Reviewed by: Amber
Captain Steve and Sam were great! They were very knowledgeable and took great care of our family. The snorkeling was wonderful and we were able to see a lot of different species, including sea turtles and a spotted eagle ray.
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| Packages: | 5-hour South Kona Expedition with Lunch (3 Snorkel Stops) |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2018/03/12 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/03/09 |
Reviewed by: K-M
Around 5 PM, we left the harbor and watched the sunset over the ocean. There were about four to five boats offshore. The wind was a bit strong, and the waves crashed violently against the Sheraton Hotel's pier. Feeling a little cold, I tightened my wetsuit up to my neck. Around 6 PM, enveloped in twilight, about 20 participants took turns entering the sea and gazing at the surface. Perhaps due to the weather, the manta rays were not appearing easily... Shortly after, they showed up in slightly deeper waters (3-5 meters?) and passed by. As my body temperature dropped and about 40-50 minutes had passed, suddenly, a manta ray performed a backflip right beneath me! I was moved by the manta's spirit! For those prone to seasickness, feeling cold, or afraid of the ocean, I think it's good to approach this experience with a bit of caution. That said, since it's nature, whether you get to see the manta rays beautifully is a matter of luck.
17時頃港を出て沖で日が沈むのを眺めています。沖合には4-5隻のボート・船。風はやや強く、シェラトンホテルの岸壁に激しく波が打ち付けられます。少し寒いな、とも感じてウエットスーツを首元までしめます。薄闇につつまれる18時ごろ(だったと思います)、20人ほどの参加者が順繰りに海へ入り、海面をみつめます。天候のせいか、なかなかマンタは現れててくれません。。。それからほどなく少し深い(3-5m?)ところに現れては、通りすぎていきます。体温も下がってきて、40-50分が過ぎるころ、いきなり自分のからだの真下あたりからバック転をしながら、マンタがサービスしてくれました!マンタの心意気に感動でした!船酔いする方、寒がりの方、海が怖い方、ちょっとだけ用心して臨むとよいと思います。とはいえ自然のことなので、マンタが綺麗に見えるかどうかは運次第です;
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| Packages: | サンセットプラン |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/02/22 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/01/23 |
Reviewed by: Kaborin
After reading experiences about the smartphone tour and knowing it was a boat departing from Keauhou Bay, I thought it would be perfect for me since I easily get seasick and feel cold, so I made a reservation. However, on February 16, the day I made the reservation, I received an email via VELTRA at 9 AM notifying me that the tour was canceled due to bad weather. The message stated that I would receive a full refund, and there was a link below for rescheduling the reservation.
I quickly made a reservation for the following day, February 17, and soon received a confirmation reply through VELTRA. However, the next day, there were zero manta rays. When disembarking, I was told, "The office opens at 8 AM tomorrow, so please call." But the next day, I had a tour with Kona Brewing where I would be drinking, so I couldn't drive afterward, and I had to return home the following day.
In a bind, I sent a question email to the VELTRA representative who had sent me the cancellation email, but I received no reply. I had seen too many experiences on VELTRA and mistakenly thought that if I didn't see manta rays, I could try again anytime, similar to other tours. However, for this tour, the information about being able to retry within seven days if I didn't see manta rays only appeared if I opened the "View Details" section on my smartphone.
(There was also information in the Q&A about what to do if I didn't see manta rays, but I noticed it too late...) The guide might have explained the details about retrying when disembarking, but I couldn't understand because I'm not fluent in English. It's my own mistake, and there's nothing I can do about it, but I'm really disappointed that I didn't see any manta rays. Next time, I plan to choose a tour where I can retry anytime if I don't see manta rays.
スマホの体験談を読み、ケアウホウ湾から出る船とのことで、船酔いしやすく又寒がりの私にはこれだ!と思い、予約しましたが…。
予約をした2月16日は、VELTRA経由で朝9時にメールで天候不順で中止との連絡が。
金額は全額返金との文面、更にその下には日程を変更して予約する場合のリンクが貼られていました。
すぐに翌17日の予約を入れ、程なく予約確定の返事もVELTA経由で頂いたのですが…。
翌日決行するも、マンタはゼロ。
下船時『明日8時から事務所が開くので、電話してください』というような話をされましたが、翌日はコナブリューイングのツアーでお酒を飲むため、その後の運転はNG、そして次の日にはもう帰国せねばならず。
困り果て、中止メールを頂いたVERTRAの担当者さんに質問メールを入れましたが、返事はなく…。
VELTRAさんでツアーの体験談をいろいろ見すぎてしまったことで、マンタが見られなかった場合は、またいつでも挑戦可能という他のツアーの体験談と勘違いしてしまい、このツアーも再挑戦はいつでもOKなのだと思い込んでしまっていました。
このツアーは、スマホだと〔詳細を見る〕というところを開けないとマンタが見れなかった場合7日以内に再挑戦可能という文面が現れません。
(Q&Aにも、マンタに会えなかった場合のことが書いてありましたが、気づくのが遅かった…)
ガイドさんは、下船時に再挑戦に際しての詳しい話もされていたのかもしれませんが、英語が堪能ではないので、理解できず。
自分のミスで、仕方ないことですが、マンタが見られず、本当に残念です。
次回は、マンタに会えなかった場合は再挑戦がいつでもOKなところを選ぼうと思います。
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| Packages: | サンセットプラン |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/02/19 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/02/17 |
Reviewed by: Luca
Snorkelling in the night with manta rays was an awesome experience.
Everything was perfectly organized: Captain and "Mermaids" were professional, nice and helpful.
We did it with our two kids (8 and 11) and they loved it.
Big mantas swam a few cm from us: in many occasions it looked like it was better to keep the breath in order to avoid touching them!!
It was super-fun and safe.
I recommend this activity to everybody!!!!
Big thanks to the crew for the amazing memories we will bring with us forever
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| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2018/02/19 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/02/13 |
Reviewed by: Kay
Watching rays swoop in from the darkness was amazing.
Our dive master was well informed and even gave us a great recommendation for a beach to hit the next day.
If I had any quibbles with the excursion is that from the time we left the dock until the time we went back to the dock we were only out for about 1hr and 15 minutes.
We were aware that the excursion had a max time of 2 hrs+ but would have loved to spend more time in the water after sunset and the Rays actually came out.
The excursion was still great though and it’s certainly a recent highlight of wild animal viewing.
Thank you for submitting a review on behalf of Kona Ocean Experience. We're happy to hear that our dive guide provided great information to you regarding the manta rays (as well as a beach recommendation) and that you had an amazing time watching the mantas "in action"! Just so that you (and others) know, our KOEX Sunset/Manta Snorkeling tour is advertised as a 1.5 hour trip (not "2+ hrs") as verified on our website: www.konaoceanx.com. Although a bit shorter than you'd expected, we're glad you felt it was a great excursion and a wild animal viewing "highlight"!
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Sunset Cruise with Appetizers & Night Manta Ray Snorkel [90 mins] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/02/14 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/02/10 |
Reviewed by: Lisa
Had a great time with our guide Kevin, he was helpful with instructions on how to paddle so you don't over work yourself, and how to control your kayak, also how to get in and out of the kayak safely. Has nice place for snorkeling with nice variety of wildlife .
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| Packages: | Dolphin Watch Kayak & Snorkel Sea Cave Tour [4 hours] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/02/01 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/01/29 |
Reviewed by: 名無し
The sea was really beautiful.
I could only catch a few words in English, but I managed. The crew was attentive and considerate.
Since it was the end of December, the water was very cold, and even though it was the afternoon session, I started to feel cold after snorkeling for 30 minutes.
If there had been a bit more variety in the drinks and food, it would have been five stars. (Juice, potato chips, rice crackers, oranges, pineapples.)
海は、本当にきれいでした。
英語は、単語しか聞き取れなかったけど、何とかなりました。
乗組員は、声をかけてくれ、気配りができていました。
12月末だったので、水は、とても冷たく、
午後の部でしたが、30分もシュノーケルしていたら寒くなってしましました。
飲み物と食べ物がもう少し様々なものがあったら、星5つです。
(ジュース、ポテトチップス。あられ、オレンジ、パイナップル)
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| Packages: | アフタヌーンクルーズ<軽食>(2017年12月31日までのご参加) |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2018/01/27 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/12/30 |
Reviewed by: Hilary
Excellent diving with the manta rays, really enjoyed it and was one of the highlights of my holiday.
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Standard Package |
| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Posted on: | 2018/01/22 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/12/24 |
Reviewed by: Ilse
This was my second Manta experience and I was disappointed not to see a manta. There were a lot of boats out looking, I counted 15 at one time and it was just before dusk. On a previous Manta experience it was later so I wonder if they prefer to feed later when it's completely dark? I felt like I got to the party early and the cool kids showed up after I left. There was no lack of plankton however, so we were amused by the fish that gathered; an entire school under our light. I've gotten used to the 'entertainment' boat staff provides which makes an excursion more fun. This excursion was rather perfunctory. Go out, hop in the water, no manta, ok, go back. Everyone was rather disappointed not to see Mantas, so I'm not sure if that made going back seem rather glum. I realize these are wild creatures but my last excursion (with another company) there were quite a few Manta, like 6-8? It was an incredible experience that I wanted to repeat with my husband and was disappointed.
Aloha, Thank you for coming out with us on the Manta Ray swim. I'm sorry that the Manta Rays did not cooperate that evening. Wahine Charters is one of the few tour companies that will take you out again for free if you don't see the Manta Rays. I hope you will take us up on that offer. We offer two Manta Ray tour departure times; the Sunset Manta tour and a later Moonlit Manta tour. Sometimes we see more Mantas on the Sunset tour and sometimes we see more on the moonlit tour, and occasionally we don't see any. There are two Manta Ray snorkel locations and we will take you to the location we believe will have the best show. We hope to see you again.
Captain Tim
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Sunset Cruise & Evening Manta Snorkel Tour [2.5 hours] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/01/20 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/12/29 |
Reviewed by: ピーベリープルメリア
Even though it's always summer in Hawaii, we found ourselves in the middle of winter, and unfortunately, it was cold and rainy. We suited up in wetsuits and headed out into the waves, which were quite rough! From a Japanese perspective, it was surprising to start the tour under such bad weather conditions.
As expected, my wife, who isn't very confident in her physical strength, quickly returned to the boat due to the cold and the waves. I was worried about her, and I ended up slipping on the deck and injuring my side. We only managed to spot two manta rays near the ocean floor, which left us a bit disappointed on our first day in Hawaii.
I had joined the tour believing the reviews that said it would be fine even without understanding English, but I think it would be safer to go with a Japanese-speaking tour, even if it costs a bit more. However, I did find that the catamaran had less rocking than expected, so I hope to try again under better conditions.
常夏のハワイ、とは言え真冬おまけに生憎の雨で寒い中、屋根ひとつないところでウェットスーツに身を包み沖へ出るとかなりのうねりが!
われわれ日本人の感覚からすれば、こんな、悪天候の時に出航するのかと思ってしまう条件の中でのスタートとなりました。
案の定寒さと、うねりにより体力に自信のない女房は早々に船上に。
心配で同行した私も、デッキで滑り転倒して脇腹を痛める始末。
肝心のマンタは海の底辺りに2尾だけ現れたのを確認できたのみで、ハワイ島初日にすこしがっかりのツアーでした。
英語がわからなくても、勢いで大丈夫っていった書き込みを信じての参加でしたが、やはり費用が割高でも日本語でのツアーの方が安全面のためにも良いのではと思います。
ただ、双胴船のため、揺れは少ない方だと思いました、好条件の時ににリベンジしたいと思います。
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| Packages: | サンセットプラン |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2018/01/13 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/12/20 |
Reviewed by: さかなちゃん
It was my first time on the Big Island and my first snorkeling tour. There were only our family and one other group of Japanese people. The check-in and explanations were all in English, but there were also Japanese instructions, and the staff was kind, so I felt secure participating. Since it was a morning cruise, we were first served delicious bread and fruit, and before we knew it, we arrived at the snorkeling spot. The beautiful bay had calm waves, and we saw plenty of fish, which made us very satisfied! There were also plenty of floatation devices, so we could enter the water without any worries.
For lunch, we had handmade hamburgers from the staff, and we got to make our own burgers. They were delicious! The boat also had a restroom, which was reassuring. It was a wonderful snorkeling experience where we could fully enjoy the great nature of the Big Island.
初めてのハワイ島で初めてのシュノーケリングツアーでした。日本人は私たち家族ともう1組だけ・・・。受付や説明はすべて英語ですが、日本語の注意書きもあり、スタッフが親切なので安心して参加できました。モーニングクルーズなのでまずおいしいパンやフルーツが出てきて、あっという間にポイントに到着。美しい湾で波も穏やか、魚もたくさん見られて大満足!!浮き輪や浮き具なども豊富なので、不安なく海に入れます。
昼食はスタッフ手作りのハンバーグで、自分でハンバーガーを作ります。美味しかったー!!船にはトイレもついていて安心。ハワイ島の大自然を満喫できる、素敵なシュノーケリングでした。
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| Packages: | 9:00出港(シュノーケル2.5時間) |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2018/01/13 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/01/07 |
Reviewed by: Evar
My most favorite experience on Big Island with Sea Paradise! A great crew and we were taken care of from start to finish. You start by checking in at the shopping center, drive 5 minutes to Keauhou Bay to park your vehicle, get fitted for your wet suit, and get on the boat. The sunset on along the Kona Coast was beautiful. The crew were extremely helpful, very knowledgeable about the history of the manta rays, humorous and went out of their way to make sure we spent the most time with the manta rays. We were one of the first boats in and last to leave. Plus, we were given fresh pineapple, juices/sodas and hot chocolate.
I do not know how to swim but the guides took extra care to make sure I made it on and off the boat with flotation devices. I would definitely recommend Sea Paradise!
Aloha and Mahalo for taking the time to review your experience. We are delighted to hear you had such a wonderful time. We look forward to serving you in the future. A Hoi Hou.
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/01/13 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/01/10 |
Reviewed by: Jon
Bambi (captain) and Steven (dive guide) both are very friendly and knowledgeable. More importantly, in case that you do not see any manta ray, they arrange you another trip for free. In our case, the giants took a day off on Sunday and then came back on Monday. So try to book it at least 2 days before the end of your trip.
Mahalo for taking the time to submit a review of your sunset/manta tour(s) with Kona Ocean Experience. We're so glad you had the opportunity to rejoin us for a second evening after the mantas took a "night -off", so that you could enjoy seeing their majestic moves. Thank you for acknowledging our "manta guarantee"! Hope to have you aboard again sometime, to perhaps join us for a morning Dolphin & Kealakekua Bay adventure. Aloha!
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Sunset Cruise with Appetizers & Night Manta Ray Snorkel [90 mins] |
| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Posted on: | 2018/01/09 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/01/07 |
Reviewed by: Gina P.
Thanks to friendly knowledgeable guides my family will definitely do this again! We all had a great time! Bring sunscreen!
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Standard Package |
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2018/01/01 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/12/24 |
Reviewed by: Neera Iyer
This was a last minute booking so we were glad to get it. We did the 7:45-9:45 PM night tour. The set up is pretty standard. The crew was experienced and knew what to do when didn’t find rays at the first spot. We were towed gently to where we saw two! We had a couple of screamers which was a bit annoying but that apart, terrific trip
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling Tour [Late Evening Cruise] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2017/12/29 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/12/26 |
Reviewed by: D & L Williams
For those who love the water and its fascinating creatures, we highly recommend this activity aboard the Hawaiian Sailing Canoe. The canoe is a modern replica seating a limited number of passengers, so the skipper Dave knew our names immediately. But much like going to a "modern" zoo, you may see what you're looking for the first time out but you may not. Our first night snorkel was at 8:30pm, and while the groups before and after us had a grand "show" we were skunked. But Dave said we could keep coming back (for free!) until we sighted the mantas. The next night at 9:30pm we were in luck, and were treated to a 45 minute water ballet by two mantas that glided and turned just inches beneath our illuminated surfboard. For optimum warmth bring your own full-length wetsuit instead of using their wetsuit tops.
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Standard Package |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2017/12/25 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/12/21 |
Reviewed by: RMred
The ride was too bumpy as there were many waves. We were able to spot only 1 manta ray. Too expensive for 45 min bumpy ride and the whole experience.
We appreciate you taking your time to review your manta snorkel and are sorry to hear you did not enjoy the tour. It is true, some nights are better than others; ocean conditions, weather and the amount of rays seen on any given night is out of our control. What we can control we aim to do our best with the conditions we are presented with.
Aloha
Sea Paradise
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2017/12/16 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/11/24 |
Reviewed by: ぐうたん
Every time I come to the Big Island, I participate in the Fair Wind snorkeling tour. I usually go in the morning, but this time I joined in the afternoon for the first time. Since lunch is not included, I had a meal before heading out.
While the volcano and star tours are great, I really want everyone to experience the beauty of the ocean around the Big Island. At Captain Cook's Point, there are more fish than anywhere else, even more than at Hanauma Bay on Oahu. This time, we were the only Japanese participants. My elderly father doesn't dive, but he always enjoys the cruise and feels satisfied.
When we arrived at the port, it was just in time for the sunset, and we enjoyed watching it for a bit after getting off the boat.
It's only about a 15-minute drive from Kona, where we're staying, to the port, so it's very convenient.
The weather was nice, and it felt great!
ハワイ島に来ると毎回このフェアウインドのシュノーケルに参加します。
いつもは午前中に参加しますが、今回は初めて午後に参加しました。
ランチはついていないので昼食食べてから行きました。
火山や星のツアーも良いけど、是非ハワイ島の海のキレイさを体感して
欲しいなぁと思います。
ハワイのどの島より、オアフのハナウマ湾よりここの
キャプテンクックのポイントが1番魚がたくさんいます。
今回も日本人は私たちだけ
高齢の父は潜りませんが、クルーズをいつも
気持ちいいね、と満足しています。
港に着くとちょうどサンセットで
船降りてから少し眺めていました。
滞在しているコナから港までレンタカーで15分くらいと
近く
天気も良くて気持ちよかった!
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | アフタヌーンクルーズ<軽食>(2017年12月31日までのご参加) |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2017/12/08 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/12/07 |
Reviewed by: Ella
Steven and Shawn were amazing captain and guide. Provided us with an amazing tour and really great snorkeling spots around the area! The tour time is perfect to catch sunset and then it gets dark so the water lights up beautifully in the dark. The waves in the ocean are a bit rough so going on an empty stomach is adviseable. We saw 5 manta rays on our expedition. Definitely an attraction to do on the Big Island!! And Kona Ocean Experience is a great company that hosts this amazing experience!!
Mahalo for submitting a review of your Sunset Cruise & Night Manta Swim with Kona Ocean Experience! We appreciate hearing that you felt our KOEX crew of dive guide, Steven and Captain Sian, as well as the tour they provided were "amazing"! And pleased that you would recommend our company to others looking to experience a manta ray tour with our company. Mahalo nui!
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Sunset Cruise with Appetizers & Night Manta Ray Snorkel [90 mins] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2017/11/30 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/11/26 |
Reviewed by: Sunit Patil
We signed up for this kayaking tour with a young toddler with us and initially I was a bit sceptical of how well it would go. But Kevin was friendly, informative and really patient through out the activity making sure our first experience in Hawaii and of snorkeling was pleasant and enjoyable. Definitely recommend
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Afternoon Kayak & Snorkel Tour [2 hours] |
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2017/11/28 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/11/24 |
Reviewed by: Paseba
Diese Tour fand mit ca. 18 Personen auf einem modernen Katamaran statt. Man befindet sich ca. 45min im Wasser, wobei man neue Neoprenanzüge trägt. Der Trip wurde professionell durchgeführt, es fanden sich neben den Teilnehmern stets 2-3 Sicherheitsschwimmer im Wasser. Wir sahen 5-6 majestische Mantarochen - selten was eindrucksvolleres erlebt. Ich empfehle Mittel gegen Seekrankheit, denn die Tour findet auf offenener See (Wellengang) und bei Dunkelheit statt. Kann diese Tour auf jeden Fall empfehlen.
Thank you for taking the time to review your manta tour. We are happy to hear you enjoyed the experience. Hope to serve you again in the future.
Aloha!
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2017/11/26 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/11/05 |
Reviewed by: Barb Gregory
Frantastic. Trip could not have. Been better well worth the money
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | 5-hour South Kona Expedition with Lunch (3 Snorkel Stops) |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2017/11/26 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/11/04 |
Reviewed by: Nick
Loved the event and tanner made it fun! They broight drinks and snacks, and we agree with rahguard shirts and a hat are great choices!
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Standard Package |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2017/11/24 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/11/21 |
Reviewed by: Rose
My husband and I did this for the first time and we had a truly wonderful experience! Kevin was a great guide! He was helpful, kind, informative and thoughtful by taking photos and suggesting what to do and what not to do to get the best experience. We loved the snorkeling and the sea cave experience! I did get nauseas so I suggest you bring an antinausea medication, also unfortunately we didn't see the dolphins. But other than that we loved it!!
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Dolphin Watch Kayak & Snorkel Sea Cave Tour [4 hours] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2017/11/05 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/11/02 |
Reviewed by: Erica
We had a great time, and really enjoyed the entire experience. We we lucky and had manta rays barrel rolling right up to us for most of the time we were in the water. The captain and staff were friendly and knowledgeable. And the snacks were a nice treat after getting out of the water. Hope to do it again!
Thank you for taking the time to review your manta tour. We are happy to hear you had a good time.
Mahalo Nui Loa!
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2017/11/01 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/10/02 |
Reviewed by: Elizabeth from AR
This was an amazing trip. We had a smooth ride out to the Sheraton and saw a beautiful sunset.
Then we got our snorkels and masks and got in the water. We all grabbed the handrail on the kick board and gotntowed out to abgood spot. We ended up joining up with other groups to form a "buffet line". Th manta rays came through eating plankton doing barrel rolls so close I thought they were going to brush our faces with their wing tips!
I highly recommend this tour group. They're super friendly and are very good at what they do.
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Sunset Cruise & Evening Manta Snorkel Tour [2.5 hours] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2017/11/01 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/10/29 |
Reviewed by: うーたん
As a family who loves snorkeling, we brought our own gear from Japan to join the tour!
The other passengers were of various ages and nationalities, including quite an elderly gentleman. For beginners, they provided thorough instructions on how to wear the mask, which was reassuring. However, all the explanations were in the captain's fast-paced English. (laughs)
We snorkeled at two spots, depending on the sea conditions. The first location was near the Pu'uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park. There were many large coral reefs and a variety of colorful tropical fish! It was such a beautiful spot that we lost track of time.
The second spot was about a 20-minute boat ride away, where lava from Kilauea flowed into the sea decades ago. There were large, round rocks that had cooled and solidified, making it a fun place to explore the terrain. There, we spotted sea turtles! We watched them from a distance so as not to disturb them. Seeing the turtles swim was like watching them soar through the sky, which was incredibly soothing.
When the captain called out that it was lunchtime, we got back on the boat to find smoke rising from it. We enjoyed a buffet-style hamburger lunch with beef patties and chicken grilled by the crew, along with fresh vegetables! It was surprisingly delicious, far exceeding our expectations! The homemade taro chips on the side were also very tasty.
As everyone reluctantly left the sea, the boat headed back to the dock. Along the way, we spotted a pod of dolphins and took some time for dolphin watching, and we made a quick stop at the Captain Cook monument before returning.
The tour lasted about five hours, but time flew by so quickly that we even discussed going again during our stay! (laughs) It was an incredibly satisfying tour! I will definitely participate again when I visit the Big Island!
シュノーケル好きの私たち親子は日本からマイ器材を持って参加!
ほかの乗船客は年齢も国籍も様々。
かなり年配のおじいちゃんもいました。
シュノーケル初心者の方にはマスクの付け方などのレクチャーもしっかりしてくださり安心。
ただし説明はすべて船長の早口な英語です。(笑)
シュノーケルポイントは海況を見て2箇所。
1箇所目はホナウナウ国立歴史公園の近く。
大きなサンゴの棚がたくさんあり、色とりどりの熱帯魚もたくさん!
時間を忘れてしまうほど美しいポイントでした。
2箇所目はさらに20分ほどボートを走らせ、先ほどとは一転
何十年か前にキラウエアからの溶岩が海に流れ込んだと言う場所。
冷えて固まった大きな丸い岩がゴロゴロと落ちており、地形を楽しむようなポイントです。
そこではウミガメたちを発見!彼らの邪魔にならないよう、遠くから見つめていました。
ウミガメが泳ぐ姿はまるで空を羽ばたいているようで、とても癒されました。
船長からランチタイムだぞー!と声をかけられ海から上がると、船からもくもくと煙が。
船員さんが焼いてくれたビーフパティやチキンと一緒にフレッシュな野菜を挟む
バイキング形式のハンバーガーランチ!
これが予想をはるかに超える美味しさでビックリ!
サイドの自家製タロイモチップスもとても美味しかったです。
皆が海を名残惜しんでいるところでボートは桟橋に向けて出発。
途中イルカの群れを見つけてしばしイルカウォッチングしたり、
キャプテンクックのモニュメントに寄り道したりしながら戻りました。
5時間ほどのツアーでしたが本当にあっっと言う間に時間が過ぎ、
滞在中もう一回行っちゃう?と話題が出たほど(笑)大満足のツアーでした!
またハワイ島に行った際は絶対に参加します!
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | 基本プラン |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2017/10/30 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/09/21 |
Reviewed by: Linda R
It was an interesting experience. We enjoyed it but a couple people did get sick on the long boat ride. Lots of mantas rays showed up and swam with us.
Aloha, We appreciate you taking the time to write a review. Unfortunately sea sickness does happen to random guests. We keep ginger chews on the boat for this reason. Mahalo for joining us and hope to see you again your next visit to the Big Island. Aloha
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Moonlight Cruise & Evening Manta Snorkel Tour [2 hours] |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2017/10/28 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/10/08 |
Reviewed by: dusty
their lights were dim compared to other companies, and they went in much earlier than the other boats.
Thank you for reviewing your tour with us. The lights we use are quite powerful, we do place a special blue filter over them to attract more of the microscopic plankton which the mantas' appear to prefer over the larger zooplankton, that may be why they appeared to be dim by comparison.
Mahalo
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Posted on: | 2017/10/25 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/10/22 |
Reviewed by: まるちゃん
The staff spoke only English, but we had the boat to ourselves with just the two of us. On the way to the snorkeling spot, they stopped at sightseeing spots visible from the boat. Unfortunately, we only saw the dorsal fins of the dolphins. It was a watching tour, not a swimming with dolphins tour, so that's understandable.
Please make sure to print out your reservation and bring it with you; confirmation screens on smartphones are not accepted. Also, since you will be sitting on the edge of the boat and traveling for about an hour, it's a good idea to take motion sickness medication beforehand.
The water temperature is low, and it gets quite chilly after snorkeling, so please bring a jacket and a bath towel. We snorkeled at two locations and had light snacks twice, which was great!
スタッフさんは英語のみでしたが、参加は私たちも二人で貸し切り
シュノーケリングスポットに着くまでにも、ボートから見える観光スポットに寄ってくださいました>^_^< イルカは残念ながら背ひれしか見えませんでした イルカと泳ぐツアーではなく、ウォッチングなのでしょうがないですね
こちらのご予約は必ずブリントアウトして持っていってください スマホなどの確認画面はNGです
あとはボートのヘリに座るし、1時間くらい移動するので酔い止めの薬を飲んでおくといいです
水温も低くシュノーケリング後はかなり冷えるので上着とバスタオルを持っていってください
シュノーケリングは2ヶ所で2本、軽食も二回出出来ました よかったです!
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | 8:30出港 |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2017/10/25 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/10/16 |
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Reply from activity provider
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Aloha Luca!
Mahalo for your review! We are thrilled that you enjoyed your manta experience with us. Next time you are on the island ask about our frequent customer discount!