All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

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。

Very relaxing and educational experience. My family and I really enjoyed it.

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.

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。

We were traveling with young kids who were not really into snorkeling.. so we were looking inexpensive ways to look at some beautiful marine life. This was perfect for us. 5 minutes walk from our resort. Friendly, knowledgeable and more importantly patient staff. Luckily we kind of got a private tour as there was no one else at the same time as ours.

Kids loved it, we loved it too. Definitely recommended!!

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

Great experience! Like snorkeling without getting wet. They took us over beautiful reefs with lots of fish. It was fun! The guides were great!

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。

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。

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.

We only found out about this tour because we knew a local person. There’s no sign at the road near the bay as to where to turn or park. Parking cost $38 in the public beach parking area. Once you get to the parking lot, there’s no sign as to where the boat is docked or where the kiosk for the tour company is. One girl working the kiosk told us that they didn’t offer glass bottom boat tours; the kiosk name matched our reservation. The website is very unfriendly. The tour guide was good but the captain could go a bit slower when over a reef so that we unfamiliar with it can focus our eyes to see the fish.

The best thing we did in Hawaii. The manta rays were so close & there were so many. Cannot recommend enough.

We had a fun time on our canoe adventure and snorkeling at a special area with just the 3 of us. We saw a lot of beautiful fish and our snorkel gear was great! Our guide Kai was very friendly and attentive to our safety on the canoe and in the water. It was a bit tough for us to get back into the canoe after snorkeling but he worked with us and we made it!! We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and it will be a very special memory for us all! Thank you Kai!

This team is top notch, they took us to a great location. They provided a wealth of information on mantaray's while we prepared for the event. We had so much fun.

I was very satisfied with the lucky tour filled with rainbows, sunsets, dolphins, and manta rays. I requested hotel pickup as it was included in the tour, but since most people rent cars on the Big Island, that might have been a better option. It's essential to prepare a jacket for the return boat ride, as it gets cold and chilly. I had a great time!

レインボー🌈、サンセット、ドルフィン、マンタ満載のラッキーなツアーで大満足です
ホテルでのピックアップがツアーに含まれていたのでお願いしましたが、ハワイ島はレンタカーを借りる人がほとんどなのでその方が良かったかなぁ
帰りの船の中は身体が冷えて寒くなるので上着の準備は必須ですね
楽しかったです

We had a great time paddling out to a snorkel spot, jumping overboard for a snorkel with Toa! He was a great guide and really patient with us. :-)

Can I really meet Manta rays!? When I entered the sea and looked around, there were so many sea urchins, and yes, there they were! I was able to see a lot of Manta rays. At first, they swam back and forth near the seabed, and after about 10 minutes, they showed me their bellies. They really came close enough to touch. My husband was so excited that he got to touch them with his fins! I've seen sea turtles a few times, but this was the most thrilling experience. The hot chocolate was delicious!

本当にMantaに会える!？
海に入り覗くと、ウニがいっぱい、
いました、いました!たくさんのMantaに会える事ができました。最初は海底を何回か往復、あと10分くらいかな?と合図が、今度はお腹を見せてくれました。本当に手に届くところまで来てくれます。夫はヒレで触ってもらった!と、大興奮。ウミガメは何回か見たことがありますが最高に感激興奮してぃます。ホットチョコ、美味しかった!

While waiting for the manta rays to arrive, we watched the sunset offshore from the airport. For those who get seasick, this might be a bit of a challenge. Once we got into the water, the manta rays gracefully swam right beneath us. We were able to see many of them.

空港沖合で夕陽を見ながら、マンタが来るのを待ちます。
船酔いする人は、ここが少し我慢のところかな。
海に入ればマンタが、優雅に私たちの真下を泳いで通過してくれます。
何枚も見れました。

This is a tour that starts at sunset. The sunset is incredibly beautiful!

We were firmly reminded not to touch the manta rays, and after receiving some additional explanations, we dove into the sea. For the first few minutes, we couldn't see anything, and I thought maybe today would be a bust, but suddenly one appeared right in front of me. They circled around multiple times, and not just once, but several times, two of them came in a line. Although we were told not to touch them, my husband ended up getting touched by a manta ray, and we were both so excited. Our Japanese guide, Tamae, was very kind and helpful.

Since we were in the water for a long time, our bodies got cold. Renting a wetsuit was a good decision, but we didn't take it off when we returned to the boat, and we ended up freezing. It would have been better to take off the suit and wrap ourselves in towels once we got out. The hot chocolate they handed out was soothing for our chilled bodies.

I thought we would have to pay for the photos the guide was taking, but to my pleasant surprise, they sent the data directly to our phones right away.

If you rent a car, the meeting location is easy to find, so you won't have any trouble. Above all, the experience made the tour price feel very reasonable. If you come to the Big Island, you should definitely try this!

サンセットから始まるツアーです。夕日はすごい綺麗です！
マンタには絶対触れない‼️事を念を押され、その他説明を受けて海へダイブ、最初の数分は見られなくて、今日はハズレなのかなぁ〜なんて思ったらいきなり目の前に現れる。何回も旋回して目の前にも現れてくれるし、一回だけじゃなく何回も来てくれて2匹が列組んで来たり絶対に触れてはいけないと言われましたが、主人の身体にマンタの方から触れて大興奮です。日本人ガイドのタマエさんがとても親切で助かりました。
海に入っている時間が長いので身体が冷えます。ウェットスーツをレンタルして良かったけど、船に戻っても脱がなかった私達は冷え切ってしまいました。上がったらスーツは脱いでタオルにくるまっていれば良かったです。冷えた身体に配られたホットチョコはしみました。
ガイドさんが撮影していたから有料で買わされるんだろうなぁ〜と思ってましたが、データを携帯にすぐに送ってくれて、嬉しい驚きでした。
レンタカー借りていれば現地集合も場所もわかりやすいので困りません。
何よりツアー代金を安価に思わせる内容だったです。是非ハワイ島に来たら体験して下さい‼️

The manta ray came right up close, almost within reach. But I held back; I mustn't touch it. It was a dream-like hour.

直ぐそこまでマンタが寄ってきて
手が届きそう。
でも我慢ガマン、触っちゃだめです。
夢の様な1時間でした。

We were pre-jittered, but for no reason as this was the calmest experience I could of imagined!

Quick and on time. Good way to see some of the sea life with young kids.

I was able to see manta rays up close, even more than I had expected. It was colder than I thought, and I got seasick, so I felt a bit unwell, but it all became a good memory.

思っていた以上にマンタを近くで見ることができました。思っていたより寒く、船酔いをしたので体調的にはしんどかったですがそれも含めて良い思い出になりました。

Great Whale watching trip out of A Bay! The crew was easy going, informative and interesting.

we were nervous at first swimming at night, but we had a wonderful time and would do it again!