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: 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: Sherri
We enjoyed this trip. It is only approximately 30 minutes. We were able to see a fair amount of fish and other sea creatures including turtles. The guide was very knowledgeable. However, we seemed to ask the questions or not sure if they would have shared much. That in my opinion should be improved upon.
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Waikoloa Glass Bottom Boat Cruise |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/05/01 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/04/21 |
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.
| 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: イルカもかわいい
The boat was comfortable. Although we didn't see any whales, I think they did their best to find them. The crew also took pictures with us and worked hard to make the cruise enjoyable. In the end, we stopped at a point where we could see dolphins, and we were able to cruise alongside many dolphins. We didn't see any whales, but it was a satisfying tour.
船上は快適でした。
クジラには会えませんでしたが、頑張って探してくれていたと思います。
クルーの方も、一緒に写真を撮ってくれたり、クルーズ自体を楽しませようと頑張ってくれました。
最後はイルカに会えるポイントに寄ってくれて、たくさんのイルカと並んでクルーズできました。クジラは見れませんでしたが、満足できるツアーでした。
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | 8:00発/ワイコロア港 |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2018/04/22 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/03/31 |
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: Cheonga kim
I had a really wonderful time! Mantaray was really huge...
Glad you had a wonderful time. Aloha!
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Posted on: | 2018/04/11 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/04/08 |
Reviewed by: ロビン
The coordination between the transportation and activity companies was poor. Thanks to the quick thinking of someone I was with, we made it in time, but if it had just been us, we might have been left behind. The activity itself was good.
送迎とアクティビティの会社間の連携が悪いです。
一緒だった人の機転で間に合いましたが、自分たちだけなら、置いてきぼりになった可能性がありました。
アクティビティそのものは良かったです
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | ワイコロア地区送迎 |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2018/04/07 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/04/04 |
Reviewed by: もっちー
I was told that there would be explanations in Japanese through the headphones, but I could hardly hear anything. We also didn't see as many fish as we had hoped, so it was a bit disappointing for my husband and me.
ヘッドホンで日本語の解説があるということでしたがほとんど聞こえなかったです。
お魚も思っていたほどは見られず 私たち夫婦にはちょっと残念な感想でした。
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | ワイコロア地区送迎 |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/04/04 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/03/29 |
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: | |
|---|---|
| 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: | |
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| Packages: | サンセットプラン |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/04/01 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/03/26 |
Reviewed by: ひぽぽ
We saw a whale in the last 10 minutes.
The dorsal fin was large, and it was thrilling.
Inside the boat, snacks, fruits, and drinks were free (excluding alcohol).
The staff and guests worked together to look for whales.
We saw several dolphins.
It was a great tour.
ラスト10分でクジラ見れました。
背びれが大きい 感激
船の中で お菓子 フルーツ 飲み物 フリー(アルコールは除く)
スタップとお客が一緒になって鯨を探していました。
イルカは何頭も見れました。
良いツアーでした。
| Rating: | |
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2018/03/22 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/03/18 |
Reviewed by: まおてん
To be honest, I didn't have high expectations, but I was moved to see so many whales up close. I'm glad I came at this time of year.
正直、あまり期待してはいなかったのですが、たくさんのクジラをまじかに見ることができ、感動しました。この時期にこれて良かったです。
| Rating: | |
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Posted on: | 2018/03/15 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/02/26 |
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!
| Rating: | |
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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: sat
I participated because I am interested in submarines. It felt like an artificial landscape, and I didn't see many fish, but the experience of diving was interesting. I learned that even in shallow waters around the Big Island of Hawaii, there are reefs and many beautiful fish, so I plan to enjoy the natural ocean next time.
潜水艦に興味があって参加しました。
人工的な景色に感じられ、魚はあまり見られませんでしたが、潜っていく様子は面白いものでした。
ハワイ島の海では浅瀬でも岩礁があり、美しくたくさんの魚が見られることが分かったので、次回は自然の海を堪能しようと思います。
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | ワイコロア地区送迎 |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/03/13 |
| Activity Date: | 2017/07/15 |
Reviewed by: Michael D
We were picked up from our resort hotel at the Hilton Waikoloa. This was the only sunset whale watch cruise I could find that was actually in Kohala (why go back down to Kona when you're staying in Kohala?), and we were not disappointed.
The pupus were solid and kept us full enough to grab a late dinner after. The drinks were plentiful with lots of choices. Best of all, the skipper knew what he was doing and found us some whales and dolphins. He even got the dolphins to swim alongside/under the boat, which was a truly unique experience to lie on the net, a couple feet above a family of dolphins swimming full speed.
I know they cannot control the animals or the weather, but we lucked out on both fronts. Would recommend!
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Sunset Cruise from Kawaihae Harbor |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/03/12 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/03/05 |
Reviewed by: CHIKA
I recommend this whale watching tour. I saw many whales very near. The staff were friendly and very kind. I could make beautiful memories.
大型船でのホエールウォッチングツアー。過去にもいろいろ参加しましたが、見えることは見えるのですが、小型ボートほど小回りもスピードもないので、近くではみえないだろうなあ、とあまり期待はしてませんでした。まあ、ハワイ島のきれいな海をクルーズしてこよう、と思って参加しました。
海洋生物学者のカナダの女性がとても詳しく楽しく話をしてくれたり、スタッフの人たちも明るく親切な対応で、ストレスもなく船上でゆったりと過ごしてたら、想像以上にクジラをたくさん見れて、しかも近い!参加者全員にちゃんと見てもらえるようにスタッフからの指示もちゃんとしていて、本当に楽しめました。
とてもおススメのツアーです。
I recommend this whale watching tour. I saw many whales very near. The staffs were friendly and very kind. I could make the beautiful memories.
| Rating: | |
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/03/11 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/02/12 |
Reviewed by: こはむ
I signed up at the last minute the night before. The meeting place, Kailua Pier, is right next to the King Kamehameha Hotel, so it's very easy to find. I was staying at the Sheraton, so I just took the trolley back and forth. During the tour, they worked hard to find whales, but it seems that the sudden warm weather was the reason we couldn't see any. However, I was able to see dolphins jumping, and on the way back, I received a free ticket valid for the next few years. During the cruise, drinks and snacks were provided, and all the staff were friendly, so I was personally satisfied. I don't think many people get seasick, but the front of the boat can be a bit shaky, and you might get splashed, so be careful.
前日の夜にギリギリで申し込みました。集合場所のカイルアピアは、キングカメハメハ ホテルの隣なので、非常に分かりやすいです。私はシェラトンに宿泊していたので、ひたすらトロリーに乗って往復しました。ツアーでは、一生懸命クジラを探してくれていましたが、急に暖かくなったことが原因のようで、観ることは出来ませんでした。しかし、イルカの飛び跳ねる様を観ることができた上、帰りの際に、今後数年有効の次回無料チケットを頂けました。クルーズ中には、飲み物やスナックが提供され、スタッフが皆フレンドリーでしたので、個人的には満足です。船酔いする人はあまりいないと思いますが、先頭は揺れがあり、水飛沫が掛かることがあるので注意が必要です。
| Rating: | |
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Posted on: | 2018/03/10 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/03/09 |
Reviewed by: マリちゃん
I couldn't see any big jumps, but I was able to see spouts near the boat multiple times. The guide spoke English, but they showed us a Japanese explanation file. It was also nice to be able to view Mauna Kea from the sea.
大きなジャンピングは見れませんでしたが、何度も船の近くで潮吹きを見ることができました。
ガイドは英語でしたが、日本語の解説ファイルを見せてくれました。
マウナケア山を海から眺めることもできて良かったです。
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | 9:30発/ カワイハエ港 |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/03/03 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/02/09 |
Reviewed by: ぷりん
At first, I was about to give up because there was no sign of them at all, but suddenly they appeared right in front of me!! I didn't even have time to take a photo. They were very shy whales; once they showed up, they didn't come back for a while (laughs). Then, out of nowhere, they appeared really close! They came so close that I could see their bumps. After that, I was able to watch three whales for a long time. I could have stayed there forever, but for some reason, we moved to another spot. There, we saw two whales from a bit of a distance. I was internally complaining that we shouldn't have moved~~ while desperately trying to record a video. On the way back to the port, we encountered a pod of spinner dolphins! It was a lucky day\(^o^)/
最初全く出る気配がないので諦めかけていましたが、突然目の前に出現!!写真を撮る余裕もなかったです。とてもシャイなクジラたちで1回出たら暫くでない(笑)そしていきなり激近で出現!イボイボが見えるくらい近くに出ました。そのあと3頭のクジラを長い間見れました。その場所にずっと居てもよかったのに、なぜかポイント移動。そこではちょっと遠めに2頭。移動しなくてよかったのに~~と内心愚痴りながらもビデオを回すのに必死。帰港するときにスピナードルフィンの群れに遭遇!ラッキーな1日でした\(^o^)/
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | 通常プラン(2018年3月31日までのご参加) |
| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Posted on: | 2018/03/02 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/02/06 |
Reviewed by: アイクミ
The morning cruise was wonderful, blessed with great weather. A rainbow appeared, the sky was beautiful, and it felt great just to see people doing yoga on the beach or taking a walk. Once we headed out, we saw whales swimming in the ocean everywhere.
These are completely wild whales, right? I felt like I was in the great outdoors and lost track of time. The boat rocked quite a bit, so I couldn't take photos myself, but there was someone on board with a high-performance camera with a telephoto lens who captured some amazing shots. Everyone got the data from that person and we excitedly talked as if we had taken the photos ourselves.
The cruise also included drinks and light snacks, making it a very satisfying experience.
朝のクルーズは、天気に恵まれて、素晴らしいものでした。虹が出て、空の景色は良いし、浜辺ではヨガをやる人達がいたり、散歩するだけでも気持ち良かったです。さて、沖へ出て、海を泳ぐクジラがあちこちに居ました。
これって、完全に野生の鯨ですよね。なんか、大自然の中にいるんだ!という感覚になって、時間を忘れました。けっこう船が揺れたので、自分では写真は撮れませんでしたが、同乗してた人の中にかなり高性能の望遠レンズ付きカメラを持ってた人が、素晴らしいショットを取っていて、みんなその人からデータを貰って、あたかも自分が撮ったみたいな話をして盛り上がりました。
飲み物や軽食も付いていて、とても満足なクルーズでした。
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | 8:00発/ワイコロア港 |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/02/26 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/02/15 |
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: マハロハ
On the day of the event, I went to the meeting place early in the morning, but the staff informed me that the cruise was canceled due to bad weather. I understood that the sea was rough and the wind was strong, so I accepted it and enjoyed a leisurely whale watching experience at Quay Bay. I would like to try again.
当日、朝早く集合場所へいきましたが、スタッフが今日は悪天候なのでクルーズは中止になったと連絡されました。海が荒れて風も強かったのでしょうがないと思いつつ、クアベイでゆっくりホエールウオッチングしてました。またトライしたいと思いました。
We are sorry the Whale Watching tour was canceled; it was very windy and would not have been a comfortable ride. Safety first. I'm sad that you gave us a 1-star rating due to this.
We are sorry the Whale Watching tour canceled, it was very windy and would not be a comfortable ride. Safety first.
I'm sad that you gave us a 1 star due to this.
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| Packages: | 通常プラン(2018年3月31日までのご参加) |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2018/02/20 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/02/15 |
Reviewed by: minikichi
Most participants are elderly individuals who cannot engage in snorkeling or other marine sports. At the deepest point, we dive down to about 30 meters to see sunken ships and other sights on the seabed. There is also a Japanese audio guide available, so I don't think there will be any issues. If you request a pickup, you will arrive about an hour before the meeting time, and there will be an additional 45 minutes after the return. I think it would be efficient to enjoy some tea nearby or take a stroll around Kailua-Kona during this time. The hotel we stayed at only had high-end souvenir shops, and since we weren't planning to stop by Honolulu, it was great to be able to buy souvenirs all at once at the ABC Store inside the King Kamehameha Hotel.
参加者は、シュノーケルやその他のマリンスポーツができない御高齢の方がほとんどです。いちばん深いところでは、海底30メートルくらいまで潜ります。海底に沈んだ船なども見ることができます。日本語のイヤホンガイドもあり、困ることはほとんどないと思われます。送迎をお願いした場合、集合時間の一時間前くらいに着き、帰りもさらに45分ほど時間があります。この時間に、近くでお茶を飲んだりカイルア・コナの散策もしてしまうと効率が良いと思います。私たちが泊まったホテルには高級なお土産屋さんしかなく、ホノルルにも立ち寄る予定がなかったので、キングスカメカメハホテルの中のABCストアでまとめてお土産を購入でき、良かったです。
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| Packages: | ワイコロア地区送迎 |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/02/20 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/02/17 |
Reviewed by: なこに
I definitely saw it. The head, dorsal fin, and tail fin, among other things. However, I saw it jump from a distance after moving back a bit, and I thought I should have waited a little longer...
確かに見えましたがね。あたま、背びれ、尾ビレなど。でも、引き返し少し離れて遠目でジャンプした姿が見え、もう少し待ってればと、、、
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| Packages: | 8:00発/ワイコロア港 |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/02/20 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/02/16 |
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
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!
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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: びあだる
The weather was great, and I was thrilled to see multiple whales up close! I decided to remember the experience rather than just capture it on camera, so I would love to join again if I get the chance! I didn't understand English, but thanks to the friendly crew staff, I had a wonderful time!
天候もよく何度も、何頭も、ブリーチまで見ることができ感激しました!
カメラより目に焼き付けることにしたので、また出会いたくなったら、参加したいと思います!
英語はわからなかったけど、気さくなクルースタッフのおかげで十分に楽しめました!
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| Packages: | 8:00発/ワイコロア港 |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/02/18 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/02/11 |
Reviewed by: JimbeiDON
I was skeptical about whether I could really see whales up close, but I was able to see them several times. The drinks and snacks on board were plentiful, but unfortunately, I couldn't enjoy them much because the boat was rocking quite a bit.
本当に近くでクジラが見れるのか、疑心暗鬼でしたが何度も近くでクジラを見る事が出来た。船内の飲み物やスナック類も充実していたが、船がかなり揺れていた為実際にはあまり飲むことが出来ずに残念だった。
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| Packages: | 9:30発/ カワイハエ港 |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2018/02/17 |
| Activity Date: | 2018/02/11 |
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"!
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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 |
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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!