All Reviews for Snorkeling Cruises & Tours

We participated as a family of four with two children in the upper grades of elementary school. The forecast was cloudy, but it was mostly sunny with calm waves. After gathering by bus from each hotel, we boarded the boat at the port, splitting into a Japanese-speaking guide's boat and an English-speaking (foreign) boat. The explanations were clear, and the guide was lively and fun. At the sandbar, they were knowledgeable about taking photos, providing advice on angles and poses, and we got to take many shots! We saw plenty of sea turtles as well. The snorkeling was a bit murky, possibly due to the tide being high, but we could still see fish. On the way back, we could ride the bus even in wet swimsuits if we had a towel, but it was cold inside the bus, so I wish I had brought dry clothes. The lunch was also quite delicious! The sandbar was beautiful, and we were very satisfied!

小学生高学年2人の子供と家族4人で参加。曇り予報でしたが、殆ど晴れで波も穏やか。各ホテルからバスで集まると、港で、日本語ガイドさんの船と、英語の船（外人）に分かれて乗船。説明もわかりやすく、ノリもよく楽しいガイドさん。サンドバーでは、写真の撮り方熟知しており、方向やポーズのアドバイスあり、何ショットもとってもらえました！海亀もこれでもかってほど見ました。シュノーケルは、潮が満ちていたせいか、やや濁りぎみでもまぁ魚は見えました。帰りは、濡れた水着でもタオルひけばバスに乗れますが、バス内が寒いので、乾いた服をもっていけばよかったかな。昼ごはんもかなり美味しかった！サンドバーきれいだったし、大満足！

We woke up at 5 AM and participated as a family of three. After about an hour's ride on the bus, we moved to the point where the dolphins are located by boat. To see the dolphins, we had to follow the instructor's directions and move back and forth from the shore to the open sea multiple times, which was suddenly tiring. It felt like a physical education class.

The sea was beautiful, and we saw many dolphins, so it was enjoyable, but my wife got seasick and was exhausted in the second half. If you're okay with boats and the sea, I think it's an activity you can enjoy thoroughly.

朝五時に起きて家族3人で参加しました。
バスで一時間ぐらい走ってから、船でイルカのいるポイントまで移動。イルカを見るにはインストラクターの指示にしたがって、岸へ沖へ、何度も移動せねばならず、いきなり疲れます。体育の授業とのこと。
海はきれいでイルカもたくさん見れたので楽しかったのですが、妻は船酔いしてしまい、後半はぐったりしてました。
船や海が平気なら十分楽しめるアクティビティだとおもいます。

I can't give even one star.

As soon as I arrived at the meeting point after 6 PM, I was told, "We haven't coordinated properly in advance, and we can't arrange the boat. We either need to delay the start to 8:30 PM or reschedule for another day." I ended up waiting for two hours and agreed to push it to 8:30 PM. I killed time at the beach, and when I returned to the meeting point around 8:00 PM, I was told, "We can't set sail due to maintenance issues." (However, there were many boats at the port, but none had their lights on, and I suspect they weren't even preparing to set sail.)

I was told I would receive a refund for the tour fee and a free participation in the next tour. This is unacceptable. It's the worst. According to the guide, "This shouldn't happen, but it occasionally does."

Considering what I had to give up and compromise to participate in the manta tour, and how everything was ruined due to the cancellation, a refund of just the tour fee is not enough. Who would want to spend time and money to come back to the Big Island and book a tour with a company that treated them this way? 1) It's not guaranteed that I can come to the Big Island multiple times in my life. 2) Even if I do come, I don't know if the manta tour will still be available. 3) I also don't know if the tour company (Dolphin University) will still be around in a few years. If the system changes, how will they manage the "people who get to go for free"?

I consulted with the emergency contact for the night, but I decided to skip the manta tour during my stay in Hawaii. I am not satisfied with this response, so I expressed my desire to have the facts confirmed and shared within the tour company and to discuss the response with someone in a higher position, but I received no follow-up, and only the tour fee was refunded via Veltra.

If the reason was natural, like not encountering mantas or being unable to set sail due to a hurricane, I would be disappointed but understand. However, this time it was completely a human error. I think the response was lacking in consideration. My excitement was completely ruined. I was very sad.

星１つもつけれません。
18時過ぎに集合場所に着いた途端、「事前にちゃんと連携が取れておらず船の手配が出来ていない。20:30開始に遅らせるか、別日にずらさせてほしい」と言われ2時間待って20:30にずらすことに。ビーチで時間を潰し20:00過ぎに再び集合場所に戻ると「船のメンテナンスの都合で出航できない」と。（ただ、港にはたくさん船がありましたが、どれも電気はついておらず、出航の準備すらしていないのではないかと疑っています）
ツアー代金の返金と次回ツアー参加無料と言われました。折り合いがつかない。最悪。ガイドさん曰く「よくあっちゃいけないけど、たまにあるんです」とのこと。
マンタツアーに参加する為に諦めたもの妥協したもの、不催行のせいで台無しになったものを考えるとツアー代金のみの返金では足りない。それにこんな仕打ちをされたツアー会社に誰がもう一度、時間とお金をかけてハワイ島に来てツアーを申し込むでしょうか。①人生のうち何度もハワイ島に来れるとは限らない②来たとしてもマンタツアーが存続してるか分からない③そもそもツアー会社（イルカ大学）自体も数年後に存続してるか不明。体制が変わったりした際、どのように「無料にしてあげる人」を管理するのでしょうか。
夜間緊急連絡先とも相談しましたが、今回ハワイにいる期間でのマンタツアーは見送ることに。この対応には納得していないので、ツアー会社内で事実経緯確認、共有してもらった上で、対応について上席の人と話したいと伝えましたが、何も音沙汰無く、ツアー代金のみveltra経由で返金されました。
海に出たけどマンタに出会えなかった、ハリケーンが来ていて出航出来なかった等、自然が理由なら残念ですが仕方ありません。ただ、今回は完全に人的ミス。対応に配慮が足りないと思う。楽しみにしていた気持ちが台無し。とても悲しかったです。

The sea was murky, possibly due to the rain that had fallen the day before, and it didn't match the beautiful scenery I had expected from the photos. The other places I visited during my stay had clearer waters. However, I was able to experience snorkeling and also try stand-up paddleboarding, which I had wanted to do. I also encountered turtles several times, which was enjoyable. The lunch was even more delicious than I had imagined.

前日まで雨が降っていたこともあってか、海は濁っており、写真で見て期待していた景色、海の綺麗さではありませんでした。
海は、滞在中に行った他の場所の方が綺麗でした…。
しかし、シュノーケリングに加え、やってみたかったSUPも体験できました。また、亀にも何度も遭遇でき楽しむことができました。
ランチも想像以上に美味しかったです。

Last year, my husband and I participated in the Manoa Falls tour, but this time we joined with our three grandchildren (ages 5, 7, and 10) and our daughter, making a total of six of us.
The sandbar was a bit deep for the grandchildren, but it was perfect for practicing snorkeling later on.
The barbecue on the boat was also very delicious, and we were extremely satisfied.
We were able to see some turtles (though it was a bit disappointing that there weren't many), and the staff were very kind, allowing us to have a fun day.

昨年は夫婦二人でマノアの滝ツアーに参加しましたが、今回は孫３人（５歳、７歳、１０歳）と娘、我々夫婦６人で参加しました。
サンドバーは孫達にはちょっと深かったですが、後で行うシュノーケリングの練習を行うには最適でした。
船上でのバーベキューも大変美味しく、大満足でした。
カメも見られ（ちょっと少なかったのが残念でしたが）、スタッフの方々も大変親切で楽しい一日を過ごせました。

I was truly moved to swim with sea turtles!!! I have participated in several tours before that promised swimming with dolphins and sea turtles, but I was always disappointed because I never saw them. However, this tour was really amazing! I got to swim close to sea turtles and even encountered a sleeping one, which made me want to join again next time. The food was good, and the guides were all kind and funny, plus they spoke Japanese perfectly, so I think it's even better for those who might feel anxious about being away from home.

本当にウミガメと泳げて感動しました〜！！！
今までいくつかのツアーに参加して、イルカやウミガメと泳げるかもしれません！！などといったツアーに参加してきましたが、いつも見られず、ガッカリでしたが、今回のツアーは本当に凄かったです！
近くにウミガメが来て一緒に泳げたり、寝てるウミガメに出会えたりで次回もまた参加したいと思いました。
お食事も良かったし、ガイドさんたちがみんな優しくて面白くて、日本語もバッチリ通じるので家がが不安な人には更に最高だと思います。

I took the motion sickness medication too late, and both my child and I got sick, but there were plenty of fish, and we even saw a turtle, so it was a fun time. I received a lot of help from Takako. Thank you very much!

酔い止めを飲むタイミングが遅すぎて、子供と私が酔いましたが、魚はたくさんいたし、カメにも会えたし、楽しい時間でした。
たかこさんにはたくさんお世話になりました。ありがとうございました！

We participated as a family of seven.
It was incredibly moving to see dolphins up close! There was someone in the tour group who couldn't see the dolphins, so they kept searching until that person could see them, and in the end, everyone was able to see the dolphins.
We also got to see sea turtles up close, which was another amazing experience.
The guide and crew made various efforts to entertain the participants, and I think it was a very satisfying tour.

However, the meals were really just light snacks, so if you eat a lot, you might prefer a tour that includes more substantial meals.

By the way, babies can also join the tour, but be careful as it can get quite bumpy on the way to the points, and you might get splashed with seawater.

Overall, I am very satisfied.

家族7名で参加しました。
イルカをすごく間近に見ることができ、とても感動しました！ツアー参加者の中でイルカを見れなかった人がいたので、その人が見れるまでイルカを探してくれて、最終的には全員がイルカを見ることができました。
ウミガメも間近で見ることができ、これもすごくいい体験でした。
ガイドの方もクルーの方々も、参加者を楽しませようと色々工夫をしてくださっていて、とても満足のいくツアーだったと思います。

ただ、食事が本当に軽食のみなので、たくさん食べる方は食事がたくさんついているツアーの方がいいかもしれません。

ちなみに赤ちゃんも一緒に見学で参加できますが、ポイントに向かう途中結構揺れて海水もかかるので、要注意です。

総合的には非常に満足です。

Easy morning trip from the centre of Waikiki, staff were excellent and made the family feel relaxed and informed.

Yes the boat is a little tired but hey we had fun as a family , felt safe and would do the trip again.

We participated as a family. The staff was kind, and the sea was beautiful. It was a bit disappointing that the sandbar wasn't visible, but seeing the sea turtles up close made for a fun memory.

家族で参加しました
スタッフも親切でしたし海もきれいでした
サンドバーが顔を出していなかったのはちょっと残念でしたが　ウミガメも近くに見れて楽しい思い出になりました

This was my first time using the service.
The night before, the winds in Waikiki were strong, and I was worried about the sea conditions, but since it was on the west side, I participated in the early morning tour, and the visibility was excellent.
We were able to have a rendezvous with dolphins and sea turtles, and the kids were very satisfied with the tour.
As expected, the winds picked up on the way back, so while it requires an early wake-up, I think the early morning tour is recommended.
The guide, Natsumi, had a great tempo in her guiding, thank you! 🎶

初めて利用させてもらいました。
前日の晩からワイキキきは風が強く、海況が心配でしたが西側のポイントだったからか朝一のツアーに参加したのですが、透明度と言い最高な状況でした。
イルカ、海ガメとのランデブーもでき子供達も大満足なツアーとなりました。
やはり帰りは風が上がってきたので、早起きにはなりますが朝一ツアーがおススメだと思います。
ガイドのナツミさんのテンポ良いガイドも良かったです、ありがとうございましたー♫

Minako talking a lot on the bus in the morning is just so funny!
In Hawaii, it seems they call each other by their first names, which is a bit nerve-wracking, but once you get used to it, it's fine!
The place we're going to is not the beach in the city, but a more remote area where Hawaiian people live, accessed by the highway. I was so moved when we sang to the gods on the boat and saw wild dolphins.
I could even hear their calls.
I’m really, really glad I went.
At the end, we danced and saw sea turtles, beautiful colorful fish, and the vast, deep ocean during the dolphin university snorkeling. I will definitely come back!

朝からバスの中でミナコがいっぱい喋ってるのがとにかく面白い！！
ハワイでは下の名前でそのまま呼ぶらしくちょっぴりドキドキするけど慣れちゃえば平気♪
行くところは街の中の海じゃなくて高速に乗って離れた所にある、ハワイアンの人達が住むところ。船の上で神様に歌を歌って、野生のイルカを見た時にはもう感動しました。
鳴き声も聞こえました。
本当に、本当にいってよかった。
最後にダンスも踊って、ウミガメと綺麗な色とりどりのお魚と広く深く広がる海を見イルカ大学のシュノーケリング、また絶対きます！

Our activity was rescheduled by the company for a 3 days later which we received a gift for our inconvenience. When we arrived we quickly realized that there were going to be many people going. I was expecting a much smaller group. Our family of 5 decided to ride on the upper deck and had the best time. Our main guide was Oliver who was very friendly and funny. He made our experience very enjoyable. The entire crew was friendly as well. The Captain proceeded to try to find dolphins. Much to our dismay he was unable to locate them but he drove all over trying his best to locate them. With the changes in the water with the hurricane 1300 miles away the dolphins had retreated to deeper waters. This didn't take away from our very fun experience. We were able to snorkel for a good amount of time where we did see a turtle. Other water activities were available as well. There were 2 photographers on board.. 1 which was in the water as well. We were fed lunch very efficiently and the staff made sure we had everything we needed. We were treated to 2 hula dancers which was a lot of fun. I would recommend this experience to anyone. A great
crew and a fun adventure!

The instructors were all Japanese, which made it very friendly and enjoyable! I also saw dolphins, and I was very satisfied.

インストラクターの方々が日本人ばかりで親しみやすくとても良かったです！イルカも見えたし大満足でした。

Super great experience. Plenty of time to snorkel and a fun sail, as well. The crew makes this outstanding.

I had an awesome time snorkeling and would highly recommend the tour. I am not a strong swimmer and was somewhat anxious about the experience. To calm my fears, Cheiko held my hand for the majority of the tour which allowed me to relax and to challenge myself to let go and enjoy the moment. I felt safe and was able to accomplish a personal goal, especially since I love adventure. What a thrilling ride! My nephew accompanied me who had the time of his life as well!

An amazing time. The highlight of our trip! The staff was so friendly and made the trip super special for us!

Fun, nice view from the sandbar, nice staffs, what a nice experience!!

Before it started, there was a lecture about marine life. The instructor explained in simple English, but since my second grader and kindergartener weren't very familiar with English, they seemed quite confused. I think it would have been better if the explanation was given at a slower pace, perhaps with a picture book or something to show. We managed to get through that time, and then it was off to the Dolphin Lagoon. The dolphins were really smart and interacted in various ways. We could touch their bellies, faces, pectoral fins, and tails, and the photographer was ready to capture each child's best shot. We enjoyed it for over 20 minutes, and the kids were very satisfied. We were also able to freely take videos and photos, and of course, we could purchase the snapshots and image data taken by the staff. I thought it was great that the program was designed specifically for the kids, focusing on their perspective. Both of my children agreed that the most fun part of our trip to the Big Island was the Dolphin Quest! We truly had a wonderful time.

始まる前に、海に生物についてレクチャーがあります。簡単な英語でインストラクターさんが説明している様子でしたが、英語にそれほどなじめていない小２と年長なので、けっこうポカンとしていました。もう少しゆっくりとした口調で、絵本とか何か見せながらの説明であれば、なお良かったと思います。なんとか、その時間をやり過ごし、いざドルフィンラグーンへ。いろいろなふれあいのパターンをしてくれて本当にお利口なイルカでした。お腹や顔、胸ヒレ、尾ビレとタッチができ、それぞれの子供のベストショットを狙って、カメラマンもスタンバイ。20分以上、十分に楽しむことができ、子供たちも大満足でした。その様子は、ビデオやカメラで自由に撮ることもできましたし、もちろん撮ってもらったスナップ写真や画像データの購入もできました。子供たちだけのグループで、子供目線でのプログラムが良かったと思います。二人の「ハワイ島旅行で１番の楽しかったこと♪」が「ドルフィン・クエスト♪」で一致！本当に素敵な時間を過ごすことができました。

The boat ride to the sandbar and walking out on the sandbar was a great experience. Highly recommend it. Unfortunately, the weather could have been a little better as it rained for a bit. The crew were friendly and provided great commentary as to what to see and do as well as safety features. The snorkeling by the reef was another great experience.

I had been to Hawaii many times, so I wish I had participated earlier! I was a bit worried about the sandbar and shooting for the first time, but once I went, I had no worries and just enjoyed it! It was fun, friendly, and smooth. The lunch was delicious, and the staff were cheerful, making for a fulfilling day. I will definitely participate again.

HAWAIIへは何度も行っていたからこそ！もっと早くに参加して居ればよかったと思いまいした。初めてのサンドバーとシューティングで心配もありましたが、行ってみれば何の心配もなくEnjoy！でした。楽しく、親切にスムーズでした。ランチも美味しく、スタッフさん達も明るく充実の一日でした。また、参加させて頂きます。

The weather had been nice, so I was looking forward to it, but the water clarity wasn't very high. Okinawa and Guam are much prettier. I did encounter a sea turtle, but due to the low water clarity, I couldn't see it very clearly. There were some fish, but it didn't feel like there were many.

天気も良い日が続いていたので期待していきましたが、あまり透明度が高くなかったです。沖縄やグアムの方が綺麗。
ウミガメにも出会えましたが、海の透明度が低いので、あまりクリアには見えませんでした。
お魚さんもいるにはいましたが、たくさんいる感じではなかったです。

This was one of the best activities I tried in Hawai’i.

The crew were friendly, helpful and always made time for you.
The trip out was fun too.

The Underwater Scooter was easy to navigate and the crew always helped if needed.
The video of the trip was worthwhile purchasing, as there is good clear footage.

The crew gave you bread to feed the fish from the boat and kept you entertained if you choose to not snorkel while waiting for the other people to take their turn on the Underwater Scooter

Highly recommended!

I was hesitant to join the tour because I'm not a good swimmer, but I'm really glad I participated. I saw a lot of dolphins and experienced emotions I had never felt before. The guide was very supportive, which made me feel safe while swimming. When I later watched the video, I learned that there are many different types of dolphin sounds, which was also enjoyable. I definitely recommend it!

泳ぎが苦手なのでツアーの参加を迷いましたが、参加して本当に良かったです。
イルカを沢山見て経験したことのない感動がありましたし、ガイドさんも親身に居てくださるので安心して泳ぐことが出来ました。
後ほど動画を見返すと、イルカの鳴き声にも沢山の種類があるんだなぁと新たに知ることも楽しいので是非オススメです。

I got seasick and motion sick, but it was amazing to see a large group of dolphins and cute sea turtles up close! The photographer who was with us was really energetic and fun, and he took a lot of wonderful photos. I would love to use this service again when I go to Hawaii next time.

船酔いと波酔いしてしまいましたが、イルカの大群と可愛いウミガメを間近で見れて最高でした！
同行していたカメラマンがすごくテンション高くて楽しい人で、素敵な写真を沢山撮って頂きました。
またハワイに行く時があれば利用したいです。

I had a wonderful half-day at the dreamlike sandbar, even though I was a bit anxious about bringing my baby. Everyone was very friendly, and I truly enjoyed the experience!

I was thrilled to swim with the sea turtles that come to work every day (laughs). They were so friendly, and my child was excited when a turtle came close and touched me!

The snorkeling took us to some really deep spots, but for small children, they provided large boogie boards with windows (for a fee) to take them along. They also made sure that both parents could participate separately, showing great attention to detail so that everyone could enjoy their time.

Even if you're not confident in swimming, there are other activities available (like paddle boarding), and it's a great recommendation for those who want to try a little bit of everything—walking on the sandbar, snorkeling, and swimming with the sea turtles! The lunch was delicious too (^ - ^).

Although the calendar indicated low tide, we couldn't walk on the beach, so I might have misunderstood how to read it, or perhaps it was just a low tide that didn't expose the sand. Also, it was just before the jellyfish warning period, but we did see a few jellyfish. It's nature, so that's a bit tricky.

All in all, it was a fun experience! Thank you!

憧れのサンドバー、赤ちゃん連れの参加で少し不安でしたが、皆さんとてもフレンドリーで楽しい半日を過ごさせていただきました！
毎日出勤してくる（笑）海亀さんと一緒に泳げたのが感動でした。とても人懐こい亀さんで、海亀さんが近寄ってきて僕に触ったよ！！とこどもが興奮していました。
シュノーケリングも、すごく深いところを行くのですが、小さな子供は窓がついた大きなビート板のようなもの（有料）に載せて連れていけたり、両親がそれぞれで参加できるように配慮してくださっていたり、参加した人が皆楽しんで帰れるような細やかな気配りが随所感じられて素晴らしかったです。
泳ぎに自信がなくても他に遊ぶ道具（パドルボート？とか）があったりしますし、サンドバーを歩いてみたい、シュノーケリングもちょっとしたい、他のアクティビティにも興味があるし、海亀さんとも泳ぎたい！！という、あれこれ少しずつ体験したい方にオススメです！お昼ご飯も美味しかったです(^-^)
カレンダーでは引き潮っぽかったのに砂浜は歩けませんでしたので、カレンダーの見方を間違えたのか、引き潮でも砂浜の出ない引き具合だったのか。あと、くらげ注意のギリギリ手前の日程だったのですが、少しくらげがいました。自然のことなので、その辺は難しいですね。
何はともあれ楽しかったです！ありがとうございました！

the boat ride to the snorkeling site was really good. saw dolphins and flying fish en route.
the snorkeling itself was good but not great. not a large variety of sea life. the water was very choppy. Crew were good and helpful. Food was really bad.

They take you just off the beach in Waikiki where the turtles roam. We saw at least 10 turtles on our trip. The cold beverages after the trip were also refreshing. The crew were awesome and helpful for those first timers.

Overall this was not one of the better snorkel experiences. The boat was too crowded, with 61 snorkelers. The right size for the boat should have been about 40. Especially crowded at the start where people were not allowed on the top deck when leaving port.

The crew try their best to provide a good time. They are energetic and enthusiastic.

Food option was another issue. Basically you get either a cheeseburger or veggie cheeseburger. No other choices. I hate cheese. Since food is pre-made, there is no opportunity for a simple hamburger. Drinks are either water or watered down lemonade, served in tiny cups. Should have had more variety and larger cups. You also can get a bag of chips.

Swimming with the dolphin is basically everyone jump in the water, look down to see a couple dolphins swim by, and then jump right back in the boat.

Snorkeling was not rushed, but the site did not have many fish or varieties of fish.

Water slide was fun. Much more fun than snorkeling.

I usually don't get motion sickness, but the boat was rocking quite a bit, and I got seasick. I was pleasantly surprised to see turtles while snorkeling. In fact, there were five of them swimming around, which was truly moving.

普段乗り物酔いをしないんですが、船がかなり揺れて船酔いしました。シュノーケルは期待してなかったカメに会えて良かったです。しかも5匹も泳いでて、それは感動しました。