All Reviews for Snorkeling Cruises & Tours

It was a really wonderful place. The snorkeling spot was also very beautiful. The staff were all kind, and the Japanese-speaking guide was easy to talk to, which made me feel very comfortable. The guitar-playing uncle also made it lively and fun. I would definitely like to participate again if I have the chance. It became a very good memory. Thank you very much.

凄く素敵な場所でした。そしてシュノーケルの場所もとれもきれいでした。スタッフの方々も皆親切で、日本語ガイドのお姉さんも、気軽に話せる人でとても安心出来ました。ギターのおじさんも盛り上げてくれて楽しかったです。また、次も行けたら是非参加したいです。とても良い思い出になりました。ありがとうございました。

I couldn't see the sand, but the ocean was really beautiful. The captain was funny and entertaining! Since we wore life jackets while snorkeling, we could enjoy even the deeper areas with peace of mind. My husband, who isn't very good at swimming, also enjoyed peeking into the water the whole time. The weather was great, and the scenery was perfect. It got a bit chilly at the end, so it was a good idea to bring a hoodie.

砂は見えませんでしたが、海がとってもキレイでした。キャプテンがひょうきんで面白いです！シュノーケルはライフジャケットを着用するので、少し深いところも安心して楽しめます。泳ぎがそこまで得意ではない主人も、ずっと海の中を覗いて楽しんでました。お天気がよくて、景色もバッチリでした。最後少し寒かったので、パーカーを持っていて正解でした。

Molokini snorkel was amazing, recommend to everyone

We were very new to snorkeling and no experience swimming at all. Pat was very kind to take us on rounds over a surf board. The corals were brilliant and both the captain and Pat made sure we happen to see most of the sea beings. Fortunately for us, we came across a Turtle while heading to Waimea Bay and family of Dolphins while on the way back to the port. Plety of fishes at the Bay too. Overall, a wonderful experience...worth the price!

I was able to see five sea turtles during the sea turtle watching, and I felt lucky to see a rare one, even though they were a bit far away. After enjoying beach volleyball and taking photos at the sandbar, as soon as we returned to the boat to prepare for snorkeling, a sea turtle approached us. Did it come closer on its own? It got so close that I could touch it, but the crew informed us that we shouldn't touch the sea turtles as they are protected. I was thrilled by the close encounter.

During snorkeling, we swam back and forth along the boundary of the coral reef and the ocean floor for about 30 minutes, and I was able to see many beautiful fish. I was also excited to see a sea turtle resting among the coral. After finishing snorkeling and getting closer to the boat, three more sea turtles came within touching distance, so I hurriedly dove in and was able to see them right in front of me. The sea turtles didn't seem afraid of people; it felt like they were coming to see us.

One person on the same boat got bitten on the foot by a sea turtle. It was a small wound, but the crew quickly took care of it, which was great. Before we got off at the sandbar, we were warned that if a sea turtle approached, we should not wave our fingers, as it might mistake them for food and bite. At that time, I thought it was just a funny joke from the humorous crew, but it turned out to be a real situation. The crew was very funny, and I hope to join the same crew's tour again. Thank you for a wonderful time!

ウミガメウオッチングでは５匹見ることが出来ましたが離れているため、珍しいウミガメ見ることが出来たラッキー。まあこんなもんかなと思いました。サンドバーでのビーチバレーや写真撮影で楽しんだ後、シュノーケリングの準備のためボートに戻ったとたんウミガメの接近、ウミガメの方から近づいてきた?。数センチの距離でタッチ出来るので触ろうとしましたがクルーからウミガメは保護されているため触っちゃだめとのこと。あまりにも近距離での遭遇に感激。シュノーケリングでは珊瑚礁と海底の境界に沿って往復３０分程度でしたがきれいな魚をたくさん見ることが出来、珊瑚礁の中でウミガメがやすんでいるところも見ることが出来て感激でした。シュノーケリングが終わりボートまで近づいたらたらまたウミガメがタッチ出来る距離まで３匹近づいて来たので慌てて潜り目の前で見ることが出来ました。ウミガメは人を怖がらない、ウミガメが人を見に来た?・・・そんな感じ。同じボートに乗った人がウミガメに足をかまれました。小さな傷でしたがクルーがすぐ手当てしてくれよかったです。サンドバーに降りる前、ウミガメが近づいて来たら、指を出して振るとウミガメがえさと勘違してかまれるとの注意がありましたがそのときはひょうきんなクルーの話で冗談と思いましたがまさかの事態。クルーの方もとてもユーモラスでまた同じクルーのツアーに参加できたらと思います。楽しい時をありがとうございました。

My husband and I had a super sensational time. We loved the water splashing on us and seeing the spectacular coastline was so amazing. My husband loved going under the waterfall and getting drenched so much fun and going in close to look inside a cave. Crew were exceptional as safety was their main goal and the food was delicious. Highly recommend it to anyone.

I felt like I blended into the wonderful scenery. The snorkeling, which I didn't have high expectations for, was really great. I chose the morning-only option, but I wanted to do more snorkeling even past lunchtime.

すばらしい景色に自分が溶け込みました。あまり期待していなっかったシュノーケリングがとてもよかったです。午前だけのオプションにしたけど、お昼をまたいでもっとシュノーケリングがしたかったです。

This tour is highly recommended for those who love getting out and active! Our guides Boris and Garrett were very helpful by instructing us on the basics of kayaking and snorkeling. We spent a total of about 1.5 hours snorkeling and about an hour of kayaking. I enjoyed seeing both coral reefs that we visited at the sandbar and loved to learn a little trivia about the place. I saw some wonderful reef fish and some folks even saw turtles. Afterward, we had a home-cooked BBQ lunch. Yum! The scenery was absolutely gorgeous and I hope to come again sometime. By the way, this tour is a ran by Holokai Kayak and Snorkel Adventure, a wonderful group that also runs a children's non-profit program Kama'aina Kids, which provides local children with day camps for learning environmental stewardship. Proceeds go to support the He'eia State Park and its programs. This place should be on your must see list!

This was an adventure we will treasure for a lifetime. Kayaking among Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins and snorkeling in water with a spectacularly beautiful reef; home to dozens of species of fish. We even viewed Moray Eel and a large White Tip Shark. Words cannot do this justice. Our guide, Mike, was friendly, helpful and informative. It is an ideal excursion for those new to shorkeling and kayaking. The highlight of our Hawaiian vacation. Thank you so much.

I used this tour for my honeymoon. I chose this plan for the morning, thinking we would relax in the afternoon. There were several staff members, and two of them understood Japanese, so even though my English is poor, we were able to enjoy the tour until the end without worry. One of the two was a Japanese woman.

I knew it was natural, but I only saw the sea turtles' heads coming up for air far away a few times. They were too far to capture in photos... I regret not being able to see them up close. From other reviews, it seems some people were able to see them at a distance where they could almost touch them, while others saw nothing at all, so it really depends on luck when it comes to the turtles. I’ll just think of myself as lucky for having seen them at all. The little heads that popped up from the surface were cute, though!

Breakfast consisted of sandwiches and taco chips. It felt more like a light snack than a full breakfast. The timing for eating was just after snorkeling, right before we were about to leave, so it was a perfect moment when we were a bit hungry.

One thing to note is that the stay at the sandbar was only 40 minutes, which is quite short. This time includes the sandbar stay, photo taking, snorkeling preparation, snorkeling explanation, and snorkeling itself, so everything felt rushed. We only snorkeled for a few minutes before heading back. I think this tour is great for those who are okay with just a brief experience at the sandbar and snorkeling, especially if they have plans in the afternoon. However, those who want to enjoy snorkeling more might find it insufficient.

On the way back, you will return in your swimsuit! There is no time or facility to change. You’ll get on the bus before your swimsuit dries. You can sit on the bus while still wet, but the air conditioning is on, and it takes about 40 minutes to get to the hotel, so I was freezing and almost got a stomachache. I immediately took a warm shower when I got back to the hotel. I recommend being prepared to change quickly and taking measures against the cold, even without bath towels or changing rooms.

ハネムーンで利用しました。
午前中のプランで、午後はゆっくりしようと思いこのツアーを選択しました。
スタッフは数名いて、内２人は日本語が理解できる方でしたので、英語がさっぱりな私たちでも安心してツアーを最後まで楽しむことができました。
２りのうち１人は日本人女性の方でした。

自然のものなのでわかっていましたが、うみがめは遥か遠くの方で息継ぎをしに頭が海面から出てるのが数回見れただけでした。
遠すぎて写真に収めることができず・・・近くで見れなかったのが心残りです。
他の方のクチコミを見ると本当に触れるか触れないかの距離で見れた方もいらっしゃる一方、全然見れなかったという方もいらっしゃるみたいなので、うみがめについては完全に運ですね。
私も見れただけでも幸運だと思うようにします＾＾
ちょこっと海面から出た頭は可愛かったですよ　笑

朝食はサンドイッチとタコスチップス？でした。朝食というよりは軽食という感じです。
食べるタイミングはシュノーケルの後、帰る間際でしたので、ちょっと小腹が空いたなという丁度よいタイミングだったと思います。

注意することとしては、サンドバー滞在時間が４０分と少ないこと。
サンドバー滞在＋写真撮影＋シュノーケル準備＋シュノーケル説明＋シュノーケル　全部含めての４０分なので、全てが大急ぎでした。
シュノーケルも数分したらすぐに引き返す感じでした。
サンドバーもシュノーケルもさわり程度でいい方＋午後から予定がある方には、もってこいのツアーだと思います。
ただ、シュノーケルを沢山楽しみたい方は物足りないと思います。

帰りは水着のまま帰ることになります！
着替える時間や施設はありません。水着が乾く前にバスに乗ることになります。
バスは濡れたままでも座ってＯＫですが、バスの中はクーラーも効いてますし、ホテルまで４０分ほどありますので、寒くて寒くて私はお腹壊す直前でした。
ホテルに帰って即行シャワーで暖をとりました。
バスタオルや更衣室がなくてもサッ着替えれる準備、冷え対策などしていくことをおすすめします。

Husband and daughter loved this trip. It was the highlight of our vacation. This is our 2nd catamaran trip from this harbor but first time with this company. Staff was top notch: knowledgeable about dolphin conservation, friendly, professional. Exceptional all around. My daughter snorkeled with a staff member and he swam to the bottom to get her a shell, cleaned it properly and gave it to her. Husband loved the bar. Only gripe: a lower price should be charged for all under 21 yrs old since they don't get alcohol like the adults do but pay the same price.

I checked the tide chart online in advance and participated in the afternoon course. I thought I would see some sand, but even in the shallowest areas, the water was up to my knees.

Since it’s an area with not-so-great weather, it was quite cold. I was really happy for the warm tea service.

The staff were attentive, the lunch was delicious, and I was moved by how close I could swim with the turtles and rays!

Even for someone like me who can't swim, they lent me a life vest, so I was completely fine. My 5-year-old son was also able to join because the staff took care of him while he was on the boat.

The snorkeling and DVD purchase are optional, but I definitely think it's worth doing!

The DVD shoot made me feel like a model, as they took lots of photos in various poses, and I felt it was worth more than the price.

If you bring an underwater camera, the staff will take pictures during snorkeling as well.

We brought reef shoes just in case, but it felt better to go barefoot, so we ended up not using them.

I was worried about seasickness, but that wasn't a problem at all.

It was such a fun course that I want to participate again on my next trip to Hawaii.

The only concern is the weather and how to deal with the cold!

事前に干潮グラフをネットで調べて、午後のコースに参加しました。
砂が見えるかと思ったけど、1番浅い所でも膝くらいまで水がありました。

天気があまり良くない地域ということもあり、かなり寒かったです。
暖かいお茶のサービスが嬉しかったです。

スタッフの方達はサービスが行き届いていて ランチも美味しかったし、何よりカメやエイがあんなに近くで一緒に泳げると思わず、感動しました！

シュノーケルは、泳げない私でもベストを貸してくれるので全く大丈夫でしたし、5歳の息子もボートに乗せてくれてスタッフの方がみていてくれたので、一緒に参加することができました。

シュノーケルとDVD購入は、希望者だけですが、絶対やった方がいいと思います！

DVD撮影は、まるでモデルになったかのように色々なポーズでたくさん写真を撮ってくれて、値段以上の価値があると思いました。

水中カメラは、事前に用意して行くと シュノーケルの時にもスタッフさんが撮ってくれたりします。

リーフシューズも私達は一応用意をして行きましたが、裸足の方が気持ち良く 結局使いませんでした。

心配した船酔いも、問題ありませんでした。

とっても楽しいコースだったので、次のハワイ旅行でもまた参加したいです。

問題は、天気と寒さ対策かなぁ！

I participated in this tour with a friend for the second time in Kaneohe.

The weather was great, and the tide at the sandbar was perfect, just above the ankles! The staff were cheerful, and there was one person from Japan, which made me feel at ease.

If I visit Hawaii again, I would definitely want to use this tour company again.

カネオヘは初めての友人と2回目の私の2人で参加させていただきました。

天気も良く、潮位もサンドバーではくるぶし上と絶好のコンディションでした！
スタッフの方も明るく、日本の方も1人いてくださって安心して参加できました。

次回ハワイが訪れることがあればまた利用したいと思えるツアー会社さんでした。

I participated alone, but the crew was all very kind, and I had a great time. The beauty of the ocean was, of course, stunning, and it was an incredible experience to see a turtle swimming right in front of me while snorkeling. I definitely want to participate again.

ひとりで参加しましたが、クルーがみんな優しくてとても楽しめました。海の綺麗さはもちろん、シュノーケリングで目の前から亀が泳いできたことはとてつもない素晴らしい体験で感動しました。また是非参加したいです。

I was a wonderful trip. Staffs and all are very nice. I saw couple turtles under water and another during the time we were sailing around the Waikiki area. It was a great time ever.

I came to Hawaii as part of my work and participated in a dolphin tour that I had been interested in for a while during my free time. The meeting time was early at 6 AM, but I was able to swim not only with dolphins but also with sea turtles and fish, and I got to experience kayaking as well. Additionally, there was a mini lesson for hula dancing that I could join! It was a half-day tour, and the staff were cheerful and it was a lot of fun. I definitely want to participate again. If I had to mention something, the tour photos were available for purchase on a USB for $60, but when I looked at them later, I realized there weren't many of my photos, so while it was a nice keepsake, I felt it wasn't necessary to buy them.

仕事の一環でハワイに来て、自由時間に以前から興味のあるドルフィンツアーに参加しました。朝6時集合と早いですが、ドルフィンだけでなく、ウミガメや魚と一緒に泳ぐことができましたし、カヤックなども体験できます。それから、フラの体験ミニレッスンにも参加できます！半日のツアーですが、スタッフも明るくて楽しかったです。ぜひ、また参加したいです。敢えて言うなら、ツアーの写真をUSBで60ドルで購入できるのですが、後で見たら自分の写真はあまりなかったので、記念にはなりますが購入の必要はなかったかなと思いました。

We went as a family, but the water level where we got off the boat was up to our chests, so my mother and others had to wait on the boat.

The bus ride there and back was incredibly cold.

家族で行きましたが、ボートから降りたところが胸の高さまでの水位だったので、母たちはボートの上で待機することになってしまいました。

行き帰りのバスが半端なく寒かったです。

I was taken to a place with sea turtles while snorkeling, and I was able to experience the sensation of swimming alongside them. The moment I surfaced to breathe was very cute.
During sailing, it started to rain, and it was cold...

シュノーケリングはウミガメのいる場所に連れて行ってもらい、一緒に泳ぐ感覚を味わえました。呼吸をするために顔を出す瞬間がとてもかわいかったです。
セーリング中は雨が降ってきて、寒かったです。。。

It was a budget trip, so our motto was to go wherever we could without relying on tours.

However, this sandbar experience required taking a boat, so we decided to participate!

In the morning, a shuttle bus came right to our accommodation, which made us feel at ease as the tour began.

We headed to the dock with a cheerful guide wearing a captain's hat. Just seeing the captain's hat made us even more excited!

After that, we arrived at the dock and boarded a boat exclusively for Japanese guests!

The sea was wonderful, but the mountains surrounding it were also magnificent. It truly felt like a movie location.

We arrived at the sandbar in no time.

Oh my! The excitement of standing on the sandbar was overwhelming!!

As someone from a landlocked prefecture, it was even more special!!

The depth of the sandbar varies by location, so be sure to find a good spot for photos.

I got overly excited and ended up striking gravure poses while taking pictures (laughs).

We also enjoyed lunch on the boat in a fantastic location.

After that, we moved by boat to see the fish at the coral reef.

From the boat, we encountered several sea turtles, which brought our excitement to its peak.

I had previously gone scuba diving in Guam to see tropical fish, but this snorkeling experience allowed us to see plenty of fish without heavy gear, so I truly realized the value of this plan again!!!

If you're lucky, you can swim with sea turtles!

It's a very enjoyable plan.

However, I had a few questions.

It mentioned that we could disband locally, so I planned to go to Kailua from the dock. I asked another tour company how to get from the dock to Kailua, but they couldn't figure it out, and I was advised to ask the staff on the day.

But when I checked with the staff that day, they said there were no means of transportation from the dock, and I needed to return to the hotel. So, we had to return to the hotel unexpectedly, and due to time constraints, we couldn't do any sightseeing afterward.

It seemed that the local disbanding option was intended for those with rental cars, but honestly, it was unclear.

However, the sandbar was fun, so if there hadn't been any misunderstandings, it would have been a very satisfying tour!

節約旅行だったため、なるべく自分達で行けるところは、ツアーに頼らずにいくがモットーの旅行でした。

しかしこのサンドバーは船に乗らないと体験できない内容でしたので参加を決めました！

朝、宿泊していたすぐ近くまで迎えのバスが来てくれたので、安心してツアーが始まりました。

陽気な船長帽をかぶった男性の案内で船着場まで向かいます。
船長帽をかぶってるだけですが、ワクワクが増してきます！

その後、船着場に到着して日本人専用の船に乗り込み出向です！


海も素晴らしいですが、海を囲む山々も壮大です。さすが映画のロケ地のことはあります。

そんなに時間がかからないで、サンドバーに到着。

んもーー！サンドバーに立てた瞬間の感動はひとしおです！！

私海なし県民なので、余計ですね!!

サンドバーにも場所によって深さが違うので、良いロケーションを探して写真をとってください。

私は無駄にテンションが上がりすぎて、なぜかグラビアポーズをしながら写真撮影をしました(笑)

素晴らしいロケーションの中、舟のうえでのランチも満喫

その後、サンゴ礁でお魚さんを見に舟に乗って移動。


船の上から、何頭かウミガメにも出会えてテンション最高潮。

以前グアムでスキューバダイビングをして熱帯魚鑑賞しましたが、そんな重装備でなく、今回のシュノーケリングで十分にお魚をみれたので、このプランのお得さを再実感！！！

運が良ければウミガメと一緒に泳げます！

とっても満喫できるプランです。


但し何点か疑問点が。

現地解散可能とあったので、船着場から近くのカイルアに行こうと予定していました。
他社の観光会社で船着場からカイルアの行き方を調べてもらいましたが、結局解らず、当日のスタッフさんにきいたほうが良いとアドバイスをうけました。

ですが当日スタッフ確認したら、船着場から移動手段がないので、ホテルに戻って欲しい。とのことで、急遽ホテルに戻ることになり、
結局時間の関係でその後の観光はできずじまいでした
現地解散はレンタカーのある人向けの記述だったようですが、正直わかりづらかったです。


ですが、サンドバーは楽しかったので、誤解がなければとても満足できるツアーでした！！

Crew was very friendly and helpful. Great place to go snokeling. Even food was good. Well wirth money and time

You get a quick instruction on how to get in and get out of the scooter, and they teach you important hand signals. I don't know how to swim and never been underwater so I was extremely nervous. But everyone gets their own instructor so if you're freaking out, they're right there to help you. These guys were nice and never push you past your own comfort zone. I actually freaked out going underwater so my instructor brought me back up for a minute, let me calm down and tried it again. I got to see fish and even a few sea turtles swim by it was awesome!

My main complaint is that the guy taking pictures didn't catch any of this. He didn't take pictures until AFTER the fish swam by. So majority of my pictures that I paid $45 for are just of me in the water with no fish in it. What a waste!!

Now this is a warning for those of you who get motion sickness: I took Dramamine an hour before going out to sea and let me tell you that didn't work. While waiting for other people to have their turn, the boat was moving like crazy and I got seasick. Two other people actually got sick as well.

Overall this was a fun activity and I like that they let you snorkel while waiting for others to have their turn. However, I don't recommend this activity if you are prone to motion sickness.

Tip: Bring your own underwater camera!

After seeing the photos, I thought it was such a beautiful place that I decided to book a trip to Hawaii.

The result was just okay. The ocean was beautiful, and I was able to see sea turtles up close. The sandbar was nice and clean. However, the snorkeling was a bit disappointing; for safety reasons, we had to swim back along a designated route in the same direction as everyone else, which meant getting kicked by others and it felt cramped. It was like being in a sardine can.

The bus ride to and from the location was very cold, and even with two towels after getting wet, I caught a cold. I think it's really important to prepare for the cold.

写真をみて、とっても美しい所でぜひいってみたいと思ってハワイ旅行を決めた時にまず予約しました。

結果は、まあまあでした。
海はきれいだし、ウミガメも近くで見えました。
サンドバーは、きれいで、良かったです。ただ、シュノーケルは安全のためなんだろうが、決められたルートをみんなで同じ方向に泳いで戻るというもので、人に蹴られるし、狭くって泳いでる感じはなかったです。芋洗いって感じでした。

行き帰りのバスはとっても寒くって濡れた後バスタオル２枚もっていても風邪ひきました。防寒対策はとっっても重要だと思います。

We used this for our first family trip. I wanted to take my parents, who are in their 60s, to do some ocean activities, but I was worried about my mother, who has a disability in her left arm, and whether she could swim. I applied for this tour because it mentioned that you could enjoy it even while on the boat. The sea was calm with no waves, and my mother was able to snorkel safely. She said the staff took lots of pictures and grilled delicious hamburgers, which was really great. I enjoyed it myself as well.

初めての家族旅行で利用
６０代の両親をなにか海のアクティビティに連れて行ってあげたかったのですが、母は左腕に障害があるので泳げるか不安でした。このツアーは船の上にいても楽しめると書いてあったので申し込みました。波もなく穏やかな海で母はシュノーケリングも無事に出来、スタッフもたくさん写真を撮ってくれたりおいしいハンバーガーを焼いてくれてすごく良かったと言っていました。私自身も楽しめました。

According to our guide, there are times when you might not see them, but on the day we participated, we immediately spotted dolphins as soon as we got on the boat! We quickly got ready and headed out to sea. We were able to see a wild mother and baby dolphin playing and swimming close enough to reach out to them. We encountered dolphins 2 or 3 more times after that, and we were very satisfied. We also had an encounter with a sea turtle.

ガイドさんの話では見れない場合もあるとのことでしたが、私たちが参加した日は船にのってすぐにｲﾙｶが！すぐに準備して海へ。手のとどきそうな場所を野生のイルカの親子が戯れながら泳いでいく様子がみれました。その後も2～3回ｲﾙｶと遭遇でき、大満足です。ウミガメとも遭遇できました。

On May 7th, I participated with another man. To start with my impressions, it was an absolutely wonderful experience!!

On the day of the event, the sky was overcast from the morning, and I was worried it might rain, but fortunately, by the evening, the sun started to shine, which was a relief. We headed to Honokohau Harbor by rental car. I had been to the harbor before, so I had no issues getting there. However, when I parked next to another car, a woman who seemed to be Japanese approached and asked, "Is this for manta rays?" When I replied "Yes," she told me that I should park on the opposite side instead of where I was. Although the area was spacious, I was instructed to park between the sea and the restroom (in the narrower area). The check-in instructions also mentioned to park between the harbor and the restroom, but when I actually went there, it seemed better to park in the wider area, so caution is needed.

When we arrived at the check-in bench, the woman from earlier informed a foreign captain about us, and he approached me in English. When I mentioned that I couldn't speak English, he greeted me in broken Japanese. He seemed like a kind captain.

After a while, the people for the shuttle service arrived. The driver appeared to be a somewhat flashy Japanese person? (At that point, he was wearing sunglasses and speaking normal Japanese, so I couldn't tell, but he had brown eyes and seemed to be a half-Japanese young man who spoke English fluently. He would be our guide on the boat, and he was really a nice guy. The woman from earlier was no longer around by this time.)

Once all the participants gathered, we adjusted the sizes of our wetsuits and fins. Although it was stated that wetsuits were available for rental upon request, everyone was given one without confirmation on that day. It was mentioned that only those who wanted to could wear fins. Regarding life jackets, there was an explanation later that they would be on the boat, but I think it's better for those who are not confident in swimming to request to wear one at this point.

This time, there were eight Japanese participants, including us, two foreigners, and the captain and guide, making a total of twelve people on a rubber boat-type (though it's a large and sturdy boat, so no worries) speedboat, and we finally set sail. With this number of people, it was spacious enough, but since it was an open type, depending on the wind direction, we might get splashed with water, so it's better to wear clothes that can get wet.

We left the harbor and headed towards a point behind the airport, which is said to be a recent spot. After about 20 minutes of travel, we arrived at the point near the airport and joined another boat. While enjoying the sunset for a while, we received a lecture about manta rays from our guide while waiting for it to get dark. (The information about manta rays at this time was truly fascinating.)

As it started to get dim, we entered the water. The water temperature was about 26°C, so it didn't feel too cold. While holding onto a stick-like buoy, when I reached the board held by the guide, he said, "Mantas are already here!" I hurriedly looked underwater, and there they were, right in front of me!! Excitement and the fact that it had been a while since I last snorkeled made me swallow a bit of water. (Sweat) We were warned beforehand not to touch the mantas, but they were so focused on feeding that they came right up to me without a care. One by one, the mantas increased in number, and at one point, there were six of them right below me at the same time. As I became more comfortable, I started to observe the cute eyes, gills, and the different patterns on their bellies. By this time, the legendary manta "Lefty" also made an appearance.

After enjoying the mantas for a while, the current started to get stronger. Just then, it seemed that the guide was pulling the board for a slight move. Then, what could be called the main event of the day unf

５月７日に男２人で参加してきました。
参加した感想から先に言ってしまえば、大変素晴らしい体験が出来ました！！
当日は朝から雲が厚く、雨が降るのではないかとやきもきしていましたが、幸い夕方頃には光も射してきて一安心。レンタカーでホノコハウハーバーに向かいます。ハーバーには以前行った事が有り、問題無く行かれたのですが、先行者の隣に車を停めたところ日本人らしき女性が近付いて来て、「マンタですか？」と聞かれたので「ハイ」と答えると、車は此処ではなく反対側に停めて下さいとの事。敷地は広々と空いているのですが、海とトイレの間（狭い方）に停めなければならないとの事です。チェックイン場所の案内にもハーバーとトイレの間に停めるよう書いてあるのですが、実際に行ってみると広く空いている方に停めた方が良さそうに思えてしまうので注意が必要ですね。
チェックイン場所のベンチへ行くと、先ほどの女性がキャプテンらしき外人さんに我々の事を伝えてくれ、キャプテンが英語で話掛けてきてくれましたが、英語が出来ない旨伝えると、カタコトの日本語で挨拶をしてくれました。優しそうなキャプテンです。
暫くすると送迎組の人達もやって来ました。送迎の運転手を務めていたのは一見チャラそうな日本人？（この時点ではサングラスを掛け、普通に日本語をしゃべっていたため分からなかったのですが、目は茶色く英語も普通に話すハーフ？だと思われる青年。彼がガイドとして船に乗り込むのですが、実にナイスガイです。先の女性はこの頃には居なくなっていました。）
参加者が揃ったところで、ウエットスーツと足ヒレのサイズを合わせます。ウエットスーツは希望制レンタル…のように書いて有りますが、当日は確認されずに全員に渡されました。足ヒレは希望者のみ装着で構わないとの事。救命胴衣に関しては、後ほど船に積んで有る旨説明は有りますが、泳ぎに自信が無い方は、この時点で装着したいと申し出た方が良いと思います。
今回の参加者は私達含め日本人が８名、外国人２名にキャプテン＆ガイドの計１２名でゴムボートタイプ（ゴムボートと言っても大きくガッチリしているのでご安心を）の高速艇に乗り込み、いよいよ出港です。これぐらいの人数ならゆったり乗れますが、オープンタイプのため風向きによっては水しぶきを被りますので潮水がかかっても良い服を着て行った方が良いでしょう。
港を出て、最近のポイントだという空港裏を目指します。２０分程走り空港裏岸寄りのポイントに着き、先行艇の仲間入り。しばしサンセットを堪能しつつ、ガイドさんにマンタについてのレクチャーを受けながら、暗くなるのを待ちます。（この時のマンタの話が実に興味深いものばかりでした。）
薄暗くなって来たところで入水します。水温は２６℃程だということで、それほど冷たさは感じません。棒状の浮きを抱えながら、ガイドさんの持つボードまで行くと「もうマンタが来てますよ！」と言うガイドさんの声に慌てて水中を覗き込むと、もうマンタが目の前に！！興奮と久しぶりのシュノーケルという事も有り、少し水を飲んでしまいました。（汗）事前にマンタに触れないよう注意を受けるのですが、マンタの方は食事に夢中で、お構いなしに眼前に迫って来ます。一枚二枚とマンタは増えていき、最多では六枚同時に眼下に来てくれました。少し余裕が出てくると、マンタの可愛い目やエラ、お腹の模様の違いなど観察出来る様になってきます。この頃には伝説のマンタ「レフティ」も登場してくれました。
ひとしきりマンタを堪能した頃に潮の流れがきつくなって来ました。と、思ったら、どうやらガイドさんがボードを引張って小移動しているもよう。すると此処で本日のメインイベントともいうべき光景が目の前に広がって来ます。今までの、ボードから下に向かって射していた光とはまったく別の光が広がってきたかと思うと同時に”リアル竜宮城”の世界が広がります。
ここから先を詳しく書いてしまうとネタばれになってしまうので、ここから先は参加してのお楽しみにしておきましょう！（すでに書きすぎの感は有りますが(汗)）この時期なら帰りの船上もそれほど寒くもなかったので、本当にお勧めのアクティビティですね。
自然のマンタナイトシュノーケリングは、今の所ハワイ島でしか楽しめないそうなので、興味の有る方は是非是非物のアクティビティだと思います。
日本に戻っても”あの光景”はなかなか頭を離れません。次回ハワイ島に行く機会が有れば、マンタナイトを優先して予定を組む事でしょう。必ずリピートしたいと思います。それほど素晴らしい体験でした。

We had an amazing afternoon last Thursday. The crew were amazing. They gave my son (almost 2) a floatation device to lie on with a window and he saw everything that we were looking at during Molokini snorkelling. Wonderful family memories for the 3 of us :)

I checked the low tide in advance and participated at the best time during my trip. There was a shuttle service to the hotel lobby, and we transferred to the designated boat at the boat dock. The boat does have a toilet, but it's basic and located right next to people, so only one person was using it. It seems better to take a restroom break before arriving at the boat dock.

There were many clouds, but it was a warm day, so I was lucky.

After stopping the boat, we walked a bit to the sandbar. Since we walked through the sea with coral reefs, reef shoes were convenient. I bought reef shoes for less than 1000 yen at a supermarket (they were sold as marine shoes), but most others were barefoot.

While anchored at the sandbar, a sea turtle came right up to us. It seems that touching the turtle is prohibited, but it was okay for the turtle to touch us, so we were able to feel its flippers and shell. I compared this tour with a cheaper one, but I’m glad I chose this one after checking the reviews, as we could anchor right next to the sandbar. The staff were all kind, and they took photos with my camera, capturing amazing shots of me jumping.

事前に干潮についてチェックし、旅行中のベストな日時で参加しました。
ホテルロビーまで送迎があり、ボート乗り場で決められたボートに乗り換えます。
ボートにもトイレはあるのですが、簡易かつ、すぐそばに人がいるので
使用している人は1名だけでしたので、ボート乗り場につく前のトイレ休憩時に
済ませた方が良いようです。
雲は多かったですが、暖かい日だったのでラッキーでした。

ボートを止めてからサンドバーまではちょっと歩きます。
その際、サンゴ礁のある海の中を歩いていくので、リーフシューズが便利でした。
私は事前にスーパーで1000円もしないリーフシューズ
（マリンシューズとして販売されていました）を購入していったのですが、
他の方たちはほとんど裸足でした。

サンドバーで停泊中、ウミガメがすぐそばまで来てくれました。
人間から触ることは禁止されているそうですが、亀から触られるのはOKとのことで
手（ひれ？）が当たったり、甲羅が触れたりすることができました。
こちらより安いツアーと健闘したのですが、サンドバーすぐそばに停泊できることや
口コミをチェックして、こちらに決めてよかったです。
スタッフの方、皆さん親切でした。自分のカメラで写真も撮ってくれて
ジャンプしてる写真など絶妙の写真を撮っていただきました。

This was our family's first trip to Hawaii. Since it was highly recommended in every guidebook, we enrolled in Dolphin University.

It takes just under an hour to get from Waikiki to the harbor, but thanks to the cheerful conversation from the driver, we arrived in no time.

I recommend trying the malasadas from Leonard's Bakery.

I forgot to bring my motion sickness medication to the hotel, but a kind family who was also on the trip shared some with me, which helped ease my seasickness a bit. However, I think motion sickness medication is essential.

It was a wonderful time swimming with dolphins and seeing turtles.

家族では始めてのハワイ旅行。
どのガイドブックにも載っていて評判が良さそうだったのでイルカ大学に入学してきました。

ワイキキから港まで一時間弱かかりますが運転手の陽気な会話にあっという間に着きました。

レナーズベーカリーのマラサダも食べられるのはオススメです。

酔い止めの薬をホテルへ忘れてきてしまいましたが同乗した他の優しい家族連れの方に頂き船酔いが少しばかり緩和されましたが酔い止め薬、必須だと思います。

イルカと一緒に泳げたり亀が見れたりと素晴らしい時間でした。

I never imagined I could spend such a long time in the sea. I was able to see a pod of 30 to 40 dolphins, and Su-san's storytelling was amazing! If you're going to swim with dolphins, definitely choose Ilchu or Ildai! Thank you very much.

あれだけしっかりと長い時間海に浸かれるなんて思ってもみませんでした。
イルカ先生の群れも30～40頭でしっかり見れたし、スーさん先生の語りが最高！！
イルカと泳ぐなら絶対にイル中、イル大ですね！！！
ありがとうございました。

I come here every year, and I am moved every time I participate!
I highly recommend it!!!
Since we leave early in the morning, it's easy to plan the schedule!!

毎年来ていますが、何回参加しても感動しますよ！
おすすめです！！！
朝早く出発するので、スケジュールも組みやすい！！