All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

It was a cloudy day... I arrived early and parked the rental car in the hotel parking lot to check in. There was a counter outside the hotel and a store located a bit deeper inside, which was a little confusing. When the time came, I boarded a contact boat with about 20 participants, including several Japanese people, and in a few minutes, we reached the submarine.

We quickly boarded and began our dive... I enjoyed about 40 minutes while watching the coral and the fish swimming around. We dove down to about 100 feet, or 30 meters, but it felt a bit dark, possibly due to the cloudy sky, and I felt a greater distance from the fish than I expected. It might have been more beautiful if it had been sunny.

At the counter, they put a sticker on the parking ticket to cover the fee. When I tried to pay with my card, it didn’t recognize it, and I panicked a bit as several cars lined up behind me, but I called and they opened it for me, so it all worked out.

当日は曇り空…早めに到着しホテルの駐車場にレンタカーを止めて受付。 ホテルの外のカウンターとホテル内の少し奥にある店舗があり、少し戸惑いました。 時間になると日本人数名を含む20名ほどの参加者と共に連絡用の船に乗り込み数分で潜水艦へ。
早速乗り込み潜水開始…サンゴやそこを泳ぐ魚を見ながら40分程楽しみました。100フィート、30メートル程まで潜りましたが、曇り空のせいか若干暗く感じたのと思っていたより魚と距離感を感じました。 晴れていればもっと綺麗だったのかもしれません。
カウンターで駐車券にステッカーを貼ってくれて料金をカバーしてくれます。2ドル足りずにカード支払いしようとしたらカードを認識せず…後ろに数台並び焦りましたが、電話して開けてもらい事なきを得ました。

The boat took off at an incredible speed, and I experienced a thrill that really got my adrenaline pumping. When we arrived at the spot, two manta rays swam right below us, circling for about 45 minutes—it was amazing!
However, don't underestimate the Hawaiian nights!
With wet bodies and the wind from the boat, the temperature dropped as the sun set, making the return trip very cold!
If you're participating, definitely bring something to keep warm!
It was a tour that my 75-year-old mother could also join.

出発してボートはすごいスピードで、スリルを味わい、テンションが、上がりました。ポイント到着して、マンタが2枚がすぐに私たちの下でグルグルと回ってくれて、約45分間最高でしたよ！
でも、夜のハワイを甘くみてはいけない！
濡れた体にボートの風、太陽が沈んで気温も下がり、帰りは非常に寒い！
参加される方は羽織る物を絶対に持って行きましょう！
75歳の母も参加できるツアーでした。

This was an awesome night as a family seeing the manta rays so closely. We really enjoyed it and will always remember it.

This was my first experience like this. Being rocked by the boat while watching the sunset and heading to a spot where manta rays are found was incredible. As it got darker and the sun set, I was a bit worried about the scary dark color of the sea, but when we arrived at the manta ray spot, there were many other tour boats with lights, so it was fine. Once we got into the water, after a while, the manta rays came and performed flips right next to us, providing an amazing experience. I definitely want to go see the manta rays again.

こんな体験は初めてです。船にゆられて、夕日を見ながらマンタのいる場所まで行くなんて。だんだん暗くなって夕日が落ちると怖い暗い海の色にちょっと心配でしたが、マンタの場所に来ると他のツアーの船も一杯で明かりもあったので大丈夫でした。そして海に入ると暫くしたら、マンタがやってきて何度も何度もスレスレに宙返りをしながらサービス満点でした。またマンタに会いに行きたいと思いました

This was an unforgettable once-in-a-a-lifetime experience! Definitely recommend swimming with the manta rays. It will be one of the most majestic experiences of wildlife you will ever have. A note we were unaware of: it seems essentially all ventures to swim with the mantas leave from a similar dock area and set anchor at essentially the same spot in the water--which is just a few hundred yards out from the dock.

I was moved when I saw the manta ray right in front of me. However, holding onto the glass boat and floating in the sea for a long time was quite tiring. It gets pretty cold at night. It's definitely better to rent a wetsuit, and when you return to the boat and take off the wetsuit, it gets quite chilly, so having a 100 yen store raincoat or a Uniqlo down jacket would be helpful.

マンタを目の前で見たときは感動しました。ただ、グラスボートにつかまって
ずっと海に浮いてるのも結構疲れた。夜なので結構寒いです。ウエットスーツは必ず借りた方が良いし船に戻ってウエットスーツを脱ぐとかなり冷えるので
100均のレインコート、ユニクロのダウン等があると助かります

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!

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".

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!

Captain Jeff was great. We were a group of 13 including 4 kids. Very safe boat. Saw lots of turtles. Very informative. A must do!

It can't be helped since we were dealing with wild animals like manta rays, but it was disappointing when time ran out after waiting on the boat in the cold. It seems that other boats didn't see them that day either. In a way, you could say it was a genuine tour rather than a staged one... The staff mentioned that I could participate for free next time, but there wasn't any detailed information, so I'm worried about whether they will really accommodate that for free.

野生の動物マンタ相手なので仕方がないですが、寒い中、ボートに揺られ待っていたので時間切れになった時は残念でした。この日は他の船でも見れなかったみたいです。ある意味、仕込みでは無いリアルなツアーとも言えますが。。。スタッフの方は次回無料で参加可能と言っていましたが、詳しい案内も無かったのでほんとうに無料で対応して頂けるのか不安です。

The sunset on the way to the manta point on the north side by boat was amazing, with a glimpse of the unique green flash that Hawaii is known for. However, to my surprise, I didn't get to see any mantas, and it started to rain coldly along the way, pouring down by the time we arrived at the port. I believe that Pele, the goddess of the Big Island, is calling me to come back, so I will return to the Big Island for a revenge trip!

港から船でマンタの北側のポイントに着くまでの、サンセットはハワイならではのグリーフラッシュも少し見えて最高な気分でしたが、まさかのマンタに会えず、途中から冷たい雨が降り始め、港に着く頃は土砂降りの雨でした。
ハワイ島の神様のペレがまた来なさいと呼んでくれていると信じ、リベンジしにまたハワイ島に行きます！

The staff were very friendly, and I was able to have a great time. I got to see a beautiful sunset from the boat, and I was thrilled to see manta rays up close, almost as if I could touch them. They swirled around right in front of me multiple times, coming towards me with their mouths wide open, and I enjoyed watching their graceful swimming. It was a very satisfying experience and has become a wonderful memory. Thank you very much.

スタッフの方がとてもフレンドリーで楽しい時間を過ごすことができました。
ボートの上から綺麗な夕陽を見ることもでき、
マンタも、触れてしまうんじゃない？と思うほどの近さで見ることができ大興奮。
目の前で何度もクルクル回ったり、大きな口を開けて向かってきたり、優雅な泳ぎを見れて大満足の一時を過ごし、とても良い思い出となりました。
ありがとうございました。

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!

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.

The guide was very good at Japanese, which was reassuring! I saw manta rays up close! The sunset, night view, stars, and manta rays were all amazing!

ガイドさんとても、日本語が上手で安心！マンタもすごい近くで見ました！サンセット・夜景・星・マンタ見れて最高！

We were picked up at the hotel on time and headed to the port.

On our boat, there were six Japanese people and four Westerners. I thought we would go quite far out, but we mostly traveled parallel to the land.

As the sun set, we entered the water. There was a rope attached to a long, buoy-like object to hold onto, and once everyone was holding on, they placed long poles made of a soft material similar to a kickboard under our thighs and ankles. This allowed us to keep our legs afloat even when we got tired.

For the first few minutes, we just floated quietly, but then they finally appeared! Everyone let out joyful screams while wearing their snorkeling gear. With their mouths wide open, they gulped down seawater and plankton, arching their backs and spinning around. We could clearly see the patterns on their bellies. Each pattern is unique, and they register each individual. They send videos or images somewhere, and if they find out it's an unregistered individual, they let you name it. I had been filming the whole time, so I want to send a clear shot of the pattern.

We were shown manta rays to our heart's content and then returned to the boat. We returned our snorkels and wetsuits and enjoyed warm cocoa and two types of snacks. From there, we sped back to the port. The strong wind was really cold against our wet bodies, so please make sure to bring a windproof jacket.

I'm really glad I participated. I highly recommend it!

定刻通りにホテルまでお迎えがあり、港へ。

私たちのボートには、日本人６人と欧米人？４人。結構沖に出るのかと思いきや、ほとんど陸と平行に走って行きました。

日がくれて、海中へ。細長い浮きのような物に掴まる為のロープが付いていて、皆が掴まったところで腿の下や足首の下にビート板の素材を柔らかくしたような長いポールを入れてもらいました。これで、疲れてきても脚を浮かせていられます。


最初の数分は静かに浮いてるだけでしたが、ついに現れてくれました！皆さん、シュノーケリングくわえながらの歓喜の悲鳴です。大きな口を開けて、海水とプランクトンを飲み込み、のけ反って一回転。お腹の模様もバッチリ見えました。お腹の模様は一枚一枚違っていて、個体登録しているそうで、映像や画像をどこだかに送って、まだ登録されてない個体だとわかると、名前を付けさせてくれるそうです。私もずっと動画を撮っていたので、はっきり模様がわかるものを送ってみたいと思います。

これでもか！というくらいのマンタを見せてもらって、ボートに戻りました。シュノーケルとウェットスーツを返して、温かいココアとスナック菓子二種類をいただきました。そこからは、全速力で港へ。濡れた身体に強風が凄く寒かったです。是非風を通さない上着を持って行ってください。

本当に参加して良かったです。お薦めです！

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。

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.

I had a really wonderful time! Mantaray was really huge...

It's understandable since they are living creatures, but I didn't get to see as much as I had hoped. However, it was adorable to see small fish gathering close enough to reach.

Also, the title "Swim with Wild Mantas!" suggests that you would be swimming alongside them, but in reality, it was more about hanging onto the board for 40 to 50 minutes, waiting patiently to see when they would come. The experience of being on the boat and enduring the cold until returning to port was also a test of endurance.

生き物なので仕方無いのでしょうが期待していたほど見れず、マンタ以外の小魚が手の届く処まで集まってきていたのが可愛かった。
またタイトルの「野生のマンタと泳ぐ！」は、いかにも一緒に泳ぐかのようですが、実際はボードにひたすら掴まって40～50分いつ来るかと期待しつつの忍耐力の修行、船に上がってから帰港するまでが寒さの修行でした。

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

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。

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.

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。

I was happy to see manta rays up close. I got seasick on the boat ride to the manta viewing point and had to give up and return to the boat while watching the manta rays. However, the manta rays were adorable, and the guide was very kind and informative. It was very cold on the return boat ride since it was nighttime.

マンタを身近に見れて幸せでした。
マンタを見れるポイントまで船での移動で船酔いしてしまい、マンタを見てる途中でギブアップで船に戻りました。
でもマンタは可愛く、ガイドの方もとても丁寧に教えてくださいました。
夜なので、帰りの船はとても寒かったです。

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。

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。

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。

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!