All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

I stayed at a guesthouse in Kaanapali next to Lahaina. We departed at 6:50 AM, took 5 minutes to reach the public parking lot, and then walked for another 5 minutes to the meeting point. There were already a lot of tourists gathered.

We boarded at 7:30 AM for a 2-hour whale watching tour. I was hoping to see whales like in the pictures, but all we saw that day was just a glimpse of a tail. It felt like the end of the season. I want to try again next year.

Lahaina隣のKaanapaliの民宿に宿泊、6時50分出発、パブリック駐車場迄5分、その後5分歩いて集合場所に行った。すでに大勢の観光客が集まっていた。
7時半に乗船し2時間のウオッチング。写真で見るようなクジラを期待していたが、この日は少し尾ひれが見えただけ。シーズン終わりの感がした。来年再チャレンジしたい。

The submarine tour is really amazing. How often can you say that you were in an actual submarine. The sub is air conditioned and really very spacious and comfortable. There is never a dull moment. Fish, coral eels and ship wrecks. Plenty to see and experience.

The best kick ass time in Hawaii, the divers were very attentive. Seeing the ocean from underneath is awesome for this non-swimmer.Younger kids could enjoy this. Bring cash for the pictures as credit cards not accepted.

On the third day of our family's first 3-night, 5-day trip to Maui, we joined an early morning tour that was a good deal, even though it wasn't the time for the Japanese guide. We thought we might see whales while looking at the ocean. It seemed like we went out far enough where other tour boats didn't go. We even encountered whales crossing right in front of our boat. ...And the guide exclaimed "Incredible!" because we took the best photos. And it was all with an iPhone. It was the best whale watching experience on our first trip to Maui. I would love to participate again.

家族4人の3泊5日初マウイ弾丸旅行の3日目、日本語ガイドが乗る時間帯ではないが海を見ていればクジラが観れるだろうと早朝のツアーが割安だったので参加しました。ほかのツアーの船がいかない沖まで行っていたように思えます。船のすぐ前を横切るクジラにも会えました。・・・そしてなんとガイドさんもIncredible!と叫ぶほど最高の写真が撮れました。しかもiPhoneでです。初マウイで最高ホェールウォッチングでした。また参加したいと思います。

To fulfill my mother's dream of swimming with dolphins, we participated in "Dolphin Adventure." My mother, who can't swim, was anxious, but the staff were very friendly and kind, and she was able to realize her dream safely! We touched and kissed the dolphin LAKA, and swam together! In reality, the swimming lasted only about 10 seconds, but both my mother and I were super excited! It was a valuable experience for us. Thank you, LAKA!

イルカと泳ぎたい！という母の夢をかなえるため、“ドルフィンアドベンチャー”に参加しました。
泳げない母は不安になっていましたが、スタッフの方もとてもフレンドリーで優しく、無事に夢をかなえることができました‼︎
イルカのLAKAちゃんに、触れたり、キスしたり、そして一緒に泳ぎました！実際、泳いでるのは10秒ないくらいのあっという間の時間でしたが、母も私も大興奮‼︎
貴重な経験をさせて頂きましたo(^▽^)o
LAKAちゃん、ありがとう♡

This cruise was awesome, the staff were very knowledgable, fun and professional all at the same time. We had a lot of fun. Saw a few whales as well

This was probably the best experience in my life. So awesome and a must do if you're in Oahu! I'm definitely doing it again and bringing more friends! The sharks come so close and if you get lucky like us, you'll see some whales! Definitely do it!

I decided to join this tour after seeing the reviews, as it seemed interesting. Our hotel was in Waikoloa, and since there are five of us in the family, I wanted to minimize expenses by opting for a local meeting point. However, since there was no transportation available for the return, I chose the option with pick-up. The young man who came to pick us up was very friendly. He couldn't speak Japanese, but he had a name similar to my son's, which helped us bond quickly and made it enjoyable.

It was a bit chilly, so I borrowed a wetsuit. Without it, I wouldn't have been able to stay out long because it was too cold. It was everyone's first time going out into the night sea, and we were all nervous, but our guide, Leon, provided great support, making it enjoyable even for my first grader. (He speaks Japanese almost like a native.) I was worried that my child might be screaming out of fear, but it turned out to be excited shouts as the manta rays came so close they almost bumped into us. Although we shouldn't touch them, they were so close that we truly felt the wildness of the experience.

The water was so clear that we could see the bottom (it was dark, but occasionally the lights illuminated it), and many manta rays' white bellies floated up, creating an exhilarating and moving sight! It was definitely worth it. I'm really glad we went!

Leon said, "The joy of this job is knowing that the kids will remember today for a long time," which left a strong impression on me. We also visited Oahu during this trip, and when I asked the kids what they remembered most, they said it was this "Manta Tour." It's that impactful of an experience. I highly recommend trying it!

書き込みを見て、このツアー面白そうと思い決めました。ホテルがワイコロアだったのですが、家族５人なので少しでも支出を抑えたくて現地集合にしようと思いましたが、帰りの交通手段がなかったので送迎つきにしました。でも、お迎えに来てくれた青年がとても気さくで、日本語は話せませんが、息子と名前が似ていたのですぐ打ち解けて楽しかったです。

肌寒かったのでウエットスーツを借りました。着ないとと寒くて長くは見ていられなかったでしょう。夜の海に出るのは皆初めてでドキドキでしたが、ちゃんとガイドのリオン君がサポートしてくれたので、小１の子も楽しめました。(日本人なみに日本語話せます)怖さで絶叫しているのかと心配していたら、マンタがぶつかる位接近してくるので、興奮しての雄叫びでした。触れてはいけないのに、マンタからぶつかってくるので、まさしく野性を肌で感じられるツアーです。海の底が見える程の透明度のなか(暗いけど時折ライトで底が見える)、沢山のマンタの白いお腹が浮かび上がり、その迫力に興奮と感動！間違いなしです。本当に行って良かった！

リオン君が「子ども達が、今日のことをずっと覚えていてくれる事が、この仕事をやっている喜び」と言っていたのが印象的でした。今回の旅行はオアフ島にも行ったのですが、子ども達に何が一番心に残ったか聞いたら、この「マンタツアー」でした。それ位キョーレツなツアーです。是非おためしを！

I went on this with my boyfriend and we had lots of fun! Def was not scary but very neat to see the sharks from a different perspective.

Very good 2.5 hours spent aboard the catamaran. The crew seemed knowledgeable and were happy to point out a whole host of things to look at. We managed to see about 10 sightings of whales, some jumping out of the water, some 'blowing' and some fantastic tail shots. Would recommend to others.

I'm glad I got to see wild whales for the first time, but they didn't jump or anything, so I didn't feel much excitement. But I guess that's just how whales are (laughs). They seemed to swim alongside us for a long time, occasionally blowing air and showing their backs. The staff were all very nice, and you could tell they wanted to make it enjoyable for everyone. It's a big boat, so it's less likely to make you seasick, but it's still a good idea to take some motion sickness medication just in case.

野生のクジラを初めて見れてよかったですが、ジャンプなどしてくれるわけでなかったので迫力は感じられませんでした。でもこれはクジラの気分なのでしょうがないです（笑）
ずっと横には泳いでいたようなのですが、時々潮を吹いて背中が見えるくらい。
スタッフはみなさん感じがよく、楽しませようという感じが伝わってきました。
大きい船なので酔いにくいですが、酔い止め薬を飲んでおいた方が安心です。

It was a great whale watching tour for family. The crews are friendly and knowledgeable. We enjoyed the time a lot...

We had a great time! The food was good and we loved the view of the ocean. When we first arrived they took a family picture of us. It was nice to have a group picture. :) Even though it was windy that day we still saw some whales. It was amazing to see whales!!! It was too bad that it didn't jump high, but it was still exciting to see their backs and tails. The leis and ukulele class were on at the same time. It did go by fast so we didn't get to join both classes. However, we loved making leis with real flowers!! We had a wonderful experience.

I only saw one manta in the distance. It just passed by in an instant. The water was cold, like a punishment game. The staff was friendly. I was able to walk from the office to the boat.

マンタは遠くに一匹のみ。
一瞬通り過ぎただけでした。
水は冷たく、罰ゲームのようでした。
スタッフはフレンドリー。
事務所から船までも歩けました。

My friend was visiting Oahu for the first time, so I chose this experience thinking we could enjoy various aspects of Hawaiian culture on board. We made leis, danced hula, and played the ukulele. Since it was a weekday, there were no group tours, so we didn't have to wait in long lines for the buffet. Depending on where you sit, it seems you could also see dolphins and whales. It might be worth a visit.

お友達が、オアフ島への訪問が初めてだったので・・船内でハワイの文化を色々体験できると思い選びました。レイを作ったり、フラダンスを踊ったり、ウクレレを弾いたり、平日だった為か団体ツアーが入っておらずバイキングでも長蛇の列を並ぶ必要はありませんでした。座る場所次第でイルカやクジラも見えた様です。行ってみても良いかも。

I chose a package where we could interact with rays because my second daughter loves them. Suddenly, we were handed snorkeling gear, and my 4-year-old and 7-year-old daughters, along with my 71-year-old mother, all tried snorkeling for the first time in their lives. Floating in a deep pool with swimming fish felt refreshing, as if we were entering a fish world. The sensation of touching the belly of a large ray was unlike that of a dolphin, with an indescribable smoothness. I was also thrilled to see fish swarm around the lettuce I held in my hand.

For those who might feel uneasy about floating in a pool where they can't reach the bottom with just a life jacket, it could be challenging.

次女が「エイ」が大好きなので、エイとも触れ合えるパッケージにしました。
いきなりシュノーケルを渡され、４歳、７歳の娘たちも７１歳の母も人生初シュノーケリングに挑戦。
魚が泳ぐ深いプールにぷかぷか浮かび、魚の世界に入れてもらう感じが新鮮でした。
大きなエイのおなかにタッチした感触は、イルカとも違って、なんともいえない滑らかさ。
手に持ったレタスに魚たちが群がるのにも感激しました。

シュノーケルや足が絶対届かないプールにライフジャケットだけで浮かぶことに抵抗がある方には、難しいかもしれません。

Great family fun, way cool, crew was very entertaining, great experience!

I used this with family and friends. Everyone was excited about diving at a depth we usually can't reach! We even saw sea turtles and rays (*☻-☻*). It was truly amazing!!!

ファミリー＆友人との団体で利用しました。
普段潜ることができないくらいの深さの潜水にみんな興奮！
なんとウミガメもエイも見れました(*☻-☻*)
感激ひとしおです！！！

I used this service with my family and friends as a group. I was excited about the claim of over 90% encounter rate, but... Despite it being a good time of year, we didn't see any whales up close... We only caught a glimpse of a few spouts and maybe a back, but it was hard to tell... My parents, who were on their first trip abroad, looked a bit disappointed (tears).

家族と友達と団体で利用しました。
90%以上の遭遇率とのうたい文句にきたいしましたが。。。
いい時期にもかかわらず、まじかでクジラは見られず。。。わずかな潮吹きと背中が見えたような見えなかったような。。。。
初海外の両親は少し残念そうにしてました(涙)

I participated on March 8th. This was my third time joining. This time, there were about 20 Japanese participants along with us. Of course, there was also a Japanese guide on board. To put it simply, there were a lot of us.

The previous times I went were at the end of March, but this time was the best. We were able to see breaching multiple times, and the sound of the tail slapping the water was amazing.

I had a hard time getting good photos; the shutter opportunities were... I think the best approach is to use the continuous shooting mode on my compact camera to snap a bunch of photos and then crop them later.

According to the guide, the peak is around Valentine's Day, so I plan to go in February next year.

３月８日に参加しました。３度目の参加です。
今回は日本人御一行様約２０名も一緒でした。もちろん日本人ガイドさんも乗船
一言でいうとうようよいます。
前回、前々回は３月末だったこともありますが今回が一番です。
ブリーチングも何度となく見ることができ、尾ひれで海をたたく音がまた凄いんです。
写真はなかなかうまく撮れません、シャッターチャンスが・・・・
コンデジの連射モードでパシャパシャパシャっと撮ってから後でトリミングが正解かと。
ガイドさんによるとバレンタインデー辺りがピークとのこと、来年は２月中に行くつもりでいます。

I made a reservation for my mother, who cannot swim.
It was very cold inside the submarine.
The air conditioning was too strong, and by the end, my aunt felt unwell.
The visibility in the sea was very poor due to the bad weather until recently.
I was able to see two turtles (honu).
I think that was good.

泳ぐことができない、母のために予約をしました。
潜水艦の中は非常に寒いです。
クーラーが効きすぎて、最後の方は伯母は体調が悪くなってしまったほどです。
先日までの悪天候で海の中の透明度が非常に悪かったです。
亀（ホヌ）を2匹見る事ができました。
それはよかったと思います。

Our cruise was a lot of fun for us all. My son asked to go do it again so we could see more whales. I would definetly do one of these cruises again.

I participated in this tour during the summer. Even though it's summer in Hawaii, the ocean at night can be quite chilly. I wore two long-sleeved rash guards, so I was relatively okay until the end, but I think it's better to borrow a wetsuit as it gets extremely cold towards the end and on the way back. I heard that there were none the day before, but on this day, they appeared in large numbers, and no matter how much I tried to avoid them, they kept bumping into me (apparently, they seem to like the lights of the boat). You can easily see manta rays just by holding onto a large buoy and looking down. I will definitely repeat this when I go to the Big Island next time. As for the guide, she was a smart and humorous woman. I think you can’t go wrong with her. She was the most considerate guide I’ve ever met. The male guide was a completely different type, but he was an interesting person once you started talking to him.

夏にこちらのツアーに参加しました。夏のハワイとはいえ夜の海。
長袖のラッシュガード２枚着で参加したのでわりと私は最後まで平気でしたが、
最後あたりと帰りの船が極寒となりますのでウェットを借りた方がいいと思います。
前日は全くでなかったと聞いていましたが、この日は大量に現れてくれまして、避けても避けても体当たりしてくるぐらいでした。（どうやらこの船のライトをお気に召しているらしい）大きな浮きみたいなものにつかまって下をのぞくだけでマンタが見れますので楽チンです。
こんどハワイ島に行ってもリピートします。
ガイドさんですが、女性の聡明なユーモアのある方です。こちらの方なら間違いないかと。
私が今まで会ったガイドさんでNO.1の気遣いができる人でした。
男性ガイドさんの方は全く違うタイプですが、話せば面白い人でした。

We had a great time on the Star of Honolulu. The ship was comfortable and clean. The rails offered a great platform for picture taking and whale watching. Only minutes out of Honolulu harbor the first whales were sighted. We followed along with them for about 1/2 hour. They would surface every 5 minutes or so. On the way back up to Diamondhead we encountered another pod. After watching them for awhile, it was time for the morning trip to end. All in all... this was one of many highlights for our visit to Oahu.

The price for breakfast included for a family of four is cheap, and all the crew members were kind and friendly, which made the children happy. It was a bit disappointing that we were able to see whales a few times and were satisfied, but I think it would have been even better if we could have seen them up close.

家族４人で朝食付きでこの値段は安い、クルーのみんなも優しく親切で子供たちも喜んでいました。ちょっと残念だったのは、クジラは何度か見ることができて満足できたのですが、もっと間近で見れれば最高だと思います。ぬ

The guide had a condescending tone throughout. Everything was in a commanding manner. It was the worst. I felt bad when they said that Japanese people are gloomy and therefore get drunk. If they are Japanese themselves, I wonder if they realize how their comments can heighten feelings of tension and anxiety in an unfamiliar place.

They also pressured us for tips, saying it should be over $10 per person. At first, they said tips were just a gesture, but is that not acceptable?

I was moved by the manta rays, but you have to rely on your own strength to float, which requires a lot of stamina.

It was stated that they would lend life jackets, but we only received fins and snorkels. The wetsuits were an extra charge, and it was different from what was detailed.

It's really disappointing, especially since the manta rays were so wonderful.

ガイドの方か、とにかく上から口調でした。
すべてが命令口調。最悪です。
日本人は、暗い・だから酔うなど言われ　気分が悪かったです。本人も日本人なら　慣れない土地にて緊張する気持ちや不安な気持ちをあおる発言はどうなのかな？と思います。

チップの強要も　一人10ドル以上でといわれるし。
はじめはチップは気持ちだからと言われたのに　それでは駄目なのでしょうか？

マンタは感動しましたが、自分の腕の力で浮いていなければならない為、体力いります。

救命胴衣を貸してくれると書いてあったのに、ﾌｨﾝとシュノーケルだけでした。
ウエットスーツは有料でしたし、詳細に書いてあることと違っていました。

マンタが素敵なだけに　本当残念でした。

Thanks so much to North Shore Shark Adventures! We had such a great time and the sharks we saw were countless! Even saw a barracuda who lingered around the cage. Captain Tanja and the crew were fantastic. They were knowledgeable,friendly,and funny. We brought home a video of our adventure and are so glad that we did! We would do this again in a minute! (This coming from someone who is afraid of everything = Karen!) I would recommend this adventure to anyone visiting the island. See you next time NSSA!

Joe & Karen, Coquitlam, BC Canada

The whale showed its tail and pectoral fins several times. Even without a tour, you can see whales from points like Makapu'u during this season, but you can't get as close as you can on a tour. I wish I could have seen it jump!

しっぽと胸ビレをバタバタ何度か見せてくれました。
ツアーでなくてもこの時期はマカプウ等の岬からもクジラみれますが、やはりツアーほどの近いポジションで拝めることはなかったです。
ジャンプが見れたらよかったなぁ！

I tried not to get my hopes up too much, but in the end, I was very satisfied. We were able to see whales up close multiple times, and both the kids and adults were extremely excited. I think luck plays a part, but I can definitely recommend it.

期待し過ぎにないようにしていましたが、結果的にとても満足しました。
肉眼で確認できる距離で何度も鯨を確認でき、子どもも大人も大興奮でした。その日の運もあると思いますが、お勧めできます。

I was extremely satisfied!!!!!
The meeting was quite early in the morning and the price was reasonable, but it was definitely worth it!
We were blessed with good weather and the conditions were excellent with no waves.
On the way to the dolphin spot, we encountered a whale! We were able to see the whale's tail.
This year, I plan to buy a lottery ticket.

We discovered a group of about 50 dolphins in the clearest waters on the West Coast.
We jumped in at the perfect timing thanks to our amazing captain.
We were able to see the dolphins up close multiple times!
That sight is something I will never forget; it left a lasting impression on my heart.

Next, we headed to the sea turtle spot.
On the way there, we encountered whales again.
It seemed like a mother and baby whale were practicing their jumps.

At the sea turtle spot, we saw six sea turtles!
We were able to see them up close.
The fish in the sea were also incredibly beautiful.

In the beautiful sea, I was able to see dolphins and sea turtles up close, and I encountered whales as well.
I was captivated by the rich land...
I am extremely, extremely, extremely satisfied!
Next, I want to go to Dolphin University and Manta University!

超超大満足でした!!!!!
かなーーーーり朝早い集合でお値段もそこそこしますが、十分価値のあるものです！
天候にも恵まれ、波のなくコンディション抜群でした。
イルカスポットへ向かっている途中。
くじらに遭遇しました！くじらのシッポをみることができました。
今年は宝くじを購入しようと思います。

西海岸で一番海の透明感が高いところで、イルカさん50匹くらいの団体さんを発見。
超いけてる船長さんのタイミングで入水。
ばっちり間近でイルカを何度も見ることができました！
あの光景は今でも忘れられません。それくらい心に残ります。

続いて、ウミガメさんのスポットへ。
またその移動途中、クジラに遭遇。
どうやらクジラ親子がジャンプの練習をしている様子でした。

ウミガメスポットには6匹のウミガメさんが！
間近で見ることができました。
海のお魚さんもすごーーーーくきれいでした。

きれいな海で、超間近でイルカ・ウミガメにあえ
クジラにも遭遇。
豊かな大地にも心を奪われ、、、、。
超超超大満足です！
次はイルカ大学・マンタ大学にもいきたいです！