All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

We couldn't have asked for a better trip. I especially appreciated the small group size - eight people - which meant that we were able to watch the mantas without getting in each other's way. My sister and I were at the end of the line, opposite each other. This meant that as the manta rays turned over and swam upside down just under the light board - only a few inches away from us - we could look right down their throats. I was amazed at how clean and empty their large mouths were. It was fascinating to see their gills from the inside as well as the outside.

It was wonderful to watch the mantas swim. They move so smoothly they hardly seem to be propelling themselves. The patterns on their backs fluoresce in the light, so they're easy to see.

We watched by lining up on either side of a board, holding on to it and floating stretched out away from it, with flotation devices like pool noodles under our ankles. This keeps our bodies away from the mantas, which is for their protection, not ours. (The mantas are harmless. No teeth, no sting. They eat plankton, not people!)

Two tips:

1. The staff had us put the pool noodles under our ankles, but in that location, it's easy to lose the noodle. Try putting it just below your knees instead. It's much easier to keep in place that way, and if your knees are at the surface, the rest of your legs will be also.

2. If you do lose your noodle, don't panic or kick. Keep your head down, relax, stay as flat as you can, and allow the water to support your body. Staff members will retrieve the noodle and slip it under your legs again. Kicking disturbs the mantas, and the stress is bad for them.

I participated in the tour that started at 9:30 AM. Since we were told to meet on-site and check in 30 minutes early, I left my hotel in Waikiki at 7 AM with plenty of time, heading towards Haleiwa. The drive from Waikiki to the freeway was a bit congested, but after that, it was smooth sailing. I arrived around 8 AM near the North Shore and stopped by the 7-Eleven in Haleiwa for breakfast. (They sell pasta, hand rolls, and sandwiches similar to those in Japan.) I reached the harbor parking lot by 8:30 AM. After parking in a spot of my choice, I checked in at a small hut marked 'North Shore Adventures.' When I provided my last name, I was informed in English that "there is no restroom on the boat, so please take care of that in the brown building over there," and "wait around the pink hut until it's time." By the way, this tour company owns four boats, which have Japanese names like 'Kaiou' and 'Abunai.' This time, we were on the boat called 'Kanpai,' and fortunately, the captain was a Japanese person from Kumamoto (I believe his name was Reese; I apologize if I'm mistaken), who communicated with us entirely in Japanese. Once everyone was gathered, we set sail even before the scheduled time. We took off our sandals, placed them in a black box, and boarded barefoot, choosing our seats. After that, the staff provided explanations in English, mainly about "rules on the boat," "shark information," and "group division." This time, everyone except us was foreign, and we were divided into two groups of six, totaling 12 people. It took about 15 minutes to reach the site, and we arrived in no time. As many have mentioned, it does sway quite a bit, so motion sickness medication is a must. (It's not too bad while moving, but after the engine stops, the cage is directly affected by the waves.) If you forget, there is a 24-hour drugstore (Longs Drugs) in Waikiki where you can find "motion sickness" medication. After putting on our snorkels, we descended into the cage using a ladder while holding a GoPro. There were quite a few sharks. They passed right in front of us one after another, so take your time to get into position before starting to film. They are a docile type of shark, so they won't attack. After enjoying it for about 20 minutes, we switched with the next group and waited on the boat. There are no changing rooms on the boat, so we headed back in our swimsuits. This time, we returned to port at 11:30 AM, making it a very compact activity of about two hours from departure to return. If you choose an early morning tour, you'll have the entire afternoon free for exploring Haleiwa Town, shopping, or driving along the coastline, making for a meaningful day. Overall, this became the best memory of my trip to Oahu. I highly recommend it. Thank you very much.

朝9時半スタートの回に参加しました。現地集合、30分前にチェックインとのことでしたので、時間に余裕を持ってワイキキのホテルを朝7時にレンタカーで出発、ハレイワへ向かいました。ワイキキからフリーウェイまでは多少混みますが後はスイスイ、８時過ぎにはノースショア辺りへ到着、ハレイワのセブンイレブンに寄り朝食をとりました。（日本のセブンに近いパスタや手巻き、サンドイッチが売られています。）8時半にはハーバーの駐車場へ到着。好きな駐車スペースへ停めた後『North Shore Adventures』と書かれた小さな小屋で受付です。ラストネーム（苗字）を伝えると英語で「船にはトイレが無いからあそこの茶色い建物で済ませておくこと」、「時間までピンクの小屋周辺で待機すること」など伝えられます。ちなみにこちらの催行会社では船を４隻所有しており、『海王』や『危ない』など日本語の名前が付いています。今回は『乾杯』という船でしたが、たまたま運よくキャプテンが熊本出身の日本語の方（おそらくReeseさん、違っていたらごめんなさい。）で終始日本語で対応して頂けました。全員揃い次第、時間前でも出航です。サンダルを脱いで黒い箱に入れ裸足で乗船、好きな席へ座ります。その後スタッフから英語で説明、主に「船でのルール」「サメの説明」「グループ分け」についてです。今回は私たち以外は全員外国の方で全部で12名、6名ずつの２グループに分けられました。出航から現場まで15分ほど、あっという間に到着します。皆さん書いている通りかなり揺れますので酔い止め必須です。（走行時はそうでも無いですがエンジン停止後と、ケージが海面のため波の影響をもろに受ける）。もし忘れた場合、ワイキキには24時間営業のドラッグストア（Longs Drugs）がありますのでそこで「motion sickness」で探せば見つかります。シュノーケル着用後、GoProを持ってケージの中へハシゴで降ります。サメはかなりの数います。次から次へと目の前を通り過ぎるので、焦らずしっかり体勢を整えてから動画撮影開始です。おとなしい種類のサメですのでもちろん襲ってきたりはしません。約20分ほど楽しんだ後次グループと交代、船へ上がって待機です。船には更衣室はありませんので、水着のまま帰路に付きます。今回は帰港時11:30、出航から帰港まで約２時間の大変コンパクトなアクティビティでした。午前早目の回を選べば午後はまるまる空きますのでハレイワタウン散策やお買い物、海岸線をドライブなど有意義な１日を過ごせると思います。総合的に今回のオアフ島旅行で一番の思い出になりました。かなりお勧めだと思います。ありがとうございました。

I had a bit of fear during the night snorkeling tour, but there was a Japanese female staff member who frequently checked in on us, which made me feel at ease to participate. I was thrilled to see twelve manta rays. The hot chocolate on the boat afterward was soothing. We also received wonderful underwater footage, creating lovely memories. Thank you very much.

ナイトシュノーケリングツアーで少し恐怖もありましたが、女性日本人スタッフの方がおられて、たびたび声をかけて下さるので安心して参加させていただきました。
マンタが１２まいも見ることができて感激しました。
終わってからの船の上でのホットチョコレートは身体にしみわたりました。
すばらしい水中での映像も頂いて、素敵な思い出になりました。
本当にありがとうございました。

This was such a breathtaking experience! Trevor and Diego were excellent captain and crew, with a great sense of humor too. They ensured I felt safe which was huge because I had never snorkeled before. I would recommend this company to anyone who asks, they provide everything you need including prescription goggles which was an amazing surprise. Diego also gave us manta ray facts as we were snorkeling and we loved it. The night began with a sunset boat ride, leading into the manta ray snorkel, and then a quick boat ride back to the harbor with snacks and hot cocoa. I will never forget this experience.

We were happy we got to see some mantas, it was so fun to have a night experience!

Pods of dolphins made the whole family swim! Lots of knowledge given while on board.

Mahalo to the tour guides on this fabulous day, heading over to Lanai is so awesome.

The staff who spoke Japanese provided support not only before the experience but also afterwards, allowing me to focus on the dolphin experience with peace of mind!

日本語の話せるスタッフの方が体験前だけでなく、その後もフォローしてくださり、安心してイルカ体験に集中できました！

We had a blast and seeing the manta rays was amazing. We also saw a bristle worm, which was cool too. The team was fabulous and knowledgeable. We will do again next time we swing into Kona. We recommend this excursion 100%. You won’t be sorry. If you get seasick, take the anti nausea medicine first. It can be a bit harder on your stomach in the dark.

The staff were amazing; friendly, funny and full of knowledge. Felt safe the whole time, and the sights themselves were amazing. Seeing sea turtles, sharks, eels, stingrays and schools of fish on sunken ships was amazing. Worth every penny.

They had water and bathrooms on the boat, just not on the sub. But time seems to fly by down there, you’re in a different world.

First of all, I admit my own fault, but when I arrived at the meeting point exactly at 11:00 for the boat that was scheduled to depart at 11:00, it left right in front of me. In the end, I was able to change to the next boat an hour later.

As for the view from the submarine, the water clarity was low, and there were only a few fish; I saw a small shark once or twice at most. My 3-year-old child started to get bored after about 10 minutes, and the crew talked non-stop for an hour, which was quite painful for us since we didn't understand English. The foreign guests on board also seemed to be smiling awkwardly and didn't look like they were having much fun.

As an experience, I wouldn't discourage anyone from trying it once, but when I calmly looked back at the cost, I concluded that I definitely wouldn't do it a second time.

まずこれは自分も悪いんですが、
11時出発の船で11時ピッタリに集合場所に着いたら、目の前で出発されてしまいました。
最終的にはその1時間後の便に変更してもらえましたが。
あとは潜水艦から見える景色も透明度低く魚が少し、一度か二度だけ小さいサメが見えた程度。
3歳の子供は10分ほどで飽き始め、
クルーが1時間ずっと喋りっぱなしで、
英語わからない自分達にはかなり苦痛でした。
乗ってる外国の方も苦笑気味であんまり面白そうな感じではなかったです。
体験としては一度経験する事は止めないですが、冷静に金額見返したらまず2回目は無いよね。という結論に至りました。

Experience was easily worth it for the money. Many other tour options in the area, but this one easily is the best for the price. The included photos & videos to allow you to be in the moment is a fantastic plus that I wish every company did for experiences like this. It allows you to still remember it without having cameras all over the place.I also highly recommend you forgo cage diving & instead do this type, it is a better experience.

The crew was incredibly knowledgeable, helpful & friendly. You can tell they love the experience & getting people to overcome their fears & have a great time. At no time during the whole swim did I feel unsafe. The divers did a great job of keeping everyone together & in a good area, and communicating necessary instructions. They did a remarkable job showcasing how misunderstood sharks are & once you get out swimming with them, it really does become apparent how calm they can be. They’re just as curious of us as we are of them.

I would do this experience again in a heartbeat.

The boat crew went out of their way to make sure each and every one of us was taken care of and having a good time. The mantas were surreal. This is something everyone needs to experience!

It takes about 20 to 30 minutes from the port to reach the spot beyond Kona Airport. Perhaps due to the strong winds, there were waves, and the impact on the boat was significant.

Several other boats gathered at the spot, and we all waited for the sunset. As soon as the sun went down, we jumped into the water, grabbed onto the float, and just floated. Manta rays appeared almost immediately. One after another, three of them swam right in front of us, opening their large mouths. The sheer power of it was breathtaking.

With the support of the crew, including Tamae, I felt safe participating. I highly recommend it.

港から2〜30分でコナ空港の先のスポットまで行きます。風の強い日だったためか波もありボートへの衝撃は大きかったです。
スポットには数隻の他の船も集まり、みんなで日没を待ちます。
陽が沈むとすぐに海に入ってフロートに捕まって、ただ浮いていればOK。本当にすぐにマンタが現れました。次々と現れてあっという間に3頭？匹？が大きく口を開け目の前をくるくると泳ぎます。あまりの迫力に声が出てしまうほど。
たまえさんをはじめクルーのみなさんのサポートもバッチリなので、安心して参加できました。おすすめです。

I never expected to see manta rays up close like this! They kept doing flips right in front of me over and over again! I was filming with my GoPro, and there were times when the manta's fin brushed against my hand, which is an experience you don't usually get! On the way to the manta spot, I enjoyed a beautiful sunset while being rocked by the boat, and I had such a wonderful time!

こんな間近にマンタが見えるとは思ってなかった！
ってぐらいすごい目の前を何度も何度もマンタは宙返りで来てくれました！
GoProで撮影していたのですが、手にマンタのひれがあたるときもあったりして、こんな体験普通はできないですよね！
マンタのスポットに行くまではボートに揺られながら、綺麗なサンセットも見れて、すごく素敵な時間を過ごせました！！

I thought the show would take place by the lagoon pool, but it turned out to be an interactive experience in the lagoon itself. It seems like something that wouldn't be possible in Japan due to safety and hygiene concerns, haha. The life jackets are excellent and keep you upright, floating up to your chest.

When you stretch your arms out in front of you, the dolphins swim by and you can automatically pet them from head to tail. Not everyone may get this, but the instructor explained everything in perfect Japanese (maybe of Japanese descent? A local person), which was really helpful. In addition to the instructor, a Japanese person was in charge of guiding us from the meeting point to the lagoon and providing various instructions, which made me feel very secure.

For the dolphin photo op, they take two pictures: one as part of the package and another as an additional option. You can see it from the spectator seats at the lagoon, so if you have family members who aren't participating, they can take photos of the experience.

ショーをやるラグーンの横のプールで実施するのかと思ったら、まさかのラグーンに入っての触れ合いでした。日本だと安全面・衛生面で叶わなそうですｗ ライフジャケットは優秀で、直立で胸まで浮きます。
腕を前に伸ばして待つと、イルカが前を泳いで行って自動的に頭から尾まで撫でられるスタイルです。
全員ではないかもしれませんが、インストラクターが完全な日本語(日系？現地の方)で説明してくれて助かりました。インストラクターの他に、集合場所からラグーンまでの案内や諸注意を日本人が担当してくれたので、とても安心しました。
イルカとの２ショットは、既定の写真と追加オプション購入の写真の2枚を撮ってくれます。ラグーンの観客席から見えるので、参加しない家族がいれば様子を撮影できます。

It was a once in a lifetime experience. The manta rays came right up to us and almost brushed up on us. It was so beautiful as well as seeing all the glowing plankton and other fish. the staff on the boat were friendly and informative. at the end they gave us hot chocolate and soup to warm us up. definitely recommend this company.

I participated in the "Touch without getting wet" experience, and there were about 30 participants. We were divided into three teams and enjoyed touching the dolphins, but depending on the instructor's approach, you could end up completely soaked.

Our team had kids who got drenched from head to toe. The adults were also quite wet.

Still, everyone enjoyed the experience, and I can recommend it! However, I suggest preparing clothes that you don't mind getting wet and bringing a change of clothes to fully enjoy the experience.

’濡れずにいるかと触れ合える’に参加しましたが、３０人くらい参加していました。３チームに分かれイルカにタッチを楽しみましたが、インストラクターのさじ加減によってはずぶ濡れです

私達のチームは子供が頭から水を被頭から足までずぶ濡れでした。
大人も相当ビシャビシャでした。

それでも参加者はみんな楽しんでおりましたし、おすすめできます！
ただ、思いっきり楽しむには濡れても良い服や着替えを準備をすることをおすすめします。

We were a group of 4 that went out for about 2-hours. The weather was perfect and the crew was great. One of our crew played the guitar for us and sang as well.

The boat was pretty spacious. Would recommend this one again!

The kids enjoyed the views from the port holes! However it is height restricted so triple check!

I got seasick and threw up, but there were so many dolphins, and it was fun! I didn't even know we could see sea turtles too, which was amazing! ✨

船酔いしてしまい吐いたけど、イルカの群れがたくさん居て楽しかったです！しかもウミガメまでも見れるなんて知らなくて最高でした！✨

The crew and view was amazing! You can see A-Bay at its best. Blue waters, sea turtles and beautiful fish. Calm waters and blue skies with shade. Kids will absolutely live this short and safe tour. Bring your swimsuits for afterwards and enjoy the sandy coastline. Plenty of trees, restrooms. The Marriott has a walking trail with fish ponds too! Mahalo, Angel

I was worried about whether I would be able to see manta rays based on the reviews, but I did! They came surprisingly close, almost within reach of my hands and feet, so I had to be careful not to touch them at all. Since ocean accidents are scary, I chose a tour that provides explanations in Japanese. Fortunately, there wasn't much price difference for the manta tour, so I went with this one.

I had read in reviews that the boat ride from the port to the manta point was long, and that some people experienced seasickness or found the rocking of the boat difficult. However, since I have never had severe seasickness in the past, I thought that for those who enjoy being out in the sea breeze and taking in the ocean views (especially during sunset, which I think is a precious experience), a longer boat ride could actually be a lucky thing.

The Japanese tour guide was wonderfully attentive and a lovely person, and I really liked them as a person. The cocoa we had on the boat was also delicious.

What I wish I had brought were two bath towels—one for drying off and one to cover my legs—because while the water was a comfortable temperature in a wetsuit during the hot July weather, it was cold once we got back on the boat. I also recommend bringing a warm jacket or something to wrap around your neck and shoulders, as well as warmer clothes and underwear to change into after swimming, along with socks. It would be best to have a thermos to keep hot tea or something to drink on the way back.

Manta rays are adorable, and I recommend this tour for anyone who loves soothing sea creatures like dolphins. I would like to join this tour again next time.

口コミからマンタ見れるのか不安でしたが見れました。
しかも予想外に手や足で触れてしまいそうなくらい近くまで来てくれるので、こちらが一切触れないように体を気をつけないといけません。
海の事故はこわいので、日本語で説明してくださるツアーを選びました。幸いにマンタツアーで価格差はあまりなかったので、こちらにしました。
口コミでは港からマンタのいるポイントまでの乗船時間が長い、船酔いしたり揺れるのが辛い、というのも事前に見ていましたが、過去に酷い船酔いをしたことがなく、海風に当たりながら海の景色（ちょうどサンセットが観れる時間だと貴重な体験だと思います。あとイルカが私達の時は船と一緒に泳いでくれました。）を観るのが好きな人にはストレス発散効果もあり、船に乗る時間が長い方がラッキーではないか、と思いました。
添乗員の日本人の方は、気配りも素晴らしく素敵な人で、私は人として好きな方でしたし、船上でいただいたココアも美味しかったです。
持っていけばよかったと思うのは、7月の暑い時期ですが、海の中はウェットスーツを着てちょうどいい温度ですが、船に上がると寒かったので、バスタオルは拭く用と足に掛ける用の2枚、首や肩には暖かい上着や首に巻けるもの、ホテルに帰るまでに水着から着替える用の普段の服より温かい服装と下着、靴下です。
帰りにホットのお茶などを飲めるように保温水筒に入れておくとベストです。
マンタは可愛らしくて、イルカなどの海の癒し系の生き物が好きな方におすすめです。
次回参加する場合もこちらのツアーにしたいです。

It felt like we were casually scuba diving down to the seabed. I was very satisfied to see various sizes of fish and sea turtles! The water can get murky or hard to see depending on the currents and weather, but I think only those with a broad mindset who can accept that should go.

海底までいくので、気軽にスキューバダイビングをしているようでした。そして大小様々な魚やウミガメが見れて大満足でした！潮流、天気によって海水が濁ったり見えにくかったりするようですが、それも仕方がないと思える心が広い人だけがいけばいいと思います。

It was reassuring to have the Japanese guide Tamae with us. The day before, there were only two manta rays, but on our day, we counted six at the same time. You don't usually see this many even while diving. Tamae mentioned that it's rare to see so many manta rays. Our 10-year-old child was also able to participate comfortably. After disembarking, Tamae shared videos of our tour above and below the water via AirDrop. It was fantastic.

日本人ガイドtamaeさんが一緒で安心でした。前の日2枚だったマンタが我々の日は自分達で数えられたところでは同時に6枚。ダイビングでもこんなには見れません。前の日は2枚だったマンタ。tamaeさんもこんなにマンタ多い事は先ず無いとお話しされてました。10才の子供も安心して参加させて頂きました。下船後、tamaeさんが我々が参加していたツアーでの水上と水中の動画をエアードロップで供与してくれました。最高でした。

I was anxious about whether I would actually see manta rays, but I was able to see many of them. They came close enough that it felt like I could touch them, and the experience was incredible. According to the instructor, there is about a 90% chance of encountering manta rays. There was also a Japanese-speaking instructor, which made me feel more at ease during the tour. I participated with my family, and it became a wonderful memory.

実際にマンタが見れるのか不安がありながら、参加しましたが、多くのマンタを見ることが出来ました。触れそうな距離まで近くに来ることもあり、迫力が凄かったです。
インストラクターの方によると、約90%近くの割合でマンタに遭遇できるだとか。
日本語インストラクターの方もいて、安心してツアーに参加できました。
家族で参加しましたが、とても良い思い出になりました。

I am terrified of sharks but this tour completely changed my views! I had such a fun time and I would do it with this company again as they took great care of my fear and made it comfort.

I participated in the main event of this trip, the Dolphin Touch. The price was so high that I hesitated, but I decided to go for it thinking it would help support the dolphins' lives.

After the driver dropped everyone off at the park, he just disappeared, leaving us all a bit confused about what to do. We nervously approached the reception desk, and I was relieved that the staff understood when I presented the voucher. The voucher is essential. Neither the driver nor the reception staff spoke Japanese. I received a paper with the return meeting time written in Japanese and went inside. There were staff members who spoke Japanese, so they explained everything to us, which was a huge help.

We were in the water for about 20 to 30 minutes, and with a group of around 10 people, there was one trainer and one dolphin, so we took turns touching and taking photos. Everything was in English, but they communicated how to touch the dolphins using gestures, so it worked out fine.

After that, we had lunch at the park's restaurant (optional) and then went to the area where we could interact with birds. The kids seemed to really enjoy this, going in multiple times to feed them. They were pecked at without mercy, but despite the pain, they looked like they were having a great time.

We were also given lettuce-like leaves by the staff to feed the fish, and they were eating it surprisingly eagerly. It felt like a small aquarium, but since it wasn't crowded, we could take our time to look around. The scenic coastal road on the way there and back made for a fun day.

今回の旅行のメインイベント、イルカタッチに参加しました。
料金が高すぎて迷うほどでしたが、イルカ達の生活の足しになっていると思って思い切って申し込みました。
ドライバーさん、パークについて皆を降ろしたらそのままいなくなってしまって、どうしたら良いのか皆ザワザワ。恐る恐る受付窓口に行ってバウチャーを出したら受付の方がわかってくれて良かったです。バウチャー必須です。ドライバーもですが、受付でも日本語は通じません。帰りの集合時間が日本語で書かれた紙をもらい、中へ。中には日本語を話すスタッフがいたのであれこれ説明してもらえてすごく助かりました。
水に入っているのは20～30分ですが、10名ほどのグループにトレーナーとイルカが1匹なので順番にタッチしたり写真撮ったりします。全て英語でしたが身振り手振りで触り方などを教えてもらえるのでなんとかなります。
そのあと、園内のレストランで昼食を食べて(任意)、鳥に触れ合えるコーナーへ。
子供達はこれがすごく楽しかったようで、何度も入っては餌をあげていました。容赦なく指をつつかれたりしますが、痛がりながらも楽しそうでした。
スタッフからレタスみたいな葉っぱをもらって魚にあげることもできます。
びっくりするくらいむしゃむしゃ食べてました。笑
規模が小さい水族館な感じですが、混んでいなかったのでゆっくり見ることが出来ました。行き帰りも景色の良い海沿いの道なので楽しい一日になりました。

Wasn't quite sure what to expect when you hear you're swimming with sharks without a cage. It was a very neat experience. The sharks pretty much stay below you. The crew does a good job of explaining their behavior and what to do around them. The crew was very knowledgable and made the tour exciting. I think the only thing I would change is maybe running the line that everyone hangs onto away from the boat. I felt like at times the waves would bring me back into the boat. It would be nice to just float on the surface away from the boat. But it was still very cool, the crew lets you go out and dive down and "hang" with the sharks for a little bit. Definitely a bucket list item. Would suggest brining your own snorkel gear if you find it hard to fit rentals. Bring a GoPro too! But if you forget, they're taking video and pics of everyone the whole time! Other than that, book it and go have fun!! Well worth the time and money!!

We got lucky and got a few mantas so the night was worth it!