Atlantis Submarine from Kona Beach: 100 feet underwater

Descend past the reef edge and watch barracuda, parrot fish and eels move through sunken habitats

Atlantis Submarines Kona is a 45-minute submarine tour departing from Kona Beach that takes you 100 feet below the surface to explore an 18,000-year-old coral reef garden and its marine life. A sightseeing shuttle boat carries you from the pier to the submarine, and a live English-speaking naturalist narrates the dive. Audio headsets in Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish and Korean are available on request. Children must be at least 36 inches tall to ride, and you'll need to climb a near-vertical ladder to board the vessel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Submarine tour and Kona coastline view

• Meet at Atlantis office
• Ride shuttle boat to submarine
• Descend 100 feet underwater
• Explore 25-acre coral reef
• View marine life and coral formations
• Listen to narrated tour
• Return to shore by shuttle

The experience

The shuttle boat leaves Kona Beach and takes you out to the submarine moored at the dive site: a 5-minute ride each way. Once aboard the 48-passenger vessel, you descend through the water column as your guide explains what you're seeing through the portholes: the coral formations, the fish moving through the reef structure, and the way sunken ships have become part of the ecosystem. The submarine itself is battery-powered and designed to operate quietly, so the marine life doesn't scatter the moment you arrive.

The dive site is a 25-acre natural coral reef created by an ancient lava flow, and it holds a mix of species (barracuda, yellow tang, eel, parrot fish) that you won't see in the same concentration anywhere else off Kona's shore. The reef sits at a depth where sunlight still reaches it, so the colors stay visible and the water clarity is strong. Your 45-minute time underwater is the core of the tour. The shuttle rides add another 10 minutes total, so plan for roughly an hour from the time you board until you're back on the pier.

The submarine has been featured in National Geographic television specials, and it's one of the few ways to see the deeper reef structure without diving certification or the physical demands of scuba. The headsets mean you can follow the narration even if English isn't your first language, and the guide's commentary is timed to what's actually visible through the portholes at each moment of the dive, not a generic script played over the route.

What’s included

• Live English narration from an underwater naturalist.
• audio headsets in Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish and Korean available on request.
• sightseeing shuttle boat to and from the submarine dive site.
• 45-minute dive aboard the 48-passenger submarine.

Options for this experience

4 options

10:15 AMGuide in English · 10:15Kona Submarine Adventure at 10:15 AM. Children aged 12 and under must be at least 36 inches tall to ride and must have purchased a ticket.

11:30 AMGuide in English · 11:30Kona Submarine Adventure at 11:30 am. Children aged 12 and under must be at least 36 inches tall to ride and must have purchased a ticket.

12:45 PMGuide in English · 12:45Kona Submarine Adventure. Children aged 12 and under must be at least 36 inches tall to ride and must have purchased a ticket.

2:00 PM diveGuide in English · 14:00Underwater adventure at 2 pm

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDepartures at 10:15, 11:30, 12:45 and 14:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (under 13)

GroupUp to 48

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideSpanish, Chinese, Japanese and Korean

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Atlantis Adventures Hawaii

Is this one for you?Book the 10:15 AM or 11:30 AM departure if you want the clearest water and the strongest light reaching the reef. The afternoon dives at 12:45 PM and 2:00 PM work just as well for seeing the marine life, but the morning slots give you the best visibility for photography and detail.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 13).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the actual time spent underwater on this submarine tour?

The submarine dive itself lasts 45 minutes. The shuttle boat ride from Kona Beach to the submarine and back adds 5 minutes each way, so the total experience is roughly one hour from boarding to return.

What kind of fish and marine life will I see on the Kona reef?

The 25-acre coral reef is home to barracuda, yellow tang, eel, parrot fish and other tropical species. The reef also has sunken ships that have become habitats for marine life, creating a layered ecosystem you can observe through the submarine portholes.

Can I get narration in a language other than English?

Yes. Audio headsets providing narration in Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish and Korean are available upon request at no additional cost.

How deep does the submarine go?

The submarine descends 100 feet below the surface to explore the natural coral reef garden.

What do I need to do to board the submarine?

You must be capable of ascending and descending a near-vertical ladder to get on and off the vessel. Children must be at least 36 inches tall to ride. Children under 3 who meet the height requirement can ride if a child ticket is purchased.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes the sightseeing shuttle boat from the pier to the dive site, the 45-minute submarine dive, and live English narration from an underwater naturalist. Audio headsets in other languages are also included.