All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

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

We had a superb kayak experience, first-time, and got to see some big fish (whales). Are they any good eating? I kid, I kid! If we ever make our way back to the beautiful islands we'd do this again in a heartbeat! Thanks for such an amazing day!

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!

Being from Kansas, my family and I don't exactly get too many opportunities to go kayaking in the ocean, so when my son asked if we could do the kayaking and whale watching, I was little scared but now I am so glad that I did it! This was such a great tour from the moment we met our guide up until we came back to shore. Seeing whales while in our kayaks was completely breathtaking and the professionalism displayed by the guides was top notch. Keep it up folks!

...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。

I reconfirmed just to be sure, and I was told that the boat is broken, so the event has been canceled... Moreover, the next available slot is four days later, so I couldn't participate.

It feels like the service isn't as attentive as that of Japanese tour companies, so for those who will be participating in the future, it might be a good idea to contact them once you arrive, maybe the day before.

Reconfirmを念のためしたところ、ボートが壊れているから中止とのこと・・・。
しかも次に空いているところは4日後だったので、参加することが出来ませんでした。

日本のツアー会社のように手厚いサービスがないように感じるので、これから参加される方は、着いたら前日とかに一度連絡を入れてみたほうが良いかもしれません。

I participated with a friend on November 4, 2009. I had watched some videos to get a feel for it, but experiencing it in person was surprising!! They come really close to you! There were only two on that day, but if there had been more, it might have been a bit scary. They swim towards the light, so if you want to see the manta rays up close, it's a good idea to position yourself near the light of the grab bar. Also, since it was nighttime due to the season, it was cold and the boat was rocking, which made me feel a bit groggy. If you're prone to seasickness, taking motion sickness medication is a must.

2009/11/4に友人と参加しました。動画とかでちょっとは雰囲気を予習していたんですが、実際体験してみてビックリ！！めちゃめちゃ近くまで浮遊してくるんですよ！この日は２匹だけでしたが、もっといたら怖いくらいだったかも。光に向かってくるので、マンタをより近くで見たい方は、つかまり棒のライトの近くに陣取ると良いです。あと、季節的に夜だったこともあり、寒いわ、船は揺れるわでグロッキーになりました。船に弱い方は酔い止め必須です。

Really neat experience! The view down below was awesome and the crew was helpful and fun. My only complaint was that it didn't last long enough - we could have stayed down all day!

My husband and our son, who will soon be two years old, participated in the Dolphin Encounter. I joined as an observer to film the event. My son was a bit scared and couldn't kiss the dolphin, but he seemed really happy to touch it. It's not often that we can have such an experience in Japan, so it became a wonderful memory. We also got some beautiful photos with the dolphin, and I'm glad we purchased those. I definitely want to participate again when we go to Hawaii.

もうすぐ２歳になる息子と主人がドルフィンエンカウンターに参加しました。私はビデオ撮影の為見学者で参加しました。息子はイルカとのキスは少し怖がって出来ませんでしたがイルカにタッチはすごく喜んでいた様でした。日本ではなかなかこんな体験は出来ないのですごく良い記念になりました。イルカとの写真も綺麗に撮って頂いてこちらも買って良かったです。またハワイに行くときは是非参加したいです。

I was very worried about participating in the tour since I'm not good at swimming. However, the staff were Japanese, so I didn't have to worry about the language, and they provided thorough support, allowing me to enjoy swimming with the dolphins.

Many dolphins slowly passed beneath me! It was incredibly healing. At the sea turtle spot, I was also able to encounter sea turtles, making it an emotional tour. I'm really glad I mustered the courage to join the tour.

It was a day that made me truly appreciate the wonders of nature. I want to participate in the tour again.

泳ぎが苦手な私にとってツアーに参加前とてもしんぱいでした。しかし、スタッフは日本人で言葉の心配もなく、またスタッフの方が丁寧にサポートしてくれたので、イルカと一緒に楽しく泳ぐことが出来ました。

たくさんのイルカが私の下をゆっくりと通り過ぎ！とっても癒されました。海ガメスポットでは海ガメにも出会うことができ、感動しっぱなしのツアーでした。勇気をふりしぼってツアーに参加して本当に良かったです。

自然の素晴らしさを思い知った1日でした。
またツアーに参加したいです。

It was an incredibly moving day seeing wild dolphins for the first time. I was amazed to see a pod of dolphins swimming close by, and I could even hear their voices underwater and see a baby dolphin, which was another wonderful experience! The staff was friendly, and I received a lunch bag, so I was very satisfied. I think it's a great value tour.

初めて野生のイルカで大感動の1日でした。イルカの群れが間近を泳いでいたのに感動し、海中ではイルカの声、そしてイルカの赤ちゃんまで拝見することができ、またまた感動！
スタッフも親切だし、ランチバッグももらえて大満足でした。とってもお得なツアーだと思います。

I was able to meet dolphins, sea turtles, and colorful fish, which healed both my heart and body. I participated in this tour with some skepticism about whether I would really see dolphins. However, within just 10 minutes of departure, I spotted the fins of several dolphins on the surface of the water! I was very moved.

I gently put my face in the water to avoid startling the dolphins, and I could even hear their voices. The dolphins swam gracefully beneath us. It was a truly precious experience. I now have one more wonderful memory.

イルカ、海がめ、カラフルな魚達に会えて、心も体も癒されました。
イルカに本当に会えるのかと半信半疑で参加したこのツアー。しかし出発して10分も立たないうちに海面に数頭のイルカの背びれを発見！とても感動しました。

イルカを驚かせないようにそっと海へ顔をつけるとイルカの声まで聞くことができました。
イルカは私たちの下を優雅に泳いでいました。
とても貴重な体験をすることができました。
良い思いでが１つ増えました。