All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

We participated as a couple. The boat had people from various countries, not just Japanese. There were about two Japanese couples. There were mostly Caucasian people. Although the weather was nice that day, there were really few plankton to serve as bait, so we only managed to see them towards the very end. We had to stay in the water the whole time, which made it quite tough as our bodies got cold. I think it would be better to wear a long wetsuit and to go in good health.

夫婦で参加しました。船は、日本人だけでなくいろんな国の人と一緒です。日本人は２組くらい。白人系の人が多かったです。この日は天気はよかったものの、餌となるプランクトンが少なかったということで本当に最後のほうにようやく会えたかんじでした。
ずーっと水にはいっていなければならなかったので体が冷えてかなりきつかった。スエットスーツの長いのを着ていった方が良いと思いますし、体調万全で行った方が良いと思います。

I was impressed that we could see fish up close! It was exciting and fun to ride in a submarine on the sea. We participated as a three-generation family, and everyone was very satisfied.

すぐそばで魚が見れるのには感動❗海上で潜水艦に乗るときはドキドキして面白かったです。３世代での参加でしたが皆大満足です

As we boarded the boat from the port and transferred to the real submarine offshore, I felt a mix of half worry and excitement about seeing the underwater world of Hawaii. It was a time when there were hardly any Japanese people around, but the Japanese explanations through the headphones helped me understand well, and I could clearly see the corals and fish on the ocean floor. Fortunately, towards the end, I was lucky enough to see a sea turtle swimming as well.

港からボートに乗り、沖で本格的な潜水艦に移るときには心配半分、これからハワイの海底が見れるというドキドキ感が入り混じりました。
日本人が殆どいないかった時間帯でしたがヘッドホンからの日本語説明で
良く理解でき海底のサンゴや魚たちの様子がはっきり見れました。
ラッキーなことに終盤にはウミガメが泳いでいるところも見られましたよ。

This was, quite simply, AMAZING! The crew were all super friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. As soon as we reached the snorkel spot we saw sharks, which came pretty close. We would absolutely do this again.

My parents booked a Japanese tour for their first trip to Hawaii at 10 AM. When the time came and the shuttle didn't arrive, I called and was put on hold for 4 minutes for confirmation, only to be told that it was unavailable and they wanted to change it to 11 AM. Reluctantly, we changed it to 11 AM, but with the explanation in English, my parents dozed off inside the submarine, not understanding the language. This special trip to Hawaii to honor my parents was ruined. I don't think I will use this service again.

両親が初めてのハワイ旅行で、日本語のツアー10時に予約しました。時間になっても送迎が来ないので電話してたら確認に4分も保留され、しかも利用できないから11時に変更してほしいとのこと。仕方なく、11時にしましたが英語の説明で両親は潜水艦の中で、言葉が分からずウトウト。せっかくの親孝行のハワイ旅行が台無しです。もう利用しないと思います。

I think it will be interesting if you go without too many expectations. It's not often you get the chance to ride a submarine, and the sight of fish gathering around a sunken ship is something you won't see elsewhere. However, if you go with the image of the colorful fish shown on the website, you might be a little disappointed.

期待しすぎずに行けば面白いと思います。
潜水艦に乗る機会はなかなかないですし、 沈没した船などに魚が群がる様子は他では見られない景色だと思います 。
ただ、サイトに載っているような色とりどりの魚たちというイメージで行くと、ちょっとがっかりされるかもしれません。

I didn't have high expectations after reading the reviews, but it was as I anticipated. The tour itself was interesting, but considering the price, even half the cost would still feel a bit high for what it offered. You can see some fish, but there seemed to be fewer than at an aquarium. There weren't many varieties either. I was fortunate to see a sea turtle in the distance. Be careful as I almost got seasick. If you're someone who can't do snorkeling or diving and doesn't mind the price, it might be enjoyable.

クチコミを見て、あまり期待していませんでしたが、想定通りという感じです。
ツアー自体は面白かったのですが 、値段のことを考えると、半額でもちょっと高いかな、というような内容でした。
お魚も見えますが、水族館よりは少ないといった印象。
種類もあまり多くありませんでした。
ウミガメを遠くに見ることができたのは幸いでした 。
船酔いになりそうになったので注意が必要です。
シュノーケルやダイビングなどはできない、という方で、金額を気にされない方であれば、面白いかもしれません。

It was a very safe. We had a really good time! We got some really good pictures! The crew was very knowledgeable about the sharks & their environment! We was concerned about it being safe. We read review & safety records. These Guys stood up to there reputation. They were very professional!

I had the opportunity to encounter a large pod of dolphins and swim with them up close multiple times. I saw dolphins in the ocean far beyond my imagination! The guide was very kind, and the staff and photographer made the experience incredibly enjoyable. When swimming near the photographer, they quickly informed us about the pod of dolphins, allowing us to swim with many of them. I definitely want to participate again. Thank you!

沢山のイルカの群れと遭遇し、まじかで一緒に泳ぐことを何度も体験出来ました♡
想像をはるかに超えるほど、イルカを海の中で見られました！！
ガイドの方もとても親切で、スタッフやカメラマンもすっごく楽しませてくれます。
カメラマンの近くで泳いでいると、イルカの群れをすぐに教えてくれて、沢山のイルカと泳げました。また必ず参加したいです。
ありがとうございました。

Our driver was very nice and knowledgeable. The trip was short but very pleasant.

It was amazing to see dolphins and sea turtles up close!
It's cold, so it's better to bring warm clothing.
About 30% of the participants got seasick because it was quite rocky. Haha.
I think it's worth going!!

イルカも海亀も近くで観れて最高でした！
寒いので防寒着は持って行った方がいいです。
参加者の3割が船酔いになるくらい揺れましたが。笑
行く価値ありだと思います！！

We participated as a three-generation family.
The submarine itself was great!
We were able to comfortably see the seabed!
However, the person who picked us up from our accommodation didn't provide much explanation about the meeting point...
(They did inform us of the pickup time multiple times.)
Since there was no information on this page or the voucher, I had to ask around and make phone calls to manage to board...
I would appreciate it if you could enhance the explanation regarding the meeting point! Please consider this.

3世代で参加しました。
潜水艦そのものは良かったです！
快適に海底を見ることが出来ました！
しかしながら、宿泊場所から送ってくださった方から集合場所について説明があまりなく…
（お迎え時間は何度もお伝えいただいたんですが）
こちらのページやバウチャーにも記載がなかったため、聞きまわったり電話したりしてなんとか乗船できた感じでした…
集合場所についての説明を充実させていただければありがたいです！ぜひご検討ください。

In the morning, I was worried that my children might get seasick, so I gave them some candy for motion sickness. However, as soon as the boat set off, there was no time to feel sick, and we got to see dolphins and sea turtles. My one-year-old son was also having fun on the boat, pointing and saying "Ah, ah." My elementary school daughter got super excited when she swam and saw a huge group of dolphins in the direction the instructor was pointing! Even my dad, who isn't a great swimmer, and my grandmother, who is over 70, all enjoyed it together.

I definitely want to go again the next time we visit Hawaii. It was really fun!

朝は早く、子供が酔わないか心配だったので、飴の酔い止めを舐めさせました。
でも船が出て酔う暇もなく、イルカや、ウミガメに会えました。
１歳の息子も船の上から「あ、あ、」と指を差しながら楽しんでいました。
小学生の娘は泳いでインストラクターの指す方向を向くとイルカの大群を見て大興奮！！
泳ぎの苦手なパパも、７０過ぎのばあばもみんなで楽しめました。

次にハワイに行くときも絶対に行こうと思っています。本当に楽しかったー

I have signed up for dolphin tours in various places, but this was my first time with Dolphin Junior High. The weather was great, perfect for a day at sea! The bus was large and impressive, and the boat was quite nice as well. Since it involves nature, the schedule was fluid, and I understand that they were trying their best, but it felt a bit chaotic at times. The photographer's work was inconsistent, so I decided not to purchase any photos.

イルカツアーは色々なところに申し込み毎回行っていますが、イルカ中学は初めてでした。
お天気良く最高の海日和！バスは大きく立派、船もなかなかです。内容的には自然相手なので流動的で、必死なのはわかりますが…ちょっとばたついてました。カメラマンさんは撮影にムラがあるので購入しませんでした。

I was really impressed when the manta rays turned right in front of me multiple times!

I wonder if it would have been even more fun to swim with them, but since it was night, the chances of getting lost increase, so it might be difficult?

But it was so much fun! I highly recommend it, so if you come to Hawaii, definitely check it out!!

マンタが目の前で何度もターンをしてくれてすごく感動しました！

一緒に泳げるともっと楽しかったのかなぁと思いましたが、夜なので遭難になる確率があがるから難しいのかな？

でも、すごく楽しかったです！オススメなので、ハワイに来た際はぜひ！！

In Hawaii, the weather unexpectedly turned bad, and it was raining, making it difficult to find a pod of dolphins. However, thanks to the captain's perseverance, we were able to find a pod of wild dolphins, and the kids were overjoyed.

ハワイでは珍しく天気が悪くなってしまい、雨が降る中、なかなか群れが見つけられずにいましたが、船長さんが諦めずに探してくれたおかげで野生のイルカの群れを見つけることができ、子供も大喜びでした。

My mom and aunt participated with my 5-year-old grandson and grandma while shopping at Waikele. Since the program started at 9:30, we listened to the explanation right after arriving and got ready to start. They helped us find the right size life jackets and put them on. From there, we walked to the pool. We could leave our belongings by the poolside without using a locker, so it was fine to bring them along.

They carefully checked for any protruding nails or rings. Flat nails seemed to be okay. We were checked three times, which was a bit tedious. Since the checks were only for hands, I wondered if they didn't check for protruding items on feet, as others had mentioned.

Regarding the purchase of photos, there was a misunderstanding due to the language barrier, which caused some trouble later, so it might be better if the Japanese staff explained the purchasing process properly. Overall, I was satisfied with the experience alongside my grandson.

After the program ended, we changed clothes, ate the sandwiches we brought, and took a break at the poolside viewing area. My grandson fell asleep, allowing me to enjoy the ocean view for about an hour. Eventually, the show started, and my grandson was satisfied.

I reflected that the shows at Japanese aquariums might put too much burden on the animals. With the $10 ticket we received as a gift, I bought a dolphin plush toy, enjoyed some drinks and ice cream, and had a great time for an additional $6.

ママと叔母はワイケレでショッピングの間、５歳の孫とばぁばで参加しました。９：３０からのプログラムでしたので到着後説明を聞いたらすぐに準備し、スタートです。ライフジャケットはぴったりサイズを探して装着してくれました。そこからプールまで歩いて移動です。荷物はロッカーを使わなくてもプールサイドに置いておけますので持っていって大丈夫でした。
突起物の付いているネイルや指輪などは念入りにチェックされました。
フラットなネイルは大丈夫そうでした。３回はチェックされるので少し辟易しました。チェックは手ばかりでしたので、他の方も書いておられましたように足の突起物はチェックしないのかしらと疑問に思ってしまいました。
写真の購入は、説明が通じず後でトラブルになりましたので購入の説明は
日本語スタッフがきちんとしていただいた方がよろしいのではないでしょうか。
全体的には孫とともに満足しています。
プログラム終了後着替え、持ってきたサンドイッチを食べプールの観覧席で休憩をしてましたら、孫が寝てしまい１時間ほどゆっくりと海の景色を楽しめました。やがてショーの時間が始まり孫は満足していました。
日本の水族館のショーは動物に負担がかかりすぎているのかも知れないと改めて思いました。
プレゼントでついていた１０ドルチケットでイルカのぬいぐるみを買い、飲み物とアイスを食べ、追加で６ドルほどで楽しめました。

Three of us in our fifties participated. We signed up to create memories of our trip to Hawaii. It was really fun to interact with the dolphins, but it was stated that we must not harm the precious dolphins, so things like nail stones were prohibited. Of course, I completely understand that, but it was also mentioned that wearing gloves would be okay.

Two of my friends had nail art on their feet, so they even went out of their way to buy swimming shoes. However, when we actually participated, we were told that was not allowed either. They had many files and clippers available, asking us to remove the stones on the spot. I could only apologize to my friends who were getting upset...

If they had clearly stated from the beginning that it was absolutely not allowed, we wouldn't have had to go through this. It's disappointing that it made us feel sad. I believe this should be properly communicated to future participants. It seems that anyone joining this tour should avoid any small decorations. Although it was written that wearing gloves would be fine, that was not the case at all. Since there were many files and clippers available, it seems everyone had a similar experience.

Please be careful!

But the dolphins were really cute!

アラフィフ3人での参加。
ハワイ旅行の思い出にと申し込みをしました。
イルカに触れ合えて、とても楽しかったのですが、大切なイルカさんを傷つけてはいけないとネイルのストーンなど禁止と書いてありました。もちろんそれはとても納得出来るのですが、グローブをすればokとも書いてありました。
私の友達2人は足のネイル。そのためわざわざスイミング用の靴(？)を購入しました。
実際参加してみると、それもダメとのこと。
その場でストーンを取ってくださいとたくさんのヤスリやニッパが置いてありました。不機嫌になる友達に私は謝るしかなく…
最初から、絶対ダメです。と書いてくださればこんな思いをしなくて良かったのに。悲しい気持ちにさせなくてよかったのに。と、残念です。
これは、今後の参加される方にきちんとお伝えするべきと、書かせて頂きます。
このツアーに参加される方は、どんな小さな飾りでもダメだそうです。
グローブをすれば良いと書いてありますが、そんなことは全くありませんでした。たくさんのヤスリやニッパがありましたので、皆さんそんな感じなんでしょうね。
お気をつけ下さい！

でも、イルカは本当に可愛かったです！

It took about 20 minutes by boat to reach the submarine, and we enjoyed the journey as well ^ - ^

It's not often that you get to experience being on a submarine, and I participated with seven friends, filled with excitement. The best part was that we were lucky enough to see a sea turtle! ♡

The staff's service was also very good, and I was very satisfied!!

沖まで20分くらいかけて船で、潜水艦の所まで行く道中も楽しめました^ - ^

潜水艦なんて中々乗る経験が出来ないのと、ワクワク感いっぱいで友達7人で参加させていただきましたが運が良い事にウミガメが観れた事が一番嬉しかったです♡

スタッフさんの対応もとても良く満足でした！！

The weather was nice, there weren't too many people, the guide was fun, and we got to see dolphins. The baby spinner dolphins jumped and spun a lot, and I definitely want to participate again.

天気も良く、人数も多過ぎず、ガイドさんも楽しく、盛り上がってイルカが見れました。 ベビースピナーが沢山ジャンプスピンを見せてくれて、また是非参加したいと思いました。

Our tour had less light compared to other tours, and people around us mentioned that other places were gathering more plankton. I agree with that. We could only see the mantas from a distance at the neighboring tour, which lacked impact. Additionally, one of the participants was splashing their feet and making noise, which made it seem like the mantas didn't want to come closer. I wished the instructor had better control over the participants.

自分たちのツアーは、他のツアーに比べてライトの量が少なく他のところの方がプランクトンを集めているんじゃないかと周りの人が言ってました。私も同感です。となりのツアーのところに来ているマンタを遠くから見る事しか出来ず、迫力に欠けました。また、同じツアー参加者が、足をバタバタさせて騒ぐので、マンタも近づいてくれなかった様に感じます。インストラクターはもっと参加者をコントロールして欲しかったです。

You can participate with peace of mind as you receive lectures from Japanese staff on-site. In fact, when interacting with the dolphins, the local trainers explained in Japanese what to do next, which was great. The dolphins' gentle and vacant eyes were incredibly cute.

現地では日本人スタッフの方からレクチャーが受けられるので、
安心して参加できます。
実際、イルカと触れ合うときは現地のトレーナーさんですが、
日本語で次に何をするか説明してくれたので良かったです。
イルカの優しくて虚ろな目がなんともキュートでした。

This is a winter limited event, so I thought I had to go this time! There were hardly any Japanese people, and the explanations were in English, but I was able to enjoy the atmosphere! As for the whales, I was able to see their tails and spouts, although it was from quite a distance. I think there were quite a few of them. However, I couldn't see them as close as it was mentioned on the reservation site, so that was a bit different from my expectations.

冬季限定だしこれはもう今回行くしかない！…と思い参加しました。日本人はほとんどいなくて説明も英語でしたが、雰囲気で楽しめました！クジラはというと、かなり遠くからではありましたが尾びれや潮吹きを見ることができました。数も結構いたように思います。ただ、予約サイトにあるような近さでは見られなかったのでそこだけ期待と違っていたかな。

Barely arrived on spot, shark fins started to show around our boat. That alone was already impressive and exciting!
While in the cage, you get to admire them gracefully swim around and under the cage... beauty!

Few tips:

- Waterproof phone pouch with wrist lanyard recommended to take underwater videos, we're so glad we had one! Just make sure not to live the whole experience through your phone ;)

- Even if you're not sea/motion sick, I suggest you have a ginger chew or two (Chimes brand are good). This will help settle your stomach as it can get bumpy under there.

Big thanks to our guides, very chill and knowledgeable!

PS: we also got to see dolphins splashing and following our boat on the way back, that was also priceless!

Wonderful experience ! Me and my friend will never forget it !

This time, we went to a point where we could encounter manta rays, but due to the rough sea conditions, the captain wisely decided to return to port. I hope we have another opportunity in the future. However, it was a good experience.

Upon arriving at Honokohau Harbor, we received explanations from a Japanese guide, and I put on a wetsuit for the first time and got ready for snorkeling. I was excited as it felt like the adventure was about to begin. There were about 20 participants, including foreign tourists. We took pictures in our wetsuits. Finally, we set sail. Along the way, we enjoyed the scenery after the sunset. The boat kicked up the rough waves, with sudden drops and rises, and everyone was letting out laughter mixed with screams? It felt just like a roller coaster.

When we reached the point, several boats were already shining their lights, aiming for the manta rays. Our captain carefully navigated the boat, observing the other vessels and communicating to gather information about the manta rays. Unfortunately, it seemed that there were very few manta rays today, and due to the rough waves, we were advised to return to port to avoid fatigue from being in the water.

The tour company had mentioned before departure that, due to the nature of the wild, they couldn't guarantee sightings at the point, so there were no complaints from anyone. However, they kindly explained that we could attempt again for free since we didn't see any manta rays, which I thought was very considerate of the tour company (even though they incurred costs for fuel, drinks, and snacks...). We had another schedule, so we couldn't attempt again this time, but I hope there will be a chance in the future. I am grateful to Veltra and the tour company, Dolphin Hawaii, for providing such a great experience.

今回はマンタと出会えるポイント迄行きましたが海の荒れ状況から船長の賢明なる判断で帰港せざる得なく、またの機会があればなぁと思っております。
でもいい経験が出来ました。
ホノウコウハーバーに到着し、日本人には日本人ガイドさんより説明を受け、初めてのウェットスーツを着てシュノーケリングを付けました。いよいよ始まるって感じでワクワクです。外人観光客も含め約２０名の参加者です。ウェットスーツ姿の写真を撮り合ってます。いよいよ出航です。途中、夕陽が沈んだ後の景色を見ながらの航行です。船は荒波を蹴り、急降下、急上昇あり、皆は笑いを伴う悲鳴？を発してます。まるでジェットコースターの気分。ポイントに着くと十数隻の船が既にライトを照らしマンタを狙っています。私たちの船長は慎重に船を進め他の船の様子を伺い連絡を取リあってマンタの情報を得ています。どうも本日はマンタの数も大変少なく波も荒い為、私たちが海に浸かることにより疲れが生じることから中止、帰港となりました。
催行会社としては出航する前から自然界のことだからポイントに行く迄見れる保証は出来ない旨、話されていたので誰からもクレームは出なかったです。
でも見れなかった代わりに再度の挑戦を無料で実施する旨、説明有り何て良心的な催行会社だろうと思いました(油代、飲料費、お菓子など費用は使っているのに・・・。）私たちは次のスケジュールもあり再挑戦を今回は出来ませんが何時かは分かりませんがもしチャンスがあればそれまでお預けです。ベルトラさん、催行会社のイルカ・ハワイ社にいい体験が出来、感謝しております。

The tour content is excellent. I tried three times and was able to swim with dolphins each time. I also swam with three honu (sea turtles). They are so large that even big people can easily ride them. This is the biggest honu I've ever seen. Unfortunately, the photos are a downside. As expected, the announcement said that a professional photographer would take everyone's pictures, so you don't need to take photos yourself. At the end, they mentioned that they would email everyone's photos for $60. Since we didn't take many photos ourselves, we ended up with hardly any commemorative pictures. I wish they had mentioned the sales from the beginning.

ツアーの内容は最高です。
３回トライして３回ともイルカと泳げました。 ホヌも三匹と泳げました。とにかくデカイ人が全然乗っても大丈夫なくらいのデカさです。こんなデカイホヌは初めて。残念なのは写真です。結果やはりそうか、と言う内容ですが最初にプロのカメラマンがみんなの写真を撮っていきますから、皆さんは写真撮らなくてもいいですよと言うアナウンス。最後に皆さんの写真を60ドルでデータメールしますとの事。自分たちであまり写真撮らなかったから、記念の写真がほとんどない始末。最初から販売ならそう言って欲しい。

I was expecting it to be a bit clearer, so I was somewhat disappointed, but I thoroughly enjoyed my first experience on a submarine.

もう少し鮮明に見えると、思っていたので少々期待はずれのところがありましたが、初めての潜水艦堪能できました。

It was very beautiful, and I was able to observe the seabed slowly. Along the way, I also saw sea turtles and many fish, which made me satisfied.

The boat to the submarine was very rocky, and I ended up feeling seasick. On the way back, we stopped on the water for about 10 minutes before heading to the port for photo sales, which made me feel sick again.

Overall, I was satisfied with the experience that I wouldn't normally have.

とてもきれいでゆっくりと海底を観察できました。
途中ウミガメやたくさんの魚も見ることができ、満足です。

潜水艦までの船がとても揺れたため船酔いをしてしましました。
帰りの船で写真の販売の為、港へ向けて出発するのに10分前後海上で
停船したため酔いました。

総合的に普段できない体験ができ満足です。

Great crew, fantastic weather, awesome marine life all and all fantastic trip