All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

It's best to take Premium tour if you want to see. The tour guide was very funny. We enjoued ourselves. We like how colors break down as you descend into ocean floor.

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!

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。

I signed up for this experience because my husband wanted to interact with dolphins, and it turned out to be a wonderful experience. They provided a thorough explanation in Japanese about the precautions beforehand, which allowed us to enter the pool without any anxiety. The dolphins even held our hands and gave us kisses, which was incredibly fun. After the interaction time ended, my husband continued to applaud the jumping dolphins and was very satisfied with the photos we purchased. It was clear that the staff cares for the dolphins and values Hawaii's nature, and I learned a lot from this experience, leaving me with a sense of richness.

イルカと触れ合いたいという夫の希望で申し込みましたが、とても良い経験ができました。事前に注意点等について、日本語で丁寧に説明してくれたので、不安もなくプールに入ることができました。イルカは私達おじさんやおばさんとも、手（？）をつないだり、キスしたりしてくれ、すごい楽しかったです。夫はふれあいタイムが終わった後もジャンプするイルカに拍手を送り続け、写真を購入して大満足でした。スタッフがイルカを大切に育てていることやハワイの自然を大事にしていることが伝わり、私もいろいろ学ぶことができ、豊かな気持ちになりました。

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！！

It was a great experience for the whole family, great staff, very helpful and informative, we were a bit disapointed because it was cut short.......we realized it after we were off the sub, other than that I recommend it.

Woke up at 6:00 AM, gathered at 6:30.
It feels a bit early, but it's necessary. Waking up early is essential to meet the dolphins.

Once we boarded the bus, the morning homeroom led by the student council president, "Akao-chan," began.
The homeroom covered our upcoming plans and safety precautions for the ocean. I was sleepy, but it seemed important, so I listened seriously. (In fact, I think it's better to pay attention since it is important.)

After about an hour of driving, we arrived at the West Coast.
We quickly boarded the boat.

The boat for Dolphin Junior High was smaller than that of Dolphin University, so it swayed quite a bit.
But the scenery around us was amazing!!
Especially the legendary "???" where the Hawaiian music god IZ rests (I'm sorry, I forgot the name) was breathtaking. I wanted to land there. Is that possible?

After about 30 minutes of being rocked by the boat, we finally arrived at the dolphin point.
I jumped into the sea. The key here is to borrow a wetsuit. By the way, I jumped in wearing just swim trunks and it was extremely cold... Don't underestimate the ocean.

After a while, Akao-chan shouted, "Look down, look down!"
When I looked down as instructed, I spotted a pod of dolphins!! There were probably around 50 of them.
It was lucky to find them so quickly.
After that, friendly dolphins were playing just 5 meters away, spinning around, giving us a very precious experience.

That's all for my dolphin experience.

Personally, I also enjoyed the sea turtle observation tour.
I couldn't see any turtles because I got tired, but I encountered a giant stingray and swam alongside it.

Overall, it felt very active, so I think it's more suited for younger people.
Also, since the boat sways quite a bit, if you are prone to seasickness, it might be a good idea to take some motion sickness medication.

Thank you, Akao-chan.

朝6：00起床、6:30集合。
ちょっと早いような気がしますが、これでいいんです。
イルカに会うためには早起きが必要なんです。

バスに乗り込むと『あかおちゃん』こと生徒会会長による朝のホームルームが始まる。
ホームルームの内容は、これからのプラン及び海での注意事項。
眠いが重要そうなので真面目に聞きました。(実際重要なので真面目に聞いたほうがいいと思います)

1時間ほどの運転で西海岸に到着。
早速船に乗り込む。

イルカ中学はイルカ大学より船が小さいためかなり揺れました。
でも周りの景色は最高！！
特に伝説のハワイアンミュージックの神様IZが眠る「???」(すみません、名前忘れてしまいました)は絶景中の絶景でした。上陸したかったです。できませんかね？

船に揺られること30分、ついのイルカポイントに到着。
海に飛び込む。ここでのポイントはウェットスーツ借りること。ちなみに私は海パンいっちょで飛び込んで非常に寒い思いをしました。。海をなめたらあかん。)

しばらくするとあかおちゃんの「下見て、下見て」の掛け声。
言われた通り下を見るとイルカの群れを発見！！ざっと50匹ぐらいはいたのではないでしょうか。
こんなにも早く見つかるなんてラッキーでした。
その後も人懐こいイルカがほんの5m先でくるくる回りながら遊んでいたり、大変貴重な経験をさせて頂きました。

イルカ体験談はここまで。

個人的にはウミガメ観察ツアーもなかなか楽しかったです。
私はヘタってしまったため、ウミガメは見れませんでしたが巨大なエイに遭遇して並走ならぬ並泳しました。

全体的に非常にアクティブなので若い人向けの様な気がします。
あと、かなり船が揺れますので船酔いしそうな方は酔い止めを飲んでおくといいもしれません。

あかおちゃん、有難うございました。

I was really looking forward to it, but there was less interaction with the dolphins than I expected, which was a bit disappointing. Next time, I would like to participate in the plan to swim with the other dolphins.

すごく楽しみにしてましたが、思ったよりいるかとのふれあいが少なくものたりない。
次回はもう一つのイルカと泳ぐプランに参加したいとおもいました。

I apologize for the late post, but I participated in the Dolphin Middle School tour in April. Last year, I joined the Dolphin University tour, which was a fulfilling experience, but this time I decided to try Dolphin Middle School based on a friend's recommendation that "the boat is thrilling and fun."

To sum it up, it was an incredibly enjoyable and satisfying time. First of all, we saw so many dolphins. By quietly approaching as instructed by the captain and never chasing them, we were able to have them come back to us multiple times. It felt unreal to actually experience "swimming with a pod of dolphins."

Additionally, I was able to see many of my favorite sea turtles. It seems that it's not common for so many to gather, but we were able to slowly observe a family of about five or six turtles, and they came right up to the surface for air, coming very close to us.

Moreover, from the boat, we were lucky enough to see an out-of-season whale and a rare seal. I believe whether you encounter dolphins, sea turtles, or whales depends on luck that day, but I highly recommend this tour. I definitely want to participate again when I go to Hawaii.

投稿が遅くなってしまいましたが、4月にイルカ中学のツアーに参加させていただきました。
去年はイルカ大学に参加して充実したツアーだったのですが、今回は友人から「イルカ中学のボートもスリルがあって楽しいよ」という薦めでイルカ中学に初参加してみました。
結論から言うと、とっても楽しい大満足の時間でした。
まず、イルカがとにかくたくさん見られました。
船長さんの指示どおりに静かに近づき、決して追いかけず、警戒させないようにすれば、何度も私たちのところに戻ってきてきてくれました。
こんなに「イルカの群れと一緒に泳いでいる」と実感できるなんて、現実じゃないようでした。
また、大好きなウミガメもたくさん見ることができました。
普段はこんなに集まっていることはあまりないそうですが、５～６頭の家族のようなウミガメたちをゆっくり見れて、しかも息継ぎのために海面に上がってくる度に顔のすぐ目の前に来てくれました。
その他にも、ボートの上から季節外れのクジラや、貴重なアザラシも見ることができて、とてもラッキーでした。
イルカやウミガメ、クジラに会えるかどうかはその日の運によると思いますが、とてもお勧めできるツアーです。
ハワイに行く時は必ず参加したいと思います。

I took my two children and enjoyed the morning deal. Everyone was moved by the dynamic sights! The nearby free public parking was full by the time we left, so it's better to arrive early.

子供2人連れて、朝一のお得プランでした。ダイナミックな姿が見れてみんな感動です！
近くのフリー（パブリック）パーキングは帰るころにはいっぱいになっていたので早めに行ったほうがいいですね。

I just returned from my dream trip to the Big Island of Hawaii! I stayed for three nights, but it wasn't enough. This time, I participated in a night snorkeling experience swimming with wild manta rays, which was featured on the TV show "Tabi Salad." I think most people have only seen manta rays in aquariums.

I boarded the boat of Manta University’s Night Division, filled with excitement. With the captain and a handsome Nisei staff member, we cruised the Hawaiian waters for about 20 minutes on a high-speed boat to our snorkeling point. While enjoying the sunset, the handsome staff member shared fascinating information about manta rays in fluent Japanese, and my anticipation grew knowing that this unique experience could only be had on the Big Island.

Finally, we changed into our wetsuits, put on fins and snorkels, and entered the water. Within five minutes, a manta ray appeared! I was thrilled to be so close! But what surpassed that excitement was when the manta ray began to flip right in front of me multiple times a few minutes later. Amazing! So cute!

I lost track of time as several manta rays continued to perform flips right before my eyes. On the way back, we cruised through the dark sea, gazing at the beautiful starry sky, still savoring the experience with the manta rays as we returned to the harbor.

If you visit the Big Island, I highly recommend participating in this unique tour that you can only experience here! Thank you to the kind and attentive crew!

憧れのハワイ島に行ってきました！　雄大で活動的なハワイ島
に三泊しましたが物足りませんでした。今回は、テレビ（旅サラダ）で
放映された 野生のマンタと泳ぐ！ナイト・シュノーケリング に参加
しました。ほとんどの方がマンタは水族館でしか見たことがないと思います。
創造を膨らませてマンタ大学夜学部のボートに乗りました。　キャプテンと
日系二世のイケ面君のスッタフで約２０分の高速ボートでハワイの海をクルーズ
ポイントに到着してサンセットを眺める間イケ面君の流暢な日本語でまだ知られ
てないマンタのことを教えてもらい、このハワイ島だけしかこのマンタの体験が
出来ないことに期待が膨らみました。
いよいよウエットスーツに着替えフィンとシュノーケルを付けて海に入りました。
５分もするとマンタが現れました！　手の届くほどの距離に感動！しかしその感動
を数倍超えるものが数分後に、マンタが目の前で何度も宙返りを繰り返します
すごい！カワイイ！
時間を忘れて何枚のマンタが現れ目の前で宙返りを繰り返してくれました。
帰りのボートは真っ暗な海のクルーズ、綺麗な星空を眺めマンタの余韻を
残し帰港。
ハワイ島に行かれたら是非このハワイ島でしか体験できないこのツアーに
参加してみては！
親切丁寧なクルーにありがとうです！

This was my first time on the Big Island, and I wanted to fully enjoy nature, so I joined this tour that a friend had recommended. Since the meeting point was at the port, I was initially quite anxious, but it turned out to be a compact port, and as soon as we entered the parking lot, our guide waved at us enthusiastically, making it easy to meet up without any issues.

Actually, both my spouse and I are quite large, but they provided wetsuits that fit us comfortably, and they were very clean and comfortable to wear. As soon as the boat departed, I imagined we would be quite far offshore, but it was actually a safe spot right along the coast next to the airport, where we could easily swim back to shore. The sun was still up for quite a while, so we got to enjoy some snorkeling and watched a beautiful sunset from the boat.

After that, we received a lecture on manta ray behavior and how to observe them until it got dark, and then it was finally time to get in the water. You might think it would be cold and scary to dive into the ocean at night, but it wasn't scary at all; we just jumped off the boat and held onto something that looked like a surfboard floating nearby. Once we were in the water, a huge manta ray swam right towards us! I was so excited!

We can't touch the manta rays to protect them, but they actually come close to us. They were coming to eat the plankton attracted to the light attached to the surfboard, so there were many completely natural manta rays swimming around without any feeding involved. Other tour boats were anchored nearby, and when I looked into the water, I saw beams of light everywhere, with many giant manta rays swimming gracefully around them. In fact, "flapping" would be a more accurate description. The sight was truly magical, like something out of this world!

After enjoying the experience, we got back on the boat and rinsed off with fresh water, feeling refreshed as we returned to the port. However, it did get cold on the way back. We didn't exert ourselves much while just floating in the water, but it got chilly on the return trip, so bringing a sweatshirt or hoodie that can handle saltwater would make the return much more comfortable. This tour seems to be a unique experience that can only be had on the Big Island, so I highly recommend it! It's sure to impress people of all ages.

今回、初めてのハワイ島でしたので、とことん自然を満喫しようと思い、以前友人が参加してオススメされたこのツアーに参加しました。
集合場所が港だったので、最初は凄い不安だったのですが、コンパクトな港で、しかも我々が港の駐車場に入った途端、ガイドさんが大きく手を振って頂いたので、全く問題無く簡単に合流出来ました。実は夫婦共々かなりの大柄体型なのですが、我々でも余裕で入るサイズのウェットスーツも用意されてあって、非常に清潔で着心地も良かったです。すぐに船が出発すると、相当の沖合と想像していましたが、なんとエアポートのすぐ横の海岸沿いで、泳いでもすぐに岸に辿り着けるような安心した場所でした。結構陽が長かったので、少しシュノーケリングで遊ばせてもらい、船の上で綺麗なサンセットを眺めました。その後、薄暗くなるまでマンタの習性や鑑賞方法などのレクチャーを受け、いよいよ水の中へ。夜に海に潜るのですから、「寒くて怖いのでは？」と思われるかも知れませんが、ドボ〜ンと船から降りて、すぐ横の浮かんでいるサーフボードみたいなものに捕まっているだけなので、全く怖くなかったです。海に入ったらもういきなり巨大なマンタが、我々めがけて泳いで来ました！　もう、大興奮してしまいました！　マンタを保護するために触ってはいけないのですが、マンタの方が触れて来ます。サーフボードに取り付けたライトに寄って来たプランクトンを食べに来ているので、何も餌付けなど一切してない、完全に天然のマンタが沢山泳いで来るのです。他のツアーの船も周囲に停泊しているので、海の中をのぞくと、光の柱があちこちに出来ていてその周りを沢山の巨大マンタが悠々と泳いでいます。というより羽ばたいているという表現の方が正確です。その光景はまさに幻想的で、この世のものとは思えない光景でした！　十分に鑑賞してから船にあがり真水のシャワーをかけてもらい、ある程度スッキリした状態で、港に戻る事が出来ました。ただ、帰りは、やはり寒かったです。水中でじーっとしているので、体力など全く使わないのですが、帰りは寒くなるので、塩水に触っても問題無いようなトレーナーやパーカーを持参すると帰りが凄い楽でしょう。　このツアーはハワイ島でしか体験出来ないらしいので、是非オススメします！　老若男女誰でも感動する事間違いないです。

We didn't swim with the dolphins because my daughter is small.
However, it was still a lot of fun!
The dolphin show was really enjoyable♪
Even though we got soaked from a sudden downpour, it was fun lol.
The commemorative photo looks quite edited, but it's a memory♪
There were a lot of birds at the food booth, and my daughter was crying and screaming lol.
But since it was outdoors, it can't be helped.

娘が小さい為イルカと一緒に泳ぐことは
しませんでした。
ですがとっても楽しめます！
イルカのショーなどはとっても楽しいですよ♪
途中スコールでびしょ濡れになっても
楽しいｗ記念写真はいかにも合成ですが
思い出♪飲食ブースで鳥がたくさんいて
娘は泣き叫んでいましたがｗｗ
屋外なのでしょうがないですね。

It felt more like just touching the dolphins rather than playing with them. Considering the cost, I think participants would be more satisfied if they had more time to interact with the dolphins. I was just observing, and my impression was, "Is this it?" My wife, who participated, mentioned that she got cold because the time spent in the water was long, but the interaction time was short.

イルカと遊ぶと言うか、触るだけという感じでした。代金から言えば、もう少しイルカと触れ合える時間を多くしていただけると参加された方々は満足すると思います。
私は、見学してましたが、これだけ？と言う感想です。
水の中に入っている時間が長く、触れ合える時間が短いため、身体が冷えたと参加した妻が言っていました。

I usually don't do reviews because there wasn't enough "wow" or it's special, but not worth my time to "write" about it: This activity is exceptionally the case for shouting about. Think about how in the world could you go underwater, be AMONG fish, not learn the intricacies of diving, not wear heavy equipment on your back (even if weight is not an issue underwater), or hold your breath for an extended period of time, and still be able to wear your personal prescription glasses. This is a great activity to partake in especially for those curious about underwater activities.
When you get underwater on these vehicles, a personal diver will be assigned to you to make certain that you're doing OK and to mitigate any problems that may arise---even if you decide to cancel the activity. The hosts were all professional and serious about instructing the group on what to expect while in the water, and I felt comfortable and appreciatead their attention to safety. We rode out to the edge of this bay in the south eastern part of Oahu and proceeded with the adventure in the BOBs plus snorkeling around the boat that brought us out there. One of the divers had a camera to take pictures while we were underwater so there will be pictorial memories to look back at and thoughts about what to do in the future to optimize my excursions beneath the ocean. This activity is great!I was underwater for the very first time in my life, and I'm back to write about how great a time I had! If diving is not for you, try this for your shorter "bucket" list!

I participated in Taka's tour on May 9th. It was a smooth and friendly tour.

Although I hadn't requested it, they provided a morning call, allowing me to arrive at the meeting place on time. On the way to the port by car, we had a mini sightseeing tour and listened to Taka's extensive knowledge, and before I knew it, we arrived in about 40 minutes.

Once we got on the boat, we soon encountered a pod of dolphins!!! Everyone was worried about whether they would get to see dolphins, but we were able to swim with many dolphins and had big smiles on our faces. There was even a baby dolphin. We could hear the dolphins' calls as well.

This alone was satisfying, but then we moved to a spot to see sea turtles.

We quickly found the sea turtles, and after a while, one came to the surface for air, allowing us to see it right in front of us. It was a precious experience.

We were blessed with good weather, and I’m really glad I participated.

Captain Sisters were all warm, and every participant successfully graduated from Dolphin Middle School!!

Even those who are not good at swimming received assistance, so I felt it was a tour where I could participate with peace of mind. Although it was an early morning and I was sleepy, it was a fulfilling day. Thank you very much.

I would definitely love to participate again if the opportunity arises.

5月9日タカさんのツアーに参加しました。進行がスムーズでフレンドリーなツアーでした。

お願いしていなかったのですが、モーニングコールをしてくださり時間通り集合場所へ行けました。
車で港まで向かう途中、プチ観光&タカさんの豊富な知識を聞きながら約40分あっという間に着きました。

ボートに乗りしばらくするとイルカの群れが!!!
みんなイルカに会えるのか心配していたのですが沢山のイルカと一緒に泳げ笑顔に♪赤ちゃんイルカもいました。イルカの鳴き声も聴こえました。
これだけでも満足ですが、その後海亀のスポットへ移動。

海亀もすぐ見つかり、しばらくするとい息継ぎのために海面まで来たので目の前で見る事ができました。
貴重な体験をする事ができました。

お天気にも恵まれ参加して本当に良かったです。

船長 sistersみんな暖かく参加者全員無事にイルカ中学校を卒業できました!!

泳ぎの苦手な方もアシストして下さいますし、安心して参加できるツアーだと感じました。
朝が早いので眠かったですが充実した1日でした。
ありがとうございました。

また是非機会があれば参加させていただきます。

If you love the ocean and ocean wildlife, you will love this activity as a solo, couple or family. What a fun and exciting trip! Watching the Manta Rays was like watching an underwater ballet. I got some great video footage to capture the experience and to bring home. I did the snorkeling portion but I'm sure if you can scuba dive this would be even more fun! To top it off, they give you hot soup and hot chocolate afterwards! Great fun!

THE BEST WAY FOR US ALL TO SEE THE SAME THING WITHOUT LEARNING TO SCUBA! THE KIDS EVEN GOT SOME VERY NICE PICTURES! COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER!

Woke up at 6:00 AM, gathered at 6:30.
It feels a bit early, but it's necessary.
Waking up early is essential to meet the dolphins.

Once we boarded the bus, the morning homeroom led by the student council president, "Akao-chan," began.
The homeroom covered our plans and safety precautions for the ocean.
I was sleepy, but it seemed important, so I listened seriously. (It really is important, so I think it's better to pay attention.)

After about an hour's drive, we arrived at the West Coast.
We quickly boarded the boat.

The boat for Dolphin Junior High was smaller than that of Dolphin University, so it swayed quite a bit.
But the scenery around us was amazing!!
Especially the legendary spot where the Hawaiian music god IZ rests, "???" (Sorry, I forgot the name) was breathtaking. I wanted to land there. Is that possible?

After about 30 minutes of being rocked by the boat, we finally arrived at the dolphin point.
Jumping into the sea was the key point here. By the way, I jumped in wearing just swim trunks and it was extremely cold... (Don’t underestimate the ocean.)

After a while, I heard Akao-chan shout, "Look down, look down!"
When I looked down as instructed, I spotted a pod of dolphins!! There were probably around 50 of them.
It was lucky to find them so quickly.
After that, friendly dolphins were playing just 5 meters away, spinning around, giving us a truly precious experience.

That's all for the dolphin experience.

Personally, I also found the sea turtle observation tour quite enjoyable.
I couldn't see any turtles because I got tired, but I encountered a giant stingray and swam alongside it.

Overall, it felt very active, so it seems geared towards younger people.
Also, since the boat sways quite a bit, if you’re prone to seasickness, it might be a good idea to take some motion sickness medication.

Thank you, Akao-chan.

Kinoko Man

朝6：00起床、6:30集合。
ちょっと早いような気がしますが、これでいいんです。
イルカに会うためには早起きが必要なんです。

バスに乗り込むと『あかおちゃん』こと生徒会会長による朝のホームルームが始まる。
ホームルームの内容は、これからのプラン及び海での注意事項。
眠いが重要そうなので真面目に聞きました。(実際重要なので真面目に聞いたほうがいいと思います)

1時間ほどの運転で西海岸に到着。
早速船に乗り込む。

イルカ中学はイルカ大学より船が小さいためかなり揺れました。
でも周りの景色は最高！！
特に伝説のハワイアンミュージックの神様IZが眠る「???」(すみません、名前忘れてしまいました)は絶景中の絶景でした。上陸したかったです。できませんかね？

船に揺られること30分、ついのイルカポイントに到着。
海に飛び込む。ここでのポイントはウェットスーツ借りること。ちなみに私は海パンいっちょで飛び込んで非常に寒い思いをしました。。海をなめたらあかん。)

しばらくするとあかおちゃんの「下見て、下見て」の掛け声。
言われた通り下を見るとイルカの群れを発見！！ざっと50匹ぐらいはいたのではないでしょうか。
こんなにも早く見つかるなんてラッキーでした。
その後も人懐こいイルカがほんの5m先でくるくる回りながら遊んでいたり、大変貴重な経験をさせて頂きました。

イルカ体験談はここまで。

個人的にはウミガメ観察ツアーもなかなか楽しかったです。
私はヘタってしまったため、ウミガメは見れませんでしたが巨大なエイに遭遇して並走ならぬ並泳しました。

全体的に非常にアクティブなので若い人向けの様な気がします。
あと、かなり船が揺れますので船酔いしそうな方は酔い止めを飲んでおくといいもしれません。

あかおちゃん、有難うございました。

きのこマン

I experienced the wonderful opportunity to navigate in a submarine and observe various marine creatures and structures. The guide was also fluent in Japanese, and the explanations were enjoyable with some jokes mixed in. We participated as a family, and my grandchild was excitedly saying, "There's Nemo! Oh, a turtle!"

実際に潜水艦で航行して 海中の様々な生物や構築物を見学出来るすばらしさを体験しました。
案内役の方も日本語が上手で、ジョークを交えた説明で楽しく見学出来ました。
ファミリーで参加したのですが、孫も「ニモがいる。あ・亀だ」などと興奮していました。

First of all, the inside of the ship is too cold. It's better to bring a jacket.
Also, everything on the ship is in English only.
I was able to see a whale in the distance, but it was much farther away than I had imagined, so I could only see it briefly and it looked small.
After that, there was nothing to do but wait to return, so I spent a lot of time just passing the time. There was too much free time, and it would have been nice if there were some events or activities.
I wouldn't really recommend it.

まず、船内が寒すぎ。羽織物を持参した方がよい。
また、船内は全て英語オンリーです。
遠くの方で鯨がみれましたが、想像していたのよりだいぶ離れているので小さくしかみえず一瞬でした。
後は帰るのみなので時間をかなり弄びました。フリー時間がありすぎるので何かイベント的なものがあればよいのに。。
あまりおすすめしません。

I participated in the early morning tour. I was able to see whales, and the price was also reduced, so it was great. However, there was no Japanese-speaking guide. If you need a Japanese guide, it might be better to avoid the early morning tours.

早朝ツアーに参加しました。クジラも見られたし、料金も安くなっていたので、良かったです。ただ、日本語ガイドの方はいらっしゃいませんでした。日本語ガイドが必要な方は早朝は避けた方がいいかもしれません。

I was able to see a lot of whales, and it was moving!!
The morning sea feels great.
However, there were many boarding points, and it was hard to understand.

たくさんのクジラをみることだでき、感動です！！
朝の海は気持ちよいですよ。
ただ、船乗り場がたくさんあり、わかりづらかったです。

On April 23, 2014, with clear skies and an early morning departure, we stayed at The Kahala Hotel & Resort, and on that day, we were picked up from our hotel. During the ride to the meeting point in Waikiki, our representative, Yuriko, shared stories about environmental protection in Hawaii and the healing power of dolphins, which made me feel very relaxed despite the early hour. When she smiled and said, "I hope you get to see many dolphins," I felt optimistic about our chances.

During the drive from Waikiki to the boarding location, our guide, Takao, explained various sightseeing spots like "The Tree of Life" and "Pearl Harbor." Although I had done snorkeling before, I was a bit anxious about going into the deep ocean for the first time. The guide thoroughly explained the safety precautions for the tour, saying, "I may have to use strict words regarding safety, but it's important that everyone experiences the tour without any accidents, so please understand." This reassured me greatly.

In April, the water temperature is still low, so as someone who gets cold easily, I borrowed a wetsuit. As the guide mentioned, it gets really cold when you’re on the boat and the wind hits you, so I think it’s especially advisable for children and women to wear one. Of course, we also wore life jackets and were fully prepared.

When we arrived at the point, we entered the water following the guide's upbeat instructions, who loudly pointed out the direction of the dolphins. When he shouted, "Look down! Look down!" and I did, I was amazed to see a pod of dolphins swimming right below us! The excitement of seeing wild dolphins up close for the first time is beyond words. The guide remarked, "It’s amazing that in such a vast ocean, they choose to swim right underneath us; dolphins are curious and come close to us... it’s truly a mystery," and it really felt mystical.

Listening closely, I could hear the dolphins making sounds like "ee-ee," and seeing them swim in the crystal-clear blue water, always together with their families, made me question, "Is this real?" Just watching them was healing for both my body and soul, and it felt like they were teaching me something important.

We were very lucky that day, encountering pods of dolphins multiple times. When we entered the water at the second point, it felt like we were surrounded by dolphins. While I was swimming away from my husband (with no one else nearby), a dolphin swam right in front of me, and our eyes met... I was so overwhelmed with joy that I shouted, "Yay!" As it swam by, about four dolphins swam together towards the ocean floor, and even now, it feels like a dream.

According to the guide, we were fortunate to encounter over 150 dolphins that day. I had heard that there are days when you might not see any dolphins due to their wild nature, so I was truly grateful and moved. After that, we moved to another point and got to see turtles and many beautiful fish, which made me very satisfied!

I brought a waterproof camera, but there was a photographer who took pictures for us, and we could purchase them, making for a wonderful keepsake. Throughout the boat ride and while swimming, the guide kept an eye on each of us, checking, "Are you okay?" which made me feel very safe.

It was a fantastic tour swimming with dolphins at a power spot, and I was particularly impressed by the guide's thorough safety management. Next time, I definitely want to experience manta ray diving on the Big Island. Thank you, Yuriko, Takao, and the captain for taking us to such great spots and providing a wonderful experience!

２０１４／４／２３晴天・早朝出発・私たちはカハラ宿泊でしたので、当日は宿泊ホテルまで迎えに来て頂きました。迎えにいらした代表yurikoさんからワイキキ集合場所までの間「ハワイでの環境保護のお話」や「イルカから与えられる癒し」のお話し頂き、早朝にも関わらずとてもリラックスした気分になりました。素敵な笑顔で「沢山のイルカに会えると良いですね」と言われると沢山会える気がしてきます。ワイキキから乗船場所までの車中はガイドのtakaoさんから「日立の木」や「パールハーバー」など観光名所も説明して頂けます。私はシュノーケルはしていましたが、沖で深い海に入ることが初めてだったので少々不安がありました。ガイドさんがツアーにおける安全面での注意事項をしっかり説明して下さり「安全に関しては私も厳しい言葉で注意してしまうかもしれませんが、何より皆さんが無事故でツアーを体験して頂ける大事なことなのでご容赦下さい」との言葉にとても安心しました。４月の海はまだ水温が低いため寒がりの私はウエットスーツを借りました。ガイドさんの説明通り海に入っている時より船に上がって風に吹かれると本当に寒くなるので特にお子さんや女性は借りた方が良いと思います。もちろんライフジャケットも着用し準備万端です。いざポイントにつくとガイドさんのテンポ良い指示で海へ入り、イルカのいる方向を大きな声で教えて頂けます。「下見て！下見て！」という声で下を見ると本当にイルカの群れが泳いでいます！初めて野生のイルカを間近で見た時の感動は言葉では言い表せません。ガイドさんが「あんなに広い海なのにどうしてわざわざ自分たちのいる真下を通って泳いで来てくれるのか、イルカも興味を持って近づいて来てくれる・・・本当に不思議です」とおっしゃってましたが、本当に神秘的です。耳を澄ますと「キューキュー」とイルカの鳴き声が・・・真っ青で透き通った海に泳ぐイルカ・・家族といつも一緒にいるイルカ・・・「現実なんだろうか」と不思議な感覚になり、見ているだけで身体も心も癒され感動しますし、大切な何かを教えてくれる気がします。この日はとてもラッキーでイルカの群れに何度も会い、２回目のポイントで海に入った時はイルカの群れに囲まれるような感じでした。私は主人と離れて泳いでいた時に（近くに誰もいなかった）目の前をイルカが横切り、イルカと目が会い・・・あまりの感激で「ぎゃ～！」と喜び叫んでしまいました。横切りながら４頭位のイルカがまとまって海の底の方に向かって泳いでいったのですが、今思い出しても夢みたいでした。この日はガイドさんいわく合計１５０頭以上のイルカと遭遇出来たラッキーな日だったとのこと。野生のため、残念ながらイルカに会えない日もあると聞いていたので本当に感謝感激でした。その後、また別のポイントへ移動し、カメと沢山の美しい魚たちに会えましたので大満足です！防水カメラを持参しましたが、カメラマンさんが同行して写真を撮って下さり、写真も購入出来たのでとても記念になりました。乗船中も、泳いでいる最中もガイドさんが一人一人に目を配り「大丈夫？」と安全確認してくださるのには本当に安心しました。パワースポットでイルカと泳ぐという素晴らしいツアーでしたし、何より安全管理をキチンとされるガイドさんに感心しました。次回はぜひハワイ島でマンタ大学も体験したいと思います。yurikoさんtakaoさん、良いポイントへ連れて行って下さった船長さん、素敵な体験をありがとうございました。

I participated with a friend. On the day of the event, there were various people including friends, couples, and solo travelers.

When we arrived at the port with the boat, we immediately enjoyed some malasadas. I had heard from others that they were "really delicious!" but personally, I felt that one was enough. (laughs)

After departure, we all sang a song for safety and to hope for dolphin sightings. You can rent wetsuits for an additional fee, and during my visit, almost everyone borrowed one. I went in April, and even in Hawaii's waters, it was a bit chilly, so renting one turned out to be a great decision. You can rent it on the spot for $10.

To reach the spot where we could see the dolphins well, we all sat on the edge of the boat, enjoying the marine attraction. The boat rocked a lot, which was quite thrilling.

Once we spotted dolphins, we all dove in immediately! Even if you can't swim, the staff will pull you along, so there's no need to worry. The water was incredibly clear, and we could see the dolphins swimming distinctly, making it feel like we were in an aquarium. After that, we also went snorkeling and experienced many things that we couldn't have done on our own!

By the way, the boat rocks quite a bit, so if you are prone to motion sickness, taking anti-nausea medication is a must. However, even if you do get sick and end up vomiting, the staff will respond kindly without any unpleasant expressions, so you can feel at ease!

友達と2人で参加しました。当日は友達、カップル、ひとりの方など、さまざま方とご一緒でした。

船のある港に着くと、すぐにマラサダをいただきます。
周りから、「すごく美味しいよー！」と聞いていましたが、個人的に1回食べれば良いかんじ。笑

出航後は、安全祈願とイルカに会えますようにと、みんなで歌をうたいます。
追加料金でウエットスーツを貸し出してもらえますが、わたしの時はほぼ全員借りていました。4月に行きましたが、ハワイの海でも少し肌寒かったので結果として借りて大正解でした。その場で10ドルでかりられます。

イルカが良く見えるスポットまでは、みんなで船の縁に座り、マリンアトラクション♪船はすごく揺れるので、すごい迫力です。

イルカを発見したら、すぐにみんなでダイビング！泳げないか方でも、スタッフの方が引っ張っていってくれるので安心です。
水がすごくきれいで、イルカが泳いでいるのがはっきり見え、水族館で泳いでいる感覚になります。
その後も、シュノーケリングをしたりと、自分たちだけではできないようなことをたくさん経験させていただきました！

ちなみに、船はかなり揺れるので、酔いやすい方は酔いどめ必須です。
でも、酔ってリバースしてしまっても、スタッフの方はいやな顔ひとつせず優しく対応して下さりますので、安心して下さいね！

We had such an awesome time under the water and we could wear our glasses so we could really see the fish clearly!

I recently participated in this tour. I had no knowledge of manta rays at all before joining... but there were absolutely no problems! After getting on the boat, we received detailed explanations about the ecology of manta rays, Hawaiian language, and the Big Island. Of course, there was a Japanese guide with us, so I felt at ease. The captain was very cheerful and played the ukulele from the time we arrived until we started snorkeling. That moment during sunset was truly beautiful.

You can rent a wetsuit for $10 for snorkeling. Since you spend a long time in the water, I think this is essential. Plankton gathers under the lights, attracting the manta rays that come to feed. They are not being fed. During this time, many other fish also come, creating a scene straight out of The Little Mermaid. The manta rays come close enough to touch a little. They open their large mouths, allowing for a thorough observation, almost as if you could make a model of a manta ray.

I had an experience that exceeded my expectations. YOU MUST GO!

先日当ツアーに参加させて頂きました。マンタの知識は全くないままでの参加。。。しかし問題はまったくありません！ボートに乗ってからマンタの生態、ハワイ語について、ハワイ島について丁寧に説明して頂きました。もちろん日本語ガイドさんもついてくれているので安心です。船長はとっても陽気な方で、船が着いてからシュノーケル開始までウクレレをひいてくれました。サンセットタイムでのこの一時は本当に美しかったです。
シュノーケルでは10＄でウエットスーツをレンタルできます。水中に入っている時間が長いのでこれは必須だと思います。ライトに照らされプランクトンが集まり、それを食べにマンタ達が集まります。決して餌付けはしていません。その間は他の魚達も大勢来るので、正にリトルマーメイドの世界です。マンタは少し触れてくる位接近してきます。そして大きな口を開けるのでマンタの模型が作れるのでは、と思うほど隅々まで観察できます。
期待以上の経験ができました。YOU MUST GO！

I participated with my sister.

Although we had an early morning gathering, the president of the Dolphin Junior High School cheered up the participants, who were still waking up and feeling low-energy. From the car windows, we were able to see "This Tree, What Tree," Pearl Harbor, and the Disney Hotel, which gave us a bit of a sightseeing experience.

I was a bit anxious after hearing that there were two days the previous week when we couldn't see dolphins, but after about 10 minutes of departing from the port, we dove right into the sea! When the captain shouted, "Look down!!" I desperately peered into the water, and there they were—the dolphins I had longed to see! Not only did I get to see them, but I was truly moved to hear their "kyu-kyu" sounds.

After that, we moved to a tropical fish and honu spot. When we had food, aggressive tropical fish swarmed around us (laughs). We also managed to meet a honu that was napping.

Originally, this was supposed to be the end, but because we found the dolphins early, we were given a special second dolphin dive! We were able to see an even larger group of dolphins than the first time, which was incredibly exciting!

Actually, my sister had been feeling a bit unwell since the morning, but she completely recovered without realizing it. It seemed like the dolphins had healed her.

Thank you to everyone at Dolphin Junior High for the fun lesson! ^^

姉妹で参加させていただきました。

早朝の集合でしたが、
車内では寝起きでテンション低めの参加者達をイルカ中学会長さんが盛り上げてくださり、
車窓からは「この木なんの木」やパールハーバー、ディズニーホテルなどを見ることできて
ちょっとした観光気分を味わうことができました。

前週に２日イルカに会えない日があったと聞いて若干不安でしたが、
港を出発して10分程ですぐに海へダイブ！
船長さんの「シタヲミテー！！」の言葉で必死に海中を覗くと、
念願のイルカが！！
姿を見ることができたのはもちろんのこと、
「キューキュー」という鳴き声を聞くことができたのには本当に感動しました。

その後は熱帯魚＆ホヌスポットへ移動。
餌を持っていると、わらわらと群がってくるアグレッシブな熱帯魚たち(笑)
お昼寝中だったホヌにも何とか会うことができました。

本来はこれで終了らしいのですが、
イルカの発見が早かったからとのことで、
特別に2回目のイルカダイブ！
1回目よりもさらに大群のイルカ達を見ることができて大感動！！

実は朝から若干体調が悪かった妹ですが、
知らぬ間にすっかり回復。
イルカ達に癒されたようでした。

イルカ中学のみなさん、楽しい授業をありがとうございました^^

My daughter participated in the Royal Swim. The very friendly dolphin was super cute! However, it would be nicer if the price were a bit lower.

娘がロイヤルスイムに参加しました。
とても人懐っこいイルカは、超可愛かったですよ^^
でも、出来れば値段がもう少し安いと懐にも優しいな。。