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All Reviews for Marine Life Tours & Cruises in Big Island
Overall Rating
Reviews
Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka
Incredible, not to be missed, experience!!!
Reviewed by: JLC
This was such a great adventure! The crew was super nice, friendly, knowledgeable and gave us all the important information ahead of time. I am glad we rented wetsuits (the long sleeve, short legs version - $10), because the amount of time we stay in the water and specially at sunset, made it for a very cold attraction.
Nonetheless, we saw at least 4 manta rays, they were swimming around and under us for the entire time and it was such an incredible experience!!!
When we got back to the boat, we were treated to some really yummy hot chocolate.
Tamae, one of our guides, also had some pictures and videos that she shared with us!!
Helpful
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkel with Sunset Cruise |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2023/04/17 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/04/13 |
Deluxe Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkeling Cruise from Keauhou Bay - Hula Kai
Excellent adventure
Reviewed by: Johanne
Excellent adventure, was very well organized. We enjoyed it alot and definitely recommend this excursion. The excursion was on time the staff was super friendly and informative.
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| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Evening Manta Snorkeling Adventure |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/04/15 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/03/22 |
Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka
Once in a lifetime experience..I'd enjoy again and again!
Reviewed by: reneec
The crew made the cruise fun and enjoyable for people of all ages.
Snacks were included, but you may not want to est if you get seasick easily.
As part of the experience, they even took some pictures during so we could just enjoy the experience ourselves.
Note: If it's the right season, you may even be able to see other wildlife on the Sunset cruise like we did!
Aloha! Thank you for joining our manta ray tour. We appreciate your kind words and are thrilled to hear that you had a great time. Come back soon, Mahalo
Helpful
| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkel with Sunset Cruise |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/04/01 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/03/09 |
Kona Glassbottom Boat & Guided Coral Reef Tour with Marine Naturalist
So so so worth it!
Reviewed by: Eric
I get anxious snorkeling and this was a fantastic alternative. The guide was super knowledgeable and funny. My 5 year old son loved it too and we could chat about what we were seeing in real time, which I loved.
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| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Kona Glass Bottom Boat Cruise from Kailua-Kona Pier |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2023/03/30 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/03/17 |
Ocean Encounters Manta Ray Snorkel Tour - Sunset & Moonlight Cruise from Kona
Amazing experience. Great crew!
Reviewed by: Steve712
If you do one thing on the west side of the big island this is it. Words and pictures don't do the experience justice. The crew of the boat was safety conscious and the captain ran a tight ship. As a passenger we felt in good hands. Do your homework about what this tour involves. If you cannot swim and/or are afraid of the water this is NOT FOR YOU!!!. This tour had 1/2 a dozen non-swimmers on the tour. They were miserable and the crew had to spend an inordinate time catering to them.
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| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Standard Package: Moonlight Manta Snorkel (Seasonal) |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2023/03/25 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/03/22 |
Big Island Whale Watching Cruise from Waikoloa - Hawaii Nautical [Dec-Mar]
Big Island Waikoloa Whale watching
Reviewed by: Lindsay B
The crew was amazing and qued a mother and baby, possibly 2 to the surface for play time!
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| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Afternoon Whale Watch Cruise [Sailing Catamaran] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/03/21 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/03/15 |
Ocean Encounters Manta Ray Snorkel Tour - Sunset & Moonlight Cruise from Kona
Outstanding trip out, small group and great crew!
Reviewed by: Jenny
We arrived slightly late and the crew kindly waited a bit for us. There was only 4 of us which made the experience felt a lot more enjoyable - it was not crowded or noisy! No jostling of people.
Once out there, we got in the water smoothly and saw 2 rays, 3 times. Unfortunately, the ray sightings have reduced in recent years so we considered ourselves lucky! Highly recommend it all round!
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| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Standard Package: Sunset Manta Snorkel |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2023/03/18 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/02/24 |
Hawaii Glass Bottom Boat Scenic Cruise from Waikoloa | Kids 0-5 Ride for Free
Turtles!
Reviewed by: Jenni
Three generations trip and this was a last minute addition.
The staff was amazing, the boat was easy to board and comfortable, and we saw turtles!!
Completely enjoyable and would readily recommend!!
Aloha,
Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback about your Glass Bottom Boat Cruise. We're so happy to read that your whole family enjoyed the trip, the information and service provided by the crew, and most importantly, got a chance to experience our underwater world.
We know there are a lot of activities to choose from when you're on the island and we're honored you chose to spend part of your day with us and that we've earned your recommendation.
Mahalo and A Hui Hou
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Waikoloa Glass Bottom Boat Cruise |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2023/03/08 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/03/06 |
Big Island Manta Ray Night Snorkel Tour Adventure on a Hawaiian Sailing Canoe
Book Eka Tour - You won’t regret it!!!
Reviewed by: L Family
Eka snorkeling with manta rays was amazing. The small, personalized tour is a great way to see the rays. Loved the classic canoe. This was perfect for ray family and I can recommend this tour group highly enough. Kai was great - he is so knowledgeable about the rays and he calmed my 9 y.o.’s fears -he on spectrum and they were very flexible in how we got him into the water and to the board. My son can’t stop talking about how great this experience was-he can’t wait to go again. Book this tour - you won’t regret it. The entire group was accommodating and friendly and made this the best adventure of our Hawaiian trip. Thank you Eka.
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| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Standard Package |
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2023/03/07 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/03/05 |
Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkel Tour - Small-Group Adventure from Keauhou Bay
A wonderful way to see the rays!
Reviewed by: Phil
We had an amazing time as the crew was incredibly prepared and accommodating. They were able to fit all of us on board and bring us out without a problem. The guides were very knowledgeable and were helpful in getting in and out of the water. They work together with the other tours in the same space to attract as many rays as possible. We ended up seeing 10 or more rays with a near constant show. We had my 65-year-old mom and dad, my 40-year old self and wife, and our eight and 10-year-old with us, and it was never a problem. A great activity if your kids can stay up a little later and recover the next day.
It's a short boat ride out, but the darkness set off a little of my motion sickness, So if you're prone to that be sure to take some medication ahead of time. I also had a little issue being in the waves and going up and down in the darkness. One of the other participants got fully sick away from the boat but the crew handled it very professionally.
I would absolutely recommend them!
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| Rating: | |
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| Packages: | Night Manta Discovery Adventure |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2023/02/28 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/01/30 |
Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka
Not good
Reviewed by: Shawn
We could not see any and also the ride was so bumpy
Aloha Shawn,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We extend our deepest apologies for the experience you had on our tour. We would like to hear more details about it. Could you email us at info@hawaiidolphin.com and elaborate further? We would like to rectify this situation. Thank you.
Best,
Iruka Hawai‘i ‘Ohana
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkel |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/02/26 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/02/24 |
Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka
Lifelong memories made
Reviewed by: Spittstop
My 10 yo daughter and I did this excursion during a recent trip to the Big Island. It was an incredible and highly memorable evening and I feel privileged to have been able to do this.
We saw humpback whales and dolphins en route to the Manta Ray swim spot, and that made the excursion worthwhile, even before we'd seen the rays.
The crew were knowledgeable and fun and although the activity requires you to jump into the ocean at night without any light, I always felt safe and confident that the crew was looking after us. Having my daughter with me made that essential.
We floated for about 15 mins before we saw the rays, but when we did it was really breathtaking. We had around 30 mins or so floating before we got back on the boat for the ride back to port.
The crew took videos and photos and shared them with us which was a really lovely touch.
Wetsuits were a must as it does get cold. For those with younger children, there was a larger float that they could sit on safely, but older children were able to float in the water alongside adults.
I really couldn't recommend this highly enough. Maybe leave an extra 15 mins to find the dock as we struggled a little as there are quite a few trips leaving from the same marina at similar times.
Aloha! Thank you so much for choosing Iruka Hawaii Dolphin for your Manta Ray snorkel adventure. We are so happy that you and your daughter had such a great experience with us. We hope to see you soon, mahalo
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkel with Sunset Cruise |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2023/02/25 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/02/19 |
Hawaii Glass Bottom Boat Scenic Cruise from Waikoloa | Kids 0-5 Ride for Free
Can't Miss Attraction at A-Bay!
Reviewed by: Neverstopexploring
We really enjoyed the glass bottom boat cruise. We had a frustrating experience earlier with snorkeling and we were happy to have an opportunity to see the reefs and the fish from the comfort of a boat. We even got to see some sea turtles under the boat! We also thought that the price for the cruise was more reasonable than many of the attractions in Hawaii. After the cruise we went hiking on the beautiful Ala Kahakai Trail which extends north from A-Bay. The glass bottom boat cruise is a can't miss experience on the Big Island!
Aloha,
Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback about your Glass Bottom Boat Cruise and for including those wonderful photos! We're so happy to read that you njoyed the trip and got to see so much marine life.
We know there are a lot of activities to choose from when you're on the island and we're honored you chose to spend part of your morning with us and that we've earned your recommendation.
Mahalo and A Hui Hou
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Waikoloa Glass Bottom Boat Cruise |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/02/25 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/02/01 |
Big Island Whale Watching Cruise from Waikoloa - Hawaii Nautical [Dec-Mar]
Up and close!
Reviewed by: MM1
Great experience getting to see the whales up and close. The crew was outstanding and very informative. I highly recommend this excursion if you are ever in the area during the whale’s migratory season. The boat size was perfect. Not too big and crowded and not too small to avoid motion sickness.
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Morning Whale Watch Cruise [Holona Speed Powerboat] |
| Attended as: | Friends |
| Posted on: | 2023/02/18 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/01/28 |
Kona Manta Ray Snorkel & Night Dive Tour at Keauhou Bay - Sea Paradise
Loved every minute
Reviewed by: Jim
We saw lots of Mantas. I can't wait to come back and do it again.
Aloha Jim,
We are thrilled to hear you enjoyed the company of the manta's. We hope to see you in the near future!
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2023/02/04 |
| Activity Date: | 2021/10/23 |
Kona Manta Ray Snorkel & Night Dive Tour at Keauhou Bay - Sea Paradise
Mantas were amazing
Reviewed by: Jim
Sea Paradise did a great job. We saw six mantas. I thought the boat trip would be a bit longer. Just a short ride out from shore. So it's not about sailing. But the mantas make up for it.
Aloha Jim,
Mahalo for taking the time to leave us a review. We do offer a shorter boat ride for those who are prone to getting sea sick/don't want to be on the boat for too long. We are happy to hear you enjoyed your manta tour.
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2023/02/04 |
| Activity Date: | 2021/11/07 |
Kona Manta Ray Snorkel & Night Dive Tour at Keauhou Bay - Sea Paradise
So close...fun!
Reviewed by: Linda
We had such a fun time snorkeling with the mantas. We didn't realize how close they come to you in the water. One of them belly-bumped me by accident. Such graceful sea creatures.
Aloha,
The mantas are truly amazing. Mahalo for choosing Sea Paradise for your manta adventures. We hope to see you soon!
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2023/02/03 |
| Activity Date: | 2022/03/30 |
Kona Manta Ray Snorkel & Night Dive Tour at Keauhou Bay - Sea Paradise
Must do tour!
Reviewed by: Jim
I was a little nervous about snorkeling at night but I'm so glad I went. It's less of a snorkel and more of a snorkel float where you hold onto a floating mat with LED lights underneath. The mantas were swooping underneath us eating the plankton. It was so calm and magical. Highly recommend.
Aloha Jim,
We appreciate your recommendation! It is more of a uniform snorkel and typically not to strenuous. We agree, they are truly magical! We hope to see you in the near future!
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2023/02/03 |
| Activity Date: | 2022/07/21 |
Big Island Whale Watching Cruise from Waikoloa - Hawaii Nautical [Dec-Mar]
Fun Day!
Reviewed by: Jim
Saw lots of whales. We loved the combination of sailing on a catamaran and seeing whales breaching off in the distance. We highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Hawaii during whale season.
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Afternoon Whale Watch Cruise [Sailing Catamaran] |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/02/03 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/02/01 |
Big Island Whale Watching Cruise from Waikoloa - Hawaii Nautical [Dec-Mar]
Great afternoon on the Catamaran whale watching. We saw several whales and I got smartphone video. The captain and crew were professional, pleasant and helpful.
Reviewed by: TJ Norum
This trip is great for families and couples alike. I really enjoyed the fact that the crew helped us locate the whales and went in search of the best viewing spots. Highly recommended for Waikaloa Bay Beach area.
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Afternoon Whale Watch Cruise [Sailing Catamaran] |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2023/01/31 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/01/29 |
Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka
LIFE CHANGING
Reviewed by: Nikki Clark
First of all, WOW. From beginning to end, this experience was one for the record books.
For $10 this crew sets you up with a wet suit (recommended), and then a snorkel set at no additional charge. Once we boarded, we were met with a warm welcome, and a good belly laugh. Excellent staff! They were informative, safe, and most importantly, knew how to have fun!
During the boat ride we were met with bottle nose dolphins and a humpback whale sighting! The dolphins were curious and playful, and swam all around our boat! I may or may not have shed a tear of joy. It was seriously rad.
Once we got to our destination they gave us a noodle for floating, and set up a large, square floatation device for everyone to hold onto while we watched the mana rays. They are huge! They’re giant, friendly, and bring their appetite for plankton. You’ll also see tons of fish while you snorkel.
After our time was up, and we boarded, they passed out cups of hot chocolate.
The entire experience as a whole was one we will never forget. YOU HAVE TO DO THIS while you’re here!
Thank you so much for the experience of a lifetime! Keep up the good work, guys! Mahalo
Aloha Nikki,
Thank you for the amazing comments about our team, we're glad your group felt safe and satisfied! We do offer a repeater discount of 20% off, so please keep us in mind for future travel plans.
Mahalo,
Iruka Hawaii
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkel with Sunset Cruise |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/01/31 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/01/29 |
Hawaii Glass Bottom Boat Scenic Cruise from Waikoloa | Kids 0-5 Ride for Free
Great family fun!
Reviewed by: Brett
Perfect family friendly glass bottom boat tour. At ~35 min, perfect length for our four-year old.
Staff very friendly, marine expert was great at pointing out the different species and interesting traits.
Tour also launches from a very nice, calm protected beach which would be worth visiting again, as the calm waters would allow even the youngest children the chance to walk and splash in the water with maybe a few small fish swimming by.
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Waikoloa Glass Bottom Boat Cruise |
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2023/01/30 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/01/28 |
Big Island Afternoon Whale Watch Tour from Kona - Body Glove Cruises [Dec - Mar]
Good Time Over All
Reviewed by: Alli
We saw pilot whales up close and the staff were so informative, helpful, and truly loving their work. I really wish that we had been able to see a humpback whale since we were there in the right season. But I have to presume that they were not able to find any that day. Guess I’ll just have to come back to Hawaii again?!
Aloha Alii!
Thank you for joining us and taking the time to leave a four star rating!
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Whale Watch Cruise |
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2023/01/28 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/01/06 |
Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka
Once in a lifetime experience
Reviewed by: David Letendre
We went out to sea under the setting sun.
Everything was perfect.
Lots of huge manta rays came close. Sometimes up to few feet away!!
The crew; Diego and Ryan were pampering us and taking care of our every needs.
Would recommend them anytime without a doubt.
-David L
Aloha David,
Thank you for the positive comments about our team, we're glad your group felt safe and satisfied! We do offer a repeater discount of 20% off, so please keep us in mind for future travel plans.
Mahalo,
Iruka Hawaii
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkel with Sunset Cruise |
| Attended as: | Couples |
| Posted on: | 2023/01/23 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/01/18 |
3-Hour Small-Group Private Whale Watching Cruise - Aloha Kona Tours [Jan-Feb]
Awesome day of whales and dolphins!
Reviewed by: Bryan G
We had a great afternoon on the boat. Took a seven and two year old out with us to see the whales and the captain was very accommodating to both of them. Once we got the area where the whales were we saw a couple different pairs breach multiple times and certainly didn't need binoculars to see them. On our way back to the harbor a few bottle nosed dolphins decided to swim out front of the boat and in the wake for about 10 minutes which was every bit as cool as seeing the whales.
I'd highly recommend Aloha Kona Tours.
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Private Whale Watching Tour |
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2023/01/16 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/01/08 |
3-Hour Small-Group Private Whale Watching Cruise - Aloha Kona Tours [Jan-Feb]
Mr. Cohichro and Shay are awesome!
Reviewed by: Emily Yoon
The captain and crew are so nice
The boat is very clean and comfy!
the experience was really good.
We got to see bunch of dolphins and whales breaching really close to.
Thank you so much!
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Private Whale Watching Tour |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2023/01/12 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/01/10 |
Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka
Great experience!
Reviewed by: S Lawrence
We had an awesome time viewing the Manta Rays. We were able to see the spinner dolphins in the sunset as well. The staff was great and very accommodating. Definitely worth the trip to the big island!
Aloha! Thank you for joining our manta ray tour in Kona! We are happy to hear that you were able to see so much wildlife. Thank you for choosing Iruka Hawaii Dolphin. Come back soon. Mahalo
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkel with Sunset Cruise |
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2023/01/07 |
| Activity Date: | 2022/12/13 |
Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka
Great night excurssion
Reviewed by: jhutch1368
Night snorkel with manta rays was recommended to me by a coworker who lived on Kona. We booked this for our vacation based on her recommendation. We brought our ‘kids’ ages 30, 16, 13. I think it would be hard for younger kids. In fact, one child I’d say about 6 sat on a float the entire time. Swimming in ocean at night even with a wetsuit (a MUST), a noodle, and holding on to a raft is trying even for an adult. That being said, it was so cool! We were fortunate to see many manta rays! I wish I could’ve taken pictures. It was plenty long enough time. Any longer would’ve been too much. We had perfect weather and the light of the full moon. The crew was awesome and fun. You could tell they loved their job and were friends. Shout out to the girl on our crew named Ryan, who took extra care and patience helping my 30 year old daughter swim back to boat.
Aloha,
We are so happy the crew was able to provide a memorable experience for your family members, and all returning customers receive a 20% repeater discount. We hope to see you again!
Mahalo,
Team Iruka Hawaii
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkel with Sunset Cruise |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2023/01/06 |
| Activity Date: | 2023/01/04 |
Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka
Captain Trevor and his crew were outstanding!!
Reviewed by: S. White
Captain Trevor and his crew were outstanding!! The manta rays were incredible and while we were watching them the crew gave us facts about these amazing creatures.
Aloha,
We are so happy the crew was able to provide a memorable experience for your group, and all returning customers receive a 20% repeater discount. We hope to see you again!
Mahalo,
Team Iruka Hawaii
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkel |
| Attended as: | Families |
| Posted on: | 2022/12/31 |
| Activity Date: | 2022/12/29 |
Hawaii Glass Bottom Boat Scenic Cruise from Waikoloa | Kids 0-5 Ride for Free
Kids loved it!
Reviewed by: Gina
We had a great experience on board! The guides were educational and friendly! Our children (3y & 14m) had a lot of fun and enjoyed being able to see all the creatures! We saw turtles, an eel, and so many fish!
Helpful
| Rating: | |
|---|---|
| Packages: | Waikoloa Glass Bottom Boat Cruise |
| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Posted on: | 2022/12/30 |
| Activity Date: | 2022/12/28 |
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Aloha! Thank you so much for joining our sunset Manta Ray tour. We are so glad you had a great time and were able to see the mantas. We hope you have a chance to come back soon for more fun. Mahalo