West Oahu Snorkel Cruise with Dolphin Watch, Kayak, SUP, Waterslide & Lunch
Overall Rating
4.74Gorgeous Day
Reviewed by: Kara, 2024/09/16Oahu had some serious crystal clear waters! Warm, sunny day of fun with my family- unbeatable.
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2024/07/18 |
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Beautiful waters!!!
Reviewed by: Kara, 2024/09/01This was the highlight of our trip! Esp seeing the dolphins spalshing around!!
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Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Activity Date: | 2024/07/01 |
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Fun on West Side!
Reviewed by: Kara, 2024/07/21Really awesome morning- gorgeous waters and lots and lots of sea life!
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2024/06/29 |
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Nice boat tour for Dolphin Watch and water activity!
Reviewed by: Jong, 2023/10/13Freindly and nice crews
Good explanation
Great Atmosphere
Good Water Activity
Great experience of watching wild dolphin
but just want to improve for food bit more…
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2023/09/29 |
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Family fun
Reviewed by: Amanda L, 2023/08/30Family of four, including one, four-year-old and one two year-old. First time for the kids on a boat and we had a blast. The staff is extremely friendly, courteous, and personable. They made sure my kids were safe and comfortable. The time frames were very appropriate, the staff kept everyone engaged and entertained. Some staff shout outs for Brandon, Jeremy Natalie, Faith, the guy holding the mike (sorry I forgot his name!!) . And yes we saw TONS of dolphins.
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Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Activity Date: | 2023/08/28 |
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Loved this event with the family
Reviewed by: Kara, 2023/07/01Great day on the water!! We got to see dolphins and the water was crystal clear it was nothing short of amazing
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2023/06/03 |
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Family Loved This
Reviewed by: Kara, 2023/05/31There was something to keep everyone smiling. We loved the gorgeous west side mountains and the super slide!
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/20 |
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Amazing Morning Out
Reviewed by: Rob, 2023/04/13Really enjoyed our Morning out. The crew and Captain made the trip so much better. Honestly, their energy was off the charts, the music was good, enjoyable for all ages (we went as a couple in our mid 20’s and loved it, there were children loving it and parents older than us that were having a blast!)
I’d recommend the photo package, we didn’t get it but looking back and seeing how many pictures Tom took is outstanding. It’s the only photo package I’ve seen so far that guarantees 300 real photos of you minimum.
We’ve done a lot of trips on this holiday and this was probably the best crew I’ve seen. Can’t rate them high enough. Wish I could remember all their names but I can’t. Either way, amazing team to have.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2023/04/11 |
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Good with some room for improvement
Reviewed by: JEC , 2023/04/06Good price, good location, fun crew.
Need to provide something more than meet-at-the-bathrooms-of-a-marina for mustering instructions. There were no crew/personnel at said marina bathroom well past the appointed time. The check-in process was haphazard at best, and did not instill a lot of confidence in the crew's ability/professionalism. The shuttle brining additional guests from Honolulu/Waikiki was very late and delayed our departure by more than 30 minutes (of a three hour cruise). This is obviously not the crew's fault and there is nothing they could have done about the traffic; however, the lack of communication to the guests who were there waiting could have (and should have) been much much better.
Once on the boat, the crew proved knowledgable and kind. A fun cruise that is perfectly suited for visitors staying on the west end of the island. There are similarly priced options closer to Honolulu and Waikiki without the hour-plus drive through really bad traffic.
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2023/04/04 |
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Nice day on the water
Reviewed by: ELL, 2023/04/02This was our 2nd time doing the Dolphins and You Tour (we did it in 2017). Last time was amazing as we had a very calm day and saw lots of dolphins. This time it was quite rough and we did not get an opportunity to swim in the ocean with them.
We did enjoy our time anchored in the bay, where we snorkeled, kayaked and swam. Lunch was delicious and the crew was terrific.
Even despite not seeing dolphins, it was a lovely day.
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2023/03/12 |
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Dolphin and Your snorkel/cruise
Reviewed by: Dolphin Fun, 2023/03/18We had an awesome time. Checking in was a breeze. The crew was friendly and entertaining! Definitely had the best captain who took her time to track down dolphins and even whales for us to see. A must do if you’re in Honolulu.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/23 |
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Fantastic trip
Reviewed by: Adrienne and Tim, 2023/03/14If you are looking for the best you have found it. Captain Mark handles the boat like a pro. The staff is the best in the world. The trip and experiences are phenomenal. My husband loved the water slide. I had an amazing time snorkeling. Seeing sea turtles, trigger fish and more. Whales were supper cool. The views are breath taking.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2023/03/12 |
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Gorgeous Day
Reviewed by: Kara, 2022/09/15The west side of Oahu is a great way to get away from the busy Waikiki area! Recommend for a sun filled snorkel adventure!
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2022/09/11 |
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West Oahu Dolphin Tour
Reviewed by: Michelle Haywood, 2022/09/14Such a great day from beginning to end. Excellent bus for transport. The tour operators made it a really fun day and it was awesome to see them enjoying their jobs so much! Great food and plenty of it for lunch. Fabulous to see a huge pod of dolphins which was the highlight of the day :) thanks guys
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2022/09/12 |
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Dolpin Watch and Snorkel
Reviewed by: addy, 2022/09/12It was very nice experience to watch dolpin and snorkel
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2022/08/17 |
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Exceptional Customer Service and Tons of Dolphins!
Reviewed by: Karen K, 2022/07/01The crew was incredible! We loved seeing so many dolphins up close and got to see a few sea turtles too! The crew ensured everyone stayed safe while in the water which helped us relax knowing they were there if any of us needed a little help. We also loved the Hawaiian traditions included. Highly recommend this tour!
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2022/06/29 |
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Too Crowded
Reviewed by: Megan Rish , 2021/10/02The dolphin tour was so crowded and even though the guide was friendly and the people were very friendly there were just too many. Many people didn’t actually get to see the dolphins in the water and were being kicked with fins because of how crowded it was. We will not be doing that again unless there are less people.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2021/09/10 |
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So Rad!
Reviewed by: BLC Reno NV, 2021/05/29Worth every penny, We will be doing this again when we return to the islands. The crew was friendly, interactive with everyone, and also very caring and attentive to the folks that didn’t have their sea legs. The day we went, we swam with 3 spinner dolphins, and some bottle nose, then on the way to the coral reef we saw a pod of over 500 dolphins. The snorkel, slide, paddle board spot was rad as well, legit like diving into a nature film. Getting to see a sea turtle in nature was just an amazing end to an already awesome day! To the crew and cpt. Mahalo for such a great adventure!
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2021/05/07 |
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So much FUN! Worth every penny!
Reviewed by: HAPPY IN HAWAII!!, 2021/04/09First, the crew was amazing! They were so helpful and made sure we were well equipped to enjoy every minute we were on this adventure. I was so excited to see the dolphins- I started hyperventilating a little as I was swimming toward the cree member that was finding the dolphin pods for our group. I didn’t want to cause a fuss or embarrass myself - so I just tried to calm myself and was promptly helped by another crew member who saw me and helped me to relax and calm my breathing so I could continue swimming. After watching the dolphins for several minutes under the water- they started showing off for us and jumping out of the water. It was thrilling. We stayed in the water for 20-30 min it seemed and I was amazed by the beauty of it all. Then we all returned to the boat - and we’re offered snacks and water and we traveled to a reef where we got back into the water and saw many fish and a sea turtle and snorkeled around looking at all the sea life as the captain anchored the boat and crew members inflated a large slide on the boat. The photographers were very attentive- and if you paid for a photo package- they made sure they took every picture possible of you. I’m 51 and I had a blast on the slide along with my daughter who is 19. Finally, when it was time to go- we were offered food again as the crew entertained us with dancing and music all the way back to shore. We returned to our hotel by 1pm (6 hours after the start) WORTH EVERY PENNY!! We crashed the rest of the day having had so much fun! THANK YOU TO YOU ALL!!
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Attended as: | Friends |
Activity Date: | 2021/04/07 |
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Amazing Day!
Reviewed by: Heather, 2021/02/28The experience on this trip was amazing. We are avid snorkelers and love the ocean and animals so our expectations were high. The crew was friendly, fun, kind, (even when we had to be reminded of the safety rules because we got a bit excited when we saw the dolphins) professional, talented and explained the rules and safety precautions very well. We saw a large pod of dolphins as we swam in the bluest of water, sighted whales, snorkeled with tropical fish and two turtles and cruised down the gorgeous West coast listening to Hawaiian music. Magical. Group tours have there frustrations because of the number of people trying to see things at the same time but as far as group tours go this was one of the best we have done! We appreciated the Aloha we received from all the crew! You will not regret going on this trip! Mahalo to all the crew and Tommy who greeted us on the docks.
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2021/02/26 |
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Dolphin snorkel
Reviewed by: Anthony , 2019/08/25Best snorkel trip I’ve ever done. Crew was great and entertaining and would definitely book again.
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2019/08/03 |
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Dolphins and more
Reviewed by: David F, 2019/08/17Fantastic and energetic staff. Customer service was wonderful. Saw many Dolphin immediately. The guides in the water during the snorkeling time. Water was a little choppy and several customers were sick. Can’t do one thing about that, however, there needs to be another water cooler on the main level and one on the top level. Hydration is a must in these situations and water needs to be readily available for these people. Also, bigger cups. Lastly, during the swim on your own time, we saw a bunch of fish, but the wind was blowing the boat away from the swimmers and it was difficult to catch up. I would suggest a long rope line in the water with a orange float on the end that people can swim to when the boat is blowing away from the swimmers. Quick lunch a was good and well planned. Overall, we had a wonderful experience. Would highly recommend this tour!!!
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Attended as: | Friends |
Activity Date: | 2019/08/15 |
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It was an amazing time
Reviewed by: Matt B, 2019/08/11The crew was very attentive and accommodating. We saw dolphins 2 out of the 3 drops and it was just amazing! We highly recommend this excursion ;) Our group ranged from 13 yrs old to 34 and we all enjoyed ourselves
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2019/08/08 |
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Swim with Wild Dolphins Cruise
Reviewed by: Tammy Jarvis , 2019/07/31Our activity was rescheduled by the company for a 3 days later which we received a gift for our inconvenience. When we arrived we quickly realized that there were going to be many people going. I was expecting a much smaller group. Our family of 5 decided to ride on the upper deck and had the best time. Our main guide was Oliver who was very friendly and funny. He made our experience very enjoyable. The entire crew was friendly as well. The Captain proceeded to try to find dolphins. Much to our dismay he was unable to locate them but he drove all over trying his best to locate them. With the changes in the water with the hurricane 1300 miles away the dolphins had retreated to deeper waters. This didn't take away from our very fun experience. We were able to snorkel for a good amount of time where we did see a turtle. Other water activities were available as well. There were 2 photographers on board.. 1 which was in the water as well. We were fed lunch very efficiently and the staff made sure we had everything we needed. We were treated to 2 hula dancers which was a lot of fun. I would recommend this experience to anyone. A great
crew and a fun adventure!
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2019/07/26 |
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Swim with Dolphins and Snorkel Review
Reviewed by: John, 2019/07/26Overall this was not one of the better snorkel experiences. The boat was too crowded, with 61 snorkelers. The right size for the boat should have been about 40. Especially crowded at the start where people were not allowed on the top deck when leaving port.
The crew try their best to provide a good time. They are energetic and enthusiastic.
Food option was another issue. Basically you get either a cheeseburger or veggie cheeseburger. No other choices. I hate cheese. Since food is pre-made, there is no opportunity for a simple hamburger. Drinks are either water or watered down lemonade, served in tiny cups. Should have had more variety and larger cups. You also can get a bag of chips.
Swimming with the dolphin is basically everyone jump in the water, look down to see a couple dolphins swim by, and then jump right back in the boat.
Snorkeling was not rushed, but the site did not have many fish or varieties of fish.
Water slide was fun. Much more fun than snorkeling.
Aloha
I am sorry that conditions were less than ideal on your tour.
Our boat is actually certified for 97 passengers. We will talk to our staff about openinig up the top deck from the begining. Usually for larger groups we do allow that. There should be room for everyone to move around comfortably from the onset.
We have a no cheese option for both the beef and veggie burger. We are constantly trying to improve our program. We actually just got our Liquor License and have been discussing different beverage options.
The swim with the dolphins and snorkeling vary based on conditions and their behavior. Ideally we like to have longer, closer views of the animals in their natural enviornment. Usually we see turtles and a variety of fish. Occassionally other cool sea life like eels, rays and even monk seals.
We are glad you enjoyed the slide. And hope you can come back with us sometime so we an make the experience and memory better for you.
Kind regards
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2019/07/21 |
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Wonderful experience!
Reviewed by: Kibby Pearce, 2019/05/20Swimming with wild dolphins was AMAZING! We struggled to find spinner dolphins early May 15, but Danielle and the entire crew were patient and determined to spot other types of dolphins. We found spotted dolphins, in deeper waters, which are faster but amazing to see in the wild. The crew including Yogi, Tyler, and a couple others helped our ship of 25 or so passengers stay safe and calm in the water knowing exactly what to do as the dolphins and wild life swam all around us. Making sure the swimmers and dolphins stayed safe was at the forefront of our dive. We relocated to another swim spot to see fish and turtles in shallow waters and we got to play on the slide and use paddle boards the crew provided us with. Jade, the photographer/ videographer, was amazing in capturing our time on the boat and in the water. This crew was fantastic and my fiancé and I would recommend this excursion 10/10 as a MUST DO. The feeling iI got seeing this animals in their natural environment, so willing to let us be close to them , is something I will never forget. We purchase the pictures from Dolphins and You and I can’t wait to get home to upload them!
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2019/05/15 |
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Great time!!!
Reviewed by: Jyl Dowd, 2019/04/17The trip was fabulous! The crew is friendly, fun and knowledgeable. They keep you informed, entertained and fed (I liked the burger, chips and fruit). The equipment & boat were in excellent shape.
There isn't a lot of down time which I appreciated (activities/entertainment happening thru out the trip). Tyler was an amazing hula dancer! Make sure you bring cash to tip the crew, they work hard to show us tourists a great time!!
When we initially jumped in the water, we saw dolphins immediately! The second jump we saw more dolphins, a sting ray, and a sea turtle! (And fish, if course). It was amazing.
We didn't rent the wet suit and we were fine (mid April). We took Dramamine because of all the warnings in other reviews, so we had no motion sickness, but neither did anyone else. :)
My only advice would be that guests should be sure to sit under the covered area when the crew is making announcements. We were sitting at the very back of the boat (behind the speaker) and couldn't hear them at all. You'll also get a better view of the dancer.
Also, the slide was not available on our trip, so if that's important to you, you should double check?
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Attended as: | Friends |
Activity Date: | 2019/04/13 |
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Awesome experience
Reviewed by: Tobi, 2018/07/21It was an awesome experience. The crew was very friendly and nice. The bus was nice and new and comfortable. I however did get a little sea sick so I would recommend taking motion sickness pills to help. Also I would bring a towel
Aloha Tobi,
Mahalo for your 5-Star review! Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. Motion sickness medication is a great recommendation, especially if it is something a guest is prone to. We offer PSI bands for sale on every tour for those who forget, as well. We are glad you enjoyed the crew and were comfortable on the bus. Please come again some day, and consider joining us for our other And You Creations tours! Aloha!
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Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Activity Date: | 2018/07/20 |
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Fantastic Morning Dolphins and You Ocean Fun Cruise!
Reviewed by: Cathy, Pittsburgh, 2018/07/03We had a great morning cruise with Dolphins and You. The local crew (certified life guards and professional entertainers!) were very friendly and full of energy. They explained everything in both English and Japanese since there were quite a large number of Japanese tourists on our 40 person tour. There was music and dancing on the way to the spinner dolphin site. We sat at the back of the boat and enjoyed the sun and sea air; thank goodness we had lots of sunscreen! I wear glasses and there were prescription masks on the boat so I could see everything clearly.
The crew-led Hawaiian chant and orchid offering when we entered the dolphin site brought us good luck. The crew went in the water with us and pointed out several pods of dolphins swimming right by. I wanted to stay with the dolphins longer, but we had another scheduled stop. At the snorkeling site, a sea turtle swam right under our group and there were lots of fish all around. The inflatable water slide, “surfboard” and kayak added to the fun. For lunch we had cheeseburgers on taro buns with bags of chips — very tasty. The crew sang and danced a couple of hulas on the way back; a perfect ending to a great morning!
We drove from our hotel, arrived at the Waianae Boat Harbor early, and were a little concerned when we didn’t see any signs for Dolphins and You. However, a bus with Dolphins and You on the side pulled into the parking lot right where they said to meet at the specified meeting time. Be sure to take Dramamine if you think you might get motion sickness. Several people on the cruise got sick, even though I didn’t think it was very rough. I took a Dramamine before we left on the Dolphins and You cruise and was fine (I had gotten sick on a previous snorkel trip to Molokini off of Maui). Definitely APPLY SUNSCREEN early and often...the sun is very strong on the water.
Aloha Cathy, and mahalo for your 5-star review! We appreciate you taking the time to share your detailed and thoughtful review of our tour! And we're so glad that you appreciated the extra dose of Aloha that is unique to Dolphins and You :).
We could not agree more with your suggestions of Dramamine and sunscreen use. That's the best way to stay comfortable on the water. We also recommend reef-safe sunscreen (which we offer in our office in Waikiki) to protect both your skin AND Hawaii's fragile coral reefs! Thank you again for your review. Please come again some day!
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2018/06/27 |
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A morning on the *Swim with Dolphins Ocean Fun Cruise.*
Reviewed by: Bruce Randolph, 2018/06/30We’ve been on snorkeling cruises in the past (some out of Waianae Boat Harbor) but never with this company. We visit Hawaii often (my wife was born and raised in the islands) we view island activities with a critical eye. This was a super dolphin/snorkel trip. The cruise is on a smaller boat, which has the advantage of offering a smaller group of people, a more intimate experience, and a little more adventurous ride - I like all three. Staff on these boats are there to 1. Offer safety 2. Offer service and 3. Offer fun and adventure. The Dolphin’s and You staff were excellent on all counts. I’ve seen the “fun” part on other boats get a little smarmy, but the staff on this boat really did a great job of encouraging people to participate and enjoy themselves without being overly “slick” or pushy. They also had some talented people who shared music I found enjoyable.
I take my own pictures with underwater stills and video. The videographer/photographer on the trip did a super job and was kind enough to show me some great shots while still attending to everyone on board. I wish I could say that about all the snorkeling/watching tours we’ve been on.
Overall I’d say this was a really good trip - for anyone - experienced or novice. Tips: If you have motion sickness, or aren’t sure if you have motion sickness, take dramamine. Do it. Take sunscreen - Use it. If you’re not familiar with photography (above and below water) leave your gear at home. Experience the trip and allow the professional the ship provides offer you some of the best shots you’ll ever see - most likely better images than you can take yourself. Fooling with gear and worrying about taking pictures, will detract from the memories you can make just being in the water and seeing the amazing things the crew will show you.
There are lifetime memories you can take away from a half-day trip like this. It might *seem* pricey to some, but I assure you that it is worth every cent and you’ll be ready for more.
Aloha Bruce! Thank you so much for your sincere 5-Star review.
We so appreciate you taking the time to offer this genuine feedback and to provide tips for other guests. We agree with your suggestions on all counts! Coming from a guest who has been on many tours and a photographer, this review means a lot. We invite you to come and try out our waterfall hike tour Nature and You or our circle-island tour Island and You on one of your trips back to the island, as well!
Mahalo and A Hui Hou Kākou!
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2018/06/27 |
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Aloha Megan,
We are sorry to hear that you found the tour too crowded and will pass this feedback onto our operations management. We have modified operations this month so that we are better dispersing guests between tours available. We are also actively researching for the optimal passenger count that allows us to serve as many guests as possible who dream of swimming with dolphins while still prioritizing safety and comfort. We hope this helps to demonstrate our commitment to your satisfaction. Mahalo and aloha!