Captain Zodiac

09/19/2026

You might know him as the owner of Captain Zodiac, but Captain Colin is just as at home behind the helm as he is behind the scenes. 🌊 colincornforth

When he's not taking guests out on the Kona Coast, Colin regularly lends his time and experience to marine research and conservation efforts here in Hawai'i—working alongside organizations like Cascadia Research Collective to help photograph and identify individual animals, assist with tagging projects, and even respond to whale entanglements.

Owner. Captain. Research collaborator. And apparently, professional snorkel fin wrangler 🤿

Just another day on the water for Captain Colin!

📸

09/18/2026

🐋 Big news for one of Hawaiʻi’s rarest whales

NOAA Fisheries recently shared an update on two new calves from the endangered Main Hawaiian Islands population of false killer whales—estimated at only about 140 individuals

The calves were first documented off Maui in February. In August, Captain Zodiac crew spotted them again off Hawaiʻi Island and alerted researchers, helping confirm that both calves were still swimming strong. 💙

Even cooler? The photos featured by NOAA were captured by our own Andrea McCormick of Captain Zodiac.📸

With only 10 newborn calves documented since 1999, every new addition to this population matters.

Pretty incredible to know that a day on the water can contribute to something much bigger. 🐋🌊

📸 Andrea McCormick / Captain Zodiac
Source: NOAA Fisheries

Researchers spot two new calves in the islands’ endangered population—an exciting discovery for a group with fewer than 150 individuals.

09/13/2026

Fall into savings 🍂

While the rest of the country is pulling out sweaters, we're still snorkeling in the warm Kona sun!

For a limited time, save 20% on Captain Zodiac snorkel tours when you book by November 30!

Come explore sea caves, lava tubes, crystal-clear water and the incredible marine life of the Kona Coast from a Zodiac 🌊

20% OFF snorkel tours
Book by November 30 🐬 Adventure included

Book your Kona adventure today!

|slandHawaii

08/26/2026

Not something we see too often in a Kona sea cave… 🦉

Back in April spotted this barn owl tucked deep in the lava rock along the coast. Check out the second photo to see what just spotted this week! Looks like someone found a friend ☺️

The ocean isn’t the only place hiding surprises out here!

07/27/2026

One of the highlights of this encounter was spotting a young pilot whale swimming closely alongside its pod 🥰 and they even came right up to the boat!

Pilot whales are incredibly social animals, living in tight-knit family groups where calves remain close to their mothers and other relatives for years. Every member of the pod plays a role in protecting and caring for the next generation.

Every trip offshore is different, and you never know what incredible encounter is in store. 🌊

🎥 by

07/18/2026

Meet some of the ocean’s most incredible drifters 💙

What looks like an old piece of debris is actually a thriving ecosystem! ✨ Covered in goose barnacles and home to pelagic drifters and other open-ocean wildlife, these “rafting communities” can travel across the Pacific for months or even years, transforming anything that floats into a tiny island of life.

📸 Photos by Captain Sandy

07/11/2026

Did you know we offer Pelagic Marine Wildlife Tours? 🌊🐬

If you've been wanting to experience Kona's incredible offshore wildlife, come join us as we search for dolphins, whales (seasonally), seabirds, sharks, tuna, and whatever else the open ocean has in store. Every trip is different, and that's what makes it so exciting.

Pelagic tours are currently offered on Saturdays. We can't wait to share the offshore waters with you!

Book your tour at the link in our bio or give us a call to reserve your spot, 808-329-3199 📞

🎥 All videos taken by Captain Sandy!

07/05/2026

🇺🇸 Celebrate the 4th of July with an adventure you'll never forget! 🌊

To celebrate America's birthday, we're offering Buy One Tour, Get the Second Guest 50% Off on our snorkel tours!
Explore the crystal-clear waters of the Kona Coast, snorkel at world-famous Kealakekua Bay, and experience the sea caves, lava tubes, and incredible marine life that make Hawaiʻi so special.

🎆 Offer ends soon! No promo code needed, your discount will be applied during booking.

Book your Independence Day adventure today and make this holiday one to remember!

06/29/2026

One minute we were cruising along, and the next we found ourselves surrounded by a pod of resting spinner dolphins.

Spinner dolphins spend their nights feeding offshore and their days resting in calm, sheltered bays (like Kealakekua Bay). They sleep with only half of their brain at a time, so they can continue breathing while they rest. Because of that, it’s incredibly important not to disturb them.

When this pod appeared around us, we continued on at a slow pace and gave them the space they needed.
There’s nothing like being in the right place at the right time! 😍

🎥 by Captain Gabe

06/10/2026