All Reviews for Snorkeling Cruises & Tours

If you'e going to Kona, you HAVE to night snorkel with the manta rays! It was such a magical experience that felt once in a lifetime. Initially, I was scared to get into the ocean at night, but once you're in the water, the wonder and amazement settled my fears.

This tour is a particularly good one to choose because the boat ride to "Manta Village" is only about 5 minutes from the dock. There are other tours where you leave from a different dock and the boat ride is 45 minutes. For someone that gets seasick, choosing this tour over others is a no brainer.

Be aware that they may change your tour time. During my visit, they were offering tours at 6pm, 7pm, and 8pm. We booked the 7pm tour. On the day of tour, they called us at about 1pm and told us the 7pm tour was being cancelled because there weren't enough people signed up. They asked us to join the 6pm tour. They did the same with the 8pm group. Luckily, it worked with our schedule and wasn't a big deal, but it's something to be aware of.

A great trip. Staff , boat and equipment was excellent. Fun for first time snorkeling

At the first point, we didn't encounter any manta rays, so we moved to a spot where we could meet them while holding onto the pole. Then, illuminated by the light, the manta ray appeared beautifully as if it was glowing. It was truly breathtaking. After that, it seemed like it was greeting us, swirling around and opening its mouth wide to suck in plankton, which made us incredibly excited each time. The water temperature was a bit low, and by the time we returned to the boat, we were shivering. However, we received hot chocolate on the boat, which warmed up both our salty mouths and cold bodies a little. Thanks to the Japanese guide's attentiveness, we were able to enjoy the tour without any worries. Thank you very much. I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone going to the Big Island of Hawaii.

最初のポイントではマンタは現れなかったので、私達はポールにつかまったままマンタに遭遇できるポイントまで移動。すると光に照らされてまるでマンタが光っている様に美しく登場しました。大感激です。その後も挨拶でもしてくれてるかの様にクルクルと回転したり、口を大きく開けてプランクトンを吸い込んでいる様子がみれて、その度に大興奮でした。水温が少し低くて船に戻る頃にはガタガタ震えてしまいましたが、船でホットチョコのドリンクを貰い塩っぱい口の中も寒い体も少し温まりました。日本語ガイドの方が気を配って頂いたので何も不安なくツアーを楽しめました。ありがとうございました。ハワイ島に行く方には、是非参加する様勧めたいと思います。

After participating in a dolphin tour on the Big Island, I thought about trying "Manta" for the next ten years, and I finally got to join the "Manta University Night Class." Since it was a night class, I had the image that "the dark sea is scary," which made it hard for me to take the plunge. However, as I've gotten older, I thought this might be my last chance, so I decided to participate. To my surprise, there was not even a hint of the feeling of a dark sea. It was amazing to see the mantas swimming gracefully through the water, and I was so close that I could almost touch them.

ハワイ島のイルカツアーに参加して、次は「マイタ」に挑戦と思ってから１０年、ようやく
『マンタ大学夜間部』に参加する事ができました。
夜間部という事で、『暗い海は怖い』イメージがあり、なかなか踏み出せませんでしたが、
年齢も重ね、これが最後と考え参加しましたが、暗い海という感じは１ミリもなく、マンタが
海の中を『優雅に飛ぶ様に泳ぎ』、『もう少しでマンタに触れらる』という感動で最高でした。

We participated as a couple. We were a bit anxious since we were the only Japanese people there, but the staff member Tamae provided us with detailed explanations in Japanese and frequently checked in with us, which made us feel at ease. The manta rays in the night sea were incredibly powerful, and it was a very mystical experience.

夫婦で参加させてもらいました。日本人が私たちのみで不安でしたが、スタッフのタマエさんが日本語で丁寧な説明や頻回な声かけをしてくださり安心できました。夜の海でのマンタは大迫力で、とても神秘的な体験ができました。

It doesn't take much time for the Manta rays to show up, swimming with these giant peaceful fish is amazing experience.

We have limited snorkeling experience so it is tiring to float 45 minutes. We are exhausted when returning to the boat. It worths the experience.

Tip: Bring hot drink and chocolate bar with you!

The crew are willing to help with sea sickness and exhaustion, but they only have bottled water. The nearest place to get any replenish is Longs Drugs which requires several minutes of driving.

This experience went beyond our expectations! It was perfect length in time, didn’t feel rushed at all! The trainer was very knowledgeable and friendly. We had an amazing time!

Wonderful boat & crew- with full bar & fruit. The location was pristine. The snorkelling was great- they have all the equipment. Very safe for kids. Fantastic afternoon.

It was disappointing that the visibility at the location wasn't great despite taking an hour to get there. However, it was nice to see a manta ray swimming from the boat when we returned! ♪

1時間かけて行ったのに、その場所での透明度が今ひとつだったのが残念でした。ただ戻ってきた時、マンタが泳いでいるのを船の上から見ることができたのは良かったです♪

The two star review is because we did get to see Manta Rays, and they were amazing. But the company itself only deserves one star. They were a disorganized mess from start to finish and it seemed like they had never led a tour before. We showed up to the storefront on time, but they spent so much time with a family with lots of kids (making changes, asking questions, listening to their complaints, etc.) that by the time they checked us in we were rushing to make it to the boat on time. We had to park far away and were running to get to the dock. We didn't realize we didn't need to rush because the people at the dock had no idea what was going on. They couldn't organize people into groups, they counted over and over, hoping people were coming out of the bathroom, and we had to tell them that a group of three had canceled at the storefront at the last minute and wouldn't be showing up. The leader of our group seemed like she had never lead a tour before. They got us out to the viewing area with no issues, but once we arrived there was much yelling among the guides about how to turn on the light boards, how to hook them together, how to swim and pull them together, etc. The tour as advertised said everyone needed to know how to swim, but they let quite a few little children come on the tour. All of the kids were freaked out in the dark water and there was a lot of crying and screaming. Then fire worms (stinging sea centipedes that usually live at the bottom but come out to reproduce around the full moon) appeared. That was obviously not the fault of the tour guides, but we kept asking what the creatures were and our guide said she had no idea, but no need to worry (even though she's a marine biologist). Eventually mass panic ensued as people were being stung by the fire worms, so they loaded us on the boats early and took us back. My husband swam and pulled all the light boards back to the boat because the tour guides were so confused/disorganized.

It was a valuable experience, but it felt too commercialized, and I wasn't moved by it. There were about 40 participants in the tour I joined, and there were many other boats from different companies in the area. Right below us, there was also a group diving. Due to the timing, we could definitely see a lot of manta rays. They appeared one after another and even spun right in front of us.

貴重な体験でしたが、あまりにも商業的な感じがして、感動はありませんでした。私の参加したツアーの参加者は40人くらいで、現地には他社の船もいっぱいでした。私たちの真下では、ダイビングしているグループもいました。時期的なこともあって、確かにマンタはたくさん見ることができます。次から次へと現れて、目の前で回転してくれたりもしました。

Worth every second! The trainers make the experience so special and being so close to the dolphins was a once in a lifetime experience. Loved every minute!

I was worried because I hadn't received a confirmation email for the tour (I contacted VELTRA and they followed up for me).

However, on the day of the tour, I was about 20 minutes late for the meeting time, but they kindly said, "It's okay!" and allowed me to join (I did call ahead). After boarding the boat, they provided a briefing on the sizes of the snorkeling equipment and how to use the camera correctly. They also prepared Japanese instructions, so even though my conversational skills are very basic, I felt comfortable participating.

The waves felt a bit high, but they designated a snorkeling area, and during the snorkeling, staff members were patrolling on a paddleboard, which showed they were very attentive to safety. It seemed like the tour was fully booked, but there were plenty of floatation devices and life jackets available. Although I could see to the bottom, there weren't many fish, likely due to the high waves, but we still had a great time as a family!

Since it was a large boat, I didn't experience seasickness, and the cruising to and from was enjoyable. I felt from our conversation that they have a great respect and consideration for the ocean. After getting wet, the cruising felt cold, so I think it would be good to have a separate towel that doesn't get wet. I found the free water a bit difficult to drink. Also, since there were no warm drinks available, if you're worried about getting cold, it's better to bring your own.

The staff were kind, and they were accommodating even with my limited English skills. It was fun!

ツアーまでは、予約確定のメールが来ていなかったりで心配でした（ベルトラさんに問い合わせして、フォローいただきました）。

が、ツアー当日、集合時間から20分ほど遅れてしまったのですが、『大丈夫よ！』と言ってくださり心よく参加させてくださいました（事前に電話はいれました）。
船に乗った後は、シュノーケルの物のサイズや、正しい動画の使い方をレクチャーしてくれます。日本語の案内も用意してくれるので、すごく簡単な会話しかできない私でも安心して参加できました。

波は少し高いように感じましたが、シュノーケルエリアも指定してくださり、シュノーケリング中も職員の方がサップに乗って巡回されていたりして、安全にはすごく気を配っているのが伝わりました。
ツアーは満席だったように思いますが、浮き輪や救命胴衣も十分に用意されてました。
波が高かったからか、底まで見渡せたもののお魚はそんなに多くみられませんでしたが、それでも充分家族で楽しめました！

大きなボートだったので、船酔いもなく、行き帰りのクルージング楽しかったです。
海への敬意や配慮もすごくされているのだとお話しから感じました。
濡れた後のクルージングは寒く感じるので、羽織るタオルは濡れてしまうのと別にあると良いと思いました。
フリーで用意されているお水が少し飲みにくいと感じました。あと、温かい飲み物はないので、冷えてしまうことが心配なら自分で用意して行った方がいいと思います。

スタッフの方も親切ですし、拙い英語力でも対応してくださいます。楽しかったです！

It is an experience with my 3.5 year old daughter I will never forget, and I think she will remember forever. The trainer was very informative and great with kids. It’s clear how much they care about the dolphins, and the dolphins love what they do.

This was an incredible experience for my eight year-old grandson for his birthday. Parker was wonderful and even had the dolphins sing happy birthday to my grandson.

Love the dolphins. Was a great experience with my animal loving 9 year old and rest of the family.

Really cool experience for the family. Adult kids of 23,21,18 really enjoyed it as well. Very friendly staff, manta rays got within inches of your face and even brushed up against you on occasion. Definitely an excursion that doesn’t take up a whole day or afternoon and you can squeeze in if your looking for something to do after dark

My wife was initially scared to board, but it wasn't too bumpy, and while receiving explanations in Japanese, we were able to see various mountains, volcanic craters, and waterfalls from the helicopter, which was moving. The price was a bit high, but we created wonderful memories that were worth it.

家内は最初乗車するのが怖がっていましたが、
たいして揺れることもなく、日本語での説明をしてもらいながら
色々な山や火口付近・滝などをヘリコプターから見られて
感動しました。
お値段はちょっと高額ですが、それ以上に良い思い出が出来ました。

I was able to see a lot of fish, and it was a wonderful experience. My son really remembers how delicious the chips we had on the boat were, to the point that he wanted seconds.

Just as we were returning to the port, there was a tsunami due to an earthquake in the Kamchatka Peninsula, which made us a bit anxious, but they safely returned us without any issues. I feel like I want to participate again.

魚もたくさん見られて、とても良い体験をせて頂きました。
息子は、船上で頂いたチップスが美味しくてお代わりしてしまうほどだったことがすごく記憶に残っているようです。

丁度港に帰る頃にカムチャッカ半島の地震の影響で津波が来たタイミングで、多少慌てましたが、問題なく送り返して頂きました。
また参加したいと感じています。

A few years ago, I participated and had such a great time that this time I joined with my son and his girlfriend, making it a family of four. Last time it was in April, so the sea was cold and I felt chilly, but this time we were well-prepared for the cold (in July). Once again, many manta rays turned right in front of us, and I almost shouted with excitement. We’re not supposed to touch them, but the other three were so close that they ended up being touched by the manta rays. You can even see inside the manta's mouth. There’s also an explanation about manta ray ecology, which makes you feel like you understand the manta rays in front of you even better. Time really flew by, and it was a tour where I didn’t want to get out of the water. This is definitely something you should participate in.

数年前に参加して、とても楽しかったので、今度は初めて訪れる息子と彼女を伴って家族4人で参加しました。前回は4月だったため海が冷たく体が冷えたのですが、今回は防寒対策もバッチリした上で参加（7月）。今回もたくさんのマンタが目の前でターンしてくれて、声をあげそうになりました。タッチしてはいけないのですが、あまりに近すぎて、私以外の三人はマンタに触られたそうです。マンタの口の中まで見えます。マンタの生態についても説明があるので、目の前のマンタをより理解した気分になります。本当にあっという間に時間がたってしまい、海から上がりたくないと思うツアーです。これは、絶対に参加した方がいいです。

Participating as a family of four was truly a courageous choice, especially considering the impact of the exchange rate, but I'm so glad we decided to go for it! It was my first time on a helicopter, and thanks to the thoughtful care of the staff and pilot, I was able to enjoy it without any worries. I wanted to see the Kilauea volcano erupting magma, and I was able to capture that on video to show my elderly mother who was waiting back in Japan. Additionally, we chose a tour that included a stop at a waterfall, and that turned out to be a fantastic decision! It allowed us to truly experience the lush nature of the Big Island. The view of the mountains and valleys from the sea, the green landscape, the blue coral reef waters, and the brown-black of the volcano and lava were all so vibrant and unforgettable. Plus, we were greeted by a cute dog! I wholeheartedly recommend this tour.

為替レートの影響もあり、家族4人で参加するのは本当に勇気がいる選択でしたが、思い切って参加してよかったです！人生初のヘリコプターも、スタッフとパイロットの細やかな心遣いで心配せず、心から楽しむことができました。キラウェア火山がマグマを噴き上げている様子を見たくて参加したのですが、その動画も撮って、日本で待っていた年老いた母にも見せることができました。また、せっかくならば･･･と滝に寄るツアーにしたのですが、これが大正解！自然豊かなハワイ島を感じる内容となりました。海から見る山や谷の緑とサンゴ礁の海の青、火山や溶岩の茶黒。カラフルで自然の姿をしっかりと目に焼き付けることができました。そして、アイドル犬が出迎えてくれます。とってもキュートですよ。心からお薦めのツアーです。

30 years ago i swam with the dolphins and remember it well. our morning at dolphin quest was just as delightful! the staff was amazing and our three girl dolphins were an absolute delight. learning about these magnificent creatures and then actually interacting with them made this a five star experience.

I participated with my spouse and our 10-year-old son. The staff were cheerful and kind, and the Japanese staff member, Tamae, provided thorough explanations in advance. The descriptions from Trevor, Diego, and Scott on the way to the point were enjoyable, and we arrived at the point in no time.

Once we reached the point and entered the water, we immediately encountered manta rays. In fact, we saw three large manta rays! Watching the manta rays gracefully swim through the darkness was mystical and incredibly moving.

Although we are not allowed to touch them (as the bacteria from humans can cause illness in manta rays), they came so close that we could almost touch them. Being able to see manta rays up close was truly a rare experience.

After getting back on the boat and during our return to the port, we enjoyed hot cocoa and snacks, and the cocoa was delicious and warmed up our chilled bodies.

As we were leaving, a Japanese staff member gave me a sticker, saying, "I had fun today too." I also had a great time, and I really appreciated how much they cared about my wife, who got seasick. It became a wonderful memory. I heard that there's a 20% discount for the next visit, so I definitely want to come back!

夫婦と10歳の息子と参加しました。スタッフの方は明るく親切で、日本人スタッフのタマエさんも事前に丁寧に説明してくれます。
ポイントに着くまでのTrevor,Diego,Scottさん達の説明も楽しく、あっという間にポイントに到着しました。
ポイントに着いて海に入ったらすぐにマンタに会えました。しかも大きなマンタが3枚も！
暗闇の中を優雅に泳ぐマンタは神秘的でとても感動しました。
マンタには触ってはいけないのですが(人間の持っているバクテリアがマンタの体に付くと病気になってしまう可能性があるため)、触れそうなくらい近くまで来てくれて、こんなに近くでマンタを見れたのは本当に貴重な経験でした。
ボートに上がってから港に帰るまでの間にホットココアとスナックをいただき、ココアは冷えた体を温めてくれてとても美味しかったです。
帰り際に、日本人スタッフの方から「私も今日は楽しかったから」とステッカーを頂きました。こちらこそとても楽しかったですし、船酔いした妻のこともとても気にかけていただいたので、本当によい思い出になりました。次は20%オフとのことなので、ぜひまた来たいです。

Mantas came close to me multiple times, and I was extremely excited. They swam so close that it was almost surprising we didn't bump into each other.

マンタが何度も何枚も近づいてきてくれて大興奮でした。
ぶつからないのが不思議なくらいの距離まで何度も泳いでくれます。

The staff were welcoming, informative and helpful. The boat ride was enjoyable. The location where we snorkeled was underwhelming. We did see tiny, colorful fish, and some corals, but nothing else of note.

We had a great morning kayak trip and Olivia was wonderful!! We loved her stories about the history of the area and learning more about Hawaii in general. Thanks especially for your breakfast tip on the Coffee Shack, what an awesome spot! It all made for a perfect morning, thank you Olivia!!

We’ve been with family. Children 12 and 10 years old. All of us were so excited and totally happy with this experience!

This was by far the most memorable thing our family did on the Big Island, it’s got to be one of the most amazing things we’ve ever done together. Stop reading this review and go book your trip now. You won’t regret it.

Captain and crew of Ocean Encounters 1 dove in ahead of guests, made a plan, and navigated us there. Honestly, we had a great viewing spot and several other boats' guests were eager to move into our spot upon our exiting. Boats are staggered and have a neighborly way of communicating where/when/how each group will be staggered but I would have been disappointed to be in one of the peripheral groups. These are wild animals, so no telling what each evening will look like, but was glad to have a captain who led the charge.

Tips: It is a bit of a rough ride for 20 mins out and approx 20 minutes back. If you are someone who suffers from carsickness or seasickness, highly recommend treating for that before you leave. We had 2 of 30 guests puking over the sides. I gave my carsick kiddo dramamine about an hour before-- no issues.

Do have inexperienced family members practice snorkeling ahead of tour so that they can spend the entire 45 minutes head down in the water enjoying the fish and rays and the learning is done in a pool or bay ahead of time. There were zero swimming skills necessary on this trip but knowing how to calmly enjoy breathing through a snorkel for an extended period was the difference between guests who really enjoyed and guests who didn't. There was a surfboard with handles that the group held on to, which was pulled into position by the guides.

Do warn your kiddos that these rays are HUGE. My youngest expected small 3-4 foot rays like we have in our aquarium and was initially very surprised (terrified) by the 12-15 wingspan on some of these beautiful creatures. They got right up in our personal bubble/faces/immediately underneath bellies and legs so do be ready for up-close amazing experience.

Do not bring a bunch of stuff/items as they end up dripped on and/or in the way. If the weather is warm all you need is shoes that are okay getting wet/dripped on, and a towel. They provided water and light packaged snacks on the return trip.

Watching these huge sized manta rays glide beneath us was surreal! Best experience hands down.