Booking choice: The Kona submarine, from $160 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Unlike most ocean trips in Kona, the submarine has no minimum age. What decides whether a child can go is height: every passenger must be at least 36 inches (91 cm) tall.
Below: the rules, the practical details that trip families up, and what to book instead if your youngest is too small.
The quick answer
Children must be at least 36 inches (91 cm) tall; there is no minimum age, and a child under 3 who meets the height rule rides with a child ticket. Children 12 and under pay the child fare. Everyone must climb a near-vertical ladder into the submarine on their own, and there is no restroom on board. For babies and toddlers under 36 inches, the glass-bottom boat from the same pier takes infants on laps and has a restroom.
What is the minimum age for the Kona submarine?
There is none: the rule is a minimum height of 36 inches (91 cm) for every passenger.
Children under 3 who meet the 36-inch rule can ride, but they need a child ticket like any other child. Measure your child beforehand if it is close.
Kids tall enough? Check your date for the Kona submarine.
Check dates for the Kona submarineHow much is a child ticket?
Children 12 and under pay the child fare, which is lower than the $160 adult price; the date picker shows the exact amount.
Adults are 13 and over. The 10% sale that runs to 15 October 2026 applies on the booking page. See tickets and prices for what else to budget, such as the $10 parking validation.
Can small children climb the ladder?
They must: every passenger has to climb down and up a near-vertical ladder of about ten steps without being carried.
Most children who meet the height rule manage it, and the crew guides every passenger down. Practise on a playground ladder if your child is hesitant, and dress them in shoes with grip rather than flip-flops.
Is there a restroom on the submarine?
No. There is no restroom on the submarine, so use the one at the hotel before check-in.
From check-in to return is about 1.5 hours, with 45 minutes underwater. For potty-training toddlers that is a long stretch; the glass-bottom boat, which does have a restroom on board, is the safer choice.
Will kids find it scary or claustrophobic?
Most do not: the cabin is air-conditioned and bright, each seat has its own porthole, and there is no motion at depth.
Kids can kneel on the bench to look out, and the crew keeps up a running commentary about what is outside. A digital gauge on the wall shows the depth all the way down.
What do kids enjoy most?
The two shipwrecks, fish right at the window and, on lucky days, dolphins on the shuttle ride.
Parents in 2026 wrote that their son "really enjoyed the two shipwrecks" and that the family "even saw dolphins" on the way to the submarine. A moray eel or puffer at the glass is usually the big moment.
Want a morning the kids will talk about for weeks? The dive visits two wrecks at about 100 feet.
Explore the Kona submarineWill kids get seasick?
The dive itself is smooth; the short shuttle ride and the transfer at the surface can rock a little on windy days.
Motion sickness bags are available on the shuttle. If your child is prone to it, give their usual remedy before check-in.
What if your child is under 36 inches?
Book the Kona glass-bottom boat: it leaves the same pier, takes infants on laps and has a restroom.
Other Kona ocean trips have higher age limits, so check before you book.
| Tour | Youngest allowed | From |
|---|---|---|
| Kona submarine | 36 inches tall, any age | $160 |
| Kona glass-bottom boat | Infants on a lap | $72 |
| Kealakekua Bay snorkel cruise | Child fares from age 4 | $194 |
| Captain Cook reef snorkel | Age 6 | $69 |
| Manta ray night snorkel | Age 7, must swim | $146 |
| Dolphin and whale watch | Age 10 | $129 |
Baby in the group? The glass-bottom boat takes infants on laps and has a restroom.
Check dates for the Kona glass-bottom boatFrequently asked questions
Can a 2-year-old go on the Kona submarine?
Yes, if they are at least 36 inches (91 cm) tall and can climb the ladder on their own. They need a child ticket.
Can you bring a stroller?
The check-in is stroller accessible, but strollers cannot go on the submarine. Leave it in the car or at check-in.
Is the Kona submarine good for kids?
Yes for most children over 36 inches: the wrecks and fish at the window are a hit. For toddlers who need a restroom, the glass-bottom boat is easier.
Ready to book
Choose your dive
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Atlantis Kona Submarine Adventure
- Sightseeing shuttle boat from Kailua Pier to the dive site, about 5 minutes each way
- About 45 minutes underwater in the 48-passenger submarine, down to roughly 100 feet
- Live English narration by the naturalist; audio in Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish and Korean
Kona Glass-Bottom Boat Reef Tour
- 50-minute cruise on a 36-foot glass-bottom boat over the Kailua Bay reef
- Live commentary from a naturalist guide
- Water, soda and ginger ale, and a restroom on board
Kealakekua Bay Morning Snorkel Cruise
The brightest reef colours, about 2.5 hours in the water
