West Oahu Snorkel Cruise, Marine Life & Dolphin Watch Expedition from Waianae
Overall Rating
4.79
Amazing experience
Reviewed by: kris, 2021/09/20Saw a pod of dolpins. swam with sea turtles and we had rare sighting of a HUGE pod of pilot whales, maybe about 30-40 of them !
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Activity Date: | 2021/09/18 |
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Best experience ever
Reviewed by: Hayu, 2021/08/10I think I came to Hawaii for this. This made me like Hawaii! The first thing I did after iClouding every video of dolphins was buying a shirts that says i love hawaii. I saw so many dolphins and knew that they are much more adorable than i have thought of. They are very curious that they circle around humans, and come really close to boat.
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Activity Date: | 2021/08/08 |
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Must do
Reviewed by: Jessica, 2019/04/14Very memorable experience. We enjoyed it and would go again, they do not teach you how to snorkel so I would look up tutorials before you go. Just so you can get more out of it. They have a photographer on board that takes pictures you can pay for.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2019/04/03 |
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Wonderful
Reviewed by: Abigail, 2019/04/07It was a great experience! Everyone was great! We really enjoyed seeing the dolphins! We also saw a sea turtle! It was definitely a fun day for us!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2019/04/04 |
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Definitely worth the 5:30 am pickup
Reviewed by: Mike, 2019/02/18Don’t worry about the early pickup to get you to the west side of Oahu. After swimming with dolphins and seeing at least 10 whales including a mother and calf, you will be wide awake. Sleeping is for the shuttle back home after such a fun-filled adventure. Do it, you won’t regret it!
Mahalo Mike for your kind feedback. We hope to see you guys again, bright and early. :) Lisa
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Activity Date: | 2019/02/15 |
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Amazing
Reviewed by: Maria, 2019/01/13We went on this tour in the morning, and it was definitely one of the best experiences I’ve ever had!!
We are so glad you enjoyed your time with us. We do hope to see you again for another open ocean adventure out on the West Side of Oahu. :) Lisa, Op. Mgr.
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Activity Date: | 2019/01/10 |
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Highly recommend!
Reviewed by: Trevor Stokes, 2018/06/04Great family excursion! Absolutely fantastic trip with knowledgeable, informative and passionate crew. Friendly and relaxed. Swam with dolphins twice and saw several sea turtles. Our captain even found a second pod of dolphins so we could see another type. Watched spotted dolphins leaping into the air in our wake and even spotted a reef shark! Can't recommend highly enough!
Mahalo Trevor for taking the time to give us a review. We hope to see you again out there :) Lisa
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2018/06/01 |
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Awesome!
Reviewed by: Julia, 2018/05/17-very professional
-super friendly instructors
-we saw dolphins, turtles and fishes
-breathtaking view
-underwater pictures
-enough time to explore the faszinating nature
-interesting facts about dolphins and the island itself
I would definitely do it again - I had a fantastic time!!
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Activity Date: | 2018/05/14 |
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Possibly the most memorable experience on our trip!
Reviewed by: Sandy R, 2018/05/14This trip exceeded my expectations. We swam with dolphins several times. One pod consisted of 16 dolphins. And we probably saw 50 green sea turtles. Outstanding! The crew went above and beyond to make sure everyone had a great experience. I was saying good bye to my pictures as my camera sank into the coral below. Then Paul dove at least 25 feet underwater to retrieve it. Who could have expected this amount of attention? . As a bonus, he made his pictures available for everyone on board. Thank you, thank you!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2018/04/20 |
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Excellent
Reviewed by: Joanne Peters, 2018/01/20Beautiful water with dolphins and whales and an excellent staff. I’d do it again. Food was exceptional
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2018/01/17 |
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Fantastic day!!!
Reviewed by: Lisa Macklem, 2018/01/07This was just a terrific day from start to finish. We were picked up on time, and everything was exactly as advertised. We saw turtles, swam with the dolphins, and saw approximately 8 whales too! It was the first time snorkeling for both my husband and myself and the staff was terrific. Emmanuel picked us up and took care of us for the whole day. Our captain was terrific, making sure that we saw all those whales and had plenty of time for snorkeling with the dolphins and then over a wonderful coral reef. Photographer Justin was also terrific - making sure to get great pictures of everyone who wanted them. HIghly recommend this tour and company! Friendly AND professional!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2018/01/04 |
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Absolutely sensational experience
Reviewed by: Trish Foxall, 2018/01/04Wow, wow, wow. This was the experience of a lifetime for me and my family. We really hit the jackpot. Within minutes of leaving the harbor we came across some Humpback whales frolicking with some dolphins - this was breathtaking. We then swam with sea turtles and had an amazing experience with a pod of approximately 50 dolphins. I honestly believe we had luck on our side because we couldn't have asked for a more amazing experience. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable and made the tour even more enjoyable. I can honestly say this was the highlight of our holiday and would recommend this company to everyone.
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2017/12/29 |
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Em, Jenna and Paul- AMAZING!
Reviewed by: Danielle , 2017/08/28Our experience from start to finish was exceptional! The shuttle ride started with a wonderful ride from Emanual- she was friendly and conversational, making our time feel like it was spent with a friend. She was knowledgeable about the Island and told us interesting things. She suggested we rent a car and we did- the next day! Thanks Em so worth it! On the boat Em and Captain Jenna were wonderful. Our teenager got a little sick but they didn't give up on her, with their words of encouragement and support we set sail. Our 8 year old was afraid and because of you two ladies she got in and snorkeled with an 80year old turltle. Words can express that magic of that experience! We are eagerly anticipating the pictures photographer Paul took. Your attention to detail and obvious dedication to your craft is remarkable. Thank you team dolphin excursion for loving what you do and sharing that with my family. Mahalo!
Mahalo Danielle for your kind words and taking the time to share. I will alert Capt. Jenna, Emanuelle, and Paul to your review so they may fill their soul with candy. We hope to see you again! Lisa, Operations Manager for Dolphin Excursions Hawaii.
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2017/08/25 |
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Dolphin Excursion
Reviewed by: Fritzie Zamora, 2017/05/02Had the best time! The entire family enjoyed! I so recommend this particular tour and admire the crew who made sure we had a great experience while respecting the environment.
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2017/04/29 |
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Highly Recommened
Reviewed by: Caleb, 2017/04/15This is my second time and I will still recommend it to my friends.
Saw the dolphins up close and it was fun.
Very safe and effortless.
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2017/03/23 |
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Experience of a lifetime
Reviewed by: Yang, 2017/04/12Everything we hoped for and more. Check-in was fast and easy; they even have presc. Goggles. The staff (Capt Jenn and the two Nikki's) were helpful and provided excellent customer service. We saw dolphins, whales, and sea turtles.
Must do when in Oahu.
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Activity Date: | 2017/04/08 |
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Dolphin Excursion
Reviewed by: Ian, 2017/03/28Skipper, photographer, and crew member were great and funny. Was a great experience and we were the first ones in the water so that was great.
Would highly recommend this tour.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2017/03/25 |
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Highly recommend this tour
Reviewed by: Kelly - Sydney, 2016/12/24We had an amazing time on our Dolphin tour. Staff were friendly and knowledgable. Loved that it was a small group, and we were able to swim with the Spinner Dolphins and Sea turtles. Also lucky enough to see Bottle Nose Dolphins and Humpback whales too. Only downside was getting a bit sea sick. The staff looked after my phone while I fed the fish and took a great selfie
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2016/11/28 |
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Totally worth it!
Reviewed by: Kami, 2016/11/11The crew was great and so was the experience. I would recommend it if you are in the area.
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2016/11/08 |
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Such a wonderful experience!!!!!
Reviewed by: Susan, 2016/11/08It was amazing to see these incredible creatures in their natural environment. I almost can't describe the feeling I felt when we were swimming above them.
The crew was amazing, educated, patient, and most of all incredibly organized they were and genuinely cared about the animals safety and well being. We were observers, not there to disrupt these amazing creatures.
This is one of the classiest tours I have been on and believe me I have been on a lot not only in our country but several others. You need to experience this tour!
Mahalo Susan for joining us and taking the time to write this awesome review. We look forward to your return! - Lisa
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2016/11/04 |
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Amazing experience
Reviewed by: Cory, 2016/10/10The dolphin excursion was amazing. We learned so much about dolphins and enjoyed snorkeling with them. The staff was so friendly and helpful. They even have a photographer taking pictures. This is a must do activity and me and my children can't wait to go back and do it again.
Mahalo for your feedback and we appreciate you joining us. We look forward to your return. :) Lisa
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2016/10/06 |
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A awsome day
Reviewed by: Mark, 2016/08/27The tour was great. We saw dolphins an turtles. Thanks to the whole team for this awesome experience
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2016/08/09 |
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2nd Time...Still AMAZING EXPERIENCE!
Reviewed by: Suzette Spilsbury , 2016/08/20Hubbie and I experienced our 1st Hawaiian snorkel with this amazing team in Oct 2015, trip this Aug August we knew we had to stay with Dolphin Excursions...saw MORE THAN BEFORE! It was a Disney Movie...Finding Nemo in real life! SO GLAD TO HAVE USED DOLPHIN EXCURSIONS!!! No other company can give the same friendly, professional and helpful staff to make sure you WILL experience Spinner Dolphins and become almost a part of the Pod!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2016/08/09 |
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Turtles are still slow in the water, works for this activity..
Reviewed by: -PAUL-, 2016/05/30First time doing this. Thoroughly enjoyed it between the dolphins and turtle. I found a turtle by my lonesome, shared with everyone, but I guess there was more action somewhere else. I swam with the turtle as it slowly rose up to surface to get a breathe of air that took no more than one second. Then it went on its way. I don't have pictures of that experience to share, but I did have a go pro recording the whole time. So I have that to take with me the rest of my life.
Needs to said, there is a catch. If you want more interaction with mammal sea life, there is another activity that gets your first hand, up close and personal. However you are in a control environment. Whereas this activity is in the ocean; wildlife, so more than dolphins and turtles to experience(depending on the time of year too).
If I am allowed to edit this post, and also allow to post a hyperlink to a YouTube video, I will post that turtle swim.
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Activity Date: | 2016/05/28 |
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Amazing experience!
Reviewed by: Robert P., 2016/01/24We did the early excursion and were happy we did as our group only had 9 people and I felt we were able to see more activity. We rented wet suits since the water was just a bit cooler than our liking, and they worked great. The views on the way to the snorkeling spot are breathtaking as you see the sunrise behind a mountain range. We saw several whales and could hear their chatter in the water, an indescribable experience. We snorkeled with tropical fish, sea turtles, and dolphins. Then, we enjoyed a delicious lunch. Only wish we had more time.
The crew and shuttle driver were great! They even returned our beach towels, which we forgot at Spinner's. This excursion definitely under promised and over delivered.
We paid $50-$60 for the professional photographs, which was well worth it to us as it was impossible to capture everything. Can't wait to see them in a couple weeks!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2016/01/22 |
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Dolphins! Dolphins! Dolphins!
Reviewed by: Karol Lisboa, 2015/11/06Booking with VELTRA was really easy and fast, I gave them my information and they took care of the rest for me.
Dolphin Excursions Hawaii was also great! I had no problems with my pick up and
the boat crew was kind, friendly and helpful, they took many incredible pictures during the tour.
The West Side of the Island is beautiful. Snorkeling was amaaazing, we spotted so many dolphins, turtles and different species of fish. After the tour we had lunch at the Spinners Cafe, the food was very tasty.
I love marine life, especially dolphins, they are incredible animals! I had a lot of fun! This tour was the highlight of my trip.
Mahalo Karol for joining us! It was our pleasure to introduce you to the West Side's wild life. We do hope you come out and see us again!
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Activity Date: | 2015/11/04 |
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Great day
Reviewed by: John Scott, 2015/08/09We had an awesome time. We saw Dolphins almost immediately once on the water. I swear I had Dolphins swim under me and to see the little babies was great too. We saw turtles as well which is always great. The crew were great and informative. An all round excellent day and looking forward to the photos from Lexi.
Mahalo for choosing to join us and we hope to see you again!!! -Lisa
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2015/08/05 |
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Good but can get very dizzy
Reviewed by: Kate, 2015/03/09The staffs were nice and the activity itself was priceless. But motion sickness can really get to you... most of the people on our boat were feeling sick after half an hour.. I was puking from the beginning to the end although I had preventive patch on me. So be sure to be in the best physical condition as possible in order to truly enjoy what the ocean has got to offer!!!!
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2015/02/26 |
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Amazing
Reviewed by: Red Headed Sister's, 2014/10/04The best excursion of our trip!! Dolphin Excursions staff are very educated and professional. Keep the customer in mind.
Mahalo Red Headed Sister's for your review and joining us. We strive to have the most experienced crew that harbor a bit of magical luck on the side. Hope to see you guys again soon. :) Lisa, Operations Manager
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Activity Date: | 2014/09/21 |
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See the Baby Dolphins!
Reviewed by: Marisa, 2014/08/22Timely pick-up, great folks, and tasty food. Oh, and did I mention dolphins! I thoroughly enjoyed myself and can say that this is by far the best dolphin snorkel I've been on. I got my gear within 5 minutes of check-in and put in my lunch choice. Dolphin Excursions is an educationally based tour company and some of the people there are marine biologists. They seemed to read the behavior of the dolphins very well. The baby spinner dolphins are super cute! This is a great time of year because the dolphins are having babies so they are fun to watch. We went out about 3 times to snorkel, twice with the dolphins so close. I have never seen so many dolphins with me in the water, and you can even hear them 'singing' before you see them. When we got back, lunch was already made. The food is great at Spinner's Cafe, and the people are courteous. I had a great time and can say that many others did as well.
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
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Mahalo for taking the time to sum up your experience with us. We hope to see you out here again. :) Lisa