All Reviews for Snorkeling Cruises & Tours

For our last full day in Maui, my husband and I decided to book the 10:30 a.m. Discover Lanai Sail; what a good choice! From the moment we boarded the boat until the end of the day, the Trilogy crew did everything possible to make sure we had an exceptional experience. There were 5 crew for 50 passengers, so one of them was always nearby.

Once we were underway to Lanai, they served beverages, delicious cinnamon rolls and fresh fruit. The humpback whales were very active so the captain did his best to get closer when there was a sighting. As we got close to Lanai, we were surrounded by a school? of spinner dolphins. What fun!

After docking, they took us to the beach — quiet and sandy with restrooms and plenty of shade. Chairs, mats and snorkeling gear were efficiently distributed to get us into the water quickly. There was gentle surf but it was fairly easy to walk in. We’ve snorkeled many places, and this was nice, though not extraordinary. There were many fish, but the variety was limited. Still fun, and crew were very vigilant about keeping everyone safe.

For those who didn’t want to get in the water, (or didn’t stay in very long, like us), there was an island van tour that took about an hour an a quarter. There was no microphone used so I couldn’t hear quite everything, but it was interesting to see Lanai City.

At 3:00 we had a late lunch in Trilogy’s covered pavilion overlooking the dock area. Very pretty there. They served healthy and tasty food — tossed salad, noodle salad, corn on the cob, and BBQ chicken.

On our trip back to Lahaina (4-ish), the crew opened the bar as soon as the boat cleared the harbor for our trip back to Lahaina. Woo-hoo! Whale watching was even better than it had been in the morning. We also saw two baby whale breeches; what a thrill!

There were five of us in total, including ourselves. The guide was really kind and entertaining! It was my first time snorkeling, and without the guide, I would have had no idea how to swim while putting on the gear. During the experience, we were able to see sea turtles twice, and we even got some photos taken. They asked if we needed wetsuits (for $10) when we participated. The guide strongly recommended it, so we decided to get one, and I truly believe I would have been cold and caught a cold without it. While it would be fine for just playing in the water at the beach, they mentioned it was necessary since we would be swimming for over an hour, and I am really grateful for that.

If I have friends going to Hawaii, I would definitely recommend this tour!

私達を含め計5人のグループでした。
ガイドの方が本当に親切で面白く案内をして下さいました！
初めてシュノーケルをしましたが、ガイドさんがいなければ器具をつけながらの泳ぎ方など、全く分からずだったと思います。
また、参加中にはウミガメを2回も見ることができ、写真も撮って頂けました。
参加の際にウエットスーツがいるかどうか聞いて下さいました(10$)。ガイドの方が強く推して下さったのでお願いしましたが、もしなければ寒くて風邪をひいていたと思います。。
ビーチでの水遊び程度であれば無くても大丈夫だが、1時間以上泳ぐので必要と言ってくださり、本当に感謝しています。

またハワイに行く友人などいれば是非オススメしたいツアーでした！

Unfortunately, it was cold weather for snorkeling though tour itself was well coordinated.
And my image of sandbar was less water like land.
I want to try it again in warmer season.

The sea was really beautiful.

I could only catch a few words in English, but I managed. The crew was attentive and considerate.

Since it was the end of December, the water was very cold, and even though it was the afternoon session, I started to feel cold after snorkeling for 30 minutes.

If there had been a bit more variety in the drinks and food, it would have been five stars. (Juice, potato chips, rice crackers, oranges, pineapples.)

海は、本当にきれいでした。

英語は、単語しか聞き取れなかったけど、何とかなりました。
乗組員は、声をかけてくれ、気配りができていました。

１２月末だったので、水は、とても冷たく、
午後の部でしたが、３０分もシュノーケルしていたら寒くなってしましました。

飲み物と食べ物がもう少し様々なものがあったら、星５つです。
（ジュース、ポテトチップス。あられ、オレンジ、パイナップル）

I participated in an early morning tour. On the bus ride there, the instructions were explained very clearly and cheerfully, and they taught us pressure points for motion sickness, which made the journey enjoyable. I tend to get motion sickness easily, so even with the pressure points and medication, I still felt sick. However, I was lucky that day to see both dolphins and sea turtles! Although we were told not to chase the dolphins, they actually approached us, and we had to move aside (laughs). Even when the dolphins were out of sight, I could hear their calls when I put my ears to the water, which felt quite mysterious. The sea turtles were far away, but I was still moved to see them. I couldn't eat the hamburger at the time because I was feeling sick, but it was delicious when I had it after returning home. I didn't bring much money, so I was disappointed that I couldn't order the photo data. Overall, it was a satisfying experience, and if I have the chance, I would like to participate again while enduring the motion sickness.

朝早いツアーに参加しました。
行きのバスの中では注意事項などとても明るくわかりやすく説明していただき、酔い止めのツボなど教えていただき楽しく移動できました。
私はとても酔いやすいのでツボを押しても、酔い止めを飲んでも酔ってしまいましたが、その日は幸運でイルカもウミガメも会うことができました！
イルカは追っかけてはいけないとのことでしたが、イルカの方から近づいてきてくれてこちらがよけるほどでした(笑)イルカの姿が見えなくても耳を海面に入れると近い時には鳴き声が聞こえていることがわかり不思議な感じでした。
ウミガメは遠かったですがちゃんとみれて感動しました。
ハンバーガーは酔っていたのでその時は食べられませんでしたが、帰宅してから食べたらおいしかったです。
お金をほとんど持って行かなかったので、写真のデータを申し込むことが出来ず残念でした。
トータルで満足できる内容で機会があれば船酔いに耐えながらまた参加したいです。

Due to heavy snow in Narita, my trip to Hawaii was cut short by one day. It was a pretty intense two days, but I think I was able to enjoy my time in Hawaii. I had actually booked a sunset cruise for the first day, but unfortunately, due to the flight cancellation and delays, I couldn't change it, and it was treated as a cancellation without any refund, which was really disappointing. It felt like my excitement was taken away.

And finally, I enrolled in Dolphin University! I heard there might be times when we can't meet the dolphins, which made me a bit anxious.

Now, we're on the boat! Departure! Shortly after we set sail, we spotted a whale spouting water, and then we got a message from the dolphin watching crew: "There they are! So many dolphins!" I think there were over 30 of them! They kept diving into the sea, and I was able to swim with them! It was so exciting! There were also mother and baby dolphins! We swam for quite a long time!

Next, we quickly found dolphins again, so we went snorkeling! The sea was beautiful! Wow! The turtle swam among us without being scared and popped up for air to say hello. I heard that touching it would incur a $70 fine!

What could have been a disastrous trip to Hawaii turned into an exhilarating experience, and I'm so grateful for that! You absolutely have to go! I highly recommend it!

成田大雪の為欠航になり、1日少ないハワイ旅行となりました。
かなりハードな2日間でしたがハワイ旅行満喫出来たかな〜
本当は初日サンセットクルージングも予約していたのですが残念ながら欠航遅延で変更も出来ずキャンセル扱いにもならず勿論返金も無くガッカリでした。
楽しみが奪われる〜〜
そしていよいよイルカ大学に入学‼️
イルカに逢えない事もあると聞きまた不安がー
いよいよ船上❗️出航
出航間もなくクジラ潮吹いているー次にはイルカウォッチングクルーから連絡‼️いた〜イルカいっぱい❗️あれは30以上いたかなー
次々海にダイブイルカ一緒に泳げたよ‼️大興奮‼️親子イルカもいたよー！かなり永い時間泳げたよ❗️さあ次はイルカが直ぐに見つける事が出来たのでシュノーケリング‼️海綺麗❗️ワォ‼️カメちゃん人を怖がらず人の間を泳ぎ息継ぎこんにちは
触ったら70ドルの罰金だとか！
散々なハワイ旅行✈️になる所大興奮なハワイにしてくれて感謝‼️
絶対行ってみて❗️おすすめですよ。

The sandbar, which was also used for filming Pirates of the Caribbean, is a place I wanted to visit in the best condition! I predicted the tidal conditions in Kaneohe Bay, hoping that the sandbar might appear, and decided to join the trip with that expectation.

The result was a complete disappointment. Not only was there no sandbar, but I was a bit disheartened to find the water up to my thighs.

However, there’s no doubt that the sea was beautiful, and the strange sensation of being in shallow water despite being offshore was nice.

I didn’t join without doing any research; I had considered the worst-case scenario, so while I was disappointed, I still had a good time.

Just a note, January in Hawaii can get cold when the sun goes behind the clouds! I was shivering while wrapped in a towel on the boat.

The hamburger for lunch tasted especially good, probably because I had it on the boat.

For those thinking of participating, I believe you’ll be satisfied if you join with the mindset of just wanting to see the beautiful sea, without too much expectation.

パイレーツオブカリビアンの撮影にも使用されたというサンドバー。最高の状態で行ってみたい！と思い、カネオヘ湾の潮の状態を予測し、もしかしたらサンドバーが現れるかも！と期待して参加しました。

結果は、惨敗でした。サンドバーどころか、太ももまで漬かるレベルで少しガッカリ。

でも、綺麗な海である事は間違いなく、沖合いにも関わらず浅瀬という不思議な感覚は、良かったと思っています。

何も調べずに参加した訳ではなく、最悪のケースも想定して行ったので、ガッカリではありますが充分楽しめました。

ただ、1月のハワイは太陽が陰ると寒い！ブルブル震えながら船の上でタオルに包まれてました。

ランチのハンバーガーは、船の上で頂いたからか、とても美味しく感じました。

これから参加しようと思っている方は、期待しずぎず、綺麗な海を見に行く感覚で参加されたら満足されると思います。

I participated in a tour on the morning of January 22.

The flow of the tour is simply as follows:
1. Sandbar walk
We got off the boat at a spot where the water was waist-deep and walked. During this season, it can be cold if the sun isn't shining, and the sea doesn't look very beautiful when it's cloudy.
2. Light meal
A buffet on the boat with bread, salad, and fruits. The taste was average.
3. Snorkeling
After a lecture on how to wear the mask, how to breathe, and precautions about the coral, we swam for about 20 minutes. We saw beautiful fish and coral, but there were no turtles.
4. Free time
Time to play freely using bodyboards and floaties. However, it was cold, and many people went back up to the boat. Those who didn't participate in snorkeling were taken on a cruise during this time.

Overall assessment:
- The staff's response was top-notch.
- When it's cloudy, the sea is not beautiful at all and it's cold.

Considering the price, tips, and the season, it felt about right.

1/22の朝からのツアーに参加してきました。

ツアーの流れは、簡単には以下の通り。
①サンドバーウォーク
腰の高さの位置までの場所で船から降り、歩く。この時期だと陽が当たらないと寒く、曇りだと対して海が綺麗に見えない。
②軽食
船の上でパン、サラダ、フルーツなどのブッフェ。味は普通。
③シュノーケル
マスクの付け方、呼吸の仕方、サンゴの注意点などのレクチャーの後、20分程度平泳ぎ。綺麗な魚とサンゴが見れました。亀はいませんでした。
④フリータイム
ボディーボード、浮き輪などを使って自由に遊ぶ時間。ただ、寒くて船の上に上がる人が多い。シュノーケルに参加してない人は、ここでクルーズに連れて行ってもらえた。

総評
・スタッフの対応は最高レベル
・曇りだと、海が全然綺麗じゃない&寒い

価格とチップ、時期を考えると、こんなもんかなぁという感じでした。

I went on the shuttle bus knowing that the bay was beautiful from above. Quick however thorough instructions on the equipment. Once you get used to it the beauty you find in the clear waters are amazing. After this outing everything was stress free for me. All I can say is if you can swim you had not miss this.

A total of eight mantas came by, and I was able to see them up close. When mantas eat plankton, they do somersaults in the water, and they come up so close that I could even see inside their mouths.

全部で８枚のマンタがやってきて、しかも間近で見ることができました。マンタは餌のプランクトンを食べるときに水中で宙返りをするのですが、そのときに顔スレスレまで上がってくるので、マンタの口の中まで見ることができました

The wild dolphins were truly adorable, and I had the best time!! I was also able to see wild whales!! They were swimming side by side and showed us their faces, which was so moving. I would recommend this tour to any friends or acquaintances going to the Big Island!! Captain Daisuke was very friendly, and his love for the dolphins really came through!! For those who are a bit worried about seasickness, I recommend taking motion sickness medication!! I usually don’t get motion sickness, but the rocking of the boat, the waves while swimming, and the tension and excitement completely got to me (laughs). If I get to go to the Big Island again, I will take motion sickness medication and join this tour again!! It was truly the best time!!

野生のイルカ達が本当に可愛くて、最高の時間を過ごせました！！そして野生のクジラも見ることができました！！二頭並んで泳いでてお顔も見せてくれて感動感動感動でした。ハワイ島へ行く友人や知人がいたらこちらのツアーをオススメしたいです！！船長のダイスケさん、すごく気さくでイルカちゃん達への愛がすごく伝わってきました！！少しでも船酔いに心配な方は酔い止めを飲むことをお勧めします！！普段あまり乗り物酔いをしないのですが船の揺れ&泳いでる時の波の揺れ&緊張と興奮で見事にやられました（笑）もしまたハワイ島に行けたら酔い止めを飲んでこちらのツアーに参加します！！本当に最高の時間でしたー！！

It was outstanding. Dan made me comfortable all the time as I was nervous.I would recommend any beginner to go with Dan

Staff is great! Food is good and grilled on the boat. Bring water with you.

Excellent diving with the manta rays, really enjoyed it and was one of the highlights of my holiday.

At first, I wasn't used to snorkeling, and when I jumped into the sea, I accidentally swallowed some seawater and almost drowned. When I saw dolphins underwater, I panicked trying to capture that moment in a photo and ended up swallowing seawater again...

After a few failures, I finally got the hang of it and was able to film the dolphins' graceful swimming. It was a lot of fun.

最初はシュノーケリングに慣れなくて、海に飛び込んだ時は少し海水を飲んで溺れそうになりました。海中にイルカが見えると、その光景を写真に収めようと慌ててしまい、また海水を飲んでしまうはめに･･･。
何度か失敗しながら、ようやく慣れてきて、イルカの華麗な泳ぎを撮影することが出来ました。楽しかったです。

We participated as a three-generation family, including parents and children. The cruise was conducted in English only, but thanks to the staff's attentive care, we didn't have much trouble understanding before or during the trip, even though we didn't speak the language.

The cruise lasted about four hours, and right after we set off, we encountered a sea turtle. After that, whales and dolphins kept appearing, and of course, the Na Pali Coast and the sunset were stunning, leaving us no time to get bored.

The service for drinks and food was also quite satisfactory. If you have the opportunity to visit Kauai, I highly recommend considering this experience.

両親・子供を含め三世代で参加しました。
クルーズは英語オンリー、でも、スタッフの手厚い気遣いで、言葉が分からなくても、乗船前も乗船中もあまり困りませんでした。
4時間ほどのクルーズでしたが、出発直後にウミガメに遭遇、その後もひっきりなしに鯨やイルカが現れ、もちろんナパリコーストも夕陽も素晴らしく、退屈する暇がありませんでした。
飲み物や食べ物のサービスもそれなりに充実しています。
カウアイ島に来る機会があれば、ぜひ参加をご検討ください。

I had a great time! I was a bit anxious about snorkeling in deep water where my feet couldn't touch the bottom, but thanks to the life jacket being fully inflated, I had enough buoyancy and it wasn't scary at all. If you've snorkeled before, you'll definitely enjoy it!

Since it's out in the ocean, there are mostly black fish, so if you're looking to see colorful fish, this might not be the best spot. However, there are plenty of sea turtles! I saw at least five! Watching them swim in groups was wonderful!

It seems to be a diving spot, as there were divers from diving tours below us. I was very satisfied watching the sea turtles and fish gracefully swimming in the deep sea! During the boat ride, I also got to see dolphins and whales, which was a nice touch for Hawaii!

Just a heads up, after snorkeling, the cruising can be a bit chilly with a wet body in the wind, so I recommend dressing warmly. Also, the boat goes quite fast, so if you're prone to seasickness, be prepared. They also do some leisurely sailing with the sails up, which added a nice variety to the experience.

You can easily enjoy this without going far, right off the coast of Waikiki, so I definitely recommend it!

とっても楽しかったです！
足がつかない沖でのシュノーケルが不安でしたがライフジャケットをパンパンに膨らましたため、浮力があったので怖いことはなくシュノーケルしたことある方なら十分楽しめます！
沖なので、魚は黒い魚が多く色とりどりの魚を見たい方には向きません。
ただ、海亀はたくさんいます！5匹は見れました！群れて泳ぐ姿が良かったです！
ダイビングスポットなのか、下にはダイビングツアーのダイバーも。
深い海を優雅に泳ぐ海亀と魚に大満足です！
船で移動中には、イルカの背やホエールも見れてハワイ詰め合わせでした！
ただ、シュノーケル後にクルージングなので濡れた体が風にあたり寒いです。しっかり防寒することをお勧めします。
また、かなりスリリングに船を飛ばしてくれるので酔いやすい方は対策を。
ゆったり帆を張ってスローなクルージングもしてくれるので緩急あって飽きませんでした。
遠くに行かなくてもワイキキ沖で手軽に楽しめるのでぜひ！

It was amazing to see a whale first, then a dolphin, and next a sea turtle! It would have been even better if I could have gone diving in that beautiful ocean! I thought I would like to dive if I have the opportunity to go to Hawaii next time.

最初にクジラに会えて、次にイルカ、その次に海亀に会えて最高だった！
あとはあの綺麗な海に潜ることができればもっと最高だった！」
今度ハワイに行く機会があれば潜りたいと思いました。

There were a lot of fish while snorkeling, but I was a bit disappointed that there were few colorful ones. We went as a family of three, and my daughter, who is not fond of the ocean, stayed close to me, allowing us parents to enjoy snorkeling with peace of mind. We were also able to see sea turtles underwater and seals floating on the surface nearby. The sailing after snorkeling, with the splashes of waves, was surprisingly thrilling and fun.

シュノーケリングで魚は沢山いたのですが、色の付いた魚が少なかったのが、少しガッカリでした。家族3人で行ったのですが、海が苦手な娘にずっと付き添ってもらえて、親は安心してシュノーケリングを楽しめました。海中のウミガメ、海に浮かぶアザラシも近くで見えました。シュノーケリング後の波飛沫を上げて進むセーリングが思いの外、迫力があり楽しかったです。

I was very worried about seasickness, but since there was a 99% chance of seeing manta rays, I decided to join this tour. Unfortunately, it seems the waves were high, and we weren't able to see them.

While waiting for the manta rays, I got really seasick, whether on the boat or being rocked in the water... Maybe because of the season, it was very cold while waiting in the water, and I was shivering a lot, so I thought I should have considered the type of swimsuit I wore. (I rented and wore a wetsuit!) Since it was cold, they mentioned bringing items like a bath towel, but it would have been nice to have some information specifically for women in that regard.

Since I couldn't see the manta rays this time, they said I could come back for free next time, so I'm looking forward to it! But I don't know how many years it will be until then (^^;;

The Japanese female staff member was very cheerful and kind, and she was amazing!!! I'm really grateful!☆

船酔いがとても心配でしたが、99%以上の確率ということでしたので、参加したこのツアー。しかし、波が高かったのか、残念ながら見ることができませんでした。
マンタを待っている間は、ボートの上でも水中で波に揺られていても、すごく酔ってしまいました…。時期が時期だったからか、水の中で待っている間は、とても寒くてガクガク震えるくらいでしたので、水着の種類を考えればよかったかなーと思いました。（スウェットスーツはレンタルして着ていました！）寒いので、持ち物にはバスタオルなどは書いてありましたが、女性のためにもそこの部分の記載もあればありがたかったです。
見られなかった分、次回行った時に無料でご案内していただけるそうですので、期待しています！が、何年後になるか分かりません(^^;;

日本人スタッフの女性の方は、とても明るく親切で、最高でした！！！本当に感謝しています☆

The staff and the dolphins were absolutely fantastic. I highly recommend it. My children, aged 6 and 10, were well taken care of by the staff, and they were able to interact with the dolphins without any issues. The kids were able to enjoy it fully, and our whole family was extremely satisfied. Thank you very much. On the way back, we even got to see a whale, which made for a perfect time.

スタッフも、イルカちゃんも最高に楽しかったです。
おススメです。
子供が、6才,10才だったけど、スタッフさんがきちんと対応してもらい、ガンガンイルカちゃんアタックできました。子供達もちゃんと見れて、家族全員大大大満足です。
ありがとうございます。
帰りの移動中、クジラにも会えて、最高の時間でした。

Swimming with dolphins was amazing.
I recommend taking measures to stay warm on the return boat, as my wet body got cold.
I was advised to buy the photo data from the tour company, but I'm not sure about it. Most of the photos didn't have me in them, and they weren't great for memories.

イルカと一緒に泳げるなんて　最高でした。
帰りのボートは濡れた体が冷えて寒かったので対策して行かれることをお薦めします。
写真のデーターを催行会社から勧められて買いましたがこれは？マークです。　　自分の写ってるのはほとんどなく変な顔や記念にはなりませんでした

While moving, we spotted a whale and got super excited‼️ I think it was all about timing, but I’m glad we got to see it. The sunset was also amazing‼️ After arriving at the spot and getting ready, we entered the water~. We saw a manta ray❣️ It was so impressive. I’m glad we got to see it several times.

In January, for night manta diving, you need to prepare for the cold. I think renting a wetsuit is necessary. However, since it's a spring suit, which is short-sleeved and short-legged, those who are sensitive to the cold should definitely wear long sleeves and long pants (rash guard).

On the way back, it was clear and there was no moon, so the starry sky was beautiful. However, since you return to the port while still wet, you need to prepare for the cold. I think having two bath towels per person would be good.

Since it's nature, sometimes you see things and sometimes you don't, but you have to enjoy it in your own way! The staff were kind and friendly.

移動中、クジラが出て大興奮‼️タイミングだと思うけど、見れて良かった。そしてサンセットもサイコー‼️ポイントに着いて準備後エントリ~。出たマンタ❣️迫力あるぅ。何回か見れて良かったです。
１月は、ナイトマンタは寒さ対策は必要です。ウェットスーツは、レンタルは必要かと思います。ただスプリングといって、半袖半ズボンなので、寒がりの方は、長袖長ズボン(ラッシュ)必須と思います。
帰りは、晴れて月が無かったので星空が綺麗でした。
ただ、濡れたまま港まで帰るので、防寒対策は必要です。バスタオルは、一人2枚あったらいいかと思います。
自然相手なので、出たり出なかったりかと思うけど、自分なりに楽しまないと
ね！。スタッフは、親切で優しい方でしたよ。。

I felt colder than I expected. There were two manta rays swimming around. I was happy to see them, but if I could wish for more, I would have liked them to come closer. I wanted to see more of them.

I was glad to receive snacks and water after getting back on the boat, but it was cold, so it would have been even better if we could have had hot drinks.

思ってたより体が冷えた。
マンタが2枚いてウロウロしていた。
会うことが出来て嬉しかったが、欲を言えば
もっと近くに来て欲しかった。
もっと枚数を見たかった。

船に上がってからお菓子とお水をもらえて嬉しかったが、寒かったのでホットドリンクを頂けたらもっと最高ですね〜

This is a great activity for all ages! The crew are very friendly and accommodating and the excursion is very well organized. We saw several large turtles and one juvenile turtle! The best thing about this excursion is not only do you have the chance to snorkel with lots of turtles, but the crew takes you out for a sail where you can enjoy cocktails onboard. Really great way to end the perfect tour!

Recommendation: if you are strong swimmer, you should consider renting fins to dive down and get a closer look at the turtles!

Beautiful Catamaran the Holokai takes you just out from Waikiki beach out into Turtle Canyon, so many turtles as soon as we got in the water I was absolutely amazed! Excellent, helpful, fun staff. Drinks & snacks on board to purchase very reasonable in price. Excellent Snorkel equipment provided. Will do it all again next time I’m in Waikiki for sure!!!

On the morning of the day I had a reservation, I received a message from the staff at VELTRA saying, "The waves are too high today, and the tour cannot proceed..." They explained the refund and rescheduling process, and I was able to reschedule for the next day. Their response was very professional, and I had no worries at all. I was a bit anxious the next day, but since I didn’t receive a call, I thought everything was fine and headed to the pickup location. However, it turned out to be the day of an annual parade, and the roads were heavily congested. After waiting for the bus for an hour... (I wondered if this could have been anticipated since it happens every year, but all the other tours and buses heading to the airport were also delayed, so I thought it might just be something you have to accept in Hawaii with a big heart, haha). It seemed that the street where we were supposed to be picked up was particularly congested, so the bus stopped on a larger road, and two staff members (one of whom was Japanese) ran to greet us. A large, beautiful bus came to pick us up. Once on the bus, they began with an apology for the delay, introduced the staff, and explained the schedule and important notes in English followed by Japanese. There was also information about purchasing a USB for photos and videos taken on the trip, as well as renting wetsuits. Those who purchased the photo/video package on the way to the destination received a wristband as a gift (one for each participant) and a $5 discount. It seems that if you stay close to the photographer, you might get more photos taken. Upon arriving at the harbor, we used the restroom and borrowed fins and goggles. (We also tried on the wetsuits we rented on the bus here.) Once we found the right size, we boarded the boat. After boarding, we set off to look for dolphins, and during that time, there was another explanation, and we sang a Hawaiian song to show respect for the ocean and its creatures while offering flowers. The cheerful Hawaiian staff jumped into the sea as soon as we reached the dolphin spot and swam to the location of the dolphins. Unfortunately, we didn’t encounter any turtles or whales, but we did meet dolphins, which was an emotional experience that allowed us to feel connected to nature. After that, we moved to another location where we had free time to enjoy snorkeling and kayaking. On the way back to the harbor, we enjoyed taro cheese burgers, bite-sized pineapple, and a small bag of chips each. The staff also performed hula dancing, and everyone participated in dancing together. It was a fun time throughout, and my whole family was very satisfied. Since we purchased the USB, we went to pick it up at an office near DFS in Waikiki that evening, and the Japanese man at the office was very friendly and approachable. You can also receive an eco-bag at this office. I definitely want to participate again the next time I go to Hawaii. If you have children, I think the 11 AM departure plan would be better to avoid putting too much strain on them. Even if you usually don’t get motion sickness, I think it’s wise to take motion sickness medication as a precaution.

予約をしていた日の朝、ＶＥＬＴＲＡさんのスタッフの方から「本日は波が高く催行不可能となりました…」と連絡があり、返金・振り替えなどの説明があり、翌日へ振り替えてもらいました。もちろんきちんとした対応で、何の心配もありませんでした。次の日も心配でしたが、電話が来なかったので大丈夫なんだなと思いピックアップ場所へ。しかしその日は年に一度のパレードの日だったらしく道路は大渋滞。バスを待つこと1時間…。（毎年の事なので事前に予測できないのかな？とは思いましたが、他のツアーも、空港へ向かう予約のバスもどれもこれも全てが遅れていたのでハワイでは仕方がないのかな？と思う大きな心が必要です（笑））我が家のピックアップ場所の通りが特に渋滞していたようなので大きい道路にバスを停めスタッフの方が2人（1人は日本人）で走って迎えに来てくれました。大きい素敵なバスがお迎えに来てくれていました。バスに乗るとまず、遅れたお詫びから始まりスタッフの紹介、今日のスケジュールや注意事項などを英語に続き日本語で説明してくれます。バスの中で写真や動画を収めたＵＳＢの購入、ウエットスーツのレンタルなどについても説明があります。行きのバスで写真・動画のセットを購入した人はリストバンドのプレゼント（参加人数分）、5㌦の割引がありました。カメラマンの方の近くにいると多めに撮ってもらえるような気がします。ハーバーに着くと、トイレを済ませフィン・ゴーグルを借ります。（バスの中でレンタルしたウエットスーツもここで試着してみます）サイズを合わせて、ＯＫであれば船に乗り込みます。乗船後、イルカを探しに行きますがその間、再度説明があり、海や生き物に敬意を表すためのハワイの歌を歌って花を捧げます。陽気なハワイアンのスタッフ、イルカのポイントに着いたらすぐに海へ飛び込みイルカの場所まで泳いでいきます。残念ながらかめ、くじらには会えませんでしたが、イルカに出会え自然を感じられ感動でした。そのあとは別の場所へ移動し、シュノーケリングやカヤックなどで遊ぶ自由時間があります。ハーバーまで帰港する際にタロイモのチーズバーガー、パイナップル1口サイズを1つ小袋のチップスを一人一袋食べながら帰っていきます。スタッフがフラダンスも踊ってくれ、参加者皆で踊ったりもします。終始楽しい時間で家族みんな大満足です。我が家はUSBを購入したので、その日の夕方ワイキキのDFS近くにあるオフィスへ取りに行きオフィスにいた日本人の男性もとても気さくで感じのいいかたでした。エコバックはこのオフィスでもらえます。次回ハワイへ行った際には是非また参加したいです。お子さんがいらっしゃる場合は、11時出航プランにした方が子供の負担にならないと思います。普段酔わなくても酔い止めは予防として飲むべきだと思います。

This was my second Manta experience and I was disappointed not to see a manta. There were a lot of boats out looking, I counted 15 at one time and it was just before dusk. On a previous Manta experience it was later so I wonder if they prefer to feed later when it's completely dark? I felt like I got to the party early and the cool kids showed up after I left. There was no lack of plankton however, so we were amused by the fish that gathered; an entire school under our light. I've gotten used to the 'entertainment' boat staff provides which makes an excursion more fun. This excursion was rather perfunctory. Go out, hop in the water, no manta, ok, go back. Everyone was rather disappointed not to see Mantas, so I'm not sure if that made going back seem rather glum. I realize these are wild creatures but my last excursion (with another company) there were quite a few Manta, like 6-8? It was an incredible experience that I wanted to repeat with my husband and was disappointed.

Staff are nice. Lunch was simple but tasty. When we went there, sandbar was not very low tide and we had rain. So most people stayed at the boat as it was too cold being in the water. Snorkel was nice. It was nice that the staff are watching us for safety when we were in the water. We had to wait for return shuttle for 30 min as there was some misunderstanding between the transportation company and the tour company. While waiting for our shuttle, We saw puffer fish at the marina where boat launch/stay. It was nice surprise.

Great experience overall. It was amazing to see all of those beautiful fish swimming in and out of the reef. I would absolutely recommend this experience to friends.