All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

First, when we arrived at the harbor and headed to the meeting point, the staff member, Tori-chan, greeted us very cheerfully and friendly! On that day, there were two couples, my husband and I, and a newlywed couple, along with four Japanese staff members from Honolulu participating.

Despite the small number of people, we got to ride on a large rubber boat! The edge of the rubber boat was designed like a banana boat, allowing us to enjoy activities while watching the beautiful sunset. As soon as we arrived, the sun began to set, and we all enjoyed the stunning sunset together, taking photos.

Once the sun went down and we looked at the sea, there were manta rays right there!! We quickly got ready and headed into the water! The sight of three manta rays dancing was exhilarating. Without having to wait for the manta rays to come to us, they approached us repeatedly, coming so close that we could almost touch them!!

The thirty minutes flew by, and the other tour guests returned to the boat. Tori-chan and the other staff members were very attentive, providing support and encouragement to me since I couldn't swim, allowing me to enjoy watching the manta rays without any anxiety. The only downside was that my camera didn’t work well, and I couldn’t take any photos underwater.

On the way back, we enjoyed a relaxing time under the full moonlight and the night view of Kona. With the banana boat ride, sunset, full moon, and night view, this tour offered many wonderful experiences beyond just the manta rays!!

At the end of the tour, we received a cute graduation certificate from Manta University. What kind of certificate it is will be a surprise for those who participate in the tour. Thank you so much, Tori-chan, the captain, and all the staff from Honolulu. Such a wonderful and emotional experience is rare! If you come to the Big Island, I definitely think you should join this tour.

まず、ハーバーに着いて集合場所に向かうと、スタッフの鳥ちゃんがとても明るくフレンドリーに話し掛けてくれました！当日は私たち夫婦と新婚さん夫婦の二組、そしてホノルルから来た日本人のスタッフさん４人の参加でした。
少ない人数ながら、大きいゴムボートに‼
ゴムボートの端じっこはバナナボートみたいになっていて、綺麗な夕日を見ながら、アクティビティーを満喫できます。
到着したと同時に、夕日が沈み始め、すごくキレイなサンセットをみんなで観賞したり、写真を撮ったり。
夕日が沈み、海を見ると、もうマンタがすぐそこに!!
早々に準備し、いざ海へ!
３枚のマンタが踊る姿に興奮がとまりません。マンタが来てくれるのを待つこともなく、次々に３枚のマンタが何度も何度も触ってしまう距離まで
来てくれました!!
あっという間の３０分間が終わり、他のツアー客もみんなボートへ。
鳥ちゃんや他のスタッフさんが泳げない私への声掛けやフォローを丁寧にしてくれて、少しの不安もなく、マンタが踊る姿を楽しめました。ただ、カメラがうまく機能せず、海の中の写真が全然取れなかったのだけが残念です・・。
帰りは、満月の月明かりとコナの夜景にうっとりしながら、まったりとした時間を過ごす事ができました。
バナナボートにサンセット、満月に夜景と、このツアーではマンタ以外にもいくつもの感動が味わえました!!
また、ツアーの最後にマンタ大学のかわいい卒業証書がもらえます。どんな卒業証書かは、ツアーに参加してのお楽しみに。
鳥ちゃん、船長さん&ホノルルスタッフのみなさん本当にお世話になりました。こんな素敵な感動体験はめったにできません！
ハワイ島に来たなら、是非参加してみるべきツアーだと思います。

We participated in this tour for our honeymoon. We chose a tour that gathered at the meeting point, and although we arrived early at the port by rental car, we got lost because the port was so large (we had received a clear map in advance, but I forgot it at the hotel...) and ended up being over 15 minutes late to meet everyone! I felt really bad for making the tour group wait, but the staff welcomed us with smiles, which made me feel so relieved.

Once everything was ready, we finally set sail! The captain sped the boat up, and when I straddled the edge of the boat, it felt like a thrilling roller coaster ride! (Of course, you can also sit inside the boat). The sunset reflecting on the sparkling sea was incredibly beautiful.

Just as our excitement peaked, we arrived at Manta Point. There were many manta tour boats floating on the water, creating a very magical and beautiful scene. Then, we finally got to go into the water! The seawater was a bit warm, and since they provided us with wetsuits, I didn't feel cold at all.

We took out a small floating boat from the main boat and held onto it. I was a bit worried since I can't swim, but the staff assisted us, so there was no problem at all! We set up our snorkels and waited for the mantas while peering into the water.

And then!!! The long-awaited manta appeared! At first, we saw it swimming just below us, which was exciting enough, but then it turned and spun right in front of us! I was thrilled to see the manta so close that I could see its skeleton and gills! Unfortunately, that was the only time it came so close, but we saw several mantas swimming gracefully.

After getting back on the boat, we sped through the dark sea like a roller coaster again. Unlike the outbound trip, the lights from the land were so beautiful against the dark sea.

I was truly excited until the very end! Next time, I definitely want to join the dolphin tour on the Big Island! The staff were bright and fun, and I was very satisfied! Thank you!

新婚旅行で参加しました。
現地集合をするツアーにしたのですが、レンタカーで集合場所の港には早めについたものの、港が広くて迷ってしまい（ちゃんと分かり易い地図は予め頂いていたのですが、ホテルに忘れてきてしまって・・・）15分以上遅れてやっと合流できました！ツアーの方をみんな待たせてしまっていたので申し訳なさで緊張していたのですが、スタッフの方が笑顔で迎えてくれて、すごくほっとしました。
そして準備が整い、ついに出港！キャプテンが船をビューっと飛ばして、船のふちにまたがれば、まるでジェットコースターみたいにスリル満点！（船の中で座って乗る事ももちろんできます）。サンセットできらめく海がとても綺麗で素敵でした。
テンションが上がりきったところでマンタポイントに到着。
たくさんのマンタツアーのボートが海に浮いていて、とても幻想的で綺麗でうっとり。
そして待ちに待った海の中へ！
海水は少し温かめで、ウェットスーツも貸して頂けたので全く寒くなかったです。
船から小さな浮くボートのようなものをだし、そこにつかまります。私は泳げないので少し心配だったのですが、スタッフの方がアテンドしてくれたので全く問題ないです！
シュノーケルをセットして、水中をのぞきながらマンタを待ちます。
そしてそして！！！念願のマンタが！私達の浮いている下の方を泳いでいるのが最初は見え、それだけでも興奮したのに、次ぎは目の前でくるりと回転してくれたのです！骨格からえらの中まで見れるくらい目の前にいるマンタに大興奮！！残念ながらそこまで近くに来てくれたのはその一回でしたが、何枚かのマンタが優雅に泳いでいるのが見えました。
船に上がって、またジェットコースターのように暗い海を走ります。往路とは違い、暗い海から陸の光がとても綺麗でした。
最後まで本当に大興奮！今度はハワイ島イルカ高校にもぜひ参加したいと思います！
スタッフの方も明るく楽しくて、とても満足です！ありがとうございました！

We would like to thank the staff of veltra for their outstanding services with helping making our dream vacation a reality, we really enjoyed the swim with the Manta Rays - the staff on the boat were perfect, snacks were provided and we saw lots of Manta Rays, the sunset was beautiful.

Thanks Again

We would like to thank the staff of veltra for their outstanding services with helping making our dream vacation a reality, we really enjoyed the Submarine Ride - the staff on the boat were very knowledgeable and we saw lots of cool things at the bottom of the ocean

Thanks Again

We didn't have the best start for our manta ray snorkeling - trouble checking in for our flight the day after stressed us a lot, so we were not really in the mood. But despite me getting pretty seasick, being in the water and experiencing these magnificent and majestic fish feeding was an amazing experince. I so much wanna do it again - but next time without being seasick :) Thanks to the crew and captain for being so nice to me

It was truly a precious experience to see the manta rays dancing right in front of me. The sunset over the ocean as seen from the boat was an unforgettable beauty. On the way back after seeing the manta rays, we rode the boat through the dark, speeding along like on a banana boat, which was exhilarating! There were also reliable Japanese staff present, so I felt safe participating. I give it a perfect score of 100, no, 150 points!!

マンタが目の前でぐるぐるとダンスするという、本当に貴重な体験でした。
ボートから見た海に沈む夕陽、忘れられない美しさです。
マンタを見た後戻るときにも、真っ暗闇をボートにまたがりバナナボート風で突っ走り、爽快！
頼りになる日本人スタッフもいらして、安心して参加できました。
100点、いや、150点！！です！！

Entering the ocean at night and getting close to the manta rays was terrifying, but it was truly breathtaking and exhilarating. I have had the opportunity to encounter dolphins and sea turtles while swimming in the waters of Hawaii several times, but the experience with the manta rays was even more moving and exciting. My husband, who initially had low expectations, was also extremely thrilled.

夜の海に入ることも、マンタに接近することも、恐怖心がありましたが、ほんとに圧巻としか言いようがないほど、興奮しました。ハワイの海で、イルカや海亀に遭遇して一緒に泳ぐ機会が、今まで何度かありましたが、マンタはそれ以上に感動、興奮しました。はじめは期待していなかった主人も大興奮でした。

Very cool experience. There were 12 Mantas swimming around us. The crew were safety conscious and handled a guy that freaked out in the water very professionally. No shame and wanted everyone to have a good time. Hot Chocolate provided with fresh fruit.

On the day I participated, there were many mantas, and I was able to see them up close multiple times. I heard from the instructor that mantas are gentle creatures that are not poisonous and do not sting, but they are quite large and impressive. They swim slowly, allowing for a thorough observation of their mouths.

On the boat out to sea, we were able to see a beautiful sunset on the way there and a starry sky on the way back. Since mantas are wild, there's no guarantee they will appear on any given day, but just the boat ride itself is satisfying. Additionally, the instructor is Japanese, so the explanations are easy to understand and reassuring.

参加した日は、マンタがたくさん出てきてくれて、何度も間近で見ることができました。
インストラクターの方から、マンタは、毒もないし刺したりもしない優しい生物と聞いていましたが、体が大きく迫力満点です。ゆーっくり泳ぐので、口の中までじっくり観察できますよ。
沖に出るボートでは、行きは美しい夕日が見れて、帰りは満天の星空が見れます。マンタは野生なのでその日に出てきてくれるかは確約できないそうですが、行き帰りのボートだけでも満足できます。また、インストラクターが日本人なので、解説もわかりやすく安心です。

This is my third time, and it's always great no matter how many times I participate. It's truly a wonderful time, like being in a dream. This time, I didn't see anything in the first half, so I gave up and went back to the boat, took off my wetsuit, and was drinking cocoa when suddenly it appeared! I hurriedly grabbed my camera, put on my snorkeling gear just as I was, and went back into the sea. I'm so glad I got to see it!

今回で3回目ですが、何回参加してもいいですね。
本当に夢の中にいるような素敵な時間です。
今回は前半全く現れず、諦めて船に戻りウエットスーツを脱いでココアを飲んでいたら現れたではありませんか！
急いでカメラ持ってそのままの恰好でシュノーケルギアだけ付けて海に戻りました。
会えてよかったです～！

I was worried about whether I would encounter a manta ray, but I did! They were so close! It was surprising! I want to tell my friends about it.

マンタに出会えるか心配でしたが、会えるわ！近いわ！びっくりでした！
友達などにも教えてあげたいです。

I was a bit worried before participating because there was a possibility that we might not see anything after coming all the way to the Big Island and paying money, but... we did see them (^_^). It was thrilling to see them up close. However, I did get seasick... I had never experienced motion sickness or seasickness before, but this time I was really affected (*_*). The boat rocked quite a bit before the manta rays appeared at the spot. I ended up giving up halfway, but the guide was very kind and reassuring throughout the trip. Since you get wet and it can be very cold on the way back, I definitely think you should bring something to wear over yourself!! My husband was shivering too (laughs). If you take motion sickness medication and are well-prepared, it’s a very satisfying tour☆

ハワイ島まで来て、お金も払って、
見られない可能性があるということで参加前は少し心配していましたが、、、見られました(^_^)
間近で見られて感激です。
ただ船酔いが…
今まで乗り物酔い、船酔いとしたことがなかったのですががっつり酔ってしまいました(*_*)
ポイントについてからマンタが現れるまでがかなり揺れます。
途中でギブアップしてしまいましたが、ガイドさんが終始優しく対応してくれて安心しました。
体が濡れて帰りはとても寒いので羽織るものを絶対に持っていった方がいいと思います！！
旦那も震えてました(笑)
酔い止め飲んで装備もしっかりしていけばとても満足なツアーですよ☆

The guide, Tori, was bright and kind, a really nice person! I was a bit worried about the night snorkeling since it was my first time, but we just held onto a board with lights and floated, so there was nothing to worry about at all. I was more moved by the manta rays that kept coming right up to us. We were in the water for about 30 minutes, so after getting out, it felt cold, so it's essential to have something to wear. I also think it's a good idea to bring a waterproof camera. You can take photos up close!

ガイドのとりさん明るくて優しい良い方でした!
夜のシュノーケリングは初めてで怖いんじゃないかと少し心配していましたが、
ライト付きの板にみんなでつかまって浮いているだけなので、全く心配なことはありませんでした。それよりも目前まで何度もやってくるマンタに感動しっぱなしでした。
30分ほど水の中にいるので、あがったあとは寒さを感じるので羽織るものは必須です。
あと防水カメラ持っていくといいと思います。間近で撮影できます!

Lots of neat stuff at the bottom, and a very comfy ride.

Eka Canoe provided a great tour. The small group size gave a really good guide/tourist ratio. The fact that the boat sailed from Keauhou Bay meant that we only had a short (about five minutes) ride to the viewpoint. The experience of watching these creatures was fantastic. They are wild animals, so one never knows what to expect. I did not see the "inverted loop" feeding behaviour that is usually shown in promotional videos, but I saw four mantas cruising mid-way between the bottom and the surface. It was a remarkable experience. The crew and guide looked after us well. They were booked up for the remaining evenings that I had on the Big Island or I would have returned for a repeat tour!

I purchased this excursion for my dad for Fathers Day....it was the perfect gift. Frankie was a great captain...lots of info and very personable. He let my son drive the boat...which was a highlight not only for my son...but also my dad....a very proud grandpa! I would highly recommend this trip.

I participated with my two daughters. The guides were very kind, and their explanations were easy to understand, which was great. We got close enough to touch the manta rays. It was an emotional experience!!

娘2人と参加しました。ガイドの方々もとても親切で説明もわかりやすくて良かったです。マンタが触れる距離まで近付いてくれました。感動でした！！

This activity was totally worth it. The guides were very friendly and knowledgeable. The canoe was very cool, too. We saw plenty of manta rays. If you like small groups for night snorkel, then this is your best bet. Hot cocoa was provided after the swim. We had a lot of fun! This is definitely a must-do and I highly recommend Eka Canoe for your reservation!

I've taken three different groups on three different manta swims and this one was the best! I really liked how we were tethered to the boat so that inexperienced snorkelers and people that got cold could easily climb back on the boat while the rest of us could continue to enjoy the mantas. Because we were on the moonlight swim, we were in the harbor by ourselves by the end. All the mantas (four total that night) were ours to observe. It was awesome.

This is really a must-do for your Big Island trip.

At 5 PM, the pickup arrived, and it was quite painful as the Chinese passengers and the driver were talking loudly.
We arrived at the harbor, and it was a mixed tour with both foreigners and Japanese participants. Each group had its own guide.
After changing into wetsuits, we took about 40 minutes to reach the sea where the manta rays were. We sat by the side of the boat and rode like on a banana boat, which was thrilling and a lot of fun. The speed was high, and it bounced quite a bit.
At this point, there was someone who got seasick, so it might be tough for those who are prone to motion sickness. (This person was vomiting throughout the tour.)
Once we reached the manta spot, we watched the sunset sinking into the sea and continued floating in the water.
After a while, a manta ray came by to feed. The light we were using was weaker than that of other boats, so while manta rays did come, the water was murky and visibility was poor.
The strong lights from other boats allowed for clear views down to the seabed, so I think the difference in price is due to the number and strength of the lights.
In the end, about five manta rays came by, but I had expected to see many more, so I felt a bit unlucky.

夕方17時に迎えが来て、中国人とドライバーが大声で話をしながらの行きになったので結構苦痛。。
ハーバーに着いて、外国人と日本人の混合ツアーでした。外国人と日本人それぞれにガイドさんが付く感じです。
ウエットスーツに着替え、40分ほどかけてマンタのいる海へ。ボートの脇に座りながらバナナボートのようにして行くので、めちゃめちゃスリルがあって面白かったです。※スピードも出てかなり跳ねます
この時点で酔っている人がいたので、酔いやすい人にはキツイのかな。。(この人はツアー中ずっと嘔吐してました)
マンタスポットに着いてから、海に沈む夕日を見届けて海へ浮かび続けます。
しばらくすると餌を食べにマンタが１枚やってきました。
こちらで使用している光は他の船より弱く、マンタがやってくることはやってきますが海が濁っていて良く見えません。
他の船の強い光は海底までキレイに見えていたので、値段の違いは光の数と強さだと思いました。
最終的には5回くらいマンタが来てくれましたが、何枚も来てくれるものだと期待してしまっていたので少し運が無かったです。

Actually, this was my second time participating in this tour. During my first experience, a large number of manta rays showed up, creating a truly magical spectacle, and I wanted to see it again. However, this time, surprisingly, there were no manta rays. Since it was my second time, I was still okay, but I felt heartbroken thinking about the two couples who were on their honeymoon and participating for the first time. Of course, the tour company and the staff did their best, so they are not at fault, but I believe that since this is an activity involving nature, participants should keep in mind that it is different from visiting an aquarium.

I was told that I could participate for free in the manta tour the next day or the dolphin tour in the morning, so I chose to join the dolphin tour. That turned out to be a huge success, and unlike the previous dolphin tour that was a complete failure, I had a precious experience where I could "swim together" with a large number of dolphins, which was ☆☆☆☆☆. Activities on the Big Island can sometimes be like this, so I recommend allowing extra time during your stay and trying to schedule activities for the earlier part of your trip as soon as you arrive. Although I couldn't see the manta rays this time, there is no doubt that this tour, along with the helicopter tour, is one that you absolutely must do among all the activities in Hawaii.

実は、このツアーは２回目の参加で１回目の時、大量のマンタがやってきてまさに幻想的なショーのような光景を見て、また、もう一度見たいと思い参加しました。
ただ、今回はまさかの「マンタ来ず」。
私らは二回目だったのでまだ良かったですが、初参加の２組のハネムーナーの方々の気持ちを思うと心が痛みました。
勿論ツアー会社やスタッフの皆さんはちゃんと頑張ってやってもらいましたので、何も悪くないのですがやはり「自然を相手にしているアクティビティ」なので、水族館とは違うと肝に銘じてご参加されるべきと思います。

・翌日のマンタツアー、もしくは翌日の午前中のイルカツアーに無料参加していいですよと言われたので、イルカツアーに参加しました。それは逆に大当たりで以前全くダメだったイルカツアーと違って大量のイルカとまさに「一緒に泳げた」ような貴重な体験が出来てそれは☆☆☆☆☆でした。ハワイ島のアクティビティはこういう事も稀にありますので、滞在期間を余裕目に取る事とアクティビテイは、なるべく到着したら前半の日程でやっておく事をお勧めします。　　今回は見る事が出来ませんでしたがこれは本当にハワイのあらゆるアクティビテイの中でヘリコプターツアーと共に「絶対やるべきツアー」である事に間違いありません。

Crew were great, really entertaining! Pointed out interesting points, and we even saw a black tip reef shark, was amazing!! Mahalo

I was able to see a manta ray up close, and I was truly satisfied. There was a manta ray just about 10 centimeters in front of me!!!! A very beautiful lady who spoke Japanese guided us, which made me feel safe participating. She was also a great swimmer, like a mermaid. The participants were not only Japanese but also from various countries.

There were quite a few people who felt unwell, but I took motion sickness medication beforehand, so I was totally fine (*^◯^*). I'm not good with thrill rides, so the boat ride to see the manta rays was quite scary, but I got used to it after a while and was able to enjoy it.

The sunset and the starry sky viewed from the boat were truly wonderful and became a lifelong memory. I highly recommend it!

ものすごく近くでマンタを見ることができて、本当に大満足です。
目の前10センチくらいのところにマンタがいました！！！！
日本語を話せるとても綺麗なお姉さんが案内をしてくださり、安心して参加できました。泳ぎも上手で、マーメイドのようでした。参加者は日本人ばかりではなく、いろんな国の方がいました。
気分が悪くなっている方も結構いらっしゃいましたが、私は酔い止めを飲んで行ったので、全然平気でした(*^◯^*)
絶叫マシンなどが苦手なので、マンタに会いに行くまでの船がとても怖かったですが、しばらくすると慣れて、楽しむことができました。
船から見る夕日も、星空も、本当に素晴らしく、一生の思い出になりました。
本当にオススメです！

Although the pictures and video that we took were amazingly beautiful and it is probably the best way to see the waterfalls on the island. There should be a disclaimer along with the advertisement of the tour for people with bad backs or next and probably awful younger children and senior citizens. The ride itself as horrible as far as comfortability . The water being so rough around the coast line added with no seat belts or cushioning on the aluminum boat itself made for a horrible ride. There was one point when I was actually in tears because of the pain and shock to my back from the intensity of being thrown back into the seat.

I was able to see several manta rays. Some of them came so close that I thought they might bump into me, which was very impressive. I also enjoyed the little fish, similar to horse mackerel, bumping into me. It was my first time snorkeling, but they taught me carefully, so I felt very secure. Although I saw the manta rays at night, the sunset in the evening was also a highlight. However, I think it's better for those who are prone to motion sickness to take some medication beforehand.

何枚ものマンタを見ることが出来ました。
なかにはぶつかるんじゃ無いかと思うくらい近づいてくるマンタもいて、とても迫力があります。アジの様な小魚がぶつかってきたりと、色々と楽しめました。
シュノーケリングは初めてでしたが、丁寧に教えてくれるのでとても安心です。
マンタを見るのは夜になってからですが、夕方のサンセットも見所です。
但し、酔いやすい人は酔い止めの薬を飲んでおいた方が良いと思います。

Enjoying the majestic nature of Mauna Kea and Kilauea, along with activities facing the Pacific Ocean. Although the captain kept a keen eye as we sailed, we were unable to encounter any whales. However, we were able to fully enjoy the sunset quietly sinking into the Pacific Ocean.

マウナケア・キラウエアの雄大な自然を満喫し、太平洋に向けてのアクティビティ。船長さんが目をこらして船を進めるものの、クジラと出会うことはできませんでした。しかし、太平洋に静かに沈む夕日を満喫することができました。

Staff was knowledgeable and expecting us. The tour guide was a riot (funny) and the whole crew made it an awesome time - would do it again!

The staff on the boat were fantastic. We were all very patient but only 1 manta ray showed, and stayed for about 1 minute so that was disappointing. we were offered another night on the house but we were flying out the following day, and they don't offer refunds.

We went for a whale watch, problem was there weren't a lot of whales.
That's not Body Gloves fault, they made the cruise enjoyable anyway.
We did get to see two whales and a couple dolphins.

The captain worked hard to search for whales, but we could only see them from a distance and had a hard time spotting them up close.

When we were turning the boat back, we saw a pod of whales breaching, and the other passengers told the captain, but it seemed like we were out of time, which was very disappointing.

船長さんが頑張ってクジラを探し回ってくれましたが、遠くからしか見れず近距離ではなかなかみることができませんでした。

船を引き返すときにクジラの群れが飛び上がる様子が見えたのでほかの乗客たちが船長に伝えたのですが、もう時間切れみたいでとても残念でした。