All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

Today me and my husband take part in shark encounter-u have to try it!!)) Actually we thought we'll get more adrenalin, but it turned out it's really safe and exiting trip. Like a "bonus" we saw wales and dolphins, and crew of the boat told a lot interesting facts about sharks that we didn't know. For sure u have to take go pro with u and a camera just in case ull see wales)

The pickup bus was quite late. I understand that it's the same for people from other countries, but there was no explanation in English, only in their language, and they couldn't speak Japanese. Inside the submarine, the chatter of those people was loud, and I couldn't enjoy it much. Additionally, the weather conditions were bad, the water was murky, and there were hardly any fish, so honestly, I felt like I wanted a refund. It's disappointing. I hope for a better experience next time.

迎えのバスもずいぶん遅れた。他国の方と同じなのは理解できるが英語ではなく、そちらの言語だけで日本語は話せないのでとのことで説明なし。潜水艦の中もその方たちのおしゃべりの声が大きくてあまり楽しめなかった。重ねて天候の状態が悪く、濁っていて魚もほとんどいなくて正直お金を返してほしい気分だった。残念。次回に期待。

I wanted to make a change the day before, and even though I left a voicemail, there was no response, and the service was terrible. In the end, I was redirected to a different tour and had to participate in that one, and I'm not sure if it was worth what I paid.

前日に変更したいことがあって、
留守番電話を入れておいたのに、
返事がなく、対応が最悪。
結局違うツアーのところに回され、そっちに参加することになり、
支払った内容なのか、ビミョ〜

I participated in a tour at the beginning of December. At the time, I didn't know that the whale watching season runs from December to May, so I was really worried whether we would actually see any since it had just turned December. As expected, no whales appeared no matter how long we waited. The guide also mentioned that we might not see any, but in the end, a mother and baby whale showed up. Ultimately, it turned out to be a satisfying tour.

１２月の初めのツアーに参加しました。参加した時は知らなっ方のですが、ホエールウオッチングの季節は１２月から５月ということで、まだ１２月になったばかりで本当に見えるのか心配でした。案の定待っても待っても現れません。はんば諦めガイドの方も見れないかも知れないと言っていたのですが最後に親子のクジラが現れました。最終的には満足のいくツアーになりました。

Yesturday we had a great adventure!
When my husbund and I went to this trip I thought we will see one or two whales very far away. But thanks Dave and his wonderful crew we saw so many things! We saw dolphins, turtles, fishes and whales of course. There were several points where we saw them. One of the whales jumped out the water many times and it was amasing.
It was like we saw Discovery channal but we saw this with our own eyes. We took so many beautiful pictures! The crew was very polite and nice to everybody. They came to us and other tourists and told us about whales habits, it was really useful and interesting.

For a long time tried to choose adventures, that we want to try in Hawaii- and whales watch was one of that we want to see for sure. We choose Waikiki Whale Watch Sailing Cruise (from Kewalo Basin)-and for 100% it wasn't a mistake. Our capital was Dave-really cool cap!)) First of all he told that we'll try to see whales, turtles, dolphins- and he realized all programm! I red a lot about such trips, so we were ready that we wouldn't see whales too close- so my advise- the better optics u have-the better photos ull have. If u have go-pro take it for sure, cause u can make reAlly cool video under the water with dolphins, which were really close to boat). So really want to advise this trip-u ll never regret about it-we never saw whales and it was really great emotions. One more thing-don't take trip on a big boat-our was really comfortable, only 17 people-so it was easy to take pictures and run from one side of boat to another, trying to make good photo))

The water was very choppy and the sky dark when we embarked for our whale watching tour in the morning. To be fair, the owner warned us of the conditions and gave everyone the option to reschedule, but as it was our last day in Oahu, we went for the cruise anyways (everyone else did as well). The water was so choppy that the boat wasn't able to get very far and it was near impossible to identify a whale if there indeed was one. The staff did note that it was unusual to not see anything, so we were unlucky. I wanted to note that if you book direct, there is no whale sighting guarantee (staff noted we could return for half price even though we didn't see whales), so it's a pretty good idea to book through a third party like this site that does offer a guarantee.

It was cold and rainy on 12/22/14. Only saw the tail of a small whale while returning to shore. A new trip was offered but not on the same day and couldnot return attend in the future.

The water was very choppy and the sky dark when we embarked for our whale watching tour in the morning. To be fair, the owner warned us of the conditions and gave everyone the option to reschedule, but as it was our last day in Oahu, we went for the cruise anyways (everyone else did as well). The water was so choppy that the boat wasn't able to get very far and it was near impossible to identify a whale if there indeed was one. The staff did note that it was unusual to not see anything, so we were unlucky. I wanted to note that if you book direct, there is no whale sighting guarantee (staff noted we could return for half price even though we didn't see whales), so it's a pretty good idea to book through a third party like this site that does offer a guarantee.

We were blessed with good weather, and it was a fun tour that we could participate in with peace of mind. I was surprised by the phone call the day before regarding the change in tour time (all in English), but I managed to understand and get through it. On the day of the tour, it was great that a Japanese staff member was on board to provide detailed advice.

好天にも恵まれ、安心して参加できるツアーで、楽しい時間でした。
前日にツアー時間変更の電話連絡（全て英語）には驚きましたが、なんとか理解して乗り切りましたが。
当日は、日本人スタッフも乗船いただき細かなアドバイスもあり良かったです。

We had a great trip. It was a little difficult to find the location to park and we had to circle the parking lot a few times to find the dock. Fortunately it was New Years Day and at 8:30AM so the dock was not too crowded. For reference, it is close to the rest room facilities.

The boat was clean and the sailing started on time. kipper tom was very entertaining and knowledgeable, and held a conversation throughout the trip. He provided information about the whales, and also about what to do and where to eat in Hawaii. We saw many whales and a turtle. Even though the catamaran was a small and low boat, the waves are huge so not suitable activity if you have motion sickness. I heard that some passengers took dramamine, which I highly recommend. Great for a family activity of good sailors.

We visited Hawaii for our honeymoon and signed up for this tour to create wonderful memories.

We boarded the bus at 6 AM while it was still dark. Inside the bus, our guide Minako kindly explained the highlights of Oahu, the types of dolphins, precautions, and how to use the equipment. For those prone to motion sickness, they provided ginger tablets. They also inquired about renting wetsuits. The rental fee is $10, but I think it's a good idea to rent one for comfort and safety.

After an hour, we finally began boarding to meet the dolphins! The weather was good on the day we participated, but the wind was strong, and we were heading to a different spot than usual.

With some anxiety about whether we would see any dolphins, we set off on our dolphin search! As we scanned the area, we heard our guide shout, "There they are!!" and we all quickly put on our fins and entered the water. We approached quietly to avoid splashing and scaring the dolphins away. Struggling with the unfamiliar fins, we couldn't see them up close this time… and we got back on the boat.

After a few minutes of moving, we encountered a large group of dolphins again! Waiting for the signal, we entered the water. It was hard to keep up, and I thought we might miss them again, but then we heard our guide say, "Look down!" When I looked down, I saw a graceful school of dolphins swimming below! From then on, we were able to swim alongside the dolphins up close, and it was truly moving.

Swimming with the dolphins marked the end of our first hour. Next, we moved to encounter turtles (the second hour). During the move, we encountered several groups of dolphins, which was a lot of fun.

When we arrived at the spot, everyone snorkeled around, searching in their own way. There were many small fish swimming around, and while we were enjoying the search, suddenly a turtle appeared right in front of us! It was of medium size, but very cute, and I was moved to see it up close, almost within reach.

The staff and guides were all very friendly, making the tour enjoyable. On the way back on the bus, we could purchase photos taken by the photographer, so we could relax and fully enjoy the experience without worrying about taking pictures ourselves.

I participated in several tours, but this was the most memorable one during our trip! I highly recommend it for anyone traveling to Hawaii.

新婚旅行でハワイを訪れ、素敵な思い出を作りたくてこちらのツアーに申し込みました。

まだ暗い、朝6時にバスに乗り込み出発です。
バスの中では、ガイドのミナコさんがオアフ島の見所や、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。
酔いやすい方用にジンジャーの酔い止めも下さいました。
ウェットスーツのレンタル希望もこちらで聞かれます。
レンタル料は10ドルですが、借りておくと、寒く無く安全で安心出来るので良いと思います。

1時間後いよいよ、イルカに会いに乗船開始！
私達が参加した日は天候は良かったのですが、風が強くいつもと違うスポットに向かうとの事。

会えるか不安の中、いざイルカ探しの旅へ！
居ないなぁ〜とあたりを見渡すと…ガイドさんのいたー!!という声と合図と共に一斉にフィンをつけて海の中へ。
イルカが逃げてしまうとの事で極力水しぶきを挙げないように近づきます。
慣れないフィンに苦戦し、この時は間近で見られず…再び乗船。

移動する事数分、又してもイルカの大群が！
合図をまって海の中へ。なかなか追いつけず、又ダメかぁ〜と思っていたら、下見て！のガイドさんの声！
下を見ると、優雅に泳ぐイルカの大群が！
それからは間近にイルカ達と一緒に泳ぐ事も出来、本当に感激しました。

イルカと一緒に泳ぐ。ここでイルカ中学1時間目が終了です。
次は亀と出会うべく移動です(2時間目)
移動中も何頭何十頭とイルカの大群に出会い、大変楽しめました。

スポットにつくと、皆思い思いに辺り周辺をシュノーケリングしながら、探します。
小さい魚も沢山泳いでいて、楽しみながらさがしていると、突然目の前に亀先生が！
中位の大きさでしたが、とても可愛いく、手で触れそうな程近くで見る事が出来て感動しました。

スタッフさん、ガイドさん、皆さんとても気さくな方達で楽しくツアーに参加出来ました。
帰りのバスの中で、カメラマンさんが撮った写真も購入する事が出来ますので、写真を取らなきゃと慌てず思い切り楽しめます。

いくつかツアーに参加しましたが、旅行中で一番心に残ったツアーでした！
ハワイ旅行の際には是非☆お勧めです。

I signed up for the Waikiki shuttle plan. As mentioned in the reviews, the driver did not speak Japanese. The tour was scheduled for 7 AM, but they arrived promptly at 5:30 AM to pick us up. On the boat, we were the only Japanese people. All the explanations were in English, and without any Japanese guidance, the tour started.

On the first try, we went to the ocean cage with seven people. A family that joined us seemed to have requested a video, and since the staff was throwing food into the water, we were able to see the fish eating, which was great timing. The following group did not have food thrown in.

After coming out of the water, while waiting for the next two groups to experience their turn, it was very cold to stay in our swimsuits. I used the skirt I brought to change, but there is no private space on the boat, so those who want to change should think of something. If it were warm, swimsuits would be fine, but in December, the wind was cold, and I couldn't stay in my swimsuit.

I completely forgot to bring motion sickness medication, so I was anxious, but for some reason, I was totally fine. However, my friend seemed to be struggling with seasickness inside the cage. Out of about 20 people, only 2 or 3 were feeling sick. I wonder if Westerners have a constitution that doesn't get seasick? (laughs) After the tour, I wanted to do some sightseeing in Haleiwa, so I declined the ride back and we disbanded at the port. There was no discount on the price. (laughs)

ワイキキ送迎プランにて申し込みました。
ホテルへのお迎えにはクチコミ通り、日本語不可のドライバーさん。
７時からのツアーでしたが５時半にきちんとお迎えに来てくれました。
船に乗っても、日本人は私たちだけでした。
説明もすべて英語。特に日本語の案内も見る事なく
ツアーはスタート。
1番目のトライで7人で海のケージへ。
一緒入った家族がビデオを依頼したらしく、スタッフさんが海へ餌を
投入れていたので、それを食べるところが見られたりして
タイミングが良かったです。その後のグループでは
投入れていなかったので。
海から上がり、その後の2グループの体験を待つ間は
水着のままだととても寒かったので
着てきたスカートを利用して着替えましたが
プライベートスペースは船上はありませんので
着替えたい方は、何か考えた方が良いです。
暖かければ、水着でも良いのでしょうが、12月では
風が冷たく、水着ではいられませんでした。
酔い止め薬をすっかりと忘れて行ってしまったので
不安でしたが、私はなぜか全く平気でしたが
友人がケージの中で既に波に酔ってしまい大変そうでした。
20人位いた中で酔っていたのは2.3人でした。
欧米人はあまり酔わない体質なのでしょうか？笑
ツアー後は、ハレイワ観光がしたかったので
送りを断り、港で解散。
金額は値引きはありません。笑

When I first went to the ticket booth, I was told that there was only a different time available. When I went back at that time, I received a coupon that could be used inside for free, which I exchanged for tickets and potato chips on the boat. Once I saw a whale, I started to see them one after another, which was thrilling. However, the most disappointing part was that, although I suddenly encountered a scene where the whale jumped vertically, everyone was starting to get bored and I didn't have my camera ready. I realized the importance of always being prepared with my camera and not giving up on capturing moments.

最初にチケット売り場へ行くと、違う時間しかないとのことで、再度その時間に行ったところ、中で使えるクーポンをタダでもらえ船の中でチケットとポテトチップスなどと交換できた。クジラは、１度みえると次々と見え出し感動したが、もっとも残念だったのは、よく写真にあるような垂直に飛び上がる場面が突然出くわしたものの、みんなそろそろ飽きてきたころなので、カメラを構えていなかったことです。なにごともあきらめずカメラをずっと構えている心がけが必要と痛感しました。

Four days ago, my family graduated from Dolphin Junior High. I had heard that the sea was very cold, so I wore a rash guard. We gathered early in the morning, around 6 AM, and after about an hour on the bus, we arrived at the port. We also borrowed wetsuits and set off. Within just 5 to 10 minutes on the boat, we spotted the dolphins.

Under the guidance of the class representative, we started snorkeling and quickly encountered dozens of dolphins. It was so exciting to see baby dolphins as well. I couldn't believe how many dolphins we were able to see...

In the second hour, we also saw many sea turtles. When they came up for air, I could reach out and almost touch them (though of course, I didn't).

At the end, we were even able to see a whale from the boat. It was such an exhilarating experience. The class representative's explanations were interesting, and I purchased a DVD of the photos taken for $50, which I don't think is expensive at all. The quality is beautiful, and it's hard to capture those moments on my own.

We arrived at the hotel by lunchtime, so while waking up early was tough, we made great use of our time. I highly recommend it. My family of three is still buzzing with excitement. Next time, we're aiming for Dolphin University!

４日前に家族でイルカ中学を卒業してきました。
海が非常に冷たいと口コミであったので、ラッシュガードも着用して臨みました。
朝が早く６時過ぎに集合。眠いなか、約１時間バスに揺られて港に到着。スウェットスーツも借りて、いざ出港。　　ボートに揺られてわずか５～１０分でイルカ先生発見。
すぐに学級委員の指示のもと、シュノーケリング開始。　すぐに数十匹のイルカ先生に会えました。
子供のイルカも見れて、とても興奮。
こんなにイルカがたくさん見れるなんて・・・
さらに２時間目にはホヌにもたくさん会えました。
呼吸するために上にあがってくるホヌに手を伸ばしたら触れるくらいでした。
（もちろん触ってはいませんが）
最後は船内でなんとクジラを見ることができたのです。
すごく興奮した授業でした。
学級委員の説明も面白く、また写真を撮ってもらったものを５０ドルでDVDを購入しましたが、わたしは決して高くないと思います。きれいな仕上がりで、なかなか自分では撮れません。お昼にはホテルに到着するので、早起きはつらいけどもとても時間も有効に使えます。是非おすすめです。
家族３人いまだに興奮が冷めない状態です。　　次回はイルカ大学入学だ！

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。