle up close!!!!!!
Even with the slightly cloudy water,
a turtle suddenly appeared right in front of my eyes..!
They told us that male turtles with thick tails are
quite rare to spot,
but we got super lucky and saw one!
Talk about a lucky day!
Seeing a sea turtle so close to me
was absolutely breathtaking and magical.
After finishing up our tour at Turtle Canyon,
we were pulled along by the boards again (?)
and taken to another turtle spot!
This spot was a bit deeper,
and we got to see a whole group of turtles
just sleeping together!
Seeing them huddled together taking a nap
was beyond cute.
Just then, one of them must have needed some air
because it started floating up to the surface!
Omg, my heart !!!
This is my second time snorkeling with turtles after Bali,
but it's still so emotional and incredibly adorable!!
Both in the water and up on the boat,
the crew kept a close eye on everyone
to make sure we were completely safe.
It made the YOLO Hawaii turtle snorkeling tour
so relaxing and worry-free!
Book Your Hawaii Snorkeling Tour Here < Click
After the turtle tour wrapped up,
we had some free time to play in the water.
You can swim around, try stand-up paddleboarding,
or zoom around on a sea scooter like I did!
The sea scooter was an absolute blast!
Haha, seriously!
How is this my very first time trying one?!
It was way faster than I expected,
and slicing through the ocean water
felt incredibly exhilarating!
If you're planning a Hawaii turtle snorkeling tour,
you absolutely HAVE to try this..!
After playing in the water, it's time to fuel up, right?
We happily munched on
Iyasume Musubi, cup noodles,
and snacks prepared on the boat.
They even had Capri Suns ready in the cooler! :)
Eating hot cup ramen after swimming
is pure magic...
Pairing it with an Iyasume Musubi
was absolute heaven.
For those wondering about what to wear and bring,
dressing for Hawaii turtle snorkeling is super simple.
Just wear your swimsuit underneath
and throw a light layer over it.
If you want to change out of your wet clothes after the tour,
bring a change of clothes.
Don't forget a beach towel, sunscreen, and your own snorkel gear if you prefer.
Sunglasses and a hat are highly recommended too.
The Hawaiian sun is no joke! haha
✅ Hawaii Turtle Snorkeling Packing Checklist
Swimsuit, reef-safe sunscreen, beach towel,
personal snorkel gear or fins (optional),
sunglasses, a hat, cover-up clothes, $5–10 for tips, and a GoPro!
If you don't have a GoPro, you can rent one for $30.
Since you get to keep the SD card,
I thought it was a pretty great deal!
They even take your photo with Diamond Head in the background,
and print it out in a lovely frame for you.
This little touch was so heartwarming!
Make sure to pack your sunglasses and hat
to look your best in the photos! ^^
Book Your Hawaii Snorkeling Tour Here < Click
Even if it's your very first time snorkeling,
the clear, friendly instructions make sure you can
enjoy it completely stress-free.
Since they take you right to the turtle zone,
even non-swimmers can experience the Waikiki ocean
comfortably, safely, and with tons of fun.
If you want to plan a truly special day in Hawaii,
I highly recommend going with YOLO Hawaii!
I promise you won't regret it! 🌊🐢
💬 Booking & Inquiries
Book Your Hawaii Snorkeling Tour Here < Click
📍 Hawaii
Hawaii, USA
Yes, you can. The guide will form groups and pull you on a board directly to the Turtle Canyon turtle zone, so you can safely enjoy the water even if you don't know how to swim.
The 2nd session includes hotel pickup at 9:30 AM and return at 12:30 PM. The drop-off location is flexible and can be changed to a place you want, like in front of the Patagonia store, as long as it is near your hotel.
You can rent a GoPro for $30 and take the SD card with you after filming. In addition, a service that prints a framed photo of you taken with Diamond Head in the background is also provided.
Cup noodles, snacks, and drinks are provided for you to enjoy after playing in the water. In particular, the famous Iyasume Musubi is also prepared, so you can taste it without having to wait in line.
It takes about 20 minutes by boat to reach the turtle zone. For those who are worried about seasickness, it is recommended to take motion sickness medicine one hour before the tour begins.
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