All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

The whale watching season has just begun, and I was worried about whether I would be able to see any whales, but I was able to see about three spouting and their tails perfectly.

Along the way, a pod of dolphins passed by, and dolphins welcomed us at the port, which was also adorable.

The captain and the staff provided a lot of explanations, but since my English skills are lacking, I couldn't catch everything. If there are more people, it seems that a Japanese guide will accompany us, but with fewer people, we can freely use the deck of the boat, which is also appealing.

The view of the town of Kona, the airport, and the mountains from the sea was beautiful. If it's high season, I wonder if I could see more whales up close. Next time, I want to improve my English skills and participate again.

　ホエールウォッチングシーズンが始まったばかりで鯨を見ることが出来るか不安でしたが、ばっちり三頭ほど潮吹きや尻尾を見ることが出来ました。
　途中、イルカの群れが近くを通過、港でもイルカがお出迎え、これも可愛かったです。

　船長以下、スタッフの方がたくさん解説してくれていたのですが、英語力の無い私では全部は聞き取れませんでした。人数が多ければ日本語ガイドの方が付いてくれるようですが、少なければ少ないなりに船のデッキを自由に使えるので、これも捨てがたい。

　海から見えるコナの町、空港、山もきれいでした。
　ハイシーズンならもっとたくさん、そして近くで鯨を見ることが出来るかな。次回は英語力を高めてまた参加してみたいです。

It was an experience that can't be seen in Japan.
I think people of all ages, from small children to the elderly, can enjoy it.

日本では見られない体験でした。
小さい子からお年寄りまで十分楽しめると思います。

This time, I participated with my daughter. My wife passed this time because she gets seasick. We were handed a video camera and set sail.

As soon as we left the dock, we were welcomed by dolphins. My daughter was completely captivated. I felt the pressure to capture the moment on video, and I struggled greatly.

After a while, there was an announcement in English about spotting a spout (probably). No matter how hard I looked, I couldn't see it. My daughter seemed to find it and was overjoyed. Finally, I spotted it too, but as for the video and camera...

After that, we were able to see several spouts and even some jumps.

Upon returning to the port, I reported to my wife that we saw whales. As for the quality of the video and camera...

今回娘と二人で参加。
妻は、船酔いがするので今回はパス。
ビデオとカメラを渡され出港。

桟橋を外れすぐにいるかのお出迎え。
娘は、首ったけ。
ビデオをとらなくては、プレッシャーに弱いＰＡＰＡ大苦戦。

しばらくして潮吹を発見したとの英語のアナウンス（多分）。
目を皿にしても見えない。
娘は見つけたようで大喜び。
ようやくＰＡＰＡも発見するもビデオ・カメラは、、、。

その後数回にわたり潮吹きそしてジャンプも見られました。

帰港して妻に鯨見れたとの報告。
ビデオ・カメラの出来は、、、。

I love dolphins and even as an adult, I want to see dolphin shows at aquariums many times (laughs).

This time, I traveled to Hawaii with my mother, and since I was in charge of planning the entire trip, I chose the "Royal Swim," which is one of the reasons for going to Hawaii: swimming with dolphins♪

It seems that in Japan, you can interact with dolphins in places like Ogasawara and Hakkeijima, but I don't think you can swim with them holding onto their dorsal fins or have them push you with their bodies. (I apologize if there are places where you can do that...)

The price is indeed on the higher side, and some may hesitate, but I believe you won't regret participating here.

The experience of just playing with dolphins at Hakkeijima is about 8,000 yen for 30 minutes. (By the way, I think payment is by credit card and requires advance reservation. It seems you can participate in programs at Sea Life Park on the same day if there are openings!!)

My mother seemed surprised that we could do such things with dolphins and was excited like a child (laughs).

I was able to touch the dolphins a lot, and I learned that they have belly buttons (laughs). In my session, there were only three participants, including myself, so we might have had more time to interact.

They sell the program content on DVD and photos, and I bought the DVD because I wanted to watch it many times (laughs). I think it was a good decision to purchase it.

At first, I wasn't particularly planning to shop, so I didn't bring the discount coupons from the free papers available in downtown Hawaii, but if you participate as a group, I think you can save money by purchasing DVDs and souvenirs together.

Also, there aren't many attractions in the park, so I spent quite a bit of time waiting after seeing a little before and after the program until the shuttle time (cry). Adults can finish seeing the park in a short time.

As mentioned in other people's experiences, if you want to make effective use of your time, you can either take the bus back or, if you're returning by shuttle, play in the sea in front of Sea Life Park.

I went down to the beach to check out the sea, and after leaving Sea Life Park, I headed straight to the sea, crossed the road, and went down to the beach on the right side, where there was a free shower. The local surfers all used this to rinse off the sand. There was a stone building, but I think it was probably a restroom.

I’ve written a lot, but I hope others participate and enjoy it too!! I think the price is...

私はイルカ大好きで、大人になっても水族館のイルカショーを何回も見に行きたい位です（笑）

今回ハワイは母との旅行で、旅行内容は全て私が決めてよかった為、ハワイに行く目的の1つであるイルカと一緒に泳ぐ『ロイヤルスイム』を選択しました♪

日本でも小笠原や八景島でイルカと触れ合う事は出来るみたいですが、背びれを持って泳いだり、両足をイルカに押してもらったり等は出来ないと思います。（もし出来る場所があったらすみません…）

お値段は確かにお高めで躊躇する方もいるかとは思いますが、こちらは参加して後悔しないと思います。

八景島のイルカと戯れるだけのやつは30分で8千円位です。（ちなみにクレジット決済、事前予約だったと思います。シーライフパークは当日空きがあればプログラムに参加できるみたいです!!）

母もイルカとこんな事が出来るとは思っていなかったみたいで、子供みたくはしゃいでました（笑）

イルカにも沢山触れる事が出来て、おへそがある事も知りました（笑）
私の回は、私も含め参加者が3人だったので触れ合う時間も多かったかもしれません。

プログラムの内容をDVDと写真にして販売しているので、私は何度も見たくて（笑）DVDを購入しました。
購入して正解だったと思います。

初め特に買い物をする気でなかったので、ハワイの街中にあるフリーペーパーの割引クーポンを持ってこなかったのですが、数人で参加する場合はDVDやお土産を皆でまとめて購入すればお安くなると思います。

また、園内はさほど見所がある訳ではないのでプログラムが始まる前と終わって少し見て、送迎の時間まで時間をかなり持て余しました（泣）大人には園内は短時間で見終わってしまいます。


他の方の体験談にもある様に、時間を有効活用するならBUSで帰るか、送迎で帰るならばシーライフパーク正面の海で遊ぶかになると思います。


私は、海をどんなか覗きに浜辺まで降りたのですが、シーライフパークを出てそのまま海に向かい、道路を横断して右手方向の浜辺へ降りて向かう所に、無料のシャワーがありました。現地のサーファー達は皆ここで砂を落としてました。
石の建物がありましたが、たぶんおトイレだと思います。


長々書いてしまいましたが、他の方も参加して楽しんで下さい!!　私はお値段

I boarded the ship on the morning of New Year's Day in 2010. I tried not to get my hopes up too much, knowing that it wasn't guaranteed to see them, so I was really happy when I did. We moved the ship to several spots, turned off the engine, and waited for the whales to appear, and I was able to see them multiple times. The tense, expectant atmosphere while waiting for the whales, the surprise and excitement when they finally appeared—it was thrilling. It seems that this year, the whales showed up earlier than usual, so I was very lucky.

2010年の元日の午前中に乗船しました。必ず見ることができるわけではない、と期待しすぎないようにしていたので、見ることができてすごくうれしかったです。何箇所か船を移動してはエンジンを切ってクジラが現れるのを待ち、何度も見ることができました。クジラを待つ間のしんとした期待のこもった空気、現れたときの驚き、感激。興奮しますよ。今年はクジラが現れのが早かったらしく、とてもラッキーだったそうです。

As soon as we set sail, we spotted a whale, and the cruise began with us following it. It seems that we are not allowed to follow the same whale for a long time, so after about 30 to 40 minutes, we moved away from that whale to search for another one. However, we couldn't find any more after that, but since the cruise was along Waikiki, the views of Diamond Head and Waikiki were very beautiful.

出港するとすぐにクジラを発見し、それを追う形でクルーズが始まりました。長い時間同じクジラを追うことは禁止されているそうで、30~40分後、そのクジラを離れて別のクジラを探すことに。　ただ、その後は見つけることができませんでしたが、ワイキキに沿ってクルーズだったので、ダイヤモンドヘッドやワイキキの眺めがとても綺麗でした。

My first experience in the night sea was, as everyone has mentioned, mainly concerned with the cold. I prepared a rash guard and entered the water. At first, I only saw manta rays passing by two or three times, but in the end, a manta ray flipped in front of me multiple times, which was very satisfying. However, the cold can be quite challenging, so be prepared!

夜の海は初体験で、皆さんが書き込んでいる通り寒さだけが気がかりでした。ラッシュガードを用意して海に入りました。最初は２~３回マンタが通り過ぎるだけでしたが、最後には目の前をマンタが何回も宙返りをしてとても満足です。ただ、寒さは結構応えますので覚悟の上で！

I was honestly worried about whether I would be able to see them in the wild, but I was able to see them up close, even more than I imagined, and it was incredibly moving.

I don't think I could ever see wild whales that close in my everyday life.

It was a very precious experience.

Although we were supposed to see whales, I was lucky to also spot dolphins.

The food on the boat was only mentioned as snacks and drinks in advance, but there were quite stylish light meals and drinks, and I was satisfied with the service.

It might be a good idea to check the meeting point and hotel location in advance. Depending on the situation, a shuttle service might be cheaper. We were far from the hotel and took a taxi, which ended up costing quite a bit...

That's the only regret I have.

However, I think the experience was so amazing that it overshadowed that, so I have no regrets.

I would definitely like to participate again when I go to Hawaii.

野生なので見れるかどうか、正直不安でしたが、想像以上に間近で見ることが出来て、凄く感動しました。

普段、見ることは全くない、野生のクジラをあんな間近で
見ることは出来ないと思います。

非常に貴重な体験でした。

クジラと言いつつ、ちゃっかり、イルカも見れてラッキーでした。

船内の食事も、スナックとドリンクとしか事前に書いて無かったのですが、結構お洒落な感じの軽食とドリンクがあって
サービス面でも満足しました。

集合場所とホテルの場所は事前にチェックしておいた方が良いかもです。場合によっては、送迎ありのほうが安くなる場合もあります。
自分らは、ホテルから遠く、タクシーで行ったのですが、相当な料金が掛かってしまいました。。。

それだけが悔やまれます。

が、そんな事も吹き飛ぶくらいの体験が出来たと思いますので後悔はないです。

また、ハワイに行った時には、ぜひ参加したいですね。

Overall my sister and I had a good time.

I was very disappointed with the cost of the photos. Even when the instructor tried to barter with me and cut the cost in half, it was still an outrageous price for a Cd that cost pennies to produce. If they were actual photos the price is still rediculous.

Had such a great time seeing lots of whales and learning lots about them too. Great crew, super friendly and very knowledgeable.

Great trip and great staff. The crew was very knowledgeable and answered all of my whale questions and they were so quick to point out the whales as well. Early Bird Special is a great deal too!

...about to this cruise. My children and I utterly loved this tour and I just want to thank the unforgettable crew members who made this trip a highlight of our vacation. From the moment we stepped onto the boat until we stepped off, it was an absolute pleasure.

Hearing my children's sounds of joy when they saw their first whale breach from the water is something that I will remember always.

I hope that everyone who goes to Hawaii gets a chance to participate in this tour since it was one of the best tours I went to when I was in the Big Island in Hawaii. The captain went on a great route in the water to see many places and we saw whales which was the best part of the day. If you go to Hawaii and the Bid Island, I say you should get to this tour. I want to go again!

TOTALLY AMAZING! When my friends and I saw this tour we were like, "Hmmm, whale watching? Sure why not!" and I am so glad that we decided to go. The boat was great, the view was priceless and seeing humpback whales jumping and slapping the water is something that I will never forget...ever. Like what a great memory to bring back home with me. Take this tour! You won't regret it!

So exciting, very knowledgeable crew, and tons of whales. We had a super great time! Thanks again!

I cannot begin to say how much fun I had on this cruise. Not only did we get to see whales, and the captain did a great job of getting as close as he could without disturbing them, but the activities and food on-board made the experience just THAT MUCH BETTER! It was a great experience being able to go to the top deck and view the whales and then head down into the ship for a very yummy buffet lunch. Boy were we full after that :) Cannot wait for next year so we can do this again. Two thumbs WAY WAY up!

Thank you to the crew for such an amaaaazing sailing trip!!! I can't say enough about it, sometimes these whale watching tours can be a bit cliche, I've been on a few in my lifetime, but this one surely takes the cake. And whales whales whales! An experience well worth the money and time.

i wish i was lucky enough to live in hawaii its so beautiful and everyone is so nice. haha anyway, this was really an experience ... lots of things to do and eat but spent most of the time whale watching with my kids. we had a great time i recommend it to everyone.

My husband and I travel to Hawaii every year and during our many trips, we have been on countless whale watching tours, but this one definitely stands out from the crowd. Rather than being shuffled onto a huge ship and being an anonymous passenger, being on this catamaran allowed for a much more personal interaction. On top of all this, the ocean was amazing and seeing the the whales was, as always, and amazing and unforgettable experience. When we got home, I told all of our friends and hope that they will be able to make it to Hawaii so they can check out this tour out :)

Wish we brought the kids, they would have had a blast!! In any case it was our first time to the Big Island and this was a super good time. I'm guessing it's the same crew, but the afternoon sail crew was just lovely. Highly Recommended!!!

one of the things my family wanted to do when we went to hawaii was go whale watching since we live hundreds of miles from the ocean, we figured that this would be a great opportunity and boy were we right! the staff did a great job of keeping everyone on board up to date with what was happening with the whales and the cruise was really smooth too.

food was good, staff was nice, great information, couldn't ask for anything more!

This was an amazing experience. The whole family enjoyed it so much, we can't wait to do it again next year.

On the day of the event, I received a notification from the hotel that the meeting time had been moved up, which allowed me to wait with peace of mind. I participated in five activities, but there was no communication regarding the other activities, which often left me feeling anxious, so I was relieved to have this update. Additionally, both Ryuuichi and Akemi, who came to pick us up, were Japanese and naturally spoke Japanese, which made me feel more at ease. The boat ride took about an hour, but along the way, they explained about the house of a famous sumo wrestler and the "What Tree Is That?" tree, making the time fly by.

On the boat, we had photographers Maeda and Merry, along with two other people who joined us, and we set off. The wind was chilly that day, but I was able to rent a wetsuit for $10, so I didn't feel cold while participating. We couldn't find dolphins in the first sea, but there were plenty in the next one. It took about 1 hour and 30 minutes to find them, but the boat cut through the waves like an attraction, and we even saw whales along the way, which was a quick experience. We were lucky enough to see whales twice.

When we found the dolphins, half of the group was able to swim with them, but the other half couldn't because the dolphins had moved. However, Ryuuichi noticed this and took us back to the location where the dolphins were, allowing the remaining people to swim with them as well. I appreciate Ryuuichi's thoughtfulness! Additionally, the attention to detail from all the staff regarding meals and facilities was excellent, and although my wife couldn't swim, she was able to participate with peace of mind. The dolphins were swimming with children, and they were incredibly cute and soothing. I was also able to see the dolphins up close thanks to Merry pulling me along.

There were other tour boats out as well, but ours was faster, and we coordinated with Dolphin University via radio to find the dolphins, which I believe significantly increased our chances of seeing them, so I highly recommend it! The tour photos cost $70, but they are great keepsakes, and Maeda's photos were wonderful, so I’m glad I bought them.

当日は、集合時間が早まる、との連絡をホテルに連絡いただき、安心して待つことができました。
5つのアクティﾋﾞﾃィに参加しましたが、他のアクティﾋﾞﾃィでは連絡はなく、不安な気持ちで待つ事がおおかったので安心できました。また迎えにきていただいた龍一さんと、あけみさんの二人とも日本の方で、当然日本語を話せる方で、安心できました。ボートまでは1h位でしたが、途中に小錦の家やこの木何の木の説明をしていただき、あっという間でした。またボートでは、写真撮影する前田さんやメリーさん、他にも2名の方も合流して、ボートは出発しました。当日は風が冷たかったのですが、ウェットスーツのンタルを10ドルでできますので、寒さを感じずに参加できました。イルカは最初の海では見つからず、次の海にはたくさんいました。イルカを探すまでにおおよそ1h30mくらいかかりましたが、船がアトラクションのように波を割って進んでいき、また途中に鯨がいて、あっという間でした。鯨は2回ほどみれて、運がよかったです。イルカを見つけ、半分の方はイルカと泳げましたが、残り半分の方はイルカが移動した為、一緒にイルカと泳げませんでしたが、龍一さんがそれに気がついて、もう一度イルカのいる場所に船で移動していただき、残りのか方もイルカと一緒に泳ぐ事ができました。龍一さんの気配りに感謝です！また他にも色々と食事とか設備とかすべてのスタッフの方の気配りが行き届いていて、私の家内はおよげませんでしたが、安心して参加できました。イルカは子供と一緒に泳いでいて、非常にかわいらしく、癒されました。私もメリーさんが引っ張ってもらって、すごい身近でイルカを見る事ができました。他にもツアーの船がでていましたが、船のスピードがこちらのほうが早いのと、イルカ大学と無線で連携をとり、イルカを探すので、イルカに見れる確率が非常に高いと思われますので、お勧めです！またツアーの写真は70$しますが、思い出に残りますし、前田さんのとる写真は素晴らしいので、買ってよかったです。

I'm glad I participated and can recommend it. It was truly a wonderful experience to see manta rays while snorkeling with such a high probability. The guide mentioned that this is the only place in the world where you can see manta rays while snorkeling. It's a tour I want everyone to join. However, there are some downsides. Communication is only in English. It can be cold. There’s no pickup to the meeting place, and it's a bit nerve-wracking to confirm by phone. If you can't communicate in the language, it might be quite scary. But as long as you have courage, you'll be fine. You can refer to others' experiences for guidance. To deal with the cold, bring warm clothing and put it on right after getting out of the water. Since there’s no pickup to the meeting place, renting a car or staying in the Kona area or at the Sheraton is convenient. The confirmation call is only in English, but it's definitely necessary. My reservation was canceled, and I ended up participating the next day. Many Japanese people don't stay long on the Big Island, so if you miss it, it would be sad, so it's better to have a little extra time.

参加して良かった、お勧めできます。マンタがあのようにシュノーケルで高確率で見れるなんて、本当に素晴らしい体験です。世界でもシュノーケルでマンタが見れるのはここだけとガイドも話していました。皆様に参加して欲しいツアーです。しかし、難点もアリ。英語以外通じない。寒い。集合場所への送迎、再確認のＴＥＬ。海、夜、と不安なので語学が通じないと結構恐いかも？しかし、勇気さえあれば大丈夫。皆様の体験談を参考にすれば問題なし。寒さは防寒着を持参し海から上がってすぐ着用。集合場所まで送迎ないから、レンタカーかコナエリア、シャラトンなどに宿泊が便利。再確認のＴＥＬは英語のみだけど必ず必要。私は、予約日はキャンセルになり、次の日参加になりました。日本人はハワイ島にそう長く滞在しないパターンが多いので、見れなかったら悲しいので、余裕を少しでも持ったほうがいいです。

Experience was TRULY AMAZING. I can't swim and have a phobia of being underwater in general but the BOB gave me the opportunity to sit on a scooter and enjoy the wonderful creation that exist under the Pacific Ocean. Price was very reasonable and the instructors were awesome!

I was able to spend a time that felt truly Hawaiian.

ハワイらしい時間をすごせました。

I was unsure because the price was high, but I'm glad I participated since I thought it would be an experience I couldn't have in Japan. I recommend it.

お値段が高かったのでどうしようかと思ったのですが、日本では体験できないだろうと思って参加してよかったです。
お勧めです。

We participated in the Dolphin Royal Swim package with my 8-year-old child who wanted to swim with dolphins. This experience, which includes swimming with dolphins and rays and hugging seals, is something you can't easily do in Japan, and my child says it was the most fun thing in Hawaii. You need to be in deep water, but you wear a life jacket. However, those who can't swim might feel a bit scared. By the way, both my child and I can swim all four strokes, so we might not have felt scared.

Since children need an adult to accompany them, I experienced it alongside my child, so I couldn't take photos and ended up purchasing some, but they turned out to be great close-up shots. I also bought a DVD. You can check the DVD before purchasing, so I recommend going to buy it with some extra time before the meeting time.

イルカと泳ぎたいという子供（８歳）とドルフィンロイヤルスイムパッケージに参加しました。
日本ではなかなか体験できないイルカやエイと泳いだりアシカをだっこしたりと楽しいプランが満載で子供はハワイで一番楽しかったことだといっています。
足のつかないところにいる必要がありますが、ライフジャケットを着用します。ただ、泳げない方はちょっと恐く思うかも。ちなみに子供も私も４泳法全て泳げるので怖く感じなかったのかもしれません。
子供には付き添いが必要なので、私も一緒に体験したため撮影できず写真を購入しましたが、アップでよい写真でした。ＤＶＤも買ってしまいました。
ＤＶＤは確認のため見せてもらえるので集合時間に余裕を持って買いに行かれるといいと思います。

I finally went on the Shark Adventure. There were three groups, including us, but the others seemed cramped as they entered in groups of four at the same time. We had more than enough time, I think it was about 15 to 20 minutes, and they let us stay until we said we were done. Our hands and feet were sticking out of the cage, which added to the tension. The staff handled everything in a calm manner, so those who want to enjoy themselves won't have any issues. I was concerned about seasickness, but I drank two strong ones from Japan, so it wasn't too bad. We drove from Waikiki, and the route was comfortable without getting lost, but on the way back, I was definitely sleepy and tired, so please be careful.

念願のシャークアドベンチャーにいきました。外国の方と我々も含めて３組でしたが、他の方は４人同時に入ったりで狭そうでした。時間は十分すぎるほどあり１５分から２０分くらいだったと思いますが、こちらからもう結構だと言うまでさせてくれます。檻から手足ははみ出るし緊迫感はあります。スタッフは淡々とこなしている感じですので自分たちで楽しむ方は問題ありません。懸念された船酔いも日本から強力なのを２本飲みましたので差ほどではありませんでした。レンタカーでワイキキから行きましたが道も迷うことなく快適でしたが帰りはさすがに眠く疲れますので気をつけてください。

I participated alone this time.

There were also two girls who were joining for the second time since coming to Hawaii.

Once you enter the sea, you are greeted by beautiful tropical fish that delight your eyes.

I could see dolphins jumping from the boat, but it was difficult to see them underwater, and I tried several times.

Thanks to the staff who diligently searched for spots where we could dive and guided us, we were able to see mother-and-baby dolphins and sea turtles.

On the boat, they played the ukulele and sang while we danced, and we had a lot of fun.

The captain was grilling hamburgers for us, but at that time, my stomach was not feeling well, so it took me quite a while to finish my meal. I felt a bit sorry as I was munching away while everyone else started dancing to the music.

All the staff, including Yuriko, were warm and friendly, and since this is an experience you can't easily have in Japan, I highly recommend it.

今回ひとりで参加しました。

ツアーに参加していた方には今回ハワイにきてから２回目の参加、という女の子２人組もいらっしゃいました。

海に入ると、まずきれいな熱帯魚がいて目を楽しませてくれます。

またイルカは飛んでいるところは船からみえたのですが、水中からはなかなか見れなくて、何度かトライしました。

スタッフの方たちも一生懸命、もぐって見られるスポットを探して誘導してくれたおかげで親子のイルカや海亀をみることができました。

また船の上では、ウクレレを弾きながら、歌を歌っていただき、わたしたちは踊り、とても楽しめました。

またパパさんが（船長）ハンバーガーを焼いてそれをいただくのですが、当時胃の調子がとても悪く、完食するのに相当時間をかけてたべたので、みんなが音楽にあわせて踊りはじめたときにも、モグモグ食べながらいたので申し訳ないな、とおもいながらすごしました。

スタッフのみなさんもゆりこさんをはじめ，温かい方たちばかりですし、なにせ日本ではなかなか体験できないのでぜひともおすすめします。