RESPECTFUL WHALE WATCHING FROM KONA (HAWAII)
The Shelltone Whale Project is an environmental organization that carefully selects whale-watching operators committed to a respectful approach.
Marine biologists and experienced naturalists who put animal welfare first.
Book directly with operators selected by the Shelltone Whale Project, at the best available rate and with no additional fees.
The Shelltone Team’s Review
The waters along the Kona Coast on Hawaii’s Big Island are among the richest and most pristine marine environments in the archipelago. Between volcanic slopes that descend directly into the ocean and deep waters that approach the shoreline, marine life thrives in remarkable abundance.
Each winter, North Pacific humpback whales return to Hawaiian waters to breed and raise their calves. But Kona offers much more than seasonal whale watching. Throughout the year, dolphins, sea turtles, manta rays, and many other species inhabit these exceptionally rich waters.
We selected this team for their longstanding experience exploring the marine environment and the quality of the experience they provide on the water. They share with their visitors a deep knowledge of the Big Island’s unique marine ecosystem, helping them better understand the richness of the living world that surrounds it.
Beyond encounters with cetaceans, these excursions offer an opportunity to discover one of the most remarkable marine regions in the Central Pacific, where volcanic activity, ocean currents, and island geography combine to create conditions that support extraordinary biodiversity.
What it means to be “Shelltone selected”
Every operator featured here has been selected because it complies with the Shelltone Charter.
Cetaceans are never approached at more than 5 knots.
Animals are always approached from an angle that follows their direction of travel, never by cutting across them.
Mothers with calves are never approached.
These principles form the foundation of the Shelltone Charter. Our selection also considers the overall attitude of the operator, the quality of the guidance provided, and the ability to recognize when choosing not to approach is the most respectful decision.
These are not recommendations. They are the conditions under which every Shelltone Selected Operator is chosen.
What We Particularly Appreciate Here
The exceptional diversity of marine life that surrounds the Big Island. A destination that reminds us that whales are part of a much larger ecosystem, where every species contributes to the richness and balance of the living world.
YOU ARE BOOKING HERE DIRECTLY THROUGH THE OFFICIAL CALENDAR OF BODY GLOVE KONA.
NO INTERMEDIARY. NO ADDITIONAL FEES.
AVAILABILITY AND PRICES ARE PROVIDED DIRECTLY BY THE OPERATOR.
Photos from the Kona expedition
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