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Melanie Delicatovia Google

about 1 month ago

We booked a private tour with Captain Max Boat Tours and had an incredible experience with Stephanie and Sophia! This duo was wonderfully accommodating and had a fantastic plan ready for our private outing. We started with some exploring and were lucky enough to find dolphins before our dives even began. Once in the water, the experience only got better. Sophia pointed out different sea species throughout the dive, and we saw several turtles up close — truly unforgettable. Our underwater time was remarkable from start to finish. Overall, an amazing experience. Highly recommend both the tour and the photo package!

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Chet Davisvia Google

about 1 month ago

We love seeing and snorkeling near turtles in Hawaii and for an upcoming trip to Oahu we weren’t sure we were going to be able to see them. I read about the excursions off Waikiki that all but promised seeing Honu. I did some research and chose to book with Captain Max Boat Tours and their Turtle Canyon Snorkel. 

I read reviews and what really attracted me to this outfitter was the fact they ran semi-private boat tours with only 6 guests. Correspondence (email) leading up to the excursion was clear and helpful. We arrived a few minutes early and visited their small shop while checking in. We waited just a few minutes and then were walked over to their boat dock, meeting both the guide, Sophia and the boat captain, Stephanie. They gave us safety information and prepared us for the short boat ride out to “Turtle Canyon”. Our craft was a zodiac type inflatable raft with a mounted seats and a windscreen for the captain. We glided out to the snorkel zone with Waikiki beach before us, a grand ocean view of this famous beach. Sophie helped the other guests get their snorkel gear (included in the price) except for us - we bring our own snorkel equipment. 

We put in the water and after all guests were in, Sophia called in the direction she was leading us. On the way over we swam through schools of fish. This was an awesome experience we did not expect - we snorkel a lot and love seeing the marine life. We learned that some outfitters feed the fish out here and so they stick around instead of swim away, which we’re used to experiencing. In about 20 feet of water our guide pointed out several turtles on the bottom. Lucky for us, one of them swap up for air - and stayed near the surface for quite a few minutes (longer than we usually see) which allowed us to get a great view of this beautiful creature (all the while, maintaining a safe distance to protect the turtle). Sophia led us to two other spots nearby, seeing fish on the reef below and several more turtles. Once again we were fortunate to have another turtle swim up to the surface for a few breaths. I’m very glad we chose Captain Max as some of the other outfitters that bring larger groups would have been a very different experience with a group clamoring for views of the few turtles that were out there. Our guide was knowledgeable, approachable, and friendly - and ensured we were all safe (and the marine life were also protected). On there way back we were treated to another great view of Oahu, with Waikiki and Honolulu in the foreground and the mountains behind. Thanks Sophie and Captain Stephanie for a memorable excursion! NOTE: We know that early in the morning is generally the best time to snorkel as the water tends to be calmer, visibility better and fish ore active. We had a 930 start but next time would be the early time (730) as I learned there are even fewer other outfitters out on the water at that time.

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Josh Lowellvia Google

about 2 months ago

Hada great experience on a snorkel adventure with my family. The check in process was seamless. We got a message the morning of the excursion advising that we could keep our current time (late afternoon) but that we might want to move to an earlier slot because the conditions would likely be better. We took her advice and it was perfect. We then met Santiago and the Captain. Santiago was a wonderful guide. He took special care to guide my kids - pointing out turtles, fish, octopus, and whales in the distance. He even dove down and found a starfish to show us up close. Overall 10/10 experience and would recommend to everyone.

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Victoria Moergelivia Google

about 2 months ago

My husband and I booked this tour through Airbnb, and it was phenomenal! Our guides were Stephanie and Santi (short for Santiago) and I was so impressed with their knowledge, enthusiasm, and transparency. The day we went (Monday morning on 1/12/26) there a lot of notices about box jellyfish stings, and they were extremely honest about what that meant for our tour and gave us the opportunity to get a refund or turn the tour into whale watching if they deemed it unsafe for us to get into the water. Once we got to the spot, it was actually clear of jellyfish and we had a great experience, we saw a big female sea turtle and tons of amazing fishies. Even after that, we got to whale watch and we saw a mom with her newborn baby, it was truly a sight to behold. We loved this tour and HIGHLY recommend, you won’t regret it!

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nicole leishmanvia Google

2 months ago

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We had the most amazing snorkeling adventure this morning! My daughters (ages 8 and 12) had the best time ever and are still talking about it. Our captain and guide were absolutely incredible—so patient, knowledgeable, and great with kids—which truly made this the best morning. We swam with sea turtles and they even took extra time searching for whales and dolphins, giving us more adventure than we could have hoped for. You can tell they genuinely care about creating a special experience for everyone. We felt safe, excited, and completely taken care of the entire trip. Highly recommend for families and anyone looking for an unforgettable ocean experience!