All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

Iruka Junior High is truly amazing. We went out to sea on a boat to search for dolphins. The boat was more thrilling and faster than a banana boat, making it the best attraction!

Being on the boat allowed us to get really close to the dolphins, and it was an emotional experience swimming alongside so many of them.

With snorkeling, I was able to swim with rays and sea turtles!

イルカ中学はほんとにすごいです。
ボートでイルカを探しに沖まで行きます。
バナナボートよりも迫力があるボートで早いスピードで沖まで行くのがまずサイコーのアトラクションでした!

ボートだからすごくイルカに近くまで寄ってくれて、たくさんのイルカと一緒に泳げて感動の体験でした。

シュノーケルではエイやウミガメと一緒に泳ぐことができました!

Captain and crew of Ocean Encounters 1 dove in ahead of guests, made a plan, and navigated us there. Honestly, we had a great viewing spot and several other boats' guests were eager to move into our spot upon our exiting. Boats are staggered and have a neighborly way of communicating where/when/how each group will be staggered but I would have been disappointed to be in one of the peripheral groups. These are wild animals, so no telling what each evening will look like, but was glad to have a captain who led the charge.

Tips: It is a bit of a rough ride for 20 mins out and approx 20 minutes back. If you are someone who suffers from carsickness or seasickness, highly recommend treating for that before you leave. We had 2 of 30 guests puking over the sides. I gave my carsick kiddo dramamine about an hour before-- no issues.

Do have inexperienced family members practice snorkeling ahead of tour so that they can spend the entire 45 minutes head down in the water enjoying the fish and rays and the learning is done in a pool or bay ahead of time. There were zero swimming skills necessary on this trip but knowing how to calmly enjoy breathing through a snorkel for an extended period was the difference between guests who really enjoyed and guests who didn't. There was a surfboard with handles that the group held on to, which was pulled into position by the guides.

Do warn your kiddos that these rays are HUGE. My youngest expected small 3-4 foot rays like we have in our aquarium and was initially very surprised (terrified) by the 12-15 wingspan on some of these beautiful creatures. They got right up in our personal bubble/faces/immediately underneath bellies and legs so do be ready for up-close amazing experience.

Do not bring a bunch of stuff/items as they end up dripped on and/or in the way. If the weather is warm all you need is shoes that are okay getting wet/dripped on, and a towel. They provided water and light packaged snacks on the return trip.

So glad we did this. Experienced and knowledgeable crew. Had a great time!

The boat itself was very spacious to my surprise, offering plenty of shade! A fantastic way to spend the day on the water.

Watching these huge sized manta rays glide beneath us was surreal! Best experience hands down.

Recently, I participated in a snorkeling tour called "Dolphin Middle School" in Hawaii, where I got to meet dolphins and sea turtles, a dream I've had for a long time! We departed from Waikiki by shuttle bus before 6 AM. I was still a bit sleepy, but just looking at the blue sky lifted my spirits!

🛥️ Setting sail and searching for dolphins

We boarded a boat at Waianae Harbor on the west side of Oahu, where the crew provided explanations in English. Yuji, a member of the crew, personally guided me, which made me feel at ease. The ocean was unbelievably blue and clear! After a while, the crew shouted:

“Dolphins!!”

Several dolphins jumped alongside the boat! Everyone couldn't help but cheer. It was so moving to see wild dolphins so close…

🐬 Swimming with dolphins!

We arrived at the snorkeling point and finally entered the water. It was a bit cold at first, but felt great!

Looking down, I saw a pod of dolphins swimming gracefully, and it truly felt like we were sharing the same ocean.

The crew guided us expertly, making it easy for beginners to feel comfortable. We dove three times to swim with the dolphins. At first, we observed from a distance, but during the second dive, I was able to observe and swim closely with many dolphins, which was incredibly satisfying.

🐢 Next, the sea turtle point

After the dolphins, we moved to the sea turtle spot. The visibility here was also excellent! While swimming among the corals, a large sea turtle suddenly appeared right in front of me.

Its leisurely swimming was truly graceful. We had to maintain a distance to avoid getting too close, but swimming alongside it was part of the rules. The moment our eyes met, it looked as if it was smiling, which was very touching.

It seems that returning participants receive a permanent discount, so I definitely want to join again the next time I visit Hawaii.

先日、ハワイにてずっと夢だったイルカとウミガメに会えるシュノーケルツアー イルカ中学に参加しました！朝6時前に、ワイキキから送迎バスで出発。まだ少し眠いけど、青空を見てるだけでテンションが上がる！

🛥️ 出航からイルカ探し

西オアフのワイアナエ港からボートに乗り込み、クルーが英語で説明してくれました。日本人の私には同クルーのYujiさんが個別で教えていただき、安心感を持って参加できました。
海は信じられないくらい青くて透明！しばらく走ると、

クルー：「Dolphins!!」

イルカが何頭もボートの横をジャンプしながら並走！思わずみんな歓声。野生のイルカが本当にあんなに近くで見られるなんて感動…。

🐬 イルカと一緒に泳ぐ！

シュノーケルポイントに到着し、いよいよ海へ。海に入った瞬間、少し冷たいけど気持ちいい！

下を見ると、イルカの群れがスイスイ泳いでいて、本当に一緒の海を共有してる感覚。

クルーがうまく誘導してくれるので初心者でも安心。イルカとのスイムは計3回ダイブしました。最初は少し遠めでの観察でしたが、2回目は写真の通りたくさんのイルカを直近で観察&一緒にスイムできて大変満足でした。

🐢 次は海亀ポイント

イルカの後は、海亀スポットへ移動。ここでも透明度抜群！サンゴの間を泳いでいたら、突然目の前に大きなウミガメが登場。

ゆったり泳ぐ姿は本当に優雅。近づきすぎないよう距離を保ちながら、一緒に泳ぐのがルール。目が合った瞬間、まるで微笑んでるように見えて感動的でした。

2回目以降の参加は半永久的に割引が適用されるようで次回ハワイに訪れた際にもぜひ参加したいと思いました。

This adventure did not disappoint!! It was more than we expected!! Dolphins swimming alongside our boat for miles jumping, spinning, and surfing our wake!! It was a dream come true and we couldn’t stop smiling!!!!

It was great that even children who can't snorkel could see a lot of fish! Riding in a real submarine was also a refreshing and fun experience, almost like an attraction. Also, the pilot was so cool that I couldn't help but sneak a glance! At one point, it got a bit boring, and my child fell asleep, but it was a good experience overall.

シュノーケル出来ない子どもでもたくさんの魚が観れてよかったです！そもそも本物の潜水艇に乗り込むこと自体もアトラクション感覚で新鮮で楽しかったです。
あとパイロットがカッコ良すぎてついチラ見しちゃう！
途中は少し退屈になり、子どもは寝てしまいましたww良い体験でした。

I had a great time with Takako and the crew, who were bright and friendly. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see the honu (some people did), but I was very satisfied. I was impressed by Takako's hospitality!

タカコさんをはじめクルーの皆さんが明るく親切でとても楽しかったです。残念ながらホヌには会えませんでしたが(見た方はいらっしゃいました)十分満足できました。タカコさんのホスピタリティに感動しました！

It might be a good experience to touch dolphins. The children especially will be delighted. The park allows for a leisurely visit as it is not crowded.

イルカに触れる体験としていいかもです。特に子供達は喜びます。パークは個人回りしてますので、のんびりできます。

Our family had such a wonderful day, the kids were so engaged with the viewing window.

I recommend this for small children, elderly people, and anyone who wants to peek into the waters of Hawaii without getting wet.

We gathered on-site. Even if you arrive on time, there were no staff members present, which can be a bit unsettling, but it seems this is the usual situation (laughs). In our small group of 13, we could clearly hear the staff's explanations. At other times, it seemed to be fully booked with about 50 people.

We were able to see clearly down to the seabed and even encountered sea turtles. I think people of all ages can enjoy this. I downloaded the Japanese commentary in advance, but I wasn't sure when to start listening with the earphones.

小さなお子様にもご年配の方々も、濡れずにハワイの海の中を覗きたい人にとってもおすすめです。
集合時間にp


現地集合でした。
時間どおりに行っても、スタッフの方々誰もおらず不安になりますが、これがいつも通りのようです(笑)
13人の少人数グループでスタッフの方の説明もクリアに聞こえました。
他の時間は約50人の満席のようでした。
海底までゆっくりクリアに見ることができ、海亀にも遭遇できました。
年齢問わず楽しめると思います。
日本語の解説を事前ダウンロードしましたが、いつイヤホンで聴き始めたら良いかが分かりませんでした。

The staff were great. Food and drink was better than expected!!
Took us to a sight we have always wanted to snorkel in. We could not have been more pleased!!

I was told that it would be lucky to see a tiger shark, and that day I was able to see about eight tiger sharks, which was really fun!

タイガーシャークが見れたらラッキーだよーって言われて、その日はタイガーシャークが8匹ほどみれてすごい楽しかったです

I had various questions before making the reservation, and I was able to book with peace of mind thanks to the polite responses I received. It was an emotional experience to fulfill my dream of swimming with dolphins.

予約前にいろいろと質問をさせていただいたのですが、丁寧にご返信いただいたので安心して予約が出来ました。
夢だったイルカと泳ぐ事が叶って感動でした。

a unique and fun experience for myself wife and daughter to enjoy something so new!

Such a cool way to explore beneath the ocean without getting wet as I am not much of a swimmer that loves sea life, lol!

Friendly staff. 100 yards away was too far to swim. All other boats were closer.

The tour was supposed to include two snorkeling spots, but in reality, we only visited one, and we couldn't go to the spot where we could see turtles. The weather on the day was clear.

As for my experience snorkeling at Molokini Island, the sea was relatively beautiful, but there weren't many types of fish, and I couldn't help but compare it to Okinawa and other islands in Japan, which left me a bit disappointed.

However, the local staff were very accommodating, the food was delicious, and the unlimited drinks made the tour more reasonable than I expected.

I was able to figure out the parking location by looking at everyone's reviews. I think it would be helpful for the operating site to provide a bit more detailed information.

ツアー内容はシュノーケルスポットを2箇所まわるということでしたが、実際は１箇所のみで、カメの見れるスポットには行けませんでした。当日の天気は晴天でした。

モロキニ島でのシュノーケル体験での感想としては、海はそれなりに綺麗ですがあまり魚の種類もいなく、沖縄や日本の離島とどうしても比較してしまい少し期待外れでした。

しかし、現地スタッフの方の対応もよく、食事も美味しかったですし、お酒も飲み放題だったので思ったよりツアーとしてはリーズナブルだと思います。

駐車場の場所は、皆さんの口コミをみて把握できました。運営サイトとして、もう少し詳細を具体的にしてあげると良いのではないかと思います。

The sea was murky and the visibility wasn't great, but it was amazing to see the underwater world that you can't usually experience. It seems the visibility is better in the morning. I wasn't sure when to start the Japanese guide, so if you could make that clearer, I think it would enhance the experience even more.

海が濁っており透明度は今一でしたが、普段体験できない海の中を見る事ができ最高でした。
午前中の方が透明度が高いようです。
日本語のガイドをスタートさせるタイミングが分からなかったので分かるようにしていただけるともっと楽しめると思います。

You can see shipwrecks and airplanes, which is great for those who are not confident in snorkeling, as it allows you to safely view the seabed. You can also see fish clearly, and if you're lucky, you might spot sea turtles or sharks. No matter which side you sit on, the boat turns alternately, so you can get a good view of the shipwrecks and other sights!

沈没船や、飛行機を見ることが出来て、シュノーケリングに自信が無い方には安全に海底を見れるのでいいと思います。
魚もしっかり見れ、運が良ければウミガメやサメも見ることができます。
左右どちらに座っても、交互にターンしてくれるのでしっかり沈没船等は見ることが出来ました！

We only found out about this tour because we knew a local person. There’s no sign at the road near the bay as to where to turn or park. Parking cost $38 in the public beach parking area. Once you get to the parking lot, there’s no sign as to where the boat is docked or where the kiosk for the tour company is. One girl working the kiosk told us that they didn’t offer glass bottom boat tours; the kiosk name matched our reservation. The website is very unfriendly. The tour guide was good but the captain could go a bit slower when over a reef so that we unfamiliar with it can focus our eyes to see the fish.

The best thing we did in Hawaii. The manta rays were so close & there were so many. Cannot recommend enough.

This was a relaxing trip with my family to snorkel and see the sea turtles by boat. I would recommend to anyone looking to venture out by boat.

The trip was only about 1/2 full so it was wonderful have plenty of room to walk about the boat. The music was also great, and happy we picked the day that has live music. There were drinks a plenty, and the food was also delicious. This is a must if your visiting Maui!

We had a fun time on our canoe adventure and snorkeling at a special area with just the 3 of us. We saw a lot of beautiful fish and our snorkel gear was great! Our guide Kai was very friendly and attentive to our safety on the canoe and in the water. It was a bit tough for us to get back into the canoe after snorkeling but he worked with us and we made it!! We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and it will be a very special memory for us all! Thank you Kai!

This team is top notch, they took us to a great location. They provided a wealth of information on mantaray's while we prepared for the event. We had so much fun.

I was very satisfied with the lucky tour filled with rainbows, sunsets, dolphins, and manta rays. I requested hotel pickup as it was included in the tour, but since most people rent cars on the Big Island, that might have been a better option. It's essential to prepare a jacket for the return boat ride, as it gets cold and chilly. I had a great time!

レインボー🌈、サンセット、ドルフィン、マンタ満載のラッキーなツアーで大満足です
ホテルでのピックアップがツアーに含まれていたのでお願いしましたが、ハワイ島はレンタカーを借りる人がほとんどなのでその方が良かったかなぁ
帰りの船の中は身体が冷えて寒くなるので上着の準備は必須ですね
楽しかったです

We had a great time paddling out to a snorkel spot, jumping overboard for a snorkel with Toa! He was a great guide and really patient with us. :-)

In our group, we were the only Japanese participants. There were also children aged 6 and 8, but having a Japanese guide was a great help. We were able to meet dolphins safely, and during snorkeling, the guide took care of the children, which made the adults feel at ease.

グループの中で日本人は私たちのみでした。
6歳、8歳の子どもも参加しましたが日本人ガイドの方がついてくれて大変助かりました。
無事イルカにも出会えましたし、シュノーケリングでもガイドの方が子どもを連れて見てくれたので大人も安心できました。