Ocean Encounters

What Ocean Encounters does

Ocean Encounters is a privately held, direct-to-consumer marine wildlife tourism operator based in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. The company runs scheduled excursions departing from Honokohau Marina — 5 miles south of Kona International Airport on the Big Island — using three vessels (OE1 accommodating up to 37 passengers, OE2 up to 18 passengers, and OE3) to deliver manta ray night snorkels, morning reef snorkels at Kealakekua Bay, midday snorkel cruises, and seasonal humpback whale watching (December through March/April). Deep sea fishing is delivered through sister company Bite Me Sportfishing under shared management.

The product line is built on a 46-foot Delta vessel platform with onboard amenities (restroom, shaded areas, inside cabin, upstairs seating, swim step, sturdy ladder), plus all-inclusive equipment (masks, fins, snorkels, wetsuits, flotation devices). Two private charter configurations (up to 37 and up to 18 passengers) extend the offering to groups, with pricing tiered by duration (4, 6, or 8 hours). The company distinguishes itself with a Guaranteed Sightings Program — free re-visit during the same vacation if manta rays or dolphins are not spotted — and complies with NOAA Hawaiian spinner dolphin protection rules (viewing only, no swimming).

The business model is purely transactional, pay-as-you-go per-seat pricing ranging from $64.63 (whale watching infant) to $156.18 (morning reef snorkel adult), with private charters from $1,938.82 to $4,308.48. Distribution is omnichannel but wholly direct: embedded FareHarbor online booking on the company website, phone reservations at (808) 494-9150 / (808) 936-3442, and a physical charter desk at the marina. Discount programs targeting Military, First Responders, and Teachers (10% first tour, 20% second) drive repeat bookings. Geographic reach is limited to the Kona Coast, and the customer base is fragmented individual tourism rather than enterprise contracts.

Name

Ocean Encounters

Legal name

Ocean Encounters

Website

https://swimwithdolphinsandmantas.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ocean Encounters is a private, direct-to-consumer marine wildlife tour operator in Kona, Hawaii, running manta ray night snorkel, reef snorkel, whale watching, and private charter excursions from Honokohau Marina for Big Island tourists and private groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Wildlife Tours

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Wildlife & Coastal Nature Tours (Whale/Dolphin Watching, Sea Kayaking) (THAAAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Whale Watching & Marine Mammal Tours (THAAAIAC), Snorkeling Tours & Reef Experiences (THAJAJAE), Reef, Island & Coastal Ecotours (mangroves, lagoons, sea caves) (THAAAIAE)

Keywords

• Marine wildlife tours
• Manta ray snorkeling
• Whale watching charters
• Dolphin encounters
• Private boat charters

Headquarters

HQ city

Kailua Kona

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tour and Charter Bookings: Individual and group bookings for marine wildlife encounters including manta ray night snorkel, dolphin encounters, whale watching, and private charters. Transaction-based pricing per activity with tiered pricing for adults, children, infants, and ride-alongs. Private charters priced by duration (4, 6, or 8 hours).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ocean Encounters operates guided marine wildlife tour excursions departing from Honokohau Harbor in Kona, Hawaii, offering day and night encounters with manta rays, Hawaiian spinner dolphins, and humpback whales along the Kona Coast. The company runs a fleet of Delta vessels (OE1/OE2/OE3, including a 46 ft boat) out of Kailua-Kona to deliver snorkeling, dolphin viewing, whale watching, and customizable private group charters with all equipment provided. A Guaranteed Sightings Program allows free return visits on the same excursion if wildlife is not observed.

Product overview

Ocean Encounters operates a fleet of marine wildlife tour vessels departing from Honokohau Harbor in Kona, Hawaii. The company offers six distinct tour products centered on marine wildlife encounters: Manta Ray Night Snorkel (OE1/OE2/OE3 variants), Morning Reef Snorkel (OE1/OE2/OE3 variants), Whale Watching Charter (OE1/OE2/OE3 variants), Midday Snorkel Cruise (OE1/OE2/OE3 variants), and two Private Charter options (Private Charter I accommodating up to 37 passengers and Private Charter II accommodating up to 18 passengers). The main vessel is a 46 ft. Delta boat with restroom, shaded areas, inside cabin, and upstairs seating. Equipment included with most tours: mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit, and flotation devices. Deep Sea Fishing is offered through affiliated partner Bite Me Sportfishing. The company provides guaranteed sightings or free return visits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Manta Ray Night Snorkel Night snorkeling excursion with manta rays off Kona, available in three vessel configurations (OE1, OE2, OE3). Underwater lights attract plankton and manta rays perform somersaults while feeding. Pricing starts at $86.17 with private OE1 charter at $4,308.48. Equipment, wetsuits, and snacks are included.
• Morning Reef Snorkel Approximately 4-hour reef snorkeling tour (8:30am-12:30pm) at Kealakekua Bay marine sanctuary beneath the Captain Cook monument, featuring vibrant coral reefs with hundreds of tropical fish species and Hawaiian spinner and spotted dolphins. Includes mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit, noodles, snacks, and water. Pricing starts at $86.17 for infants; adults $156.18.
• Whale Watching Charter 2.5-hour humpback whale watching tour available December through March/April during the Alaska-to-Kona migration season, with check-in at 12pm. Includes underwater hydrophone so guests can listen to whale songs beneath the surface. Pricing starts at $64.63 for infants; adults $118.48. Available on OE1, OE2, and OE3 vessels.
• Midday Snorkel Cruise 3-hour daytime snorkeling excursion featuring encounters with spinner dolphins, turtles, whales, colorful schools of fish, and vibrant reef. Designed for first-time snorkelers with on-board instruction and flotation devices provided. Pricing starts at $86.17 for infants; adults $129.25. Available on OE1, OE2, and OE3 vessels.
• Private Charter I Private charter on OE1 accommodating up to 37 passengers with 10-person minimum. Customizable activities including fishing, snorkeling, and sightseeing. Available in 4-hour ($2,261.95), 6-hour ($2,585.09), and 8-hour ($2,908.22) durations. Fishing gear included on OE2 vessel.
• Private Charter II Private charter on OE2 accommodating up to 18 passengers with full fishing gear provided including Two-Speed Reels, Five Rods/Reels 130s-80s, Bait Rods, Custom Built Rods, and Full-Size Fighting Chair. Includes vessel amenities (shaded area, bow railing, clean restroom, swim step/ladder). Available in 4-hour ($1,938.82), 6-hour ($2,154.24), and 8-hour ($2,369.66) durations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100s of species of tropical fish visible at Kealakekua Bay snorkeling location
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Bite Me SportfishingcoreOthersRelated company under same management. Shared booking platform, email ([email protected]), phone lines, and Honokohau Marina charter desk. Bite Me Sportfishing provides deep sea fishing excursions (referenced on Ocean Encounters website as linked service). Both operated by same management team.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Direct peers

• Body Glove Cruises: Established Kona operator offering manta ray night snorkel, dolphin watching, and reef cruises. Similar vessel-based marine wildlife tour business with comparable pricing and target customers.
• Fair Wind Big Island Ocean Guides: Kona-based operator offering reef snorkel at Kealakekua Bay and manta ray night snorkel experiences. Directly comparable product portfolio and pricing structure targeting the same Big Island tourist segment.
• Sea Quest Hawaii: Direct competitor operating from Honokohau Harbor offering snorkel, dolphin encounters, whale watching, and manta ray tours in Kona. Competes head-to-head on the same tour products and customer base.
• Atlantis Submarines Hawaii: Submarine sightseeing operator in Kona offering underwater tours as alternative marine experiences. Competes for tourists seeking marine viewing experiences, though via different delivery mechanism.
• Manta Pacific: Kona-based tour operator specializing in manta ray snorkeling experiences. Niche competitor focused on the same signature product with overlapping tour portfolio and customer base.
• Jack's Diving Locker: Long-established Kona dive and snorkel operator offering manta ray night dives, reef snorkeling, and certification courses. Overlapping marine wildlife experience offerings for Big Island visitors.
• Hawaiian Adventures Kona: Kona-based marine tour operator offering dolphin encounters, whale watching, and snorkel tours. Competes directly for the same tourist customer segment along the Kona Coast.

Broad incumbents

• Dolphin Quest Hawaii: Larger marine tourism operator offering interactive dolphin experiences at Hilton Waikoloa Village on Big Island. Different business model (captive encounters vs. wild viewing) but competes for marine experience tourist spend.
• Hawaii Nautical: Larger Hawaii-wide marine tour operator offering snorkel, sunset, and whale watching cruises across multiple islands. Broader portfolio and geographic reach, with overlapping Kona offerings.

Emerging players

• Sail Kona: Kona-based sailing and snorkel tour operator offering reef snorkel and wildlife viewing experiences. Smaller-scale competitor in adjacent marine tourism category with partial product overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ocean-encounters-of-kona

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ocean Encounters