Reviewed by: Greg
Had an amazing time on the manta ray snorkel. Definitely worth it. The manta rays get within inches from you, and the experience is unlike anything else. Crew and boat were also awesome. Ended up loving the snorkeling experience so much we went out on a day trip a day later which was also amazing!
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| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/05/20 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/05/17 |
Reviewed by: Mic
It was great seeing these amazing creatures but this is not so much a see the great manta ray in nature as much as it is a highly commercialized, 'we've figured out how to give you a manta-ray petting zoo experience'. They boat you out, extend a floating ladder with lights (to attract plankton), and then have you float and hold onto the ladder as the rays swim below you. They do come very close to you (and may brush against you) as they eat the plankton. Pretty neat for the first several passes but since you are surrounded by other boats doing the same thing with their own floating ladder-like structures the rays will spend their time with whomever has the brightest lights. After about :30 minutes of this people start getting bored and getting back on the boats. It was fun and interesting and glad we did it but not really "swimming with the rays".
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. We're glad you found it fun. Being stationary at the surface of the water is the safest way for us to view the rays.
Mahalo
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Sunset Sail & Manta Ray Snorkel - Special Group Rate for 6+ Passengers |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2018/05/19 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/04/26 |
Reviewed by: Sharon
The Sea Paradise crew gave us a great experience, from setting us up with wet suit and snorkel gear to teaching us how to "behave" in the water (#1 rule - Don't touch the Manta Rays, #2 rule - don't pee in the wetsuits - haha! - they provide a bathroom on board), providing drinks and snacks, including hot chocolate which was welcome after the snorkeling. They also made sure we weren't needlessly floating around in the water before the rays showed up, but got us in there in plenty of time to see 4 different rays swimming literally inches below our faces! So cool to see them somersault and glide beneath you. Completely worth the cost! Do this!
Thank you for taking your time to review your manta tour with us. We are happy to know you enjoyed it! Thanks for joining us.
A Hui Hou!
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/05/11 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/05/05 |
Reviewed by: LOIC
Good experience!
Just a little bit disappointed by the tour.
The guides were super nice but late, we stayed one hour at the harbor due to a boat problem. The dinner (Sushis) was too light, we had to share 20 pieces for 4 people. We stayed only 15min in the water swimming with the mantas because we were running out of time due to the delays at the beginning.
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Sunset Cruise with Appetizers & Night Manta Ray Snorkel [90 mins] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/05/03 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/04/27 |
Reviewed by: booska
The kids had an amazing time today! Everyone was very satisfied. It was raining on the day of our reservation, but the hotel contacted us in the morning and changed our schedule. The new day had great weather, and as soon as we set off, we saw a lot of dolphins in the sea. We kayaked to a cave a little further away, and it was quite stable; the kids were happily paddling together with their dad. We really enjoyed both the cave and snorkeling. Fortunately, the kids were able to see sea turtles and rays, and they were truly delighted to receive explanations in Japanese. Thank you very much. We would love to participate again!
子供は今日は最高だった!を繰り返し、みんな大満足でした。
予約の日は雨でしたが朝ホテルに連絡をくださり、日程を変更。変更した日は天気が良く、出発してすぐの海には、イルカがたくさん。その後少し離れた洞窟までカヤックをこいで行きましたが、結構安定感があり、子供も父親と二人乗りで楽しくパドルを使っていました。洞窟もシュノーケルもとても楽しめました。ラッキーなことに、海ガメもエイも見ることができた子供は日本語で説明もしてもらえて本当に喜んでいました。ありがとうございました。またぜひ参加したいです。
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | 海中洞窟探検プラン(2018/12/31まで) |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2018/05/03 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/04/30 |
Reviewed by: Ms. V
This was one of my main reasons for visiting the Big Island and it most definitely did not disappoint!
The crew were fun and informative. The mantas were plentiful.
I didn't realize how close they came up to you.
So beautiful!
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Evening Manta Snorkeling Adventure |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/05/01 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/04/27 |
Reviewed by: Krin
we had so much fun - when we were watching from shore the next night we wished we had signed up again. we had one on one with our captain and guide (Justin and Tara) - The other groups were so large there was no way they could have asked questions like we did. Tara worked hard to keep us where viewing was best. Bring your towel but not change of clothes.
Mahalo for selecting Kona Ocean Experience for your manta viewing excursion! It's wonderful to know that you had a fun time and appreciated the small group experience and hard work of our fabulous crew, and tickled to hear that you wished you'd "signed up" again for another trip with us! Hopefully you will have the opportunity to come back someday!
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Sunset Cruise with Appetizers & Night Manta Ray Snorkel [90 mins] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/04/25 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/04/18 |
Reviewed by: Tacoma Mom
We had a great time watching manta rays! The crew did a great job of instructing us, all of the gear worked great, and we were amazed by how many manta rays that we saw, and how close they came to us.
Thank you for joining us and thank you for taking the time to review your manta tour. Aloha!
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2018/04/21 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/03/27 |
Reviewed by: Bex
A beautiful 3 mile kayak with an amazing snorkeling experience! My advice- wear sunscreen even if it doesn’t feel like it’s sunny...Ouch! Lesson learned. For the dare devil jump off a 30 ft cliff into the gorgeous blue waters. For the pansies jump off a 3 ft mini cliff!! Lol. Wonderful personalized experience. Would highly recommend! Brian was a lot of fun!
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Standard Package |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2018/04/18 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/04/15 |
Reviewed by: グラナダ
The instructors were very kind, and the atmosphere was relaxed, making it enjoyable. There were few Japanese participants, and the event was primarily in English, but that was fun in its own way. The height of the zip line added to the grandeur of the experience, and I had a great time. I highly recommend it.
インストラクターの方々もとても親切で和やかな雰囲気で楽しむことが出来ました。日本人も少なく、英語主体での参加になりますが、それはそれで楽しかったです。ジップラインの高さもあり、とても雄大な感じを受けながら、楽しめました。お勧めですね。
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | 基本プラン |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2018/04/14 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/03/22 |
Reviewed by: Iyokan
I participated with a friend in November. It was both of our first time kayaking, but the guide taught us patiently, and we had a very enjoyable time. The guide was always attentive and provided appropriate support immediately, so we could relax and enjoy kayaking in the beautiful sea, which was the best! During the kayaking, the guide took photos with a camera they brought along and sent them to us later. We received many wonderful photos that became great memories. I hope to participate in this activity again on the Big Island someday!
11月に友達と2人で参加させていただきました。カヤックは2人とも初めてだったのですが、ガイドさんに丁寧に教えていただき、とても楽しい時間を過ごすことができました。ガイドさんは常に気にかけてくれる&適切なサポートをすぐにしてくれるので、安心して綺麗な海と共にカヤックを楽しむことができ最高でした!!カヤック中、ガイドさんが持参されたカメラで写真も随時撮ってくれて後で送ってくれます。素敵な思い出となる写真を沢山いただきました。いつかハワイ島でまたこのアクティビティに参加したいと思っています!!
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2018/04/13 |
Reviewed by: Cheonga kim
I had a really wonderful time! Mantaray was really huge...
Glad you had a wonderful time. Aloha!
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Posted on: | 2018/04/11 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/04/08 |
Reviewed by: RTW
On February 19, 2018, we had an early morning plan. We stayed at Hilton Waikoloa. We took a taxi to the meeting point. Although Uber is available on the Big Island, there were so few cars that I wasn't sure we would make it on time, so we arranged a taxi through the hotel. On the way back, we were able to use Uber. The taxi cost about $120 for an hour, while Uber was $72. Uber is cheaper!
The day before, there was an unusual thunderstorm, but the weather on the day itself was perfect. There were only two participants, my daughter and me. It was both of our first times kayaking, but thanks to our guide (I’m sorry, I forgot her name. She was a kind woman.), we managed to move forward. Once we ventured a little out into the open ocean from Keauhou Bay, the scenery changed completely. All we could see was the blue sea, sky, and horizon. We even spotted a whale's tail in the distance (quite far away). After paddling in the open ocean for a while (about 20 minutes?), we finally reached the sea cave. Honestly, it wasn't very large, but the sound and intensity when the waves entered the cave were amazing. We spent some time observing right in front of the cave, keeping our position by moving the kayak back and forth with the waves. After that, we returned to Keauhou Bay. By then, I had finally gotten used to paddling the kayak, and it became smooth without needing to exert too much effort. We took breaks here and there, relaxing and letting ourselves be carried by the gentle waves. Once back in the bay, we went snorkeling. There weren't many colorful fish, but we saw schools of fish and some yellow fish that were in the hotel lagoon.
After finishing, we changed in the restroom at the Sheraton Hotel, wandered around the hotel, and just as we were about to catch an Uber, we got one and headed back. We arrived at the hotel before 1 PM.
Kayaking was not as difficult as I had thought, and it was very stable as long as you kept it steady. I highly recommend it.
2018年2月19日、早朝プラン。
ヒルトンワイコロアに宿泊。集合場所まではタクシーにしました。ハワイ島ではUBERも使えるのですが、いかんせん数が少ないために集合時間に間に合う確証がなかったため、ホテルでタクシーを手配しました。帰りはUBER使えました。タクシーが約1時間で120ドル、UBERは72ドルでした。UBER安い!
前日まれにみる雷雨でしたが、当日の天気は最高でした。参加者は私と娘の二人のみ。二人ともカヤックは初めてでしたが、ガイドさん(すみません、お名前失念してしまいました。女性の優しい方です。)の懇切丁寧な指導のおかげでなんとか前に進みます。ケアウホウ湾から外洋に少しだけですが出ると、景色が一変。青い海と空と水平線しか見えません。遠くにクジラの尾も見えました(かなり遠いです)。しばらく(20分くらい?)外洋を進み、いよいよ海中洞窟です。正直、スケールは大きいとは言えませんが、波が洞窟に入るとすごい音と迫力です。しばらく洞窟の真ん前で見学。波に合わせてカヤックを前後させ位置をキープします。その後ケアウホウ湾へ戻ります。やっとカヤックを漕ぐことに慣れてきて、無理な力を入れなくてもスムーズに進むようになりました。所々で休憩タイム。ゆったりとした波に身を任せてリラックスです。湾に戻ってからはシュノーケリング。あまりカラフルな魚はいませんでしたが、群れている魚たちがいたり、ホテルのラグーンにいる黄色い魚も見れました。
終了後、シェラトンホテルのトイレで着替え、ホテル内をぶらつき、ちょうどUBERが捕まったので帰ってきました。ホテルには13時前に着きました。
カヤックは思っていたほど難しくなく、また普通にしていれば非常に安定しています。お勧めです。
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | 海中洞窟探検プラン(2018/12/31まで) |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2018/04/08 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/02/19 |
Reviewed by: マンゴスチン
I was disappointed because I thought I would be able to explore the caves more. Also, you need to have stamina. The staff were kind and pleasant, and the chocolate muffin I received was delicious.
洞窟をもっと探検できると思ってたのでその点はガッカリしました。
あと体力、必要です。
スタッフさんは親切で感じもよく、頂いたチョコマフィンが美味しかったです。
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | 海中洞窟探検プラン(2018/12/31まで) |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2018/04/05 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/04/02 |
Reviewed by: Southern USA family
We took our 9 year old son on this and had a great time. Wahine Charters and staff were great. Smaller group (12 total) made the experience that much better. Highly recommended. Really an experience unlike any other.
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Sunset Cruise & Evening Manta Snorkel Tour [2.5 hours] |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2018/04/01 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/03/29 |
Reviewed by: しゅがー
I read the reviews here and made a reservation.
I stayed at the Sheraton Hotel. Around noon, I stopped by a shopping center just a 5-minute drive away and checked in at the store. When I arrived at the designated location at 5:45 PM, I was explained in English that I should ask about the car that was parked there. Honestly, I didn't understand what they were saying, but I somehow got the gist through gestures.
When I arrived at the designated spot around 5:30 PM with the rental car, the same car was parked there, and they were handing out wetsuits in the parking lot. You try it on right away, and if it doesn’t fit, you can exchange it. So, you need to wear your swimsuit before going. The parking lot at the harbor is small, so we barely managed to park, but those who couldn't park had to leave their cars at the edge of the road.
I was told to put on the wetsuit and wait on the boat. On the boat, you can have snacks and fruits, but honestly, while waiting for the sun to set, I felt seasick from the waves and couldn't enjoy it. They also serve cold juice if you ask. There was a restroom on the boat. I was told that warm drinks would be served last because it gets cold after you warm up and then enter the water.
To enter the water, I was instructed to hook a noodle (a float) around my ankle and enter horizontally. I only understood a little English, but by watching gestures and other guests, I managed to figure it out. We were the only Japanese people there.
When we finally turned on the lights and entered the sea, a manta ray swam right past me the moment I got in. You’re not supposed to touch the manta rays, but they were gracefully swimming close by, feeding on the surface. I was truly amazed to see them up close. In total, about five manta rays swam nearby. While I was watching one manta ray on my right, I almost collided with another one that approached from the left without me noticing. Watching the manta rays swim elegantly in front of me made me forget about my seasickness.
I was in the water for about 45 minutes, and I only missed seeing manta rays for about 5 minutes. However, it was late March, and it was incredibly cold; my hands were numb during the last 10 minutes. Just floating in the water made the cold and seasickness tough to handle. I was wearing a wetsuit over my rash guard and swimsuit leggings, so I only felt cold towards the end, but my husband was just in a swimsuit and a short-sleeved wetsuit, and he seemed to be shivering uncontrollably after just 10 minutes.
When the time was up, we got back on the boat and had some snacks and warm drinks. They served cocoa, but since I was feeling very seasick, I opted for warm green tea. Once I dried off on the boat, I felt much warmer and better. We returned the snorkels and wetsuits on the boat, and when we arrived at the harbor, we just dispersed.
I think if you come to the Big Island, you absolutely should go on this tour. I believe it’s fine even if you don’t speak English, but for those who are anxious, a Japanese tour might be more reassuring. We thought since we came all the way to Hawaii, we should sign up for this tour, and I’m glad we did.
As advice, it would be great to have a waterproof camera and an underwater flashlight.
ここで口コミを見て、予約しました。
シェラトンホテルに泊まっていました。そこから車で5分のショッピングセンターに寄ったお昼ごろに、お店に立ち寄りチェックインをしました。夕方5:45に指定の場所に来たら、この車が止まっているからたずねてね、というようなことを英語で説明されました。正直、何を話しているかわからなかったですが、何となく身振り手振りで伝わりました。
レンタカーで、指定の場所に5:30ごろに行くと、先ほどの車が止まっていて、ウェットスーツの貸し出しを駐車場で行っていました。すぐに着てみて、無理そうだったらサイズ交換といった感じですので、水着は着用してから行く必要があります。港の駐車場は狭いので、私たちはぎりぎり駐車できましたが、駐車できなかった人は、路上の端に駐車していました。
ウェットスーツを着て、船上で待つように言われました。船上では、スナック菓子やフルーツが食べられますが、正直、日が沈むまで待つ時間、波に揺られ酔ってしまい、それどころではありませんでした。つめたいジュースなども頼めば出してくれます。トイレも船の中にありました。
暖かい飲み物は、身体が温まってから水に入ると寒いから、最後に出されるといった説明がありました。
入り方は、ヌードルと言われるウキを足首にひっかけて、身体を水平にして入るようにと言われました。何となくしか英語がわかりませんでしたが、身振り手振りや、他のお客さんを見ているとわかります。日本人は私たちだけでした。
いざ、ライトをつけて海に入りました。入った瞬間から、目の前をマンタが通り過ぎました。マンタにさわってはいけませんが、本当にすれすれのところをくるくるとまわって餌を食べていました。こんなに間近で見られるなんて、本当に感動しました。
結局5匹ほどのマンタが近くで泳いでいました。右で泳いでいるマンタを見ていると、左から迫ってきたマンタに気づかず、思わずぶつかりそうになりました。目の前で優雅に泳ぐマンタたちを見ていると、船酔いも忘れてしまいました。
45分ほど入水していますが、マンタが見られなかった時間は5分ほどだけでした。ただ、3月下旬でしたが、ものすごく寒くて、最後の10分ほどは手がかじかんで、感覚がなくなっていました。
浮いているだけなので、寒さと船酔いはつらかったです。
ただ、私はラッシュガードと水着のレギンスの上からウェットスーツを着ていたからか、最後のほうだけ寒さがつらかったですが、旦那は水着にウェットスーツ(全て半そで半ズボン丈)だけだったので開始10分後から震えが止まらないようでした。
時間が来たので船に上がり、スナック菓子や暖かい飲み物をいただきました。ココアが配られましたが、私は船酔いがひどかったので暖かい緑茶をいただきました。船上で体を乾かすと、だいぶ温まり気分がよくなりました。船上でシュノーケルとウェットスーツを返し、港についたら、そのまま流れ解散です。
ハワイ島に来たら、絶対にこのツアーに行くべきだと思いました。英語ができなくても、問題ないと思いますが、不安な方は日本語のツアーの方が安心かなと思いました。わたしたちはせっかくハワイに来たのだから、と思いこのツアーに申し込みました。ここにしてよかったと思います。
アドバイスとしては、水の中でとれるカメラと水中の懐中電灯があるといいです。
マハロ(ありがとう)!あなたのマンタツアーのレビューに時間を割いていただき、感謝します。ご参加いただき、ありがとうございます。アロハ!
Mahalo for taking the time to review your manta tour and thank you for joining us.
Aloha!
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | サンセットプラン |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/04/01 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/03/26 |
Reviewed by: ふーたん
This tour was just for our family of three. I would like to say we enjoyed the open sea, but I suffered from severe seasickness and was not in a state to enjoy it. Also, it required more physical stamina than I expected, so you should go in good health. I appreciate the staff's thoughtfulness. If you're in good shape, I think the tour itself can be a fun and great experience.
今回のツアーは我々家族3人だけでした。気持ちよく海原に・・・と言いたいところですが、船酔いがひどく、楽しめるような状態ではありませんでした。また、思ったより体力も必要で、体調万全にして行くべきです。スタッフの方の心遣いには感謝いたします。ツアー自体は、体調さえよければ、楽しくいい経験になると思います。
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | 海中洞窟探検プラン(2018/12/31まで) |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2018/03/25 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/03/21 |
Reviewed by: クジラさん
I saw this tour on TV and decided to participate, and I'm really glad I did. Thank you so much, Kevin! The weather was great on the day of the tour, perfect for kayaking (sunscreen is a must).
It was easy for me because my husband, who came with me, has canoeing experience, but the distance to the cave is somewhat considerable. It might be a bit tough for beginners. However, the guide keeps a close eye on everyone, so I don't think you need to worry. The guide also took photos at various points and sent them to us via email later, so it's fine if you don't have a camera. I put my smartphone in a waterproof case and hung it around my neck, and that was enough for both videos and photos.
There’s snorkeling as well, but it lasts quite a while. I have low muscle mass and get cold easily, so I got out of the water early, but they can accommodate individual needs, so if you're a woman who gets cold easily, you can stop anytime (the sea is beautiful and you can see various creatures). Also, we were treated to pineapple and snacks on the kayak (thank you!).
When we returned, there were no showers, so we changed at the hotel restroom next to the meeting place. It was mid-March, but it wasn't particularly cold. I had a lot of fun and would love to participate again if I have the chance! Thank you very much for everything!
私はテレビでこのツアーを見て参加を決めましたが、参加してよかったな、と本当に思います。
ケビンさん、大変お世話になりました!当日は天気が良くてカヤック日和でした(日焼け止めは必須です)。
私は一緒に行った夫がカヌー経験者なので楽でしたが、洞窟まではまあまあ距離があります。初心者だとちょっと大変かもしれません。でもその辺はガイドの方がちゃんと見てくれていますので、心配いらないと思います。ガイドさんはところどころ写真を撮って下さって、あとでメールで送っていただけるので、最悪カメラはなくても大丈夫です。私はスマホを防水ケースに入れて首から下げて、それで動画も写真もとりましたが、それで十分でした。
シュノーケルもありますが、割と時間長めです。私は筋肉が少なくて身体が冷えやすいので、寒くなって途中で海から上がりましたが、そこら辺は個人に合わせて貰えるので、女性で寒がりの人はすぐにやめてもいいかと思います(海は綺麗で色んな生き物が見られます)。あと、途中でカヤック上でパイナップルとおやつまでご馳走になりました(ありがとうございます)。
帰る時はシャワーはないので、集合場所の隣のホテルのトイレで着替えて帰る感じです。
3月半ばですが、特に寒くはありませんでした。とても楽しかったです。機会があればまた参加したいです!この度は大変お世話になりました!ありがとうございました(*^_^*)
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | 海中洞窟探検プラン(2018/12/31まで) |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/03/25 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/03/17 |
Reviewed by: David
This was better than I could imagine. After leaving the shore on a small boat (three crew and four passengers), we passed manta village and went south a bit more to see some historic land with wild goats on it and sat there while the sun set. We had a platter of sushi and grapes, which was delicious.
When the sun set, we went back up and joined the rest of the boats at manta village, and got into the water where we all held a surf board and had floaties under our stomachs. It was all very comfortable, besides the cold, which we had full or short sleeve wetsuits for. The surf board had a nice light on it which attracted plenty of plankton.
We saw two manta rays, Amanda, and I forget the name of the other one. Amanda actually brushed up against my wife twice! (Don't intentionally touch them as I've heard it's a $5000 fine).
After plenty of time in the water, and repeated visits by both manta rays, we headed back to the boat and had some ginger ale on the way back to the dock.
Overall wonderful experience!
Oh, if you're on your honeymoon, make sure your ring fits tightly enough not to fall off in the water! And insure it if it's valuable! Mine slipped off, but thankfully I didn't loose a bunch of money.
Thank you for letting us know about your Sunset/Manta Snorkeling tour with Kona Ocean Experience! We're pleased that you appreciated the small group atmosphere, and enjoyed the sushi and fruit platter. We appreciate you taking the time to write your descriptive review as this lets other folks know what they might expect when going out on our tour. We're especially glad to hear that you had wonderful experience and super close encounters with the mantas, while being mindfully careful not to touch them! Thank you for your warning to others to remove loose jewelry... and although not expensive it's still a "bummer" that you lost your wedding ring. Mahalo again for joining us aboard. Hope you might be able to return for another adventure with KOEX in the future! Aloha!
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| Packages: | Sunset Cruise with Appetizers & Night Manta Ray Snorkel [90 mins] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/03/14 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/02/26 |
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: イカホッチ
We participated as two mature couples. It was our first experience, but the explanations in Japanese provided a sense of security, and we were able to enjoy the exciting experience. Drinks and desserts were also provided, and we enjoyed the rock bath on the lava.
熟年カップル2組で参加しました。初体験でしたが、日本語での説明もあり安心感を持って体験エキサイティングできました。飲み物やデザートも用意されており溶岩の上で岩盤浴も楽しみました。
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | 海中洞窟探検プラン(2018/12/31まで) |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/03/02 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/02/26 |
Reviewed by: モッピー
This time, we signed up for the early morning plan with four people. Since there were no others, it was just the four of us, allowing for a one-on-one style instruction on how to kayak, and they stayed close by the whole time. We paddled out into the vast Pacific Ocean, and it felt very safe and comfortable. At first, it was tough getting up early in the morning, but I was deeply moved when I saw the sunrise. I haven't experienced the afternoon plan, but I think the early morning plan is better because the waves are smaller and you can see the sunrise.
Unfortunately, we didn't see any dolphins this time, but it seems that in general, the early morning offers more opportunities to encounter dolphins, so if you're going, I think the early morning is the best choice.
今回、4名で早朝プランに申し込みました。他には、居なかったので、僕たち4名だけだったので、マンツーマン的に、やさしくカヤックの乗り方の指導とずーと、そばに寄り添って貰い、太平洋の大海原に漕ぎ出していきましたが、とても安心で、快適でした。最初、朝早くて、辛かったですが、朝日を見たときは大感激でした。午後プランは、経験していませんが、早朝プランの方が、波も少なく、朝日も見れるのでお勧めだと思います。
また、今回は残念ながら、イルカは見ることが出来ませんでしたが、通常だと早朝の方がイルカに出会える機会も多いみたいなので、行くのなら早朝が良いと思います。
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | 早朝プラン (2018/12/31まで) |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2018/02/26 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/01/30 |
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;
| Rating: | |
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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。
| Rating: | |
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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
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!
| Rating: | |
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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: えりこ
I parked my car as collateral, and the reception was inside the house. It seemed to be a popular tour, as there was another boat besides ours. As mentioned in other comments, everything is in English, so it might be more enjoyable if you can speak a little, but even if you don't understand at all, you'll manage. (The captain shares some history with us.) Suddenly, we sped off into the ocean. Since it was my first time, I was desperately hanging on to avoid being thrown off. If you get seasick, medication is a must. The view of the Big Island from the ocean is magnificent. It was the best. It was my first experience with snorkeling. They provided life jackets, which made me feel safe. We encountered sea turtles and rays. I also saw many beautiful fish. We encountered dolphins three times. They played with us, doing twist jumps right in front of us! It was truly fun. The captain gave us snacks on the boat, and they were delicious! Hawaiian chips with green chili flavor. After that, I went around supermarkets looking for them, but unfortunately, they weren't available.
Thanks to this, I had a very enjoyable time. I would love to visit again.
車を抵当に停めて受付けはハウス内でした。
人気のツアーのようで、私達の他にもう一隻。
他のコメントにもあるように、全て英語なので少しは話せた方が楽しめるかもしれませんが、全くわからなくても何とかなります。
(キャプテンが歴史を話してくれたりします)
いきなり猛スピードで沖へ爆走。
初参加だったので、必死に振り落とされないようにしがみ付いてました。
船酔いする方はお薬必須です。
沖から見るハワイ島は壮大。最高です。
シュノーケルも初体験。
しっかり救命胴衣を貸してくれて、安心。
海がめ、エイにも遭遇。
沢山の綺麗なお魚たちにも会えました。
イルカは3回も遭遇。遊んでくれたのか、私達の目の前でツイストジャンプ!
本当に楽しかったです。
船上でキャプテンがスナックをくれたのですが、それが美味しかった!
ハワイアンチップの青唐辛子味。
その後それを求めてスーパー巡りしましたが、残念ながら売ってなかった。。
お陰さまでとても楽しい時間でした。
また訪れたいとおもいます。
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | モーニングプラン |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/02/14 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/02/05 |
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 .
| Rating: | |
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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)
| 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: | 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 |
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Aloha and thank you for sharing your experience. We look forward to seeing you next time you visit the Big Island.