All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

I thought I would see a lot of fish since it was a submarine, but there were no fish at all, and I was just looking at the seabed. It's better not to expect any fish.

潜水艦だったのでたくさんの魚が見れると思ったのですが
全く魚がおらずただただ海底を見ているだけでした
魚は期待しないほうがいいです。

I took a couple of my students out there and it was amazing. The entire crew were professional and patient. It was the first time for some of the participants and some of them couldn't swim, but the divers were with us the entire time during the B.O.B. and assisting us while we snorkeled. If you get a chance, you have to check these guys out.

To conclude, it was the worst tour I've ever experienced. First, the meeting point was unclear. The voucher only said "Honokohau Harbor," and I had no idea where to go in the harbor. When I called for clarification, the response was off the mark. Ultimately, I ended up in the wrong place. On top of that, on this day, the manta rays didn't show up, and I was told, "It only happens about three times a year." While I understand that it's a natural occurrence, I was very frustrated when they said, "With that kind of probability, it's actually lucky!" Furthermore, they kept emphasizing that "you must give tips to the captain and staff," which, although a cultural difference, I couldn't accept. I don't mind tipping, but the way they said it was unacceptable. Lastly, there was an attempt to show consideration by offering a gift for not seeing the manta rays, but this backfired. It was a postcard of a manta ray. Not only did it feel patronizing, but there weren't enough cards for the number of participants—just one per group. When I complained, they said, "It's originally a paid card, so please understand." While I get that it's a natural occurrence, considering that customers are paying for the experience, if there's even a 1% chance of failure, there should be some recovery measures in place as a business. I believe there should be alternative points, merchandise provided when things go wrong (in terms of quality and quantity), and at least a formal apology.

結論から申し上げて、過去に体験したことのないひどいツアーでした。まずは分かりにくい集合場所。バウチャーに「ホノウコウハーバー」としか書いておらず、ハーバーのどこに行けばいいのか全く分からなかった。電話で問い合わせたところ、的を射ない回答。結果的に間違っていたし。そしてこの日は運の悪いことにマンタは現れず、「年に3回くらいしかない」と説明を受け、自然のことなのでしょうが無いとは思いつつも、「そのくらいの確率だから、逆にラッキー！」とか言われて非常に腹が立った。その上「船長とスタッフにはチップを必ずあげてくれ」とひたすら強調していたのも、文化の違いとは言え納得できない。チップは払うが、その言い方はない。そして最後に「マンタに会えなかったからギフトを」という心遣いがあったがこれが逆効果。マンタのポストカード。気持ちが逆撫でされただけでなく、参加人数に対して枚数が足りず、1グループ1枚。文句を言うと「元々有料のカードなんだから、勘弁して」とのこと。自然のこととは言え、体験に対してカネを払っている顧客のことを考えれば、1％でも失敗の可能性があるのであれば、その際のリカバリー策はビジネスとしていくつか用意しておくべき。違うポイント、ダメだったときのグッズ提供（質・量とも）、一応の謝罪、あって然るべきと思う。

I participated alone in August. I was told to confirm by phone at 4 PM on the day of the event, so I called, but it seemed that it wasn't particularly necessary, which surprised me. It seems that it's not needed unless the weather is particularly dangerous.

After going to the office and completing the check-in, they lend you a wetsuit in the next room without saying anything. After that, you go to the place where the boat departs on your own. The directions are simple, but I ended up getting lost unexpectedly. In fact, there were people who got lost and couldn't make it in time, so I think those who lack confidence should allow themselves plenty of time to get there.

The entire process is in English, but there aren't any detailed instructions, so if you have the guts, you'll be fine. It's a valuable experience. By the way, there were participants who couldn't swim and children as well.

After getting in the water, your body gets quite cold, so a towel and something to wear over yourself are essential. Even in August, my teeth were chattering.

８月に１人で参加しました。
当日の４時に電話で確認をとのことだったので、電話してみましたが、特に必要じゃないようで、かえってビックリされました。特に天候が危ない感じとかじゃなければ必要なさそうです。
事務所に行って、受付を済ますと、何も言わなくても隣の部屋でウエットスーツを貸してくれます。その後、自分で船が出る場所まで行きます。道順は簡単なのですが、あっけなく迷いました。実際、道に迷って間に合わず参加できなかった人たちもいたので、自信が無い人は余裕をもって行ったほうがいいと思います。
全行程英語ですが、特に細かい指示もないので、度胸があれば大丈夫です。価値のある経験ができます。
ちなみに、泳げない人や子供の参加していました。
水につかった後はかなり体が冷えるのでタオルと羽織るものは欠かせません。８月でも歯がカタカタいいました。

I participated without understanding much English. I went by car, and the parking was free! At the dolphin swim check-in counter, there were Japanese staff who guided us with "Yes, this way! Yes, like this!" The instructor also gave instructions in broken Japanese. It's a shame that the photos are quite expensive >_< We took about five different types of photos, but each one costs $16, so if you want them all... Plus, they also filmed a video, and I want the DVD too... Well, it can't be helped! My son was very satisfied (^_^)

英語が、殆ど分からないで参加しました。車でいきました。駐車場は無料でした！ドルフィンスイムのチェックインカウンターには日本人もいて、「はい、こっち！はい、こうして！」と誘導してくれました。インストラクターも片言ですが、日本語で指示してくれます。写真がやはり高いのが残念>_<５パターン位写真を撮りましたが、一枚16ドルなので、全部となると…しかも、ムービーを撮ってくれているの、ＤＶＤも欲しいし…。まぁ、しょうがないですけどね！息子は、大満足していました(^_^)

I participated at the request of my elementary school child who loves dolphins. The park was an hour away by large bus, but the scenery from the window was wonderful, so I didn't mind the long travel time at all.

During the interaction time with the dolphins, there was a Japanese instructor assigned to each group who provided careful explanations, allowing us to enjoy the experience with peace of mind. We got to see the cute dolphins up close, pet them, and shake hands. My child, as well as I, who was just accompanying them, were very satisfied.

One thing that concerned me was that at the start of the program's pre-explanation, we were suddenly asked to sign a liability waiver (essentially stating that the park is not responsible for any accidents, and that insurance is also waived, etc.). It would be appreciated if we could be informed in advance (at the time of booking) if a signature on the liability waiver is required. I think some people might have reservations about this, but at the same time, we couldn't participate without signing it...

Aside from that point, it was a satisfying program.

イルカが大好きな小学生の子供のリクエストで参加しました。
パークまで大型バスで１時間と長い距離でしたが、途中の車窓が素晴らしく、時間の長さはまったく気になりませんでした。

イルカとの触れ合いの時間は、グループに一人、日本人のインストラクターの方がついて丁寧な説明をしてくださるので安心して楽しむことができました。かわいいイルカを間近で見て、なでなでしたり、握手をしたり、子供はもちろんのこと、付き添い気分だった私も大満足でした。

一点気になったのは、プログラムの事前説明開始時に突然、保険免責の書類（要は何か事故があってもパークには責任はありません、保険も免責になります云々・・）に同意の署名を求められたことです。保険免責の同意書に署名が必要な場合は、事前に（予約時に）周知しておいていただけたらありがたいです。それに抵抗がある方もいらっしゃると思いますし、かと言って、それに署名をしないことには参加させてもらえないのですし・・・。

その点以外は満足できるプログラムでした。

When my friend asked me to do this with him, I was a bit hesitant. Not knowing what to expect, my imagination relived several scenes in "Jaws". After doing some research and coming to the realization that North Shore does this on a daily basis without people loosing limbs, I agreed. It turned out to be an absolutely phenomenal experience. We arranged for the hotel pickup and once in the van, took the 45 minute ride to the North Shore area of Oahu. Once at the marina, it's about a 20-30 minute ride out to the cage. The Captain went over all the safety instructions thoroughly and describes what types of sharks we would be seeing. His shark lecture was very informative and wasn't stumped when questions were asked. Once at the site, the cage is secured to the side of the boat and after the 8-10 passengers get in, the cage is allowed to float away about 20 feet. Observing the sharks was a thing of beauty and simply can't be described in words. I would do this again in a heartbeat.

I strongly recommend this experience! The crew were helpful, down to earth and nice which made the experience even better. I recommend purchasing the video of yourself under water with the sharks - it will be a lifelong memory.

Great experience. I was a nervous at first, but when I was under the water, I had a wonder experience.

I participated with my children (ages 13 and 10). Since it was a night activity, I was worried about bringing them along, but there were no issues at all. The size of the manta rays and their impressive presence right in front of us were incredible. We were very excited. The kids were also very satisfied. We would like to participate again next time. However, there is no detailed description of the meeting place (landmarks), so those gathering on-site need to be cautious. A truck towing a boat comes near the public restroom, but the tour name is not displayed, so you have to ask for information yourself. Additionally, while the tour description mentions drinks and snacks, none were provided. This needs to be corrected.

子供（13歳、10歳）を連れて参加しました。夜のアクティビティーだったので、子連れでは心配だったのですが、全く問題ありませんでした。
マンタの大きさと目の前に迫ってくる迫力は凄いの一言。とても興奮しました。
子供達も大満足。また、次回参加したいです。
ただ、集合場所が詳細（目印）の記載がないので、現地集合の人は注意が必要です。
公衆トイレ近くにボートを牽引したトラックが来ますが、ツアーの名称は表記されないので自分から声かけて聞くしか方法がありません。
また、ツアー内容に飲料、軽食の記載がありますが、提供はありませんでした。修正が必要ですね。

Interacting with the dolphins was so much fun. Their adorable swimming and the way they swam while being held was incredibly soothing. However, I accidentally ended up in an English explanation session, which was a bit disappointing because I couldn't understand much. But I still enjoyed it on the vibe!!

イルカとのふれあい、とても楽しかったです。イルカの可愛い泳ぎやつかまって泳ぐことで、すご～く癒されました。ただ、何故か英語での説明の会に入ってしまい、あまり、意味が通じなかったのが残念でした。でも、ノリで楽しんでしまいました！！

I participated with my husband and our 9-year-old daughter. Since my husband speaks English, we decided on this affordable tour, but I think it’s fine even if you can’t speak difficult English, especially if you have snorkeling experience. However, we had to move to the port by ourselves from the tour reception desk.

My daughter, who gets motion sickness easily, took some anti-nausea medication beforehand, and thankfully, she didn’t get seasick. However, it was quite cold floating in the night sea (we participated in August). Even though she wore a long rash guard top and bottom, after floating for nearly 20 minutes and only seeing one manta ray in the distance, she started saying, “I’m cold; I want to get out!” While I was trying to calm her down, a group of five giant manta rays appeared! We forgot about the cold and were just captivated. It felt like we were floating in space. They swirled around us within reach. The staff were friendly and fun, and we had a wonderful experience unique to the Big Island of Hawaii.

夫と９歳の娘と３人で参加しました。夫が英語を話せるので、安いこちらのツアーに決めましたが、シュノーケル経験者の方なら特に難しい英語が話せなくても大丈夫だと思います。ただしツアー受付デスクからは自分達で港まで移動しなければいけません。
酔いやすい娘は、事前に酔い止めを飲ませまた効果か、船酔いはしませんでしたが、とにかく夜の海にずっと浮いてるために冷えます。（８月の参加で）上下ロングラッシュガードを着込んだにもかかわらず、20分近く浮いて、まだ１匹遠くにマンタを見ただけで、「寒くてもうあがりたい〜」と言い出す始末・・・。なんとかなだめていると、そこへ５匹の巨大マンタの群れが〜！！寒さも忘れてただただ見入ってしまいました。まるで宇宙に浮いてる感じです。クルクルと手の届くような位置で回ってくれました。スタッフも気さくで楽しくて、ハワイ島ならではのとてもいい経験が出来ました。

This would have been an awesome trip if it hadn't been ruined by motion sickness. And I wasn't the only one affected, there were 6 other people hanging their heads over the side of the boat with me. This excursion is definately a do-over only next time I'll take the morning trip and start loading up on dramamine the night before. I want to mention, though, that the captain and crew were very nice and knowledgeable of sharks and shark conservation and I will go with this company again.

I went on this 3 yrs ago and it was much more fun. They no longer feed the sharks and they stuffed the tank with too many people. Last time it was 4 ppl inside cage this time they put 8 ppl in it!!

Getting in the water with sharks was definitely a unique afternoon! Our hosts weren't especially talkative but knew what they were doing and we all got a turn. If you're going to get in the water with sharks I suggest this company because of the plexiglass on the side of the cage. None of the pictures I took through the bars turned out because of the light reflection! Also arrive early to the dock! The sign is tiny, faded and at the far end of a parking lot. Took us 20 minutes to find where to go after arriving.

The bus came to pick us up at the hotel, but it was full. The scenery along the East Coast Line until we arrived at Sea Life Park was breathtaking. This time, only the kids participated in the Dolphin Encounter, but since the order was mixed up, we missed some great photo opportunities. It was frustrating! I bought the photos that were taken, but they were a bit pricey. I also purchased a video as a keepsake. The kids were absolutely thrilled.

バスがホテルまで迎えに来てくれましたが満員状態でした。そしてシーライフパークに着くまでの東海岸線の景色は絶景でした。今回はドルフィン・エンカウンターに子供だけ参加しましたが、順番がばらばらだったのでシャッターチャンスを逃してしまいました。くやしい！写真を撮ってくれていたのを購入しましたが、ちょっとお高いです。記念にビデオも購入しましました。子供は大喜びでした。

The manta rays drifting in the night sea were enchanting, but it was very cold and the waves were quite high. The snorkeling lasted about an hour, which was pretty exhausting. I had no energy at all due to the cold and seasickness. It was scary to try to return to the boat on my own after getting separated from the group in the night sea, so I recommend being in good health before participating.

夜の海に漂うマンタは幻想的で良かったですが…
とても寒いしけっこう波が高いです。
１時間ほどのシュノーケリングだったのでかなりしんどかった。
寒さと波酔いでまったく余裕がありませんでした。
夜の海で自力でグループから離れて船に戻るのは怖くてがんばりましたが、
体調を万全にしての参加をお勧めします。

Very professionally run organisation don't get put off by the safety demo it is very easy and super enjoyable, would definetly recommend

It was soo much fun! My sister and i enjoyed it.. Twas really unforgettable experience..

This trip was great!!!! We saw many large sharks. Water was pretty rough, a little hard getting out of cage. We ranged in age from 13 to 50 and everyone enjoyed it!!

Fun & exciting experience under the sea in safe.
Greatest activity !!

I was worried about seasickness, but it wasn't a big deal and the boat was comfortable. The food was tastier than I expected. I was lucky to see whales multiple times and was able to take great photos. The onboard cultural programs were diverse, and I enjoyed participating in activities like lei making and hula dance lessons.

船酔い心配しましたが、たいしたこともなく快適な船でした。食事は思ってたよりおいしかったです。クジラ、ラッキーにも何度も見れ、写真もしっかりとれました。船内のカルチャープログラムも多彩でレイ作り、フラダンス講習など楽しんで参加できました。

At first, I only intended to sign up for the dolphin tour, but since they mentioned that we could see manta rays, I participated with some hesitation. I drove to the meeting place by rental car, but the map on the internet was a bit vague, so I got flustered trying to find the location. However, I received detailed instructions over the phone, so I arrived safely. You can check in at a spacious parking lot with public restrooms at Honokohau Harbor, which is a bit further in than the online map suggested. If you're going on your own, be careful. I stayed in Waikoloa, and it took about 30 minutes by car.

The fins, masks, and snorkels were relatively new, and since it was nighttime in the ocean, you can rent a wetsuit for $10. Many Japanese women are petite, so my wife, who is 154 cm tall, needed an XS size. I was used to the ocean, so I was fine with just a long-sleeve rash guard and wetsuit pants in July in Hawaii, but for those who aren't used to it, I think it's better to rent a wetsuit instead of bringing one, as it can be bulky.

It took about 20 minutes to reach the manta ray location. You can watch the sunset from the water, so I recommend it as a sunset cruise as well. Once the sun sets and it gets dark, the encounter with the manta rays begins.

Although it gets dark, participants don't swim around separately; instead, we all hold onto something like a floating raft and drift together on the water, which is reassuring. The raft has a spotlight, and manta rays come close to eat the plankton illuminated by it, so you can see them spinning and dancing right in front of you, over and over again. The photos I uploaded here were taken with a compact digital camera, and they come close enough to capture beautiful shots without needing a special camera.

Since you're floating while holding onto the raft, even those who usually don't get seasick might feel a bit queasy, so I recommend taking motion sickness medication. However, the experience is so moving that I absolutely recommend it. The dolphin tour is fun, but the emotional impact of seeing the manta rays might be even greater.

Lastly, the tour guide (sometimes a guy?) was very kind and spoke Japanese, always checking in with "Are you okay?" while we were on the water, which I found very reassuring.

最初は、イルカツアーだけ申し込むつもりでしたが、マンタが見られるということなので、半信半疑で参加しました。
集合場所へは、レンタカーで自力で行ったのですが、ネットに出ていた集合場所の地図が少しアバウトだったので場所がわからずに焦りました。でも、電話で丁寧に教えてもらえたので、無事到着。ネットの地図よりももう少し奥、ホノコハウハーバーの公衆トイレのある広々とした駐車場でチェックインできます。自分で行かれる方は要注意です。ワイコロアに泊まっていましたが、車で３０分でした。

フィンも、マスクも、シュノーケルも新しめの物ですし、夜の海ですから、ウエットスーツは１０ドルで借りられます。日本の女性は小柄な方が多いので、私の妻は身長１５４ｃｍでＸＳサイズでした。
私は、海には慣れていたので７月のハワイだし、長袖ラッシュガードとウエットパンツでＯＫでしたが、慣れていない方はウエットスーツを持参すると嵩張りますので、レンタルされると良いと思います。

マンタの場所までは、２０分位？で到着。その場で海の上から夕日が沈むのを眺められますので、サンセットクルーズ？としてもお勧めです。
夕日が沈んで、あたりが暗くなってきたら、いよいよマンタとの遭遇が始まります。

周囲は暗くなりますが、参加者がバラバラで泳ぐのではなく、海に浮かぶいかだのような物に捕まって、全員一緒に海上を漂うことになりますので安心です。
そのいかだにスポットライトがついていて、そこに照らされるプランクトンを食べるためにマンタが寄ってきますから、もうホントに目の前でマンタが何度も、何度も、何度もクルクルと回転してダンスを見せてくれますよ。
※その時撮影した写真がここにＵＰしたものです。特殊なカメラではなく、コンパクトデジカメで撮影してもこれだけ綺麗に撮れるほど近くに来てくれます。

イカダに捕まって浮かんだ状態ですから、船酔いしにくい人でも酔いやすいので、酔い止め薬は飲んでいったほうがいいと思いますが、それに勝る感動がありますので、絶対にお勧めです。イルカツアーも楽しいですけど、イルカよりも感動が大きいかもです。

最後に、ツアーガイドのお姉さん（時にはお兄さん？）は、日本語でとっても優しく対応してくれますし、海の上でも、いつも「大丈夫？」と気遣ってくれるので、とっても心強いと思います。

This was a great experience! There were sharks all over the place, defiantly wasn't disappointed. The only bad part about it was all the people that got sick, & especially the one that got sick while in the cage. Everything else was awesome. I would recommend it to anyone going to Hawaii.

I might be able to meet a manta ray?? Just imagining it makes me excited, and that alone prompted me to sign up.

I started to wonder about the staff—who they would be and if they could speak Japanese. As the meeting time approached, I began to feel a bit anxious, but the person who came to pick me up was the very cheerful and bright Kouji, along with a captain who had a wonderful smile and was very kind, which put me at ease.

When we arrived at the point, we enjoyed the beautiful sunset for a while while putting on our masks and getting ready. The beauty of the sunset changed its expression moment by moment, making it hard to look away! It felt like the hustle and bustle of city life was being purified by the sunset, and my heart felt warm and enchanted!

Suppressing my eager feelings, I entered the sea! The night sea was colder and darker than I expected, but Kouji held my hand firmly and guided me safely to the boat for manta watching.

The manta rays were larger and more impressive than I had imagined, swimming around in front of me, spinning again and again! There were moments when I thought I would bump into them! They swam so close, spinning around right in front of me. In the end, the manta rays performed a welcoming dance for me countless times—maybe a dozen?

Unlike dolphins, manta rays love lively environments, so it's easy to tell when a tour has them. I wonder how many boats were floating in the sea? Among the countless tours, ours was a lucky one where the manta rays welcomed us first.

I am grateful that the experienced and skilled staff contributed to today's success. Whether we would see them or not was a binary outcome, but for us, who participated in this limited time as travelers, the staff's expertise led to an unforgettable experience!

If I want to see manta rays again, I would love to sign up for Manta University, and I highly recommend it to anyone planning to visit the Big Island!

I am thankful for the precious experience and the memories I was able to create!

Thank you very much!☆

マンタに会えるかも？？想像しただけでワクワクしそれだけで申し込みをしました。

スタッフの方がどんな方なのか？日本語で大丈夫なのか？？
集合時間が近づいてくると少しそんな事もきになり始めましたが
お迎えに来て下さったのはとても明るい陽気なkoujiさんと
笑顔が素敵でとても親切なキャプテンで一安心しました。

ポイントに着くと少しの間美しいサンセットを楽しみながらマスクを装着し準備を進めます。サンセットの美しさは刻々と表情を変え一瞬々目が離せません！
日頃暮らす都会の喧騒をサンセットに浄化してくれた様に心がほっこりうっとりします！

逸る気持ちを抑えて海に入ります！
夜の海は思ったより冷たくて暗いですがマンタをウオッチングするボートまではKoujiさんがしっかりと手を握って安心安全に誘導してくれます。

マンタは想像以上に多きくて大迫力
目の前をくるくる回転しながら何度も何度も泳いで行きます！
何度マンタとぶつかる！思った瞬間があったことでしょう～！？？
それ程目の前の近距離をくるくる回転しながら泳いで行きます。
結局マンタは十数回？数えられない程目の前で歓迎のダンスを魅せてくれました。

マンタはイルカと違って賑やかなのが大好きなのでマンタが来ているツアーはすぐ分かります。何艘の船が海に浮かんでいた事でしょうか？数えきれないツアーの数の中でも
私達のツアーはマンタが真っ先にお出迎えしてくれたラッキーなツアーになりました。

これも経験豊富な熟練されたスタッフの方々の感が今日の成果に繋がったと感謝しております。会えるか！会えないか？Oか１００どちらかしかない結果を体験する事になる訳ですが旅行者という限られた時間の中で参加する私達にとってはスタッフの手腕が運に繋がり忘れられない素敵な時間を過ごせた事に感謝いたしております！

またマンタを観たくなったらマンタ大学に申し込みたいですし
Big islandを訪れる予定にある方にはマンタ大学をイチオシしたいと思います！

貴重な体験を思い出を作る事が出来た事に感謝です！

ありがとうございました☆

Great beyond my expectation. Wondeful experience would do it again

My teenage daughter really wanted this experience, my wife not so keen. It was well worth it, about 20 large sharks swimming around you whilst you are safe in the cage. Even my wife thought so. It was a good experience, the crew were good and organised.
The slow rolling sea can affect some :-)

Had ourselves a good time. Got sea sick on the boat ride though. Recommend you bring some gravol. A good activity to do while you are in Hawaii.

This was amazing event!!!! It was a safe trip, and it was awesome seeing the sharks swimming very close. I'm looking forward to doing it again.

My daughter participated in the encounter while I observed, and she was very happy. The dolphins were surprisingly smart. We had a fun day watching the sea lion and dolphin shows in the park.

娘がエンカウンターに参加して私は見学、娘はとても喜んでいました。
イルカはお利口さんでびっくり。
園内で、アシカやイルカのショーを見たり、楽しい一日でした。