Big Island
A fun guide and a cheerful captain took us by boat to see the dolphins. They predicted the dolphins' movements, and as soon as we spotted a pod, we jumped into the water. Even my 10-year-old was able to chase and swim around with the dolphins while snorkeling. We were allowed to swim freely, but if we stayed close to the guide, they would pull us right next to the dolphins. Of course, they always kept an eye on everyone's safety, allowing us to enjoy ourselves. It was so much fun to swim while predicting the dolphins' movements as they headed to the surface! Thank you!
楽しいガイドさんに、陽気な船長さんがボートでイルカのところまで連れて行ってくれます。イルカの動きを予測して、群れを見つけたら即海へ。10歳の子も十分シュノーケルでイルカを追っかけて泳ぎ回ってました。自由に泳がせてもらいながらも、ガイドさんの近くにいればほんとイルカのすぐ横まで引っ張ってってもらえます。もちろんみんなの安全も常に気を配ってくださって、自由に楽しめました。イルカが海面へ向かう動きを予測して泳ぐのはとっても楽しかった!ありがとうございました!
We were able to meet Manta Ray as soon as we entered the water. ~ I was surprised at the big size but it was a very enjoyable experience. I would like to enjoy Manta Ray by diving after winning the scuba diving certificate
Thank you for taking the time to review your manta snorkel. We are happy to know you enjoyed the experience. Aloha!
The day I had hoped for was suddenly canceled due to bad weather. However, the rescheduling went smoothly, and I was able to board safely the next morning. Whether or not I could see an active volcano was a matter of luck, but it was enjoyable.
希望していた日が悪天候のため急遽キャンセルになってしまいました。
しかし、リスケージュールがスムーズで、次の日の朝に無事乗れました。
アクティブな火山が見れるかは運次第ですが、楽しかったです。
I was thrilled to get up close to the manta rays! It was a lot of fun. I participated in August, and it wasn't cold at all. I highly recommend it.
マンタ大接近で、興奮しました!
楽しかったです。
8月参加でした。全然寒くなかったです。
お勧めします。
マントツアーのレビューをありがとうございます。楽しい時間を過ごしていただけたことを嬉しく思います。マハロ・ヌイ・ロア!
Thank you for reviewing your manta tour. We are happy you had a good time. Mahalo Nui Loa!
The sea was wonderfully blue. I was very satisfied to see dolphins.
I was a bit worried about kayaking with my 8-year-old child, but our guide, Noni, was very attentive, so we had no problems. It was a shame that the dolphins swam away during snorkeling, but I was more than satisfied with the many fish and the blue sea.
This was definitely a tour I would like to experience again.
素晴らしく青い海。
イルカにも会えて大満足です。
8歳の子連れでカヤックが少し心配でしたが、ガイドのノニさんが丁寧に対応してくれたため問題なく過ごせました。
スノーケリング時にイルカが離れてしまったのは残念でしたが、多くの魚と青い海で十分に満足できます。
是非、また体験したいツアーでした。
Unfortunately, a few days ago the eruption ended, and I couldn't see the red magma. It's nature, so there's nothing that can be done about it.
Still, seeing the black lava and the great nature of Hawaii from a doorless helicopter was truly moving. I couldn't understand what the English-speaking pilot was saying, but I enjoyed it completely.
As advice, the temperature on the day was 31 degrees, but it was 18 degrees up in the air. I think it's safer to prepare warm clothing.
残念ながら?数日前に噴火が終わってしまい、赤いマグマを見る事が出来ませんでした。自然が相手なのでしょうがないです。
それでも、ドアなしヘリコプターから見る、黒い溶岩やハワイの大自然は感動モノでした。
英語パイロットなので何言ってるかわかりませんでしたが、全然楽しめます。
アドバイスとして、当日の気温は31度でしたが上空は18度でした。
防寒着は用意していったほうが無難だと思います。
We participated as a couple. It was both of our first time snorkeling, but since the other participants were experienced, our two guides were almost constantly there to support us. We were able to see many dolphins swimming up close, and I got to see a dolphin resting underwater for the first time while snorkeling. My wife had some seasickness and couldn't swim much, so I recommend that anyone who is prone to motion sickness take some medication beforehand.
夫婦2人で参加しました。2人ともスノーケリングは初めてでしたが、他の参加者が経験者だったこともあり、2人のガイドさんが、ほとんどつきっきりでフォローしてくれました。たくさんのイルカが泳いでいる姿を間近で見ることができ、スノーケリングでは、海中で休んでいるイルカを初めて見ることができました。妻は船酔いもあって、あまり泳げませんでしたので、乗り物酔いしやすい人は、あらかじめ酔い止めを飲んだ方がいいです。
Since it was a catamaran, I didn't have to worry about seasickness, and I enjoyed a lot of snorkeling. The food was also delicious. Everything was prepared except for bringing a towel, so it was easy to participate.
双胴船なので船酔いの心配もなく、たくさんシュノーケルを楽しんできました。お食事も美味しかったです。タオルを持参するくらいで他はすべて用意されているので気軽に参加できました。
ワイキキからタクシー6:30発日帰りで行きました。
デルタマイルを使ってハワイアン航空ホノルル8:00発でヒロまでの往復、帰路は16:30発。かなりのハードスケジュールでしたが一生の思い出になりました。
ドア無しヘリコプターは最高で、怖さよりも楽しさスリル満点です。凄いの連発で感動モノです!ケチらなくて良かったです。絶対にドア無しにするべきです。
英語は全く話せませんが何とかなるとのです。
レンタカーも予約にて借りて、余った11:30からヒロの町でビッグアイランドキャンディーズで買い物して、カフェ100にてロコモコランチ。飛ばしてワイピオ渓谷展望台見学しました。
日本人参加者はいませんでしたが、皆さんトライしましょう!!
We were lucky enough to see a considerable number of dolphins, including a group. After spotting them at the first location, we continued searching for more spots, and in the end, we were able to see many wild dolphins at all four spots we visited, which was thrilling. During the journey, the discussions about dolphins were engaging, and the fun atmosphere made for a satisfying experience.
大当たりで群れ含めてかなりの数のイルカを見ることができました。最初のスポットで見れた後も、更なるスポット探しに余念がなく、結局回った4スポット全てで多くの野生のイルカを見ることができ、感激でした。移動中もイルカにまつわるトークはもちろんのこと、楽しい雰囲気で盛り上げてくれ、満足いく時間を過ごすことができました。
I apologize for being a bit late, but I was told to "please come calmly." My daughter was at the very edge of the age limit to participate, but she quickly got along with the older kids and seemed to have a great time meeting the dolphins. Thank you for taking care of her!
多少遅れてしまったのですが「落ち着いて来てください」とのこと…。
申し訳ありませんでした。
娘が、参加可能年齢ギリギリだったのですが、
あっという間にお兄さんたちと打ち解け、たのしくイルカと出会えたようです。
かわいがってくださってありがとうございました!
The land lesson before going to the sea was thorough, and they were considerate of the children who were there for the first time, which made it enjoyable. It was a bit disappointing that there were few waves, and we spent almost all our time just floating... but it can't be helped.
海に行く前の陸のレッスンも丁寧で、
海でも初めての子供に配慮してくださり、楽しめました。
波が少なくて、ほぼ浮かんでる時間だったのが残念でした…。仕方ないですけど。
I got seasick. The scenery was really beautiful and it was the best. Be careful of sunburn and seasickness. Thank you.
船酔いをした。景色はすごくきれいで、最高でした。日焼けと、船酔いには注意です。ありがとうございます。
I had been repeatedly turned down by dolphins in Oahu, Guam, Saipan, and Bali. I signed up for my first dolphin tour on the Big Island, but my family gave me cold looks, saying, "You won't see any dolphins anyway." Deep down, I was filled with a sense of foreboding that I wouldn't see them. (Just in case I didn't see any dolphins on this tour, I booked a stay at Hilton Waikoloa Village, planning to participate in a dolphin program with my kids if all else failed...)
When I mentioned this, our guide Daisuke said, "Let's end that unfortunate record today! Don't worry! You'll see them!" His encouraging words gave me hope. As I boarded the boat, I silently prayed, "I believe!" Just one minute in, I heard, "Oh, there are dolphins!" and when I looked out at the sea, there they were!!! I had never seen them before, but I recognized them immediately! The dolphins were swimming with their dorsal fins breaking the surface repeatedly. And then, we quickly went into the water! There were dolphins everywhere; I was amazed at how many there were. At that moment, I was truly moved...
However, the ocean is vast, and when they dive deep, we just had to wait. But Daisuke dove down to the dolphins. Strangely, they were drawn to him and came up to the surface near us! Incredible, just incredible!
According to Daisuke, "Today, the dolphins are really in a good mood; if I call them ten times, they'll respond every time." (Daisuke can tell the dolphins' moods... that's amazing...) When a dolphin swam past me over my shoulder, I was just overwhelmed with emotion. A regular participant (who has joined this tour about 50 times) said that the dolphins are attracted to Daisuke, and he has never failed to see them.
What I found most wonderful about this tour, especially as a family participant, was when Daisuke said, "Parents, please focus on yourselves. I'll take care of the kids." He actually helped the children who were struggling to get to the dolphins in the water. Thanks to him, I was able to chase the dolphins freely and enjoy myself without worry. I believe families can participate with peace of mind, and it's clear why there are so many regulars; it was a fantastic tour.
We encountered a large group of dolphins just one minute after boarding, but on average, it takes about 50 minutes to find a pod of dolphins.
Once my children's exams are over, I want to go back to the Big Island and join the tour again!
オアフ島・グアム・サイパン・バリ・・・と何度も何度もイルカにフラれ続けた私。
ハワイ島での初のイルカツアーをこちらに申し込みましたが「どうせイルカには会えないって」と家族からも冷たい視線を送られる私。
内心、会えない予感でいっぱいでした。
(今回のツアーで会えなかった場合に備えて、ヒルトンワイコロアビレッジに宿泊。最悪子供とドルフィンプログラムに参加するつもりでした・・・。)
その話をすると、ガイドのダイスケさん、「その不名誉な記録は今日で終わりにしましょう!大丈夫です!会えます!」と力強いお言葉。
「信じてますよ~!!」と心の中で祈りつつ、乗船して一分。
「あ、イルカいますよ~」と言われ、目を海にやるとイルカちゃんが!!!
今までに一度も見たことないのに、すぐに分かりました!
イルカちゃんが何度も何度も海面に背びれを出して泳いでました。
そして、早速海の中へ!
います、います、イルカちゃん達。本当に一体何匹いるんだろうと驚くばかりのイルカの群れ。もうこの時点で私は感動。。。。
ただ海は広いので、深いところへもぐってしまうと、ただ待つことになるのですが、ダイスケさんが素潜りでイルカちゃん達のもとへ。
不思議なことに、それに誘われてイルカちゃんが海面に上がってきて私たちの近くまでやってきてくれるのです!すごい、すごすぎる!
ダイスケさん曰く、「今日は本当にイルカちゃんみんな機嫌がよくて、10回誘ったら10回応えてくれる感じです~」とのことでした。
(イルカちゃんの機嫌がわかる、ダイスケさん、、、すごすぎる。。。)
誘われてきたイルカが私の肩越しにすれ違った時は本当にただただ、感動してしまいました。
常連の方(いままでこちらのツアーに50回くらい参加されている)曰く、ダイスケさんにイルカちゃんはひきつけられてくるんで、一度も会えなかった事はないです~とのことでした。
何より家族で参加した私が一番このツアーで素敵だな~と思ったのは、
「お父さん、お母さんは自分のことをしっかりやってください。子供のことは僕が見ます」とダイスケさんがおっしゃってくださり、実際うまく海の中でイルカのところへ行けな子供達を適時面倒見てくれたこことです。
おかげで、私は本当にのびのびイルカを追いかけまわして、心置きなく楽しむことができました。
家族連れの方も安心して参加していただけると思いますし、常連さんがいらっしゃるのがよくわかる、素敵なツアーでした。
今回私たちは乗船して1分でイルカの大群に出会うことができましたが、平均的にはイルカの群れを見つけるためには、50分くらいかかるそうです。
子供の受験が終わったらまたハワイ島に行ってツアーに参加したいと思ってます!
I requested premium seats, but half of the venue was premium seating, so I didn't feel particularly favored. I did arrive early and was seated in the front row, though. The dancing was excellent, but it was a dinner show with singing and dancing, not a luau ceremony.
プレミアムシートを指定しましたが、会場の半分はプレミアムシートで特に優遇されている感じはしませんでした。早めに行って並んだので一番前の座席ではありましたけど。踊りは上手でしたが、歌とダンスのディナーショーでルアウという儀式ではなかったです。
I never expected to meet so many wild dolphins, so it was truly a wonderful experience. I was nervous because I'm not good at swimming, but they held my hand the whole time and checked in on me frequently, which helped me relax and enjoy it. ♡ It became the best honeymoon!
野生のイルカにあんなたくさん会えるなんて思ってなかったので本当に素敵な体験が出来ました。泳ぐのが苦手で不安だったんですが、ずっと手を引いてくれて声かけもこまめにしてくださってリラックスして楽しめました♡
最高のハネムーンになりました!
We were able to enjoy over 100 dolphins just one minute after departure! Captain Nawata and Daisuke taught us a lot, and we had a wonderful snorkeling experience two years later! Highly recommended.
出港から1分で100頭以上のイルカと楽しむことができました!!船長の縄田さんや、だいすけさんに色々と教えていただき2年後しの楽しいシュノーケリングができました!とてもおすすめです。
My 7 year old was a bit worried. He's definitely afraid of heights and it took a bit of convincing to get him to even agree to try. Standing on a 65 foot platform ready to zip while dangling 150+ feet over a waterfall and rock river was a bit daunting but once we started there was no turning back. He wanted to do the course again but it was time to head back to Kona. The rest of us all had a blast as well (a 13 year old and 2 old fuddy-duddy parents :-)
The guides know how to have fun and make sure everyone is being safe. They were all really great.
And if you are driving from Kona take a few extra minutes to stop on the way. There are some amazing sights along the way that are very picture worthy.
Good food but the show was definitely the best part of the night. Spend a few extra bucks and get the premium seating with valet service. The stage makes it good regardless if you are up front but being up front was great.
I could see fish well from the window.
Some fish followed the boat, and they were cute.
I listened to the Japanese channel on my headphones, but I thought it would be nice if it were a bit more fulfilling.
However, even without that, it was enjoyable just to watch.
窓からよく魚が見えました。
魚が、船についてくるのがいて、
かわいかったです。
ヘッドホンで、日本語チャンネルを
聞きましたが、もう少し充実されると
いいかと思いました。
でも、そんなのがなくても、見るだけで
楽しかったです。
I arrived a little after 5 PM and was surprised to see about 15 people already in line. None of them were Japanese, though...
While waiting, there were drinks available, and since it was in a corridor, the sunlight wasn't an issue.
I completed the check-in without any problems and felt great with the lei around my neck. Since I had a premium seat, I was able to go to the buffet first, which was a relief for someone like me who loves to eat a lot. I was in the fourth row from the front, and my neighbor happened to be Japanese, which made it comfortable.
The staff and the show were all in English, but even if you don't understand, it was enjoyable enough. There were hardly any dishes I couldn't eat, and everything was delicious, leaving me quite full. (The corn was different from what I'm used to in Japan, so I didn't quite like it.)
I wish the photos were a bit cheaper, so I deducted points for that.
17時過ぎには到着しましたが、
既に15人位並んでいてビックリ。皆さん、日本人ではないのに。。。
待っている所ではドリンクもありましたし、通路なので日差しも大丈夫。
受付も問題なく終え、レイを掛けて気分も上々。
プレミアシートだけあって、優先してビッフェを取りに行けたのは、
大食いの自分にとって助かりました。
前から4列目で、隣はたまたまか分かりませんが、日本の方で過ごしやすかったです。
係の方や、ショー自体は英語オンリーですが、分からなくても十分楽しめる内容でした♪
食事も食べれないものは殆ど無く、美味しく頂いて腹が膨れました。
(コーンだけが、日本のものと異なっていたのか合わなかった)
写真がもう少し安いとよかったので、そこだけ評価マイナスしました。
We participated as a family of five. It was everyone's first experience with sea kayaking, but thanks to the excellent guidance from our Japanese-speaking instructor, we all had a great time! For snorkeling, you can choose between the open sea and the bay, but I recommend the bay for those who aren't confident in their stamina. My youngest and I were in the sea kayak together, and before we went into the water, while we were securing the paddles to the kayak, we "magnificently capsized!" I guess it was nice to experience capsizing too? I think it's a high-value activity!
家族5人で参加しました。
全員初体験のシ-カヤックでしたが、日本語ガイドの方の適格な指導により全員で楽しめました!
シュノ-ケリングは、沖と湾内を選択させてくださいますが体力に自信がない方は湾内をお薦め致します。
シ-カヤックには、私と末っ子で乗っていたのですが、海に下りる前にパドルを船体に固定する作業中「見事転覆!」転覆も体験出来てよかったかな?
コスパ高いアクティビティだと思います!!
The boat was a bit small, but it was agile and great for getting close to the dolphins. There was one male and one female guide, and with the guests included, there were about ten people total, which felt just right. The male guide was Daisuke. After leaving the harbor, I saw Daisuke on the boat, who absolutely loves dolphins and was excited like a child, which made me feel at ease from the start. I had no worries at all. As he said, the dolphins come to you, so this method is enjoyable even for beginners. This way of dolphin swimming is gentle for both the dolphins and people, so if I do dolphin swimming again, I would like to request Daisuke.
Personally, I thought the water temperature might be low, so I borrowed a wetsuit, but after finishing, I realized I should have taken it off to enter the water for diving. However, the dolphins came really close, so the kids could see them up close, and it was a very enjoyable tour. Thank you very much.
P.S. It seemed that some people got seasick during the tour, so I think anyone who isn't confident should definitely take Anelon (there's also a children's version) to enjoy the experience without worrying about seasickness.
ボートは小さめでしたが、機動力もあるし、イルカのそばに近づくにはいいですね。船長、ガイドさんが男性1人、女性1人で、お客さんも入れて全員で10人ぐらいでちょうどいい感じで、その男性ガイドさんがだいすけさんでした。だいすけさんが、港を離れてから、ボート上で、イルカが大好きで、もう、まるで少年のようにワクワクしているのを見て、最初から安心しておまかせできました。全く不安なしでした。イルカは自分から来てくれるから~という通りで、このやりかたなら、初心者でも楽しめますね。このドルフィンスイムのやり方は、イルカにとっても、人にも優しいので、ドルフィンスイムをやるなら、また、だいすけさんにお願いしたいです。
個人的には、水温が低いかもと思い、ウェットスーツをお借りしたですが、潜るためにも、脱いでエントリーすべきだったと、終わったあと、思いました。でも、イルカたちは、ばっちり近くにたくさん来てくれたので、子供も近くで見れて、とても楽しいツアーでした。ありがとうございました。
P.S.
ツアー中、船酔いした方もいたようなので、自信がある方意外は、アネロン(子供用もあります)を必ず飲んで参加したほうが、船酔いの心配ゼロで楽しめると思いました。
We had never been to Hawaii or a Luau before...SO happy this set the bar for us! Food was great! Service was fantastic! The show left us with pit mouthes open...it was INCREDIBLE! We would definitely go back!
After departing from the port, we spent quite a while on the boat. It was a long ride, and the sea wasn't particularly rough, but including the kids, our family was hit hard by seasickness. So, we couldn't enjoy breakfast...
However, once we arrived at the snorkeling spot and got into the water, the seasickness improved, and everyone was thrilled to be in the deep, clear sea.
On the way back, we encountered dolphins, which was super exciting. But then, shortly after that, I felt nauseous again and ended up resting while returning.
The captain was cheerful and lively, making it a lot of fun. I think the hamburgers for lunch would have been really delicious if we hadn't been seasick!
港を出発して結構な時間、船に乗ります。これがなかなか長く、大して海も荒れているわけでもありませんが、子どもたち含め、我が家は船酔いでダウンしました。ですので、朝ごはんは楽しめず。。。
しかし、シュノーケル場所に到着して、海に入ってしまえば、船酔いもよくなり、深いのに透明な海でみんな大喜びしていました。
帰りの船でイルカに遭遇し、大興奮しました。が、またそのあとげろげろになり、寝ながら戻ったという感じです。
船長も陽気、ノリノリでとても楽しく、お昼のハンバーガーも船酔いしていなかったらとてもおいしかったと思います!
It is a must! It is worth! I would do it again. At the beginning, I did not know what to expect, it was a friend recommendation and I thought it would be similar to swim with dolphins actitiviy I did before, but no, it is 10 times better! Getting into the water at night and be so close to these gentle giants was an experience that I will never forget. In less than 10 minutes in the water, we had mantas approaching us. They get very close to you thanks to the powerful lights attracting plâncton. I recommend you take your cell phone in a waterproof case and film. Just keep filming uninterruptly because you don’t know when the mantas will show up. Great experience!
Thank you for taking the time to review your manta tour. Mahalo!
You can choose the tour, but you can't choose the weather. It was a windy day, so the boat was really rocking. Some people were holding their heads and feeling sick (including my son).
According to reviews, it didn't seem like there would be many participants, but on the day we went, I think there were over 50 people on board. The second floor was almost full.
We saw dolphins right after we set off. There were several of them, which was a great start.
It takes about 40-50 minutes to reach the snorkeling point. Once we arrived, we received a safety briefing before heading out to snorkel. The water was clear, and we could see fish and sea urchins. My 4-year-old daughter also put on the fins and goggles we borrowed and swam. The waves were high, so just swimming was quite challenging.
After snorkeling, we enjoyed a waterslide from the boat. It was thrilling but fun.
We had breakfast and lunch on the boat, and the lunch burgers were delicious.
Seeing my son suffering from seasickness and a headache, an American lady said, "Drinking ginger ale will help." However, I'm not sure if that's true.
Anyway, it was tough with the high waves, but it was a very good experience!
ツアーは選べても、天気は選べません。強風の日だったので、ボートがスゴく揺れました。何人かの人が頭を抱え、寝込んでいました。(我が息子もですが。)
口コミでは、そんなに参加者も多くなさそうでしだか、私らが参加した日は、50人以上は乗船していたと思います。二階席もほぼ満席でした。
出発してすぐにイルカは見れました。何頭もいて、幸先良いスタートでした。
シュノーケルポイントまでは、40-50分?乗ります。着いたら安全に関するレクチャーを受けてから、いざシュノーケルに出陣。水は澄んで、魚もウニも見えました。4歳の娘も一丁前に借りた足のフィンとゴーグルを着けて、泳ぎました。波が高かったので、ただ泳ぐのも大変でした。
シュノーケルのあとは、ボートからのウォータースライダー。スリリングだけど、楽しかったです。
朝食もランチもボートで食べましたが、ランチのバーガーは美味しかったです。
船酔いで頭が痛くて仕方なかった息子を見かねて、アメリカンのオバチャマが、"ジンジャエールを飲むと、マシになるよ。"と言っていたものの、定かではありません。
とにかく、波が高くて大変でしたが、とても良い経験が出来ました!
The night was perfect. We saw 6-7 mantas ! The captain (Tony) and the crew (I don't remember everyone's name :() were great as well giving clear instructions and making sure everyone made the most out of te experience. Prescription snorkling equipment was available which was even better.
Thank you for taking your time to write a review. We are so happy you had a good time on the Manta Tour! We hope to be able to serve you again soon.
Mahalo!
The crew were terrific. We had a long lengthy talk about "safety" and what to do and what not to do to keep us and the manta rays safe. Initially, the area looked crowded as there were a handful of boats out in the same area. We booked this excursion early on in our stay as Sea Paradise offers 100% guarantee that we will see manta rays. If we don't, we can come back for free. As we started, the manta rays were swimming underneath us immediately. We had an unusually fantastic night as we were told that normal nights, there were 4 manta rays. Our night, we had 6-8, I loose track. They were so close to us, tumbling and doing their ballets. We had at least 30 minutes of their bellies being 2 inches away from our faces. What an unforgettable night! Hot chocolate as we came out of the water to keep us warm. Lots of snacks on board.
Thank you for taking the time to review your manta tour with us we are so happy you enjoyed it and thank you for joining us!
Aloha!
The day before the tour, I received a notification about a change in the pickup time. It was only 15 minutes earlier, but since I don't frequently check my emails while traveling, I almost missed it.
On the day of the tour, there were other guests, but perhaps due to the large number of participants, our family of four was directed to a larger boat that seemed to be a different English tour boat called "Hang Loose." We joined about 20 foreign guests on board. A Japanese guide accompanied us, and since the explanations were provided in Japanese, we had no difficulties. However, it felt a bit misleading to call this a "small group of up to 10 people" (although it was true that the guide was only responsible for our family of four). I also felt that the content of the tour was somewhat different from what other Japanese guests experienced.
In the end, I actually thought it was better for our family to be on the boat we were assigned to. First, the Japanese guide who also handled the transportation to the hotel was dedicated solely to our family of four, creating a private guide experience. On the boat, they were attentive to our health and provided light snacks, and they constantly supported our two elementary school children, who were not very familiar with the sea, which made us feel secure.
Shortly after departure, we spotted dolphins and entered the water twice. Although we didn't spend a long time in the water due to our inexperience with snorkeling, the children were able to see the dolphins. After the second time, when we got back on the boat, it sped off to a distant location. The guide informed us that this boat also takes guests to Captain Cook. In the waters in front of the Captain Cook monument, we were able to leisurely see many fish while snorkeling. It seemed that the relaxed snorkeling at Captain Cook suited our children better than the hurried movements chasing dolphins. After that, the boat returned while we enjoyed the view of the cliffs along the coast.
Although the content was somewhat different from what was described at the time of booking, our family was very satisfied with the tour, and we are very grateful to the guide who assisted us. However, if you strongly wish to swim with dolphins, you might be disappointed if you end up on a boat similar to ours.
ツアー前日の午後になって、ピックアップ時間変更の連絡がありました。集合が15分早くなっただけでしたが、旅先で頻繁にメールを見ているわけではないので、危うく見過ごすところでした。
当日は他のお客さんも居ましたが、参加人数が多かったせいか、うちの家族4人は他の参加者とは異なる大き目の船へ案内されました。案内されたのは Hang loose と書かれた別の英語のツアー船のようで、20人程度の外国のお客さんの中にうちの家族4人が同乗する形。日本人のガイドの方が同行してくれて、説明等は日本語で聞けたので何の不自由もありませんでしたが、これを「最大10名の少人数制」と呼ぶのか???という感じ(確かに日本人ガイドさんが担当しているのはうちの4人だけではありますが)。 ツアーの内容も他の日本人のお客さんとは異なるものだったような気がします。
ただ、結果としては、うちの家族にとっては、むしろ案内された船で良かったと思いました。まず、ホテルまでの送迎も担当してくれた日本人ガイドさんが、我が家の4名のみに付きっ切りというプライベートガイド状態。船上では体調や軽食などいろいろ気配りをしていただき、海中では海が不慣れな小学生の2人の子供を常にサポートしてもらい安心できました。
出港後、ほどなくイルカを見つけ海に入ったのが2回。シュノーケルに不慣れで手間取ったこともあって、そんなに長い時間ではありませんでしたが、子供たちもイルカを見ることができました。2回目が終わって船に上がったところで船はスピードを上げて遠方へ。ガイドさんから、この船はキャプテンクックにも案内していると教えてもらいました。キャプテンクックの記念碑の前の海ではシュノーケリングでたくさんの魚をのんびり見ることができました。うちの子供達にはイルカを追って慌ただしく動くよりも、キャプテンクックでのゆったりしたシュノーケリングの方が合っていたようです。その後、船は海岸沿いの崖を見物しながら帰港しました。
申し込み時の案内とは内容が多少異なっていましたが、我が家的には非常に満足できるツアーでしたし、担当してくれたガイドさんにも非常に感謝しております。
ただ、もしイルカと泳ぎたいということを強く願って参加される場合は、今回の我々と同じような船に同乗することになると残念に思ってしまうかもしれません。