All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

I had been very interested in this tour after seeing its popularity and reviews. The price was a bit high, so I hesitated, but when I checked again at the last minute, I found out they were offering a promotion for one person free, so I decided to sign up!

I was worried, "Isn't the sea cold in December?" Even after reading reviews, I wasn't sure, so I thought I would write about my experience this time!

During the day, it was warm enough to sweat under the strong sunlight. I wondered if it would be okay at night, but it was really cold due to the strong winds. The organizer mentioned, "Today the wind is particularly strong."

I read that those who are prone to seasickness should take motion sickness medication, so I took some. I was really anxious, so instead of the recommended two pills, I took three!

■ One hour from the meeting time to departure
■ One hour from departure to the snorkeling spot
There wasn't any specific information about how long we would wait. I would have liked to know what time we were departing. Also, the driver was not Japanese, so all the instructions along the way were in English.

The wind was cold, the boat rocked a lot, and the height differences were extreme. Without the motion sickness medication, I think I would have been 120% seasick!!

Many people were vomiting on the way there...

When we arrived at the site and the boat stopped, it rocked even more, making it difficult to stand.

Initially, I didn't feel much cold in the water. We all held onto a square fence while snorkeling! The manta rays were incredibly friendly, doing backflips just above us! It was amazing to see their mouths wide open! I even experienced the thrill of feeling like I might get sucked in! Their big, round eyes were so cute! I brought an underwater camera, but it was too dark to capture anything... It's a shame I can't upload any photos, but the experience is firmly etched in my memory!

I think we were in the water for quite a long time! However, after a while, it did get cold. One person who was holding onto the same fence started to feel unwell and had to get out.

Based on information from the reception at our accommodation, I heard it could get "really cold," so I brought an ultra-light down jacket.

After getting back on the boat, I changed into a T-shirt and my ultra-light down jacket in the restroom. During that time, my partner also got sick. He said he felt nauseous watching the manta rays spinning around.

It seems that almost all the Japanese participants were affected. The girl next to me was crying and saying, "I want to go home" while vomiting. If you're participating in the winter season, don't forget to bring warm clothing! I also think motion sickness medication is essential!

P.S. If you're lucky, you might encounter dolphins.

I think it would be amazing to participate on a day with good weather! We also want to join again next time when it's warm and there’s no wind!

【参加日⇒2014．12．27】

人気度やクチコミを見て、とても気になっていたツアーでした。
金額が張るので悩んでいたのですが、ぎりぎりにもう一度覗いたら、モニターがやってて1人分無料になるとのことで申し込みを決意しました(^^)

「12月の海って寒くないのか？」と心配していました。クチコミを見ても、よく分からなかったので、私はこの度書こうと思います！

日中は日焼けするほどの日差しで汗ばむ気温です。夜も平気なのかな？と思ったら、風が強く心底寒かったですw
開催者曰く、「今日は特別風が強い」とのことでした。

船酔い等心配な方は酔い止めをと書いてあったので、飲んで行きました。すごく不安だったので、２錠のところを３錠飲みました(*>_<)

■集合時間から出発まで１時間
■出発からシュノーケリングの場所まで１時間
どれくらい待つとかのお知らせは特にありませんでした。何時発なのか、一言欲しかったです。
また、途中の注意事項等も運転手の方が日本人ではないからか英語のみです。

風が冷たく、船もものすごく揺れ、高低差が半端なかったです。
酔い止めがなければ、１２０％酔っていたと思います！！

行きの船から嘔吐している人多数・・・


現地について、船を止めると、もっと船が揺れ、立つのが困難な程でした。

海中は、はじめはさほど寒さを感じません。
四角い柵のようなものをみんなで持ってシュノーケリングをしました！
マンタはすごく人懐こいのか、お腹すれすれに背面ターンしてくれます！
口の中まで丸見えで感動します！吸い込まれるんじゃないかという迫力も体験できました！！
つぶらな瞳がとてもキュートでしたo(^-^)o
水中カメラを持っていったのですが、真っ暗で何も写っていませんでした…何がいけなかったのだろう…写真をアップできないのは残念ですが、脳裏にしっかり焼きついています♪

結構長い時間海にいたと思います！
しかし、やはり長時間入水していると寒くなってきます。
同じ柵に捕まっていた方が具合が悪くなり、上がることになりました。

宿泊先の受付の方の情報で、「本当に寒い」という事を伺ったので、ウルトラライトダウンを持参しました。

船に上がってから、お手洗いで上半身を脱ぎ、Tシャツとウルトラライトダウンに着替えました。
その間に、彼も吐いていました(^_^;)
マンタがくるくる回転するのを見て酔ってしまったそうです。

日本人？はほぼ全滅だったそうです。
隣の女の子も「早く帰りたい」と泣きながら吐いていました。
冬の季節に参加する際は、防寒グッズを忘れずに☆彡
また、酔い止めも必須だと思います！


P.S.運が良いと、イルカに出会えるそうです。

天気の良い時に参加すれば最高だと思います！
私たちも次は風がなく暖かい時期に参加したいとおもいますW

I participated in whale watching, knowing it was the season for it. After being picked up from our hotel in Waikiki, we arrived at Kewalo Basin in about 15 minutes. Since it was morning, there was hardly any wind, and I felt relieved that we could set sail without worrying too much about seasickness. Out of the 15 people on board, half were Japanese, and there were many families with children.

After we set sail, we could see the hotels of Waikiki from the sea, which heightened our excitement, and we were very satisfied to see Diamond Head backlit by the morning glow. Suddenly, a flying fish zipped by in front of us, and the boat erupted with cheers. About 15 minutes after boarding, when we looked in the direction pointed out with “OVER THERE,” we spotted them—whales! According to the explanation, there were two mother and calf pairs that come to warm Hawaii for raising their young during this season before moving on to Alaska or Canada. I readied my camera and captured the scene of them spouting water, and after a few tries, one of them slapped its tail. After that, it dove deep, and nothing happened for over five minutes. They moved away.

As we waited for the next sighting, unexpectedly, we saw a spout from a different direction... After witnessing such scenes more than three times, we returned to port, feeling a bit reluctant to leave the whales. According to the captain, the whale watching season is from December to April. We were lucky to see them multiple times today. The day before, they hadn’t been spotted, and it seems December is still early for them. I truly felt that luck played a part in this experience. By the way, in the afternoon, there was an astonishing downpour. I really felt lucky to have spent such a fortunate time.

ホエールウォッチングの時期であることを知り、参加しました。
　ワイキキのホテルからピックアップ後、約15分でケワロ湾に到着。午前中ということで、風もほとんどなく、酔い止めが少し心配な私たちにも安心して出航できそう。いっしょに乗船した15名のうち、半分が日本人でした。子供連れが多かったです。
　出航後、ワイキキのホテル群を海上から見ることができ、ワクワク感がさらに増し、朝焼けの中、逆光のダイヤモンドヘッドにも大満足。すると、目前にトビウオがぴゅーんと。船内は歓声が沸く。乗船後、約15分後”OVER THERE”指さす方向を見ると、いました。くじら君たち。説明によると親子２頭、この時期は、子育てのため温かいハワイにやってきて、その後アラスカやカナダ方面に移動するという。カメラを構えて、潮吹きのシーンを撮ると何度目かにしっぽをパチンとする。しっぽパチンからは、深く潜ってしまい、５分以上何も起こらない。移動してしまうのだ。
　次はどこから、待っていると全く予期せぬとこから、潮が・・・こんな光景を３度以上見て１時間半後、くじらに名残惜しさをもちながら寄港。
　キャプテンによると１２月から４月がホエールウォッチングのシーズン。今日は何度も見ることができてラッキー。前日は見られなかったとのこと、１２月はまだ早いらしい。運もあるのだなとつくづく感じました。ちなみに午後は、びっくりするくらいのスコール。本当にラッキー、ラッキーの時間を過ごすことができました。

I might have had too high expectations for the mystery of the ocean, but the underwater visibility was low, making it difficult to see the fish and coral.

海の中は神秘的と期待しすぎていたからかもしれないが、海中は、透明度が低く、魚やサンゴがみえにくかった。

If you take this whale watching cruise you will not be disappointed. We saw several whales breach along with spinner dolphins and sea turtles. We had a wonderful time!

Since the season has just started, it was initially quite difficult to spot any whales. Just when I was about to give up, the captain shouted, "Look!" and we were able to see two whales (maybe a mother and calf?). Thanks to the staff, we were able to see several more whales afterward. The professional eye is truly amazing! I was thrilled to clearly see the spouting, fins, and backs of the whales. I was surprised that we could see them up so close.

Since there were only a few of us, it didn't feel cramped at all. We could go up on the deck or sit back and relax in our own spots. There was a good selection of drinks, including orange, pineapple, and guava juices, as well as carbonated beverages, and I heard you could get alcohol for just $2. Snacks were also provided, and we could help ourselves freely.

The views of Hawaii from the boat, including Diamond Head and the rainbow over Oahu, were absolutely beautiful, and I was never bored while searching for whales. I had such a wonderful time that I would definitely like to participate again if I have the chance.

シーズンに入ったばかりなせいか、初めはなかなかクジラが見つかりませんでした。
今日はだめかなぁ・・・、と諦めかけていた時、キャプテンの「Look!」の一声。２頭のクジラ(親子かな？)の姿を見ることが出来ました。
その後もスタッフさんのおかげで数回クジラの姿を目にすることができました。
やっぱり、プロの目はすごいですね！
潮吹きの様子や尾びれ、背中などはっきり見ることが出来て感激です。あんなに間近で見られるとは思っていなかったので、びっくりしました。
少人数なので狭い思いをすることもなく、デッキに上がってみたり座ってのんびりしたり、思い思いの場所でリラックスして楽しむことが出来ました。オレンジやパイナップル、グァバなどのジュースや炭酸飲料など飲み物も充実してましたし、2ドルでアルコールもいただけるそうです。お菓子なども用意されていて、自由につまむことが出来ました。
ダイヤモンドヘッドやオアフ島に架かる虹など、船から見えるハワイの景色もとても綺麗でしたし、クジラを探す間も全く退屈しませんでした。とても楽しく過ごすことができたので、また機会があれば是非参加したいです。

It's a amazing experience!!!
We really recommend!!

I chose to meet at the location. I selected the 9 AM option, so I needed to be there by 8:30 AM. Therefore, I left my hotel in Waikiki at 7:30 AM. I woke up around 6:40 AM to get the kids ready. Since I woke up this early, if I had received any communication, I could have done something else instead of going all the way to the North. I completely understand that we can't set sail due to bad weather. However, I cannot understand the lack of communication. It feels like I want my time back more than my money! After all, the payment is processed immediately when making the reservation.

私は現地集合を選びました。 あさ9時からの分を選びましたので ８時３０分 現地集合でした。ですので、ワイキキのホテルを７時３０分に出ました。起きたのは
子供の用意もあり、６時４０分ごろです。これだけ早く起きてますから 連絡があれば ノース迄行かずに 別の事も出来ました。天候不良の為 出航出来ないのは もちろん理解出来ます。でも、連絡が無いのは
まったく理解出来ません。金より時間を返せ！って感じですね。金は予約時にすぐ決済するのにね。

The tour was somehow carried out despite the strong winds before Christmas in December. In a review, it mentioned that "the one-hour journey to the port was filled with various videos and explanations about dolphin ecology from the lively tour guide, leaving no time to sleep!" I thought this would be beneficial for the kids, so I chose this tour instead of just snorkeling.

However, it might depend on the guide for the day or perhaps due to the small number of participants and the use of a minivan, there weren't any detailed lessons, and most people ended up sleeping. Inside the vehicle, there was only an explanation about the $10 rental fee for wetsuits and a reminder to use the restroom before gathering. Of course, the only place to change is the restroom, so I recommend being fully prepared in advance.

The boat was a larger rubber boat! Depending on the location, your belongings might get wet and roll around. Once you sit down, it’s difficult to move or retrieve anything from your bag, so make sure to prepare sunscreen and sunglasses perfectly!

You have to straddle the edge of the boat like a rodeo, and the speed and impact are quite significant, so I wouldn’t recommend it for small children, elderly people, or those who lack physical confidence. Once we reached the open water, we put on snorkels, fins, and simple life jackets, then jumped straight off the edge of the rubber boat to go snorkeling!

According to the tour guide that day, there were "very friendly dolphins in great conditions," but perhaps due to the rain the day before, the visibility wasn't great. We chased a few dolphins drifting below and could see them from above… maybe. The guide gave us a description that it was the best, but I think moving around on a larger boat from a major company might have better points to explore. Alternatively, if you're looking for a guaranteed close encounter with dolphins, a park might provide a more fulfilling experience.

We snorkeled in two different locations for about 10 minutes each! The second time was for fish and coral viewing, but the spots weren't that impressive, so if you're hoping to see many colorful fish in a beautiful blue sea, I recommend shallow, clear waters suitable for snorkeling, like Hanauma Bay.

On the way back, it was extremely cold, and on top of that, there was a $50 charge for the photos taken by the accompanying photographer (optional), as well as tips for the crew. The tour lasted about two hours, and there were no showers or changing facilities, making it difficult to stop anywhere else on the way back, so you would need to return to the hotel to change. Considering the costs and time commitment, I wonder if it’s worth it?

Well, if this is your first time experiencing activities in Hawaii, it might be a good memory to go at least once… Honestly, it seemed a bit lacking for high school-aged kids.

12月のクリスマス前の強風の元、どうにか決行されました。
書き込みで、「港までの約一時間のみちのりは、ノリのよい添乗員さんのイルカの生態など様々なビデオや説明に寝る暇もない！」とあり、ただのシュノーケリングだけでなく、その様なことも子供にはありがたいと思い、こちらのツアーを選びました。
ただ、たぶんその日の担当にもよるのか、はたまた人数が少なくて、ミニバンだったためか、詳しい授業などなく、ほとんどの方が寝ていました。
車内では、ウェットスーツのレンタル代
10ドルの説明とトイレを済ませて、集合とのことくらい。もちろん着替える場所は、トイレくらいなので事前に準備万端にしていくことをお薦めします。
ボートはゴムボートの大きめのもの！
荷物も場所によっては、濡れるし、転がります。一度座ると場所を動くことも荷物の中からなにかを取り出すことも困難なので、日焼け止めやサングラスなども完璧に準備をしましょう！
ボートのヘリにロデオのように跨ぎ、スピードも衝撃もかなりあるので、小さいお子さんや年配の方や体力に自信がないかたにはお薦めしません。
沖に着いたらシュノーケルと足ヒレと簡易なライフジャケットをつけ、いきなりゴムボートのヘリから飛び込み、シュノーケリング！
その日は、添乗員さんいわく「とてもいい状況にとてもフレンドリーなイルカ」とのことでしたが、前日の雨のせいか透明度は今一つ、下に漂っているイルカを何頭か追いかけ、上からみれた！…かな…てきな感じでした。
添乗員さんからは、最高！のような説明も受けましたが、やはり大手の大きめなボートで動き回り、他の最良のポイントも有りかな？
もしくは、イルカとの間近での確実な出会いやふれあいを求めるならパークなどの方が充実感があるように感じました。
シュノーケリングも場所を代えて約10分位を2回！２回目はお魚や珊瑚鑑賞でしたが、やはりポイントしては今一つなので、青い海で沢山のカラフルな魚達をご希望のかたは、浅瀬の綺麗な海(シュノーケリングに適したハナウマなど)をお薦めします。
帰りはとにかく寒くて、おまけに最後に同行したカメラマンの撮ってくださったお写真50ドル(希望者のみ)、とクルーへのチップがいります。
約二時間位のツアーで、シャワーも着替えるところもなく、帰りに他に立ち寄るには厳しい状況なので一度ホテルに帰り着替えなくてはならないので、かなり費用と拘束時間を考えるといかがなものでしょうか？
まあ、ハワイやその様なこともアクティビティーが、はじめてなら１度行かれるても良い思い出になるかと思われますが…
正直なところ高校生くらいの若い子達には物足りなかったようです。

I arranged this for my parents who are over 60 years old. They said there was an hour wait from when they were picked up until they boarded. Was that time for a stroll? The explanations underwater were all in English, but it seems my parents, who don't understand English, were still able to enjoy it to some extent.

６０歳オーバーの両親のために手配しました。迎えに来てもらってから乗るまでに１時間の待ち時間があったそうです。散策の時間でしょうか？海中の説明は全て英語で英語がわからない両親でもそれなりに楽しめたそうです。

This time, we participated as a family of six. The weather was nice, and the waves were calm. The waiting time until boarding felt a bit long. Since you wait under the shining sun, I think it's better for women to prepare sun umbrellas or similar items. The snorkeling at Atlantis was very satisfying as we could see various fish. It was truly great to see sea turtles as well. I absolutely recommend this tour.

今回は、家族６名で参加しました。天候もよく、波も穏やかでした。乗船までの待ち時間が多少長く感じられました。燦々と輝く太陽の下で待つので、女性の方は日傘等を準備されたほうがよろしいかと思います。アトランテイスでの海中遊泳は、いろいろな魚が見られ大満足でした。海がめも見る事ができ本当に良かったです。このツアーは絶対お勧めです。

Loved it my kids got a chance to see dolphins, flying fish and whales several times!!! Absolutely worth the price and more!!!!

I'd like to sorry upfront for my candid feedbacks.

My main objective is to watch the whale; however, there was no whale to watch. The captain tried to raise the expectation of tour participants with somehow false alert such as "01 mile away from whales"... but at the end, no one could sense any whale signals. Even though, the Cruise offered other time to watch the whale, for foreign travellers like me, this is not a genuine gesture - it will be difficult for us to spend another trip to Hawaii for another Whale Watch Cruise. Thus, I suggest it should say that "the Cruise will go around Honolulu in an attempt to find whale, but chance to see whale depends on different factors. If you cannot see whale, take it easy and enjoy the sightseeing..." or something like that.

Lunch will be another area for improvement as the listed dishes are far away from similar one in other normal restaurants.

Other than the above, the trip can be a nice memory when participants can enjoy the beautiful landscape of Honolulu from the Ocean.

First, I received a call from the hotel regarding our meeting point. They informed me to refer to the location listed on the Iruka University website (http://www.iruka.com/index.php?itemid=32118) instead of the place shown on the VELTRA map. However, since our rental car had a flat tire, we had to take a taxi at the last minute. The driver seemed to know the general area, and we were safely delivered to our destination. When we got out of the taxi, our guide, Ryoko, was waiting for us, so we didn’t have any trouble meeting up.

On the day we participated, the boat from Manta University (or rather, its parent, Iruka University) was in Oahu, and they had chartered a boat in collaboration with other similar shops. There were three Japanese people, including my spouse and me, and about 15 foreigners. Perhaps because of the large number of participants, we were on a relatively luxurious boat that had a restroom, and we were able to enjoy light snacks like poke, which were prepared on board. We also had warm coffee to help us warm up, so it ended up being quite a lucky experience.

As for the manta rays, as soon as we jumped from the boat, about eight of them swam up from below, which was truly moving. They approached us with their mouths wide open (of course, they didn’t bite us! *laughs*), and it felt like we could see all the way to their ribs. It would have been best if they had stayed there, but the boat owner's family moved to a different spot, thinking it would be better, which didn’t turn out to be the case. At one point, we were just staring into the dark sea with no mantas in sight. Ryoko from Iruka University also seemed unable to change the location due to the joint arrangement with other shops. However, the initial number of mantas we saw was incredible, and later, although the number decreased to one or two, they swam close to us, which was truly moving.

Since it was nighttime, it got quite cold. After getting out of the water, I recommend drying off as quickly as possible and changing into regular clothes if you can. (So, it’s a good idea to bring extra clothes, especially something like a windbreaker!) If you stay in a soaking wet wetsuit while being blown by the night wind, you’ll get cold in no time.

Personally, I never dreamed that I would have the chance to swim with manta rays, so it was a very emotional experience. I think the number of encounters depends on luck, but I can definitely recommend this tour to everyone.

まず、待ち合わせについてホテルに事前にお電話を頂きました。VELTRAの地図に載っている場所ではなくイルカ大学のHPに載っているもの（http://www.iruka.com/index.php?itemid=32118）参考にして下さい、という連絡を頂きました。ただ、私達のレンタカーがパンクしてしまったため、急きょ、タクシーで行くことになり、運転手さんは大体の場所がわかったようで、無事、送り届けてもらえました。タクシーを降りた辺りで、ガイドのリョウコさんが待っていてくださったので、待ち合わせに苦労することはありませんでした。
私達が参加した日はマンタ大学（というか母体のイルカ大学）の船がオアフ島に行っているとのことで他の似たようなショップと合同で船をチャーターされていました。日本人は私達夫婦を含め3人、外国の方が15人位でした。合同で人数も多かったためか、それなりに豪華な船でトイレがあったり、軽食というのもポキなどを船内で調理したものを頂くことができましたし、冷えた体に暖かいコーヒーも頂くことができ、結果的にはラッキーな感じでした。
肝心のマンタですが、船から飛び込むなり、8頭位がウワ～っと下から泳いできてくれて感動しました。口をパカーっと開けてぐいぐい迫ってきて（別にかみつかれたりはもちろんしません・笑）感覚的に口から肋骨あたりまで口の中が見えるような感じでした。そのまま、そこに留まってもらえれば一番良かったのですが、船のオーナー家族が良かれと思う場所に移動してしまい、結果的に「良かれ」というわけにいかず、一時は、マンタも何もいない夜の海をボケーっと覗いているだけ、という時間もありました。イルカ大学のリョウコさんも他のショップと合同ですし、ご自身の采配で場所を変えたりすることはできず、という様子でした。ただ、最初に見た頭数がすごかったのと、その後も数はぐっと減り、１，２頭でしたが、近くを泳いでくれて本当に感動しました。やはり夜なので、結構寒くなります。上がった後はなるべく早く体を拭き、普通の服にできれば着替える方がいいと思います。（なので服は持っていった方がいいです。特にウインドブレーカーのようなもの！）びしょ濡れのウェットスーツを着たまま夜風に吹かれていると、あっという間に体が冷え切ってしまいます。
個人的にはまさか自分がマンタと一緒に泳げる日が来るとは夢にも思わなかったので、とても感動的な体験でした。遭遇数などは運があると思いますが、ぜひ、みなさんにもオススメできるツアーです。

I'm afraid the whales were very shy during our particular trip. We did see two on 4/5 occasions but only briefly from a distance. In these circumstances I think it's best to look upon the trip as a pleasure cruise because we were treated to great views of the Western side of Big Island. The crew deserve a mention...always polite and courteous...they looked after everyone with complimentary soft drinks.

In December, we went on a trip to Hawaii. Since we wanted to do something special that can only be done at this time of year, we participated in a whale watching tour as a couple. The weather was clear with a beautiful blue sky. We got into the pickup car in front of the hotel and headed to the port. That day, we were the only participants, making it a private cruise. The three staff members were all friendly, allowing us to enjoy the experience with peace of mind. Since the season had just started, there were reportedly very few whales, but shortly after departure, we spotted two whales! Their tails were distinctly whale-shaped, and even from a distance, I was moved to see a whale for the first time. Following the whales, a cute sea turtle appeared in front of the boat. Then, a pod of dolphins showed up! They swam energetically around the boat, having a great time. We were also captivated by the beauty of Honolulu's cityscape and beaches from the sea. It was a very enjoyable cruise. On the boat, there were drinks like juice and alcohol, as well as snacks and fruit, making for a comfortable experience.

12月のハワイ旅行。せっかくならこの時季しかできない事を、ということで夫婦でこのホエールウォッチングに参加しました。当日は快晴の気持ちいい青空。ホテル前から迎えの車に乗り込んで港へと向かいました。その日はちょうど参加者が自分達だけで、まさにプライベートクルーズ。３名のスタッフは皆親切で、安心して楽しむことができました。まだシーズンが始まったばかりだったため、クジラはかなり少ないとのことでしたが、出港してほどなく２匹のクジラが！尾ひれはまさにクジラの形で、遠目でしたが初めて見るクジラに感動しました。クジラに続いて船の前には可愛らしい海亀が登場。さらに、今度はイルカの群れが！しばらく楽しそうに船の周りをバシャバシャと元気に泳いでいました。そして、海から見るホノルルの街並みやビーチの美しさにもしばし感動。とても楽しいクルーズになりました。船では、ジュースやアルコール等の飲物の他、スナックや果物もあり、快適に過ごすことができました。

I made this booking at the last minute because my best friend from Ukraine was visiting Honolulu.

The reservation was made late at night and confirmed promptly by 8AM the following morning.

The 3 man boat crew was very polite and friendly which was fantastic. The boat and the head were clean. No complaints there.

I had made the booking with the obvious intention of viewing whales. But Mother Nature had other plans. We spent the full duration of the ride seeing just blue water, small fish and the occasional airplane flying overhead. Relaxing, but not what we had come to see.

I was very pleased that the company which provides this service has a policy regarding cruises that do not encounter any whales. Because we did not see any whales, the boat captain provided us with a voucher allowing us to take another whale watching cruise with the company at no charge. I will certainly be seeing them again soon.

In mid-November, I participated with my family of four. We have a 10-year-old and a 7-year-old. This was the second time for my 10-year-old daughter and me, as we participated four years ago. We repeated it because we had such wonderful memories.

On the morning of the event, we took a bus from a hotel near our accommodation to the west coast. As soon as we arrived, we ate malasadas and boarded the boat. After a while, the captain spotted a pod of dolphins, so we stopped the boat, put on wetsuits and life jackets, and everyone dove in. We were able to see a pod of dolphins gracefully swimming just a few meters below us. There were several pods, so each time we discovered one, we swam close to them. My 7-year-old son was greatly helped by the staff, who used something like a float to stay with him the whole time. Thanks to that, I was able to concentrate.

We were able to see the dolphins quite closely, and even after getting back on the boat, there were mother and baby dolphins around the boat, jumping and playing, allowing us to see many wild dolphins. That memory continues to energize me even now that I am back in Japan.

At the very end, when most people had already gotten back on the boat, a sea turtle swam by, and those who were still in the water got to see it right in front of them, which was disappointing for me since I had already come up. We also got to experience canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding, and the content was packed, so I was very satisfied this time as well! Thank you very much!!

11月半ばに、家族四人で参加しました。
10歳と7歳の子連れです。
10歳の長女と私の二人は、四年前にも参加したので、２度目でした。
とても楽しい思い出だったために、リピートしました。

当日の朝、宿泊先の近くのホテルから、バスに乗り西海岸まで移動しました。
到着してすぐに、マラサダを食べ、ボートに乗り込みました。
しばらくして、船長がイルカの群れを発見、とのことで、ボートを停めて、ウェットスーツにライフジャケットを着けて、みんなでダイブ。
数メートル下を優雅に泳ぐイルカの群れを見ることが出来ました。
いくつかのイルカの群れがあったので、発見する度に、群れの近くまで泳ぎました。
７歳の息子は、スタッフの方が浮き輪のような物を使い、ずっと一緒にいてくれたので、とっても助かりました。
お陰様で、集中することが出来ました。
かなり近くで、イルカを見ることが出来、またボートに上がってからも、ボートの周りでイルカの親子がいたり、ジャンプしていたり、と沢山の野生のイルカを見ることが出来、その思い出が、日本に帰ってきた今でも、活力になっています。

ほとんどの人がボートに上がってしまった最後の最後に、海亀が一匹泳いできて、まだ海の中にいた人達は、
目の前で見られ、先に上がってしまった私は、残念でした。
カヌーやサップも体験できたり、盛り沢山の内容で、今回も大満足でした！
どうもありがとうございました!!

I participated in the early morning tour. Compared to my last visit in February, I was a bit worried that the number of whales visible from the hotel I stayed at was significantly lower, suggesting it might still be early in the season, but I was able to see plenty of whales without any issues.

This was my first time joining the early morning tour, and cruising while watching the beautiful sunrise was amazing! You can see the islands gradually becoming more vibrant as the light brightens. Since we return around 9:30, it allows for a productive day, and I highly recommend it.

早朝の回に参加しました。前回参加したとき（２月）に比べて、滞在していたホテルから見られるクジラの数がかなり少なかったので、まだ季節的に早かったかと少し心配していましたが、まったく問題なくたくさんのクジラを見ることができました。
今回初めて早朝の回に参加したのですが、美しい朝日を見ながらのクルージングは最高でした！島々が明るくなるにつれ、だんだんと濃い色になっていくのを見ることができます。帰港するのは9:30頃なので一日を有効に使うことが出来、とてもオススメです。

I really wanted to swim with dolphins, and since my return flight was later in the day, I participated on my last day in Hawaii. During the trip there, I received a thorough explanation from the Japanese staff, allowing us to board the boat without wasting much time. While we were searching for dolphins, there were additional necessary explanations, which made it easy for us to get into the water smoothly.

We encountered a pod of spinner dolphins, and there were baby dolphins among them. The pod swam back and forth, allowing us to see the dolphins up close multiple times. Some even performed spin jumps for us. We were lucky enough to see a turtle as well.

I had packed my schedule too tightly, and I only had the last day available, but I managed to squeeze it in and created wonderful memories at the very end. I wouldn't recommend going on the last day due to luggage concerns, but I do recommend it as you can have a fulfilling half-day experience.

The names "Junior High" and "University" made it feel very friendly, almost like a school. It seemed like the age range for participation was broad, from children to adults. They also provide life jackets for safety, and I hope to come back with my mother next time.

イルカとどうしても泳ぎたくて、帰国日の便が遅めだったので、ハワイ最終日に参加しました。
行きの移動中、日本人スタッフから丁寧な説明を受け、時間をほとんど無駄にすることなく船に乗せてもらえました。乗船してイルカを探しに行っている間にも、さらに必要な説明がありました。そのためスムーズに海に入ることが出来ました。
ハシナガイルカの群れに会い、子供のイルカがいました。群れは行ったり来たりしてくれて、何度もイルカを近くで見ることが出来ました。中にはスピンジャンプしてくれるのもいました。運良くカメにも会えました。
予定を詰めすぎて、最終日しか空いておらず、無理に入れましたが最後の最後に良い思い出が出来ました。荷物のこともあるので、最終日に行くのはオススメしないですが、半日でかなり充実した時間を過ごせるのでオススメします。
中学、大学という名前がついていて、学校のようですごく親しみやすかったです。参加できる年齢の幅は子供から大人まで広いように感じました。救命のための胴衣も貸してくれますし、今度は母とも来れたら良いなと思いました。

It was an early morning pick-up. I thought I would sleep on the bus, but I couldn't because the guide gave an explanation about the tour. (laughs)
On the bus, they ask if you want to rent a wetsuit. I think almost everyone rented one this time. It costs $10, but I didn't feel cold, and it gave me a sense of security.
When we arrived at the port, we put on our wetsuits and set off. They keep anything that might get wet in a case. You can leave your waterproof camera, drinks, and towel on the seat, but I was worried they might blow away in the wind, and since I wasn't cold, I didn't use my towel during the tour. It felt nice to dip my feet off the boat.
If there are dolphins, you jump off the boat and swim towards them, following the guide's call. It's quite intense.
When entering the sea from the boat, I was anxious because I can't swim and was entering deep water where I couldn't touch the bottom, but they provide a long float for those who aren't confident in swimming, and the guide is attentive, which made me feel safe.
It's quite tiring, so I thought, "That's enough, I'll just rest on the boat," but since I participated, I recommend going into the water multiple times to swim with the dolphins!
I felt more comfortable in the water than on the stationary boat, even though I took motion sickness medication, I didn't get seasick.
When we returned to the port to change, there were no changing rooms, so all the women changed in the restroom. It would be cold to go home just wearing a swimsuit, so I think it's better to change.
I had some anxiety before participating in the tour, but once I did it, it was no big deal.
I had a lot of fun! (^_^)

朝早くのお迎えです。バスの中で寝ようと思ってましたがガイドのお姉さんのツアーの説明があり眠れず。。（笑）
バスの中でウエットスーツを借りるか借りないか聞かれます。今回ほとんどみんな借りていたと思います。10ドルかかりますが寒さも感じなかったし、安心感もあります。
港についてウエットスーツを着て出発、濡れたら困る物はケースに入れて預かってくれます。カメラ(防水)と飲み物、タオルはイスの上に置いておけますが風で飛ばされそうだし寒くなかったので私はツアー中タオルは使いませんでした。船から足を出して乗るのが気持ちよかったです。
イルカが居たら船から飛び込んでイルカの方に泳いで行きます。ガイドさんがこっちでーす!と呼ぶ方へ。かなりハードです。
船から海に入る時、私は泳げないし足のつかない深い海に入るのが不安だったのですが、ライフジャケットの他に泳ぎに自信の無い人用に長細い浮くやつを貸して貰えますしガイドさんも気にしてくれるので安心でした。
かなり疲れるので、もういいや~船で休んでよう。。と思っちゃいますが、せっかく参加したのだから何度も海に入ってイルカと泳ぐのがオススメです!
船酔いも止まってる船にいるよりも、海に入ってた方が楽な気がします。
私は酔い止めも飲みましたが、船酔いはしませんでした。
港に戻って着替えるのですが更衣室などは無いので女性はみんなトイレで着替えてました。水着の上に羽織って帰るのは寒いし着替えた方が良いと思います。
ツアーに参加する前は不安もありましたが、やってみたらナンて事ないです。
とっても楽しかったです!(^_^)

Last year, I watched dolphins from a boat, and this summer, I saw sea turtles basking on the northern coast. I thought that someday I would like to swim with them in the ocean, so my husband and I enrolled in this tour. Even though Hawaii is known for its warm weather, the temperatures aren't very high at this time of year, so we received information beforehand that the water would be cold. Thanks to that, wearing wetsuits for snorkeling was definitely the right choice. The sea was calm with no waves, and the visibility was clear down to the seabed. The excitement of encountering a large group of dolphins in that environment was something only students of this school could experience. With appropriate guidance from Julie and the other instructors, the dolphins felt safe enough to approach and swim with us.

Additionally, we saw three sea turtles sleeping on the seabed, but when we entered the classroom (the ocean), they woke up and gracefully showcased their swimming skills. Watching their elegant movements, we, who initially struggled with swimming using fins, naturally began to swim like the dolphins with a dolphin kick!?

The reason we were able to have such a meaningful class was that Julie and the instructors created a fun atmosphere on the boat while ensuring safety measures were in place. This allowed the students to unite and adhere to the rules. I hope to have the opportunity to return again in the summer and would love to retake the course.

昨年、イルカを船上からウォッチし、今夏はノースの海岸で甲羅干しをしていたウミガメを見て、いつかは海の中で一緒に泳ぎたいと思い、このツアーに夫婦で入学しました。常夏のハワイと言っても、今の時期は気温もそんなに高くならないので、海中は冷たいとの情報を事前に頂いていたおかげで、ウエットスーツを着用してシュノーケリングをしたのは大正解でした。波もなく、穏やかな海の中で海底まで透き通って見え、その中でのイルカの大群に出会えた時の感激はこの学校の生徒でなければ味わえないものでした。授業を進めるジュリーさんはじめ、インストラクターの方々の適切な指示によって、イルカ先生も安心して近づいて一緒に泳いでくれました。
また、ウミガメ大先生も３匹も海底で寝ていましたが、私たち生徒が教室（海中）に入っていくとお目覚めとなって、優雅な泳ぎを披露してくました。その優雅な泳ぎを見て、フィンを付けての泳ぎに最初はぎこちなかった私たちも自然とイルカ先生と同じようにドルフィンキックで泳げるようになった！？
今回、非常に有意義な授業を受けることができたのは、ジュリーさんはじめインストラクターの方々が楽しく船上を盛り上げ且つ安全対策をしっかり講じてくれていたからこそ、生徒が団結でき学則？をしっかり守ることができたからだと思います。夏季に再び行く機会があるので、是非再履修したいと思います。

I was recommended by a friend and participated as a monitor! We boarded the bus at 6 AM while it was still dark, and received explanations about the dolphins from our humorous class representative, Sue, as well as information about snorkeling. I was excited to hear that dolphins can understand our feelings!

The sea began to come into view from the bus, calm and with perfect weather! My mood was already at its peak from inside the bus (laughs). We received ginger anti-nausea tablets for free, and everyone in our class took them. (I actually didn’t feel nauseous!)

The water was warm, but the wind felt very cold on our bodies after being splashed with seawater, so I rented a wetsuit for $10. After the experience, I strongly felt it was worth it to rent one. In fact, even those who are sensitive to the cold might find it chilly even while wearing a wetsuit!

When we arrived at the site and got off the bus, we were greeted by a gentle sea breeze and the sunrise. We stretched in the refreshing weather and then boarded the boat! We rode on a boat that looked like two banana boats stuck together, speeding off in search of dolphins! Along the way, we also saw a sea turtle floating comfortably.

We were able to see the mountain scenery known as the "Hand of God." After about 30 minutes on the boat, the captain signaled that dolphins had been spotted!! We hurriedly put on our fins and masks, and with the signal to go, we jumped into the sea! (Those who are afraid of the sea might hesitate here... but if you don’t jump in quickly, you won’t see the dolphins.)

We all swam hard after the fast Sue, moving away from the boat. When Sue said, "Look down!" and we looked down, there were dolphins swimming happily below us!! There were about 20 of them. There were baby dolphins too, and I almost lost it from their cuteness (laughs).

After that, we returned to the boat and were told we could dive in again! We were able to see even more dolphins up close this time—so adorable! In our class, there was a 5-year-old boy who was scared and didn’t go into the water the first time, but he joined us for dolphin watching with the adults the second time (^^).

And surprisingly, we had another chance to dive! Those who were tired could take a break, but we all went together. Then we could hear the voices of the dolphins!! It was moving!! They were chattering away, giving me goosebumps! After the third snorkeling session, we were served warm tea on the boat.

However, snorkeling uses quite a bit of energy, so I recommend that those who lack stamina or aren’t confident in swimming enjoy at their own pace. (You can definitely get through it with excitement, though (laughs)).

In the second session, we moved to a snorkeling spot to meet the sea turtles, but the sea turtle was unexpectedly absent (laughs). I thought it couldn’t be helped since it’s nature, and I leisurely watched the fish. I had brought an underwater camera, so I took a lot of pictures here. During the dolphin session, I was too focused on swimming and taking it all in, so I think it’s best to watch without anything in hand.

Sue and the cameraman dove down to get sea urchins and other mysterious creatures (laughs), which was quite interesting! After returning to the boat, we enjoyed some Danish and cheese snacks. Sweet food is the best for a tired body!

On the way back, the boat felt a bit cold again. A wetsuit is definitely essential. I heard that if we were lucky, we might see a whale, but we didn’t see one—what a shame!

When we returned to the dock, we took photos together and changed clothes in the restroom to wrap up the day. The group photo was emailed to us later—so nice! We also received eco-bags as graduation souvenirs! Apparently, the title is "Junior High School Graduate" (laughs).

On the bus ride back, everyone was fast asleep (laughs). I made such wonderful memories! Next time, I want to visit Dolphin University or meet the manta rays (^^). I truly made fantastic

友人にお勧めされ、モニターで参加してきました!まだ暗い朝6時にバスに乗り込み、ユーモアたっぷり学級委員長のスーさんによるイルカ先生の説明や、シュノーケルについての説明を受けました。
イルカは私たちの気持ちがわかるということを聞いてワクワク感が高まりました！
バスから見えはじめた海は穏やかで、天気も抜群！バスの中からすでに気分は最高潮でした(笑)
ジンジャーでできた酔い止めを無料で頂いて、私たちのクラスの人はみんな飲んでいました。
(実際に酔いませんでした！)
海の中は温かいけど、海水を浴びた体に風が当たると非常に寒いとのことで、ウェットスーツを10ドルでレンタルしました。体験後、借りてよかったと強く思いました。むしろ寒がりの人はウェットスーツ着ていても寒いぐらいです！
現地についてバスを降りると穏やかな海風と日の出がお出迎え。
すがすがしい天気の中ストレッチをして、いざ乗船！
バナナボートを2つくっつけたような船に乗り、結構なスピードでイルカ探し！
途中でウミガメ先生が気持ちよさそうにプカプカ浮いている姿も見ることができました。
神の手？とよばれている山の景色も見ることができました。
そして30分くらい船に乗った後、船長からイルカ発見！！との合図。
急いでフィンをつけて、マスクをつけ、GO!の合図で海にドボン！(海が怖い人は、ここですこし戸惑ってしまうかも…でもすぐ入らないとイルカ先生は見られません)
泳ぎの速いスーさんのあとにみんなで一生懸命ついていき、船から離れます。
スーさんの「下見て！」の合図で下を向くと、そこには気持ちよさそうに泳ぐイルカ先生が！！
ざっと20匹ぐらいいました。子供イルカもいて、あまりの可愛さにおもわず発狂しかけました(笑)
そのあと一回船に戻り、もう1度見られるということで海にダイブ！
1回目よりも多くのイルカを近くで見られました～本当にかわいい！
同じクラスには5歳の男の子がいて、1回目は怖がって海には入らなかったのですが、2回目には大人に交じってみんなでイルカウォッチングできました（＾＾）
そしてなんと、もう1回潜れるチャンスがあるとのこと！
疲れた人は休憩でOKなのですが、みんなで行きました。
するとイルカ先生の声が聞けました～！！感動！！キューキューおしゃべりしていて、鳥肌モノです！
3回目のシュノーケルの後には温かいお茶を船上でふるまってくれました。
ただ、1回のシュノーケルで結構な体力を使うので、体力がなくて泳ぎに自信がない方は自分のペースで楽しむことをお勧めします。(結構テンションで乗り切れる感じもしますが(笑))
2時限目にはウミガメ先生に会いにシュノーケルスポットを移動したのですが、ウミガメ先生はまさかの無断欠勤(笑)
こればっかりは自然のことなので、しょうがないかなと思いつつお魚さんたちをゆったりとウォッチングしました。
水中カメラを持って行っていたので、私はここで写真をたくさん撮りました。イルカ先生のときは泳ぐのと目に焼き付けるのに必死すぎて、手ぶらで見るのが1番だと思います。
スーさんやカメラマンさんがウニやよくわからない生物(笑)を潜ってとってきてくれてなかなかおもしろかったです！
船に戻り、デニッシュとチーズの軽食を頂きました。疲れた体には甘い食べ物が1番ですね！
帰りの船はやはり少し寒く感じました。やっぱりウェットスーツは必須ですね。
運が良ければ、クジラ大先生も見られるとの話でしたが見られませんでした～残念！
船着き場に戻ってみんなで写真を撮ってトイレでお着替えをして終了です。
みんなでの写真は後日メールで送られてきました～うれしい！
そして卒業記念品にエコバッグ頂きました！肩書きは「中卒」らしいです(笑)
帰りのバスではみんな爆睡(笑)とっても素敵な思い出ができました！
今度はイルカ大学か、マンタ先生にもお会いしたいな～（＾＾）
本当に素敵な思い出ができました！また絶対イルカ先生に会いに行きます☆

I was looking forward to the whale watching. On the day of the tour, we were blessed with clear skies and headed to the pickup location with high expectations. When we arrived, the person who greeted us was a woman who couldn't speak Japanese, but when I communicated that I couldn't speak English, she explained everything multiple times using gestures and slow pronunciation. We headed to the port in one car with another Western couple. As a result, there were only four of us on this day’s optional tour. It was quite nerve-wracking to be the only Japanese people, just my husband and I, among the staff and participants, but the staff was very friendly and quickly eased our worries. As soon as we set sail, they served us drinks and light snacks. With the clear weather, I was first moved by the blue sea and sky, the horizon stretching endlessly, and when I looked back, I could see Honolulu across the sea, which was breathtaking. Along the way, a pod of dolphins swam alongside the boat for a while, and we took lots of photos and videos. Since it was just the beginning of the whale watching season, we didn’t encounter any whales, but the private feel of the cruising experience was more than worth the cost of the optional tour. (Of course, they also provided us with a re-boarding ticket for the same season.) During the cruise, they kindly lent me a jacket when they saw I was cold from the wind, took photos for us, and offered us drinks before we even finished the previous ones. Their attentive service was truly exceptional.

楽しみにしていたホエールウォッチング。当日は快晴に恵まれて期待してピックアップ場所に向かいました。ピックアップ場所に現れたのは日本語が伝わらない女性でしたが、こちらも英語が話せないことを伝えると、身振り手振りとゆっくりとした発音で何度も説明してくれました。港へは別の西洋人カップル？と一台の車で向かいました。結果、この日のオプショナルツアー体験者はこの四人だけでした。スタッフも体験者も含めて日本人が私達夫婦二人だけという大変不安な船出でしたが、スタッフの方も大変気さくに話してくださりすぐに不安も無くなりました。出港するとすぐに飲み物と軽食を出してくれました。快晴ということもあり、青い海と空にまず感動、海の先はどこまでも続く水平線、後ろをみると海越しのホノルル、それだけでも感動でした。途中、イルカの群れがしばらく船と一緒に泳いでくれて写真や動画をとりまくりました。ホエールウォッチングのシーズンが始まったばかりということもあり、ホエールには出会うことができませんでしたが、プライベート感抜群のクルージングだけでオプショナルツアー代金以上の感動でした。（もちろん同シーズンの再乗船券はくれました）クルーズ中、風で寒がっている私を見て上着を貸してくれたり、写真を撮ってくれたり飲み物が飲み終わらないうちに次の飲み物をすすめてくれたり本当に手厚い対応をしてくださいました。

Short and accurate recommendation...my wife said "that was totally worth getting seasick for!"

Take dramamine and have a great trip.

I had a reservation at 8 o'clock, but I was informed that it was changed to 11 o'clock. However, when they contacted me again, I couldn't answer the phone. When I called back, they said they didn't understand Japanese... Although I was a bit flustered, I managed to understand that the pickup time had changed, and I was able to participate in the tour without any issues!

There were only my husband and me as Japanese participants, so I felt a bit anxious, but the staff were friendly, and the language barrier didn't matter at all! Unfortunately, we couldn't see the whales, but we were able to see sea turtles and a pod of dolphins!! They mentioned that if we didn't see any whales, we could try again, but this time the schedule didn't match.

However, I definitely want to see whales someday, so if I have the opportunity to go to Hawaii again, I will definitely sign up for the same tour. Even though we couldn't see the whales, I really enjoyed the cruise, so it was very worthwhile!

8時に予約していたのですが、あちらから、11時に変更になったと連絡がありました。しかし、再度あちらから連絡があった際、電話に出ることが出来ず。かけ直すと、日本語はわからないとのこと…ちょっと焦りながらも、どうにかピックアップ時間が変更になったことを聞き取れることができ、ツアーに無事参加することが出来ました！
ツアー参加の日本人は、私と主人だけだったので、少し不安でしたが、スタッフの皆さんフレンドリーで言葉の壁なんて関係ありませんでした！
残念ながら、肝心のホエールは見れませんでしたが、ウミガメとイルカの群れを見ることが出来ました！！
見れなかったら再度チャレンジ！ってことだったのですが、今回は日程が合いませんでした。
でも、いつか絶対ホエールを見たいので、ハワイに行く機会があれば、必ずまた同じツアーに申し込みたいと思います。
ホエールを見れなくても、クルーズを楽しめたので凄く価値がありました！

This time, I challenged myself to night snorkeling for the first time! I was worried about panicking in the dark ocean, but those worries were completely unnecessary! After the crew (the captain and two assistants) explained everything in English, a Japanese guide kindly interpreted, which made me feel really safe and secure!

We were able to take lots of photos before departure, and during sunset, we captured some beautiful shots of the sunset! As for the main attraction, the manta rays, we were able to see nearly ten of them! They came close enough to swim right by us, and we even saw them doing flips while feeding! The manta rays, with their large mouths wide open, came within about five centimeters of us, and it was truly an impressive sight.

After snorkeling, snacks (ahi poke, tako poke, Ritz crackers, chocolate, gummies, etc.) and drinks (hot cocoa, coffee, cola, etc.) were served on the boat!

Additionally, on the way back, we even received a graduation certificate from Manta University! I enjoyed every moment from start to finish! I highly recommend this tour!

今回、初めてナイトシュノーケリングに挑戦しました！
暗い夜の海の中ではパニックにならないかと不安でしたが、そんな心配は無用の長物！！
クルー（船のキャプテンとアシスタント2名）の方が英語で説明された後、日本人ガイドさんが丁寧に通訳してくれたのでほんとに安心安全でした！
出港前から写真もたくさん撮れましたし、日没の時間帯には夕焼けショットも！
メインのマンタですが、、
なんと！！10枚近くも見ることができました。
至近距離まで遊泳に来てくれ、餌を食べながらくるりと宙返りする姿も見れました！
大きい口をぱっくり開けて、目の前5センチくらいまで近寄ってくるマンタは、本当にすごい迫力でした。

シュノーケリングの後には、船内でスナック（アヒポキ、たこポキ、
リッツ、チョコレート、グミなど）とドリンク（ホットココア、
コーヒー、コーラなど）が配られました！

また、帰りにはマンタ大学の卒業証書までもらえました！
最初から最後までどっぷり満喫できました！
とってもおすすめのツアーです！

I could clearly see that the staff is committed to safe operations. If you're going to board, it might be better to choose a time in Japanese. I think discussions about fish names and history are better in Japanese than in English. It was interesting to see sea turtles, rays, and sharks under the sunken ship. Unlike an aquarium, you can truly enjoy the depth of the ocean.

安全運行をスタッフが心がけているのが良くわかりました。
搭乗するなら、日本語の時間帯が良いかも。魚の名前や歴史の話など英語よりも日本語がいいと思います。
ウミガメやエイ、沈没船の下にいる鮫など面白かったです。
水族館と違い、奥行きのある海の中が堪能できます。

They did a great job with my young kids. Everyone got in the water and had fun. When the 5 year old was ready to get back on the boat, they took her and let the adults stay in the water. Professional and fun.

I participated with a friend. We signed up for a members-only monitor tour. Since we used this service during our last trip to Hawaii, we decided to go with them again this time. The printed voucher mentioned that we should contact the tour company for final confirmation of our reservation by 5 PM the day before, so I called (I don't remember needing to contact them during our last visit, so it might just be for the monitor tour).

We had a reservation for the second session at 10:30, but the staff member who answered the phone said, "Due to the availability of reservations, we will have to move you to the first session." I thought it was understandable since it was a monitor tour, but I would have appreciated at least a hint of consideration for our schedule (laughs).

On the day of participation, we gathered at the entrance of the Hyatt Hotel. It seemed like the Hyatt entrance was a meeting point for various tours, as there were many people. The vehicle for Dolphin Junior was a flashy yellow school bus, so we boarded without getting lost. Since it was an early morning tour, I was honestly quite sleepy, but the instructor was very good at explaining! I was able to enjoy listening to her explanations. On the way to our destination on the west coast, we passed by a park famous for the tree from the song "This Tree, What Tree," and the instructor pointed out good photo opportunities (laughs).

After arriving at our destination, we rented wetsuits (for a fee of $10) and headed out to sea by boat. The wind was quite strong that day, creating whitecaps. The boat was rocking a lot, and a few participants were feeling unwell. I was initially worried about whether we would be able to see dolphins with such waves, but after about 10 minutes, we spotted them! We were able to see a group of about 20 dolphins. We then repeatedly swam with the dolphins by jumping into the sea ahead of their path, and we were able to swim with them a total of three times!

After swimming with the dolphins, we went snorkeling to look for fish and turtles. The water was murky, likely due to the high waves, so we couldn't see the fish clearly. I saw turtles come up to the surface to breathe twice from the boat. During my last participation, I was able to swim with two turtles while snorkeling, so I think it just depends on luck.

That said, I was very satisfied to have swum with the main attraction, the dolphins, three times! The staff on the boat were all very kind and friendly. I definitely want to use this service again next time.

友人と二人で参加。
会員限定モニターツアーに申し込みました。前回のハワイ旅行でも利用させていただいたので、今回もこちらで。
印刷したバウチャーに、予約前日の17時までにツアー会社に予約内容最終確認のため連絡するよう書いてあったので電話しました(前回利用時には連絡した覚えがなかったので、モニターツアーだけかもしれません)。
二部の10:30からの予約だったのですが、電話に出たスタッフさんが「予約の空き状況の都合上、一部での参加にさせていただきます」と一言。モニターツアーですし仕方ないかなとは思いましたが、こちらの予定を伺う素振りくらいは見せて欲しかったです（笑）
参加当日、ハイアットホテルの玄関に集合。ハイアット玄関口はいろんなツアーの集合場所になっているみたいで、たくさん人がいました。イルカ中学は黄色いスクールバスのような派手な車だったので、迷うことなく乗車。朝早いツアーだったので、正直かなり眠かったのですが、インストラクターのお姉さんのお話がとても上手！楽しく説明を聞くことができました。目的地の西海岸に向かう途中に「♩このー木なんの木」で有名な木がある公園近くを通るので、お姉さんがシャッターチャンスも教えてくれます（笑）
目的地到着後、ウェットスーツを借りて(有料10ドル)、ボートで海へ。この日は結構風が強く、白波が立ってました。ボートの揺れが激しく、一緒に参加された方でダウンしている人も何人かいました。
こんなに波があってイルカちゃんが見えるのか…？と最初不安になりましたが、10分ほどでイルカ発見。20頭ほどの群れを見ることができました〜。その後もイルカが通る道を先回りして、海に飛び込んで、を繰り返して、合計3回イルカと泳ぐことができました！
イルカと泳いだ後は、魚とカメを探してシュノーケル。波が高いせいか水中が濁り、魚もはっきりとは見れませんでした。カメはボート上で呼吸をしに水面に上がってきたのを2回見ました。
前回参加時はシュノーケル中にカメ2匹と泳げたので、こればかりは運だと思います。
とはいえ、メインのイルカと3回も一緒に泳げたので大満足です！
船に乗っていたスタッフさんも皆さん優しかったですし、とてもフレンドリーでした。
次回も是非利用したいです。

We gathered at 9 AM and took a bus for about 30 minutes to the port. During the bus ride, they provided detailed explanations about the types of dolphins, precautions, and how to use the equipment. If you are prone to motion sickness, it’s a good idea to take some medication on the bus!

Once we arrived at the port, those who needed it could rent a wetsuit for $10. When I participated, everyone, both men and women, rented one. The water was a bit cold during this time.

And off we go to meet the dolphins! Just when I thought, "They’re not coming out," I spotted a dolphin's fin! With the guide's excited shout of "There it is!", we quickly got our gear ready and jumped into the sea from the boat. I was truly thrilled to see a pod of dolphins up close!

Next, we moved to meet the turtles. While we could see the dolphins very closely, the turtles were so close that we could almost reach out to them! (Please do not touch them.) We were able to see about 4 to 5 turtles and had a wonderful time.

The staff and guides were very friendly, making the tour enjoyable. I initially hesitated to join, but it turned out to be the best tour I participated in during my trip to Hawaii!

朝9時集合、バスに30分程乗り港へ向かいます。
バスの中では、イルカの種類や注意事項、用具の使用方法など丁寧に説明してくれます◎
酔いやすい方は、バスの中で酔い止めを飲んでおくと良いかと！
港についてから、必要な方は１０ドルでウェットスーツを借りることができます。
私が参加した際は男女全員借りてました。この時期は少し水か冷たい＞＜

いざ！イルカ先生にあいに！
「なかなかでてこないなー」と思っていると、イルカの背びれが！
ガイドさんの「いたー！」という声とともに、すぐに装備を完璧にしてボートから海に飛び込みます。間近にイルカの群れを見ることができ、本当に感激しました！！

次はカメにあいに移動をします。
イルカも本当に間近で見ることができましたが、カメは手に届くほどの近さで見ることができました！（※触ってはいけません）
4.5匹ほど見ることができ、とても素敵な時間を過ごすことが出来ました。

スタッフさん、ガイドさんもとても気さくな方達で楽しくツアーに参加出来ました。
はじめは参加を悩んでいましたが、ハワイ旅行の中で一番参加してよかったと思えたツアーでした！！