All Reviews for Kailua-Kona

Absolutely incredible tour that was tailored to those on the boat...not a canned presentation. I highly recommend this tour. The captain and the whale expert (Denver) were exceptional. I never thought that I would learn this much about whales and be so close to them!

Our family of six (6) spent ten days on the Big Island. On Friday morning, one of our three boys told us how cool it would be to learn how to surf. That was all the incentive his mother needed to commence her Google search for the best firm to school her three sons (ages 22, 26 and 29) on surfing. She started calling on Friday morning at 8:00 o’clock with all of the places informing her that it would be Monday before they would have a spot for the three boys. The lone exception was Life Guard Surf Instructors. This family owned surf instruction firm took the information about our three (3) sons and arranged to have another instructor come in to give our sons a group lesson, which occurred within three (3) hours of when we initially called.

When we arrived they receive a thorough briefing about what was in store for everyone when they got into the water. This was extremely important since one of our sons has some learning difficulties and is very uncomfortable if there are things that he will be expected to do and he is not warned about them in advance. When we reached the place where the water instruction was to take place, to our surprise, our son who has the learning difficulty was given one on one instruction from one of the Owner family members. He thoroughly enjoyed himself. Our other sons also had a great time. We would highly recommend Life Guard Surf Instructors to everyone who wants their children to be instructed by highly trained and caring instructors.

I saw it in Honolulu before, but this one was better.
The place isn't very large, so I think you can see from the back as well.
I didn't understand the words very well, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

以前ホノルルでみましたが、こちらの方がよかったです。
場所も広くないので後ろでも見えると思います。
言葉はあまりわかりませんでしたがそれなりに楽しめました。

I had been very interested in this tour after seeing its popularity and reviews. The price was a bit high, so I hesitated, but when I checked again at the last minute, I found out they were offering a promotion for one person free, so I decided to sign up!

I was worried, "Isn't the sea cold in December?" Even after reading reviews, I wasn't sure, so I thought I would write about my experience this time!

During the day, it was warm enough to sweat under the strong sunlight. I wondered if it would be okay at night, but it was really cold due to the strong winds. The organizer mentioned, "Today the wind is particularly strong."

I read that those who are prone to seasickness should take motion sickness medication, so I took some. I was really anxious, so instead of the recommended two pills, I took three!

■ One hour from the meeting time to departure
■ One hour from departure to the snorkeling spot
There wasn't any specific information about how long we would wait. I would have liked to know what time we were departing. Also, the driver was not Japanese, so all the instructions along the way were in English.

The wind was cold, the boat rocked a lot, and the height differences were extreme. Without the motion sickness medication, I think I would have been 120% seasick!!

Many people were vomiting on the way there...

When we arrived at the site and the boat stopped, it rocked even more, making it difficult to stand.

Initially, I didn't feel much cold in the water. We all held onto a square fence while snorkeling! The manta rays were incredibly friendly, doing backflips just above us! It was amazing to see their mouths wide open! I even experienced the thrill of feeling like I might get sucked in! Their big, round eyes were so cute! I brought an underwater camera, but it was too dark to capture anything... It's a shame I can't upload any photos, but the experience is firmly etched in my memory!

I think we were in the water for quite a long time! However, after a while, it did get cold. One person who was holding onto the same fence started to feel unwell and had to get out.

Based on information from the reception at our accommodation, I heard it could get "really cold," so I brought an ultra-light down jacket.

After getting back on the boat, I changed into a T-shirt and my ultra-light down jacket in the restroom. During that time, my partner also got sick. He said he felt nauseous watching the manta rays spinning around.

It seems that almost all the Japanese participants were affected. The girl next to me was crying and saying, "I want to go home" while vomiting. If you're participating in the winter season, don't forget to bring warm clothing! I also think motion sickness medication is essential!

P.S. If you're lucky, you might encounter dolphins.

I think it would be amazing to participate on a day with good weather! We also want to join again next time when it's warm and there’s no wind!

【参加日⇒2014．12．27】

人気度やクチコミを見て、とても気になっていたツアーでした。
金額が張るので悩んでいたのですが、ぎりぎりにもう一度覗いたら、モニターがやってて1人分無料になるとのことで申し込みを決意しました(^^)

「12月の海って寒くないのか？」と心配していました。クチコミを見ても、よく分からなかったので、私はこの度書こうと思います！

日中は日焼けするほどの日差しで汗ばむ気温です。夜も平気なのかな？と思ったら、風が強く心底寒かったですw
開催者曰く、「今日は特別風が強い」とのことでした。

船酔い等心配な方は酔い止めをと書いてあったので、飲んで行きました。すごく不安だったので、２錠のところを３錠飲みました(*>_<)

■集合時間から出発まで１時間
■出発からシュノーケリングの場所まで１時間
どれくらい待つとかのお知らせは特にありませんでした。何時発なのか、一言欲しかったです。
また、途中の注意事項等も運転手の方が日本人ではないからか英語のみです。

風が冷たく、船もものすごく揺れ、高低差が半端なかったです。
酔い止めがなければ、１２０％酔っていたと思います！！

行きの船から嘔吐している人多数・・・


現地について、船を止めると、もっと船が揺れ、立つのが困難な程でした。

海中は、はじめはさほど寒さを感じません。
四角い柵のようなものをみんなで持ってシュノーケリングをしました！
マンタはすごく人懐こいのか、お腹すれすれに背面ターンしてくれます！
口の中まで丸見えで感動します！吸い込まれるんじゃないかという迫力も体験できました！！
つぶらな瞳がとてもキュートでしたo(^-^)o
水中カメラを持っていったのですが、真っ暗で何も写っていませんでした…何がいけなかったのだろう…写真をアップできないのは残念ですが、脳裏にしっかり焼きついています♪

結構長い時間海にいたと思います！
しかし、やはり長時間入水していると寒くなってきます。
同じ柵に捕まっていた方が具合が悪くなり、上がることになりました。

宿泊先の受付の方の情報で、「本当に寒い」という事を伺ったので、ウルトラライトダウンを持参しました。

船に上がってから、お手洗いで上半身を脱ぎ、Tシャツとウルトラライトダウンに着替えました。
その間に、彼も吐いていました(^_^;)
マンタがくるくる回転するのを見て酔ってしまったそうです。

日本人？はほぼ全滅だったそうです。
隣の女の子も「早く帰りたい」と泣きながら吐いていました。
冬の季節に参加する際は、防寒グッズを忘れずに☆彡
また、酔い止めも必須だと思います！


P.S.運が良いと、イルカに出会えるそうです。

天気の良い時に参加すれば最高だと思います！
私たちも次は風がなく暖かい時期に参加したいとおもいますW

It's a amazing experience!!!
We really recommend!!

Marc and I have never surfed before, so we were slightly scaptical of how much you could learn in 45min theory and one hour in the water. As it turned out, it was totally enough to get the basics and make you feel exhausted (you will be sore the next day, but it is really worth it!). The teachers are awesome, they are very encouraging and positive. It is a really great hawaiian family run company - they just have the natural aloha attitude.They help you picking the right waves and show you how to stand up on the board right away. Of course you will also fall in the water, but eveyone does, so it is just so much fun! We recommend taking a surf lesson with them 100% and would do it again immeadiatly!

I arranged this for my parents who are over 60 years old. They said there was an hour wait from when they were picked up until they boarded. Was that time for a stroll? The explanations underwater were all in English, but it seems my parents, who don't understand English, were still able to enjoy it to some extent.

６０歳オーバーの両親のために手配しました。迎えに来てもらってから乗るまでに１時間の待ち時間があったそうです。散策の時間でしょうか？海中の説明は全て英語で英語がわからない両親でもそれなりに楽しめたそうです。

First, I received a call from the hotel regarding our meeting point. They informed me to refer to the location listed on the Iruka University website (http://www.iruka.com/index.php?itemid=32118) instead of the place shown on the VELTRA map. However, since our rental car had a flat tire, we had to take a taxi at the last minute. The driver seemed to know the general area, and we were safely delivered to our destination. When we got out of the taxi, our guide, Ryoko, was waiting for us, so we didn’t have any trouble meeting up.

On the day we participated, the boat from Manta University (or rather, its parent, Iruka University) was in Oahu, and they had chartered a boat in collaboration with other similar shops. There were three Japanese people, including my spouse and me, and about 15 foreigners. Perhaps because of the large number of participants, we were on a relatively luxurious boat that had a restroom, and we were able to enjoy light snacks like poke, which were prepared on board. We also had warm coffee to help us warm up, so it ended up being quite a lucky experience.

As for the manta rays, as soon as we jumped from the boat, about eight of them swam up from below, which was truly moving. They approached us with their mouths wide open (of course, they didn’t bite us! *laughs*), and it felt like we could see all the way to their ribs. It would have been best if they had stayed there, but the boat owner's family moved to a different spot, thinking it would be better, which didn’t turn out to be the case. At one point, we were just staring into the dark sea with no mantas in sight. Ryoko from Iruka University also seemed unable to change the location due to the joint arrangement with other shops. However, the initial number of mantas we saw was incredible, and later, although the number decreased to one or two, they swam close to us, which was truly moving.

Since it was nighttime, it got quite cold. After getting out of the water, I recommend drying off as quickly as possible and changing into regular clothes if you can. (So, it’s a good idea to bring extra clothes, especially something like a windbreaker!) If you stay in a soaking wet wetsuit while being blown by the night wind, you’ll get cold in no time.

Personally, I never dreamed that I would have the chance to swim with manta rays, so it was a very emotional experience. I think the number of encounters depends on luck, but I can definitely recommend this tour to everyone.

まず、待ち合わせについてホテルに事前にお電話を頂きました。VELTRAの地図に載っている場所ではなくイルカ大学のHPに載っているもの（http://www.iruka.com/index.php?itemid=32118）参考にして下さい、という連絡を頂きました。ただ、私達のレンタカーがパンクしてしまったため、急きょ、タクシーで行くことになり、運転手さんは大体の場所がわかったようで、無事、送り届けてもらえました。タクシーを降りた辺りで、ガイドのリョウコさんが待っていてくださったので、待ち合わせに苦労することはありませんでした。
私達が参加した日はマンタ大学（というか母体のイルカ大学）の船がオアフ島に行っているとのことで他の似たようなショップと合同で船をチャーターされていました。日本人は私達夫婦を含め3人、外国の方が15人位でした。合同で人数も多かったためか、それなりに豪華な船でトイレがあったり、軽食というのもポキなどを船内で調理したものを頂くことができましたし、冷えた体に暖かいコーヒーも頂くことができ、結果的にはラッキーな感じでした。
肝心のマンタですが、船から飛び込むなり、8頭位がウワ～っと下から泳いできてくれて感動しました。口をパカーっと開けてぐいぐい迫ってきて（別にかみつかれたりはもちろんしません・笑）感覚的に口から肋骨あたりまで口の中が見えるような感じでした。そのまま、そこに留まってもらえれば一番良かったのですが、船のオーナー家族が良かれと思う場所に移動してしまい、結果的に「良かれ」というわけにいかず、一時は、マンタも何もいない夜の海をボケーっと覗いているだけ、という時間もありました。イルカ大学のリョウコさんも他のショップと合同ですし、ご自身の采配で場所を変えたりすることはできず、という様子でした。ただ、最初に見た頭数がすごかったのと、その後も数はぐっと減り、１，２頭でしたが、近くを泳いでくれて本当に感動しました。やはり夜なので、結構寒くなります。上がった後はなるべく早く体を拭き、普通の服にできれば着替える方がいいと思います。（なので服は持っていった方がいいです。特にウインドブレーカーのようなもの！）びしょ濡れのウェットスーツを着たまま夜風に吹かれていると、あっという間に体が冷え切ってしまいます。
個人的にはまさか自分がマンタと一緒に泳げる日が来るとは夢にも思わなかったので、とても感動的な体験でした。遭遇数などは運があると思いますが、ぜひ、みなさんにもオススメできるツアーです。

On the day we participated, our swim guide was Mr. Nawata and the boat captain was Mr. Taka. Both of them were experts in the ocean and very reliable.

I have some experience with snorkeling and diving, but my niece, who traveled with me, was doing it for the first time and seemed anxious at first. However, she quickly got used to it and started enjoying herself. Mr. Nawata and Mr. Taka understand the behavior and movements of dolphins very well, so as long as you listen to their advice on what to do in the water, you'll be fine.

In the water, Mr. Nawata pulled my arm, allowing me to see the dolphins up close. Their determination to ensure that participants definitely see dolphins was palpable. We saw dolphins everywhere, both near the surface and close to the seabed. Dolphins are really cute; I found them endearing.

Later, when I talked to various tour guides and restaurant staff about participating in Mr. Nawata's dolphin tour, everyone said, "Mr. Nawata is the best dolphin expert on the Big Island!" I will definitely join Mr. Nawata's tour again next time.

Also, on that day, Captain Taka mentioned that he also does scuba diving, so I spoke with him on the phone after this tour. Unfortunately, our schedules didn't match this time, but I hope to ask Mr. Taka for scuba diving next time.

Thank you, Mr. Nawata and Mr. Taka, for your help. I'm looking forward to next time. Thank you!

私達が参加した日はスイムガイドが縄田さんで
船のキャプテンがタカさんでした。
お二人とも海のエキスパートでとても頼もしかったです。

私はシュノーけリングやダイビングは何回か経験していますが
一緒に旅行した姪っ子は初めてで最初は不安そうでしたが
すぐに慣れて楽しんでいました。
縄田さんもタカさんもイルカの性格や動きをよくわかっていらっしゃるので
海の中でどうすれば良いか等、アドバイスをしっかり聞けば大丈夫です。

海の中では縄田さんが腕を引っ張ってくれ、イルカを間近で見れました。
とにかく参加者にイルカを絶対に見てもらうという姿勢がビシビシ伝わります。
海面近くにも、海底近くにも、あちこちにイルカがいっぱい見れました。
イルカって本当にかわいいですね。愛おしくなりました。

後日、いろんなツアーのガイドさんや、レストランなどでも
縄田さんのイルカのツアーに参加したとお話ししたら皆さん全員、
”縄田さんがハワイ島で一番のイルカのエキスパートだからね！”と
おっしゃっていました。
また次回も絶対に縄田さんのツアーに参加します。

あと、この日キャプテンのタカさんがスキューバダイビングもしていらっしゃるとのことで、こちらのツアーの後にタカさんと電話でお話ししました。
日程が合わず今回は残念でしたが、次回はタカさんにスキューバダイビングをお願いします。

縄田さん、タカさん、お世話になりました。
また次回も楽しみにしています。
ありがとうございました！

I'm afraid the whales were very shy during our particular trip. We did see two on 4/5 occasions but only briefly from a distance. In these circumstances I think it's best to look upon the trip as a pleasure cruise because we were treated to great views of the Western side of Big Island. The crew deserve a mention...always polite and courteous...they looked after everyone with complimentary soft drinks.

The crew took very good care of us, and over two hours of snorkeling in the protected-marine-life bay was a delight!!!! Bring sunblock, your swimsuit, and your sense of adventure! Even folks with accessibility issues were able to float in the water with viewers and see the coral, fish, and other marine life.

The sunset sinking into the sea of clouds was absolutely amazing. Even after the sun set, the gradual change in the color of the sky was incredibly beautiful. The starry sky was also stunning, and since the moon was about a crescent, the moonlight didn't interfere much, allowing us to see a starry sky that felt like a planetarium in real life. While gazing absentmindedly, I was able to see quite a few shooting stars as well. This time, I couldn't make a reservation for the Japanese tour because they were fully booked, so I joined the English tour. I was a bit worried, but I could manage to understand simple English, so I enjoyed it without any problems!

雲海に沈む夕日はとにかく凄かったです。夕日が沈んだ後も徐々に空の色が変わっていくのがすごく綺麗でした。
星空も月が三日月くらいだったのでそれほど月あかりは邪魔にもならず、プラネタリウムを見ているような星空が生で見れました☆
ぼんやり眺めていると流星も結構見れましたよ。
今回は日本語ツアーがいっぱいで予約出来なかったので英語ツアーに参加しました。ちょっと心配でしたが、簡単な英語なら何とか理解できるので問題なく楽しめました！

Whilst reading this activity when planning my vacation to Hawaii I knew that going to the summit and doing some stargazing would be something not to be missed. I'm glad it did not disappoint! The sunset atop Mauna Kea is amazing with only clouds below us, and we were able to view a great deal of objects in the night sky. It does definitely get chilly up there, and even though they supply Parkas and gloves be sure to wear some heavy pants and thick covered in shoes (lest your toes succumb to frostbite!) I have recommended this tour to friends whom I know will be going to Hawaii in the next few years.

First of all, I think you shouldn't expect too much from the meals. Also, my husband and I both didn't understand much English, so we couldn't follow what the host was saying and couldn't keep up with the atmosphere in the venue. Additionally, when we took a dinner cruise later, there was a similar show, so if you are considering participating in both, it might not be necessary. Furthermore, many hotels host similar shows every other day, so you might be able to experience the atmosphere just by passing by without going out of your way to see it.

まず食事はあまり期待しないほうがいいかと思います。
また、私たち夫婦は二人共あまり英語がわからなかったので、司会の人が話されていることは全然理解できず、会場内のノリについていけませんでした。
また、後日ディナークルーズに乗船した際、同じような内容のショーがあったのでもし両方参加を検討されているようでしたら必要ないかと思います。
また、ホテルによっては同じようなショーが隔日くらいのペースで開催されているところも多いので、わざわざ見に行かなくても通りがかり程度で雰囲気は味わえるかもしれません。

This time, I challenged myself to night snorkeling for the first time! I was worried about panicking in the dark ocean, but those worries were completely unnecessary! After the crew (the captain and two assistants) explained everything in English, a Japanese guide kindly interpreted, which made me feel really safe and secure!

We were able to take lots of photos before departure, and during sunset, we captured some beautiful shots of the sunset! As for the main attraction, the manta rays, we were able to see nearly ten of them! They came close enough to swim right by us, and we even saw them doing flips while feeding! The manta rays, with their large mouths wide open, came within about five centimeters of us, and it was truly an impressive sight.

After snorkeling, snacks (ahi poke, tako poke, Ritz crackers, chocolate, gummies, etc.) and drinks (hot cocoa, coffee, cola, etc.) were served on the boat!

Additionally, on the way back, we even received a graduation certificate from Manta University! I enjoyed every moment from start to finish! I highly recommend this tour!

今回、初めてナイトシュノーケリングに挑戦しました！
暗い夜の海の中ではパニックにならないかと不安でしたが、そんな心配は無用の長物！！
クルー（船のキャプテンとアシスタント2名）の方が英語で説明された後、日本人ガイドさんが丁寧に通訳してくれたのでほんとに安心安全でした！
出港前から写真もたくさん撮れましたし、日没の時間帯には夕焼けショットも！
メインのマンタですが、、
なんと！！10枚近くも見ることができました。
至近距離まで遊泳に来てくれ、餌を食べながらくるりと宙返りする姿も見れました！
大きい口をぱっくり開けて、目の前5センチくらいまで近寄ってくるマンタは、本当にすごい迫力でした。

シュノーケリングの後には、船内でスナック（アヒポキ、たこポキ、
リッツ、チョコレート、グミなど）とドリンク（ホットココア、
コーヒー、コーラなど）が配られました！

また、帰りにはマンタ大学の卒業証書までもらえました！
最初から最後までどっぷり満喫できました！
とってもおすすめのツアーです！

My wife and I came to the luau with our 4 children ages 18, 16, 14, and 8. We all enjoyed the activities before the meal. The food was great and lots of it. And the entertainment was informative, interesting, and very lively. If you have never done it, I recommend doing it at least once. I would go back for the food alone!

They did a great job with my young kids. Everyone got in the water and had fun. When the 5 year old was ready to get back on the boat, they took her and let the adults stay in the water. Professional and fun.

Since the Japanese tour was fully booked, I participated in the English tour. I couldn't understand the explanations about the stars clearly, but they let each person look through the telescope and used simple English. The sunset was amazing.

日本語ツアーがいっぱいだったため、英語ツアーで参加しました。
英語がわからなくて星の説明はハッキリわからなかったけれど、望遠鏡で1人1人星をのぞかせてくれたり簡単な英語を使ったりしてくれていました。
サンセットは素晴らしかったです

During my first cruise around the Hawaiian Islands, I had to sadly give up on seeing the wild manta rays in Kona due to a lack of time. This time, as a diver, I stayed at the Sheraton Hotel with an ocean view in Keauhou to see the mantas. The meeting point was conveniently just a five-minute walk from the hotel.

I was torn between diving and snorkeling, but choosing snorkeling turned out to be the right decision. However, since mantas can be scared away, fins were prohibited, and we were instructed to wear a float called a noodle around our feet when entering the water from the boat. This meant I had to hold onto a lighted aluminum bar connected to the boat with my left hand while filming with my right hand. The mantas, swirling and gulping down the plankton attracted by the lights, were truly breathtaking. They came so close that I could almost touch them. It was so moving that I went again two days later! I was thrilled to encounter mantas at such a close distance, something every diver dreams of. Although the photos didn’t turn out well due to the darkness and the mantas moving, the videos were perfect. The staff at Sea Paradise were friendly and made the experience even more enjoyable.

The Sea Paradise office is located near the supermarket in the Keauhou Shopping Center. It opens at 7 AM, so I stopped by after breakfast to hand over my coupon, which meant I didn’t have to call at 4 PM to borrow a wetsuit. Other necessary gear was provided once we boarded the boat.

It was November, but it wasn’t cold at all, and it took only about five minutes from the manta site to the port. I changed and had a meal at the restaurant's restroom at the dock. Next time, I want to go with my daughter.

ハワイ諸島を巡るクルーズで初めてコナに行った時は時間がなく泣く泣く諦めた野生マンタ。ダイバーの今回はマンタを見るためにKeauhouにあるシェラトンホテルのオーシャンビューにステイ。集合場所がホテルの直ぐ側で徒歩5分と便利でした。
ダイビングがいいのかシュノーケリングが良いか迷いましたが、シュノーケリングにして大正解でした。但し、マンタが怖がるのでフィンは使用禁止、ボートから海に入るときには足に引っ掛けるヌードルと呼ばれるフローターを足に付けるように指示されるので、実際には左手でボートに繋がっている照明付きのアルミ製のバーに掴まって右手で動画を撮るといった感じです。照明で集まったプランクトンを回転しながら飲み込んでいくマンタ達は圧巻です。顔スレスレに近づいてきます。あまりに感動的で翌々日にもう１回！ダイバー憧れのマンタにこんな至近距離でお目にかかれるとは感激です。写真は照明があっても暗くマンタは動いているのでなかなか上手に撮れませんでしたが動画はバッチリでした。シーパラダイスのスタッフもフレンドリーで楽しさを倍増させてくれました。シーパラダイスのオフィスはKeauhou ショッピングセンター内のスーパーマーケット付近にあります。朝7時からオープンしてるので朝食を食べた帰りに立ち寄りクーポンを渡したので4時に電話する必要もなくウェットスーツを借りて帰りました。その他必要なギア等はボートに乗ってから渡されます。
11月でしたが全く寒くなく、マンタのサイトから港までほんの5分くらいでした。船着場にあるレストランのトイレで着替えて食事をしました。次回は娘と一緒に行きたいと思っています。

In mid-November, my spouse and I participated in a night snorkeling and manta ray tour. We made our reservation online in Japan before departing, and we joined the tour on the evening of our arrival in Hawaii. Although we were affected by jet lag, we tried hard to adjust to Hawaii's time difference from the very first day. (The guide seemed a bit taken aback, so it might have been a bit too much for us.)

Since we were traveling by rental car, we opted for a local meeting plan, but we mistakenly went to the wrong meeting spot. After some time had passed without us showing up, a Japanese female guide came to look for us and found us. We then headed to the correct meeting place and joined the other participants about five minutes late. After gathering, the guide led us to a rental shop where we could borrow wetsuits and fins for free. After that, we moved to the boat. There were about six Japanese participants and around ten Americans.

We set sail on a small boat just after sunset and traveled for about 45 minutes to an hour to reach the manta point. It seemed to be an unusually windy day, and there were some waves, which made me a bit seasick. But it was another good experience.

By the time we arrived at the point, it was quite dark, and about five or six other tour boats had also arrived. With excitement, we donned our snorkeling masks and fins and entered the water, ready to start. We were in a group of six Japanese participants. Holding onto a pole around a board floating in the water, the guide pulled a rope attached to the board to lead us. It was noted that the waves were unusual for that day. Since it was difficult for the guide to pull us alone, we all kicked our legs to help move to the point. When we arrived and looked into the water, the first thing that came to us was a multitude of fish. And... well, you'll have to see for yourself what else is there!

If I could mention one thing... the manta rays really swim very close to you. Additionally, there was a surprise of, "Wait, they're coming towards us like that!?"

About 40 minutes later, we returned to the boat. The swaying in the water and the rocking of the boat afterward made me feel a bit seasick, but the excitement far outweighed that feeling. As mentioned by others, it gets really cold on the way back, so we dried off and put on our jackets. The warm cocoa we had on the boat was incredibly delicious.

This is truly a tour that you can't experience anywhere else, and it exceeded our expectations!

11月中旬に夫婦でナイトシュノーケル＆マンタツアーに参加しました。出発前に日本国内でネット予約→ハワイ島に到着した日の夕方からの参加でした。体調的に時差の影響がありましたが、無理矢理ハワイの時差に調整しようと当日から頑張ってしまいました。（ガイドさんにも軽く引かれたので、ちょっと無理があったかもですf＾＾）
レンタカーでの移動だったので、現地集合プランで申込みしましたが、集合場所を間違えてしまいました。時間が過ぎても私たちが集合場所に現れなかったので、女性の日本人ガイドさんが私たちを探しに来てくれて、見つけて貰いました。そして集合場所へ。５分ほど遅れて他の参加者の皆さんと合流しました。集合した後はガイドさんに案内され、レンタル屋さんでウエットスーツとフィンを無料で借りれました。その後、船へ移動。参加者は日本人6名、アメリカ人10名くらいでした。
小型の船で夕日が沈んだ直後に出港して、マンタポイントまで45分～1時間くらい進んだと思います。珍しく風が強い日だったようで、波があって少し船酔いしました。これもまた良い経験。。
ポイントに着くころにはだいぶ暗くなっていて、他のツアー船も5、6隻、到着していました。ドキドキしながら、シュノーケルマスクとフィンを装着して海へ入り、いよいよスタート。私たちは日本人だけのグループで６名１グループ。海に浮かべた板の周りの棒につかまり、ガイドさんが板についたひもを引っ張って誘導してくれました。珍しく波があった日とのこと。ガイドさん１人で引っ張るのが難しいので、みんなバタ足で協力してポイントまで移動しました。ポイントに着いて海の中を覗くと、最初に飛び込んで来たのは、たくさんの魚たち。そして、、、あとは、現地で見てのお楽しみですね！
一つだけ書くとすると。。本当に至近距離までマンタが泳いで近づいてきます。それに加えて、「えー、そんな泳ぎ方で近づいてくるの！？」という驚きがありました＞＜

約40分後には船に戻りました。水中で波に揺られ、船に戻ってからの揺れとあいまって船酔いしましたが、それよりも感動の方が各段に大きかったです。
他の方の体験談でもありますが、帰りはすごく寒いので、身体を拭いて上着を着ました。船上でいただいた温かいココアがすごくおいしかったです。

これは本当に他では体験できないツアー、かつ、期待以上です！

That was my first surfing lesson and I had a great time! The coaches were very nice, helpful and tried hard to choose the best waves for us to go on. We were registered to come in the early morning but they called and told us that there was no wind at the time and no good waves for surfing. Instead they suggested to come a bit later. We arrived later in the day when waves were pretty good. The place is really well suited for starters. I really enjoyed the experience and had a wonderful time surfing! I really recommend this surfing lesson because it was beyond my expectation.
My father asked for advanced board and they easily accommodated his request and helped him to advance to the level of driving such a board.

On November 22, 2014, I participated in a manta night snorkeling tour. I was able to see many mantas (probably around 10), and the sight of them swimming gracefully in the night sea was breathtaking and very moving. I have some diving experience, but I rarely get to see mantas, and when I do, it's usually just a glimpse from afar. Therefore, I think the combination of the ease of snorkeling and the impressive conditions here is quite rare.

However, there were about 13 participants in total, including the three of us and about 10 others, most of whom were beginners at snorkeling. Unfortunately, there was no explanation on how to prevent the mask from fogging up, nor was there time to apply anti-fog solution or instructions on how to keep hair out of the mask. Additionally, when it came to viewing the mantas, the guide told us to pose like "Superman," but I think more specific instructions, such as relaxing your entire body and keeping your fins at the surface of the water, were necessary. In fact, one person kept their legs bent the whole time, which meant that the mantas only circled around us about twice. Meanwhile, they were constantly circling near others...

There should have been enough time to provide those explanations before we reached the snorkeling point, but the guide's comments, like "I hope we see lots of mantas today!" felt more like something you would say to elementary school students. It would have been appreciated if the explanations were delivered in a more mature tone, considering everyone was an adult.

I also think the procedures for changing clothes and taking showers were poorly organized. They decided who would be positioned where on the light board, but we were not informed about our assigned spots, and in the end, we just entered the water and grabbed onto whatever was available.

I believe more time should be spent on preparation beforehand. Since this is a night activity, there is a possibility of accidents occurring. This is a wonderful tour, and I hope they can improve in these areas.

2014年11月22日にマンタ・ナイトシュノーケリングに参加しました。
マンタにはたくさん会えて（多分10匹くらい）夜の海にたくさんのマンタが翻って泳ぐ様は圧巻で、とても感動できました。ダイビングを何度か経験していますが、なかなかマンタには会えないか会えても遠くからちらっと見える程度だったので、シュノーケルという手軽さでここまでの迫力の条件は中々他ではないのではないかと思いました。
ただ、参加者は私達3人と他10名の計13名ぐらいでしたが、他の人は殆どシュノーケルに対して初心者であったにも関わらず、マスクの曇り止めの説明も曇り止めをする時間もなくマスクに髪が入らないようにという説明もありませんでした。また、マンタを見る時の説明としてガイドの人に「スーパーマンのような格好」と教えられましたが、もう少し具体的に全身の力を抜くとかフィンが海面に来るようにするなどの説明が必要ではなかったかと思いました。現に一人、足を曲げたままでずっといる人が居た為、私達のところでマンタは2回ぐらいしか回ってくれませんでした。隣ではずっと回っていたのに・・・。
そういった説明をする時間はポイントに着くまでに十分あったはずですが、ガイドの女性の「マンタちゃんに今日はい～っぱいいるといいね！」といった小学生に説明するような幼稚な話で終わってしまったことが残念です。全員大人なのでもう少しちゃんとした口調での説明をして頂けると有りがたいです。
また、着替えやシャワーの順番等の手順も悪かったと思いますし、光のボードのどの位置に誰が付くかを決めていましたが、私達はどの場所になるか決めてもらえませんでしたし、結局バラバラと海に入って適当なところにつかまっただけでした。
やはりもう少し事前の準備に時間をかけるべきだと思います。
シュノーケリングとはいえ、夜に行うのですし、事故が起こる可能性もあります。折角すばらしいツアーなので、そこのところを是非改善して頂きたいです。

This was my children's first introduction to surfing. I really liked how they could have a private instructor who rode the board with them. My son is 5 and my daughter is 7. She has high functioning autism and struggles with anxiety but she really wanted to give it a try. The instructors were really great with both of our kids. The waves were pretty minimal and we had the option to cancel, but the kids would have been so disappointed so we decided to go anyway. Both kids managed to stand up and my daughter did indeed ride a small wave. The pre-lesson on dry land in the office is really useful, especially since they use visuals which really meets my daughter's learning style. We would love to do this again, and next time mom and dad want to give it a try too.

In November, I went to the Big Island with a female friend. Since it was a bit cheaper, I participated in a night snorkeling and manta ray tour for the first time in my life.

It was a meet-up plan, so I scouted the location the day before, but on the day itself, I almost ended up being very late due to a mistake. The meeting place might be a bit hard to find. I was supposed to turn right at the intersection of Honokohau Harbor, but I passed it. Be careful, as there are similar diving tours and delis in the area.

After gathering, we met with a Japanese female guide and a local male captain. I was nervous about my first night snorkeling, but both of them were kind, so I didn't have to worry. We borrowed wetsuits for free and got ready. There were six Japanese participants and three Americans.

Then we set off for the manta ray tour!

We boarded a large rubber boat and headed towards the manta point for about 20 minutes as the sun set. The sunset was beautiful, and it felt great to speed across the ocean, relieving stress! During the ride, we were hit by strong winds and splashes from the waves (especially from the person in front), and the boat rocked quite a bit, so be cautious.

I was anxious about whether we would really see manta rays and what night snorkeling would be like. However, when we arrived at the point, there were many other tour boats with their lights on. It seems that the lights attract plankton, which in turn attracts the manta rays. There were divers as well, but we wore snorkeling masks and fins, floated on a board with a light, and held onto the railing while looking around with our feet up. If you relax, it doesn't take much energy.

The water was a bit cold, but it felt warmer underwater than outside.

When I submerged my face, it was like entering another world! A paradise of fish! The light illuminated the schools of fish, making them sparkle! I was amazed by the number of fish, but more than that, it was the manta rays! I couldn't believe how many there were! The manta rays swam gracefully right next to us. Watching them feed with their mouths wide open was a sight to behold! I thought, "Wow, are we going to collide?" I was truly moved! It was so exciting!

We didn't have an underwater camera, but those moments should definitely be captured in photos! Seeing so many manta rays up close is something you can only experience in the Big Island. It's not something you see often! I really regret not buying an underwater camera to bring along. I wish I had manta ray photos! I highly recommend bringing one!

After about 30 to 40 minutes in the water, we returned to the boat. The movement of the boat and the waves while watching underwater can make you feel seasick. My friend said she felt a bit unwell. If you're prone to seasickness, it might be a good idea to take some medication beforehand.

On the way back, it gets really cold. Your body is wet, and with the wind, a thick bath towel is essential. It would also be good to have a jacket that can get wet. It’s really cold! But they serve warm cocoa and snacks, which helps warm us up a bit as we return to the port. It was pitch dark around us, but looking up at the sky revealed a stunning starry night! That was also moving! It was a tour that made me want to go again and see it again! Definitely worth seeing!

11月に女友達とハワイ島に行きました。少し安くなっていたので、人生で初めてナイトシュノーケル＆マンタツアーに参加しました。

現地集合プランだったので、前日に下見をしましたが当日結局間違えて危うく大遅刻するはめになりそうでした。
集合場所が少しわかりにくいかもしれません。ホノコハウハーバーの交差点を曲がり、一本目を右折するはずが通り過ぎてしまいました。そうすると、同じようなダイビングツアーやDeliがあるので気をつけてください。

さて、集合した後は女性の日本人ガイドさんと、現地の男性キャプテンと合流。初の夜シュノーケルでドキドキしていましたが、お二人とも優しいので心配することはありませんでした。ウエットスーツを無料で借りて装着。
参加者は日本人6名、アメリカ人3名でした。

いざマンタツアーへ出港！

大きなゴムボートに乗り、夕日が沈む中、マンタポイントまで20分くらい進みます。夕日が沈むのはとてもキレイで、大海原を風を切って走るので気持ち良く、ストレス発散！みたいな感じでした。移動中は、ガンガン風や、波しぶき(特に前の人)を浴びます。しかも波で結構揺れますのでご注意を。

本当にマンタに会えるのか、夜のシュノーケルはどんな感じか不安でした。しかし、ポイントに着くと他のツアー船もいっぱいいて、ライトをつけています。その灯りにプランクトンが集まり、餌を食べにマンタが集まるようになっているそうです。ダイビングの人もいましたが、私達はシュノーケルマスクとフィンを装着し、サーフボードにライトが付いたような板を浮かべ、その周囲の手すりにつかまり、みんなで足を浮かせながら眺めるというものでした。リラックスすれば体力もそんな使うことはありません。
水は少し冷たいですが、外より水の中の方が温かく感じるくらいでした。

ちょっと顔を沈めれば、そこは別世界‼︎魚の楽園です‼︎
魚の群れにライトが当たり、キラキラ光って見えます‼︎
こんなに魚が〜！って思いますが、それよりもやっぱりマンタです‼︎
まさかこんなにいるとは思えないくらいの数がいました‼︎
至近距離をマンタが悠遊と泳いでいます。大口を広げながら餌を食べる姿も必見です‼︎うわーっぶつかっちゃうんじゃないのーって思えるくらい！
本当に感動しました‼︎大興奮です‼︎

私達は水中カメラを持っていなかったのですが、あれは絶対写真におさめるべきです‼︎あんな数のマンタ、至近距離で見れるのは、ハワイ島くらいじゃないでしょうか。なかなか見れるものじゃないと思います!
本当に、何で水中カメラ買って持って行かなかったんだ〜と後悔しています。悔しい〜マンタの写真が欲しかった〜〜〜。
ぜひ、持っていくことをお勧めします！

30.40分くらい入ってみた後は船に戻ります。移動の船の揺れや、水中で波に揺られながらずっと見てるので酔いやすいです。友達も、少し気分が悪くなったと言っていました。酔いやすい方は、酔い止め薬を飲んでおいたほがいいかもしれません。

帰りは、めちゃくちゃ寒いです。身体は濡れてるし、風もあたって厚手のバスタオルは必需品です。濡れてもいい上着もあると、尚良いと思います。本当に寒いです！
でも温かいココアやスナック菓子を出してくれます。それで少し温まりながら港に戻ります。辺りは真っ暗ですが、空を見上げれば満天の星空が見えます‼︎あれにも感動しました‼︎
もう一度行きたい！見たい！と思えるツアーでした‼︎
絶対見る価値あり‼︎

Since it was our first time in Hawaii with the whole family, we were looking for activities that we could enjoy all day long. My mother found this activity online and wanted us all (five people) to participate. What she liked about it was that the boat looked fun, we could go snorkeling, and we could see caves!

When we arrived on the day of the activity and went to the office to check in, I thought my mother, who doesn't speak English, would have trouble understanding since it was English only. However, there was a guide paper in Japanese, and they spoke slowly and clearly, which made me feel relieved.

Since we didn't wear swimsuits, we were told to change in the restroom as there were no changing rooms, so I recommend wearing your swimsuit from the hotel. There were only eight people in our group, so the boat felt spacious, and perhaps because of the private atmosphere, everyone felt like friends, taking pictures and looking for dolphins, which was a lot of fun.

For snorkeling, there were life jackets and some kind of floatation aids available, so even those who are not good swimmers could enjoy snorkeling safely, and the kids had a great time too.

One disappointing thing was the cave. I found myself wondering, "Is this it?" Since it was labeled as caving, I had high expectations. However, if you think of it as just a fun activity with dolphin watching and snorkeling, it was a worthwhile experience, and we had a meaningful time.

初めて家族全員でのハワイなので一日中遊べるアクティビティーを探していた所、母がこのアクティビティーを希望し全員(5人)で参加させていただきました。
　母がネットで見て気に入った所は、まずボートが楽しそうでシュノーケリングまで出来て洞窟も観られる！でした。

　当日現地に着いて受付を済ませるためオフィスに行くと英語オンリーでの対応だったので英語の話せない母には理解出来ないだろうなぁ～なんて思っていたら日本語のガイドペーパーがあり、ゆっくり分かりやすく話してくれたので安心しました。
　私達は水着を着ていかなかったので現地で着替える際、更衣室は無くトイレで着替えるよう言われたのでホテルから着込んで行く事をおすすめします。
　私達が参加した回は8人しかおらずボートが大きく感じプライベート感覚の為か船上ではみんな友達の様になって写真を撮り合ったりイルカを探したりしてとても楽しかったです。
　シュノーケリングではライフジャケットをはじめ浮き棒？みたいな補助具が積んであるので泳ぎが不得意な人も安心してシュノーケリングが出来て子供たちも一緒に楽しみました。
　一つ残念だった事は洞窟？これが？って思ってしまう所です。cavingと書いてあるから期待してるだけでボートに乗ってイルカ観てシュノーケリングだと思えば楽しいアクティビティーで、有意義な時間を過ごせました。

This was truly a unique experience that should be done once. It is kind of creepy being out in the open ocean at night, but that is the exciting part and of course the Manta Rays will not disappoint. After about 25 minutes in the water you've seen enough, but definitely a thrilling 25 minutes.

Seeing the sun set at the top of mauna kea was a once in a lifetime adventure. However dInner wasn't that great - was handed the food to eat at the visitor center -no where to sit and eat and had to balance dinner plate on my lap. This was not what I expected. As well, food was not very good. No drink included. Astronomy lesson after sunset was interesting. Although overall the trip was ok I did not think it was worth the money.

Saw lots of beautiful fish! Great crew! Not quite as much fun as scuba, but SOOO much easier than getting wet! Everyone should see the underwater part of Hawaii!

Excellent tour. We'll worth the money. More educational than expected. We would have liked to have more time to ask questions but the two guides did a fantastic job trying to see everyone was comfortable and amazed. We would book it again just because it was one of the highlights of our vacation. A job well done.

I took a taxi to the Careho Shopping Center, borrowed a sweat suit at the office, and put it on over the swimsuit I was wearing. Then, I got back into the waiting taxi and headed to Careho Bay, where the boat was docked. There were only my partner and me, the only Japanese people there. I felt anxious, but looking at the people around me, I realized it would be fine.

Once we got out to sea, we all took the noodles, which are floating devices, and gradually lowered them from under our arms down to our ankles while putting on our snorkels, waiting for the manta rays to come close to the lights. It felt like being a diver inside an aquarium. The manta rays came so close to my face and body; it was incredibly impressive. That sensation was moving and thrilling, and it's definitely worth experiencing at least once!

　ケアホウショッピングセンターへタクシーで乗り付け、スエットスーツを事務所で借り、着ていった水着の上に着込み、待ってもらってたタクシーで船が停泊しているケアホウ湾へ。
日本人は私とカップルだけ。　不安だったけど、周りの人達を見ていると、どうにかなるもの。船で沖出て、海面に浮かべた梯子状になったロープにみんなでヌードルと呼ぶ浮きを、脇の下から、徐々に足首までおろしシュノーケルをつけ、ライトに寄ってくるマンタを待ちます。まるで、水族館の水槽な中のダイバーになった気分でした。顔や体すれすれに近寄ってくるマンタ、迫力満点です。あの感覚は感動的、スリリング、ぜひ一度は経験する価値は十分あります！