All Reviews for Dolphin Watching & Snorkel Cruises

This was my first time in Hawaii, and I wanted to see dolphins and sea turtles, so I signed up for an optional tour. The email correspondence and responses leading up to the day were quick, which made us, as first-time participants, feel very reassured and excited.

The meeting place on-site was easy to find, and the bus guide called out our names, so there were no issues until we gathered.

Regarding the tour, we were unable to see any dolphins. We had high expectations of seeing dolphins based on the tour name, but it was just a cruising experience. When I asked the locals, they mentioned that dolphins are rarely seen in the evening because it gets dark, making it difficult to spot them. While this is part of the wild experience, it was a bit disappointing.

The snorkeling was great, as there was a Japanese guide who taught us very thoroughly. We were able to see a lot of fish, which was nice.

As for the food, the variety was limited, and it felt more like a light snack than dinner. I think there are some areas for improvement in the tour content, but the staff from the tour company and the locals were very kind, so I would like to rely on them again when I visit Hawaii next time.

今回初めてのハワイでイルカと海ガメはみたいと思い、オプションツアーに申し込みをしました。
当日までのメールのやり取りや対応は素早く、初めて申し込む私たちは大変安心をして心待ちにしておりました。
現地での集合場所も分かりやすく、バスガイドの方も名前を呼んでくれたため、集合までは特に申し分ありませんでした。
ツアーに関してですが、イルカは見ることはできませんでした。ツアー名からイルカを見れる期待がありましたが、ただクルージングしてるだけでした。現地の方に聞くと夕方はイルカはほとんど見れないみたいです。夕方だと暗くなるので探すのが難しいみたいです。野生ならではでありますが、ちょっと残念でした。
シュノーケリングは、日本人のガイドさんもいて大変丁寧に教えていたたぎました。魚がたくさん見れたので良かったです。
ご飯に関しては種類は少なく、ディナーと言うより軽食でした。
ツアー内容に関しては多少改善していただけるともっといいのになと思うことはありますが、ツアー企画会社の方や現地の方は大変親切でしたので、またハワイに行くときはお世話になりたいなと思います。

I participated in this tour. Unfortunately, I was unable to encounter the main attractions, which were dolphins and turtles; it turned out to be just a cruising and snorkeling tour. Since nature is unpredictable, I understand, but it was disappointing that the experience fell far short of my expectations.

I joined the evening plan, but according to the staff, there is a higher chance of encountering dolphins and turtles during the daytime.

The snorkeling was quite cold, but the sea was beautiful, which made me satisfied. However, since they were attracting fish with bait, if there is no bait, you wouldn't see any fish at all, just some coral, so I didn't feel much of a connection to nature.

As for the cruising, there was some rocking, but it wasn't rough, and I didn't feel seasick. However, it was very disappointing not to encounter the dolphins, which were the main attraction. The weather was nice, and I was moved by the sunset! The colors of the sky on the way back were very beautiful, and I was satisfied.

Overall, this tour felt like an à la carte experience without a main dish, but the side dishes were delicious.

Aside from the tour overview, I thought the catering was sufficient in terms of drinks and food. As someone who doesn't particularly seek alcohol, I was quite satisfied with the variety offered.

Regarding the service, there were Japanese staff members who were attentive and provided thorough explanations, so I didn't have any trouble even though I couldn't speak English. I had a meaningful time! Thank you very much.

I hope to have a chance to try again next time.

今回のツアーに参加させて頂きました。表題のメインであるイルカ、亀に遭遇は出来ず、ただのクルージング&シュノーケリングツアーでした。自然が相手なので仕方ないですが想像は大きく下回る結果だったのは残念です。

参加した時間帯が夕方プランだったのですがスタッフさん曰く日中の方がイルカ、亀には遭遇出来る可能性は高いらしいです。

シュノーケリングに関してはかなり寒かったのですが海は綺麗で満足する事が出来ました。しかし餌で魚を引き寄せていたので餌がない場合は全く魚も見れず珊瑚のみが見えたレベルなので自然感は感じられずでした。

クルージングに関しては揺れはあるものの粗くなく酔う事はありませんでした。しかし、メインであるイルカに遭遇出来なかった事は非常に残念でした。天気が良かった事もありSUNSETが見れたのは感動しました！帰りの空の色は非常に綺麗で満足する事が出来ました。

今回のツアーに関してはメインディシュのないアラカルトが美味しいツアーみたいな感じでした。

ツアー概要は別としてケータリングに関しては呑み物、食べ物は充分だったと思います。特にアルコールを求めない自分としてはかなり満足いくバリエーションでした。

対応に関しては日本人スタッフが居てくれ、気に掛けて頂いたり、丁寧な説明もあり、英語が喋れなくても困る事もなく有意義な時間を過ごせました！本当にありがとうございました。

次回、再チャレンジ出来たらと思います。

We encountered a pod of dolphins as soon as we set out to sea, and we were also able to see sea turtles. The dancing on the boat and the captain's hamburgers were delicious. I really enjoyed the hula lesson too!

海に出てすぐにイルカの群れに出会えたし、ウミガメも見ることが出来ました。
船上でのダンスや、船長のハンバーガーも美味しかったです。
フラレッスンもとても楽しめました！

I participated with a friend. We signed up for a members-only monitor tour. Since we used this service during our last trip to Hawaii, we decided to go with them again this time. The printed voucher mentioned that we should contact the tour company for final confirmation of our reservation by 5 PM the day before, so I called (I don't remember needing to contact them during our last visit, so it might just be for the monitor tour).

We had a reservation for the second session at 10:30, but the staff member who answered the phone said, "Due to the availability of reservations, we will have to move you to the first session." I thought it was understandable since it was a monitor tour, but I would have appreciated at least a hint of consideration for our schedule (laughs).

On the day of participation, we gathered at the entrance of the Hyatt Hotel. It seemed like the Hyatt entrance was a meeting point for various tours, as there were many people. The vehicle for Dolphin Junior was a flashy yellow school bus, so we boarded without getting lost. Since it was an early morning tour, I was honestly quite sleepy, but the instructor was very good at explaining! I was able to enjoy listening to her explanations. On the way to our destination on the west coast, we passed by a park famous for the tree from the song "This Tree, What Tree," and the instructor pointed out good photo opportunities (laughs).

After arriving at our destination, we rented wetsuits (for a fee of $10) and headed out to sea by boat. The wind was quite strong that day, creating whitecaps. The boat was rocking a lot, and a few participants were feeling unwell. I was initially worried about whether we would be able to see dolphins with such waves, but after about 10 minutes, we spotted them! We were able to see a group of about 20 dolphins. We then repeatedly swam with the dolphins by jumping into the sea ahead of their path, and we were able to swim with them a total of three times!

After swimming with the dolphins, we went snorkeling to look for fish and turtles. The water was murky, likely due to the high waves, so we couldn't see the fish clearly. I saw turtles come up to the surface to breathe twice from the boat. During my last participation, I was able to swim with two turtles while snorkeling, so I think it just depends on luck.

That said, I was very satisfied to have swum with the main attraction, the dolphins, three times! The staff on the boat were all very kind and friendly. I definitely want to use this service again next time.

友人と二人で参加。
会員限定モニターツアーに申し込みました。前回のハワイ旅行でも利用させていただいたので、今回もこちらで。
印刷したバウチャーに、予約前日の17時までにツアー会社に予約内容最終確認のため連絡するよう書いてあったので電話しました(前回利用時には連絡した覚えがなかったので、モニターツアーだけかもしれません)。
二部の10:30からの予約だったのですが、電話に出たスタッフさんが「予約の空き状況の都合上、一部での参加にさせていただきます」と一言。モニターツアーですし仕方ないかなとは思いましたが、こちらの予定を伺う素振りくらいは見せて欲しかったです（笑）
参加当日、ハイアットホテルの玄関に集合。ハイアット玄関口はいろんなツアーの集合場所になっているみたいで、たくさん人がいました。イルカ中学は黄色いスクールバスのような派手な車だったので、迷うことなく乗車。朝早いツアーだったので、正直かなり眠かったのですが、インストラクターのお姉さんのお話がとても上手！楽しく説明を聞くことができました。目的地の西海岸に向かう途中に「♩このー木なんの木」で有名な木がある公園近くを通るので、お姉さんがシャッターチャンスも教えてくれます（笑）
目的地到着後、ウェットスーツを借りて(有料10ドル)、ボートで海へ。この日は結構風が強く、白波が立ってました。ボートの揺れが激しく、一緒に参加された方でダウンしている人も何人かいました。
こんなに波があってイルカちゃんが見えるのか…？と最初不安になりましたが、10分ほどでイルカ発見。20頭ほどの群れを見ることができました〜。その後もイルカが通る道を先回りして、海に飛び込んで、を繰り返して、合計3回イルカと泳ぐことができました！
イルカと泳いだ後は、魚とカメを探してシュノーケル。波が高いせいか水中が濁り、魚もはっきりとは見れませんでした。カメはボート上で呼吸をしに水面に上がってきたのを2回見ました。
前回参加時はシュノーケル中にカメ2匹と泳げたので、こればかりは運だと思います。
とはいえ、メインのイルカと3回も一緒に泳げたので大満足です！
船に乗っていたスタッフさんも皆さん優しかったですし、とてもフレンドリーでした。
次回も是非利用したいです。

We gathered at 9 AM and took a bus for about 30 minutes to the port. During the bus ride, they provided detailed explanations about the types of dolphins, precautions, and how to use the equipment. If you are prone to motion sickness, it’s a good idea to take some medication on the bus!

Once we arrived at the port, those who needed it could rent a wetsuit for $10. When I participated, everyone, both men and women, rented one. The water was a bit cold during this time.

And off we go to meet the dolphins! Just when I thought, "They’re not coming out," I spotted a dolphin's fin! With the guide's excited shout of "There it is!", we quickly got our gear ready and jumped into the sea from the boat. I was truly thrilled to see a pod of dolphins up close!

Next, we moved to meet the turtles. While we could see the dolphins very closely, the turtles were so close that we could almost reach out to them! (Please do not touch them.) We were able to see about 4 to 5 turtles and had a wonderful time.

The staff and guides were very friendly, making the tour enjoyable. I initially hesitated to join, but it turned out to be the best tour I participated in during my trip to Hawaii!

朝9時集合、バスに30分程乗り港へ向かいます。
バスの中では、イルカの種類や注意事項、用具の使用方法など丁寧に説明してくれます◎
酔いやすい方は、バスの中で酔い止めを飲んでおくと良いかと！
港についてから、必要な方は１０ドルでウェットスーツを借りることができます。
私が参加した際は男女全員借りてました。この時期は少し水か冷たい＞＜

いざ！イルカ先生にあいに！
「なかなかでてこないなー」と思っていると、イルカの背びれが！
ガイドさんの「いたー！」という声とともに、すぐに装備を完璧にしてボートから海に飛び込みます。間近にイルカの群れを見ることができ、本当に感激しました！！

次はカメにあいに移動をします。
イルカも本当に間近で見ることができましたが、カメは手に届くほどの近さで見ることができました！（※触ってはいけません）
4.5匹ほど見ることができ、とても素敵な時間を過ごすことが出来ました。

スタッフさん、ガイドさんもとても気さくな方達で楽しくツアーに参加出来ました。
はじめは参加を悩んでいましたが、ハワイ旅行の中で一番参加してよかったと思えたツアーでした！！

Meeting wild dolphins can be influenced by weather and sea conditions, and sometimes you may not see them at all (in fact, the day before, they hadn't seen any dolphins for the first time in six months), so I was a bit worried while traveling on the bus, even as we listened to various explanations.

Fortunately, the day we participated had wonderful weather and calm seas, and within 30 seconds of boarding, we spotted a pod of dolphins, which was the best possible condition. We were able to see wild dolphins and sea turtles, and it was truly moving. Seeing dozens of dolphins just a few meters away was breathtaking!

Our guide, Su-san, mentioned that dolphins like to play with plastic bags discarded by humans, and I was surprised to actually witness this scene. The dolphins playing were a mother and her baby, which made it an unforgettable moment because they were so adorable.

Afterward, we moved on and were able to see sea turtles and colorful tropical fish. It was heartwarming to see the turtles occasionally poking their heads above the water to breathe.

After snorkeling, we cruised for a while searching for whales, but unfortunately, we couldn't see any. However, we did get to see dozens of dolphins again, and I was satisfied to see them perform spinning jumps multiple times.

Due to the season, it can be cold in the mornings and evenings, and there are jellyfish in the water, so I was glad to have borrowed a wetsuit (for a fee of $10). For those who are not used to swimming or are inexperienced with snorkeling, it might be a little scary to enter the water at first, but the wetsuit helps you float, making it easier to move around in the sea.

Lastly, although it’s called a cruise, this tour involves jumping straight into the sea, so we traveled on a boat-like vessel. Even in calm waters, it rocked a bit, and I felt a little seasick, as did some other participants. I think taking motion sickness medication would help you enjoy the experience 100%.

There is also a dedicated photographer on board, so you can purchase beautiful photos later that you wouldn't be able to capture on your own!

野生のイルカ達に会うのは、天候や海の状況などによって左右され、時には会えない事もあるようなので（実際に前日は、半年ぶりに会えなかったとのこと）バスの移動中、色々説明を聞きながらも心配していました。
幸い私達が参加した日は、素晴らしい天気と穏やかな海、乗船して３０秒でイルカの群れ発見というベストなコンディションに恵まれ、野生のイルカ達やウミガメに会うことが出来、とても感動しました。何十頭ものイルカを何メートルか先で見ることが出来るのは圧巻でした！
ガイドのすーさんからの説明で、イルカが人が捨てたスーパーの袋で遊ぶのが好きという話を聞いていたのですが、実際にその光景を目にする事も出来てビックリしました。その遊んでいたイルカが親子だったのが、本当に可愛かったので忘れられない場面になりました。
その後移動して、ウミガメや色とりどりの熱帯魚にも会うことができました。ウミガメは呼吸をするために、時々水面から首を出す姿が微笑ましかったです。
シュノーケル後、クジラを探して暫くクルージングしましたが、残念ながらクジラは見る事はできませんでしたが、また何十頭ものイルカを見ることができました。回転ジャンプも何度も見れて満足しました。

時期的に、朝晩や海から上がった後は寒く、クラゲも発生しているそうなので、ウエットスーツを貸してもらって良かったです。(有料10ドル）
泳ぎに不慣れな人や、シュノーケリング未経験者の人は、最初は海に入るのが少し怖いかもしれませんが、ウエットスーツが浮くので、海の中でも移動しやすいと思います。

最後に、クルーズといっても、このツアーは海にすぐ飛び込むので、ボートのような船で移動します。穏やかな海でも揺れるので、少し酔いましたし、他の参加者の方も酔われていました。酔い止めを飲んだ方が、100％楽しめると思います。
船専属のカメラマンさんも同行するので、個人では撮りきれない素敵な写真を後で購入できますよ！

I had signed up for the Dolphin Middle School program, but due to boat maintenance on the day, I ended up participating in the Dolphin University program. Overall, it was a very enjoyable tour! Here’s my experience at Dolphin University.

During the bus ride from Waikiki to the west coast, our class representative (guide) gave us a lecture on how to swim to meet the dolphins. Whether or not we would see dolphins depended on luck, as they are wild. There were days when we couldn't see them, and I heard that yesterday the tour was canceled due to strong winds. We received motion sickness medication on the bus, and those who wanted to could pay a $10 fee for a wetsuit.

When we arrived at the port, we enjoyed Leonard's "Masalada," which we had taken out along the way. Although it wasn't freshly made anymore due to the bus ride, I think it’s a good deal if you can eat without waiting in line.

We changed into our swimsuits and set sail! Shortly after departing, we spotted a pod of dolphins. We jumped into the sea from the moving boat! Once in the water, we swam hard to keep up with our guide, eagerly searching for dolphins.

Then, a dolphin swam right in front of us! There were even mother and baby dolphins! At times, dolphins passed directly beneath me. I also frequently heard the mystical sounds of dolphins chirping underwater. Although we were supposed to swim for about 30 minutes, I felt it was long enough as we kept swimming the whole time.

After that, we moved to another location by boat and spent just under an hour snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle surfing. We saw dolphins jumping from the boat during the move, and while snorkeling, I was able to swim alongside sea turtles!

I believe it was a valuable experience to swim together with dolphins while listening to their sounds in the Hawaiian sea! If I come back to Hawaii, I would definitely consider revisiting this tour.

イルカ中学の申し込みをしていましたが、当日ボートのメンテナンスとのことで、イルカ大学への参加となりました。総じてとても楽しいツアーでした！以下、イルカ大学の体験談です。

ワイキキから西側の海岸までバスで移動している間、学級委員(ガイド)さんからイルカに会うための泳ぎ方などのレクチャーを受けました。イルカに会えるかどうかは野生のイルカの為、運次第。会えない日もあったり、昨日は強風でツアー自体が中止になったそうです。バスの中で酔い止めの薬をもらい、また希望者は1人１０ドルのウェットスーツ代を払いました。

港に着くと、途中でテイクアウトしたレナードの「マサラダ」をいただきました。バスの移動時間で出来立てホヤホヤでなくなりますが、並ばずに食べれるとしたらお得だと思います。

予め着てきた水着姿になり、いざ出航！
出航して間もなくイルカの群れを発見。走行中の船から海へ飛び込みました！海に入ってからはガイドさんについて必死に泳ぐ泳ぐ笑
泳いでは目を凝らしてイルカを探しました。

すると目の前をイルカが通り過ぎる！親子イルカも！自分の真下をイルカたちが通り過ぎることもありました。また海中ではイルカのキュイキュイという鳴き声も頻繁に聞こえ神秘的なひと時でした。時間としたら３０分間泳げるそうですが、ずっと泳ぎ続きるので私は充分長く感じることができました。

その後は船で場所を移動し、1時間弱、シュノーケリングやカヤック、パドルサーフィンなどをして過ごしました。移動中の船からイルカジャンプが見れましたし、シュノーケリングではウミガメと一緒に泳ぐこともできました！

ハワイの海でイルカの声を聞きながら一緒に泳ぐことができ、貴重な体験ができたと思います！またハワイに来ることがあれば再訪しようかなと思えるツアーでした。

I wanted to see dolphins up close!! With that feeling, I joined this tour ♪*

On the morning of the day, I received a call in my room, wondering what was going on. They asked if it was okay to change to the university tour because the private dolphin middle school had a shortage of participants. Although the content was slightly different from the middle school and the duration was longer, I didn't have any other plans, so I agreed to the change.

**☆This experience is about my enrollment in the prestigious Dolphin University☆**

I was picked up by bus, and it was fully booked that day. Since it takes time to move, we had a brief lecture on precautions for entering the sea and the rental of snorkeling gear. We also stopped by Leonard's, where the tour company staff bought malasadas for everyone. The weather was nice, but the water was a bit cold, so many people rented wetsuits due to the increased buoyancy.

During three tries, I was able to meet the dolphins twice ♡ And I was moved to hear their sounds!! While waiting for the next try, I saw the dorsal fins of the swimming dolphins (just seeing the fins increased my anticipation☆), and I was able to see baby dolphins jumping about three to four times, born during this season!

Also, dolphins are said to be very curious, and I was surprised to see them swimming right alongside the front of the boat for a long time. I also enjoyed seeing sea turtles and water sports (like kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding), making it an amazing time ♪

By the way, I can't swim at all (I can't do the breaststroke), but I decided to participate because I really wanted to see the dolphins up close. However, there were many staff members, and they helped those who couldn't swim by letting them hold onto floaties and assisting them in searching for dolphins, which made me feel at ease. (It would probably be more fun to swim on my own with my companions, but it can't be helped ^^;)

Since I didn't participate in the dolphin middle school, the content might be different, but if you have the time, I recommend Dolphin University (it seems to be the same tour company) ☆*

イルカを間近で見てみたい！！
そんな気持ちでこのツアーに参加させてもらいました♪*
当日朝、部屋に電話がかかってきて何事かと思っていたところ、
私立イルカ中学2便が人数不足のため、大学に変更でもよろしいですか？とのこと。
中学とは少し内容が違うため、時間が長いとのことでしたが他に予定も入れてなかったので変更してもらいました。


**☆この体験談は名門イルカ大学に入学したことを記載します☆**

バスでのお迎えでしたが、この日は満席でした。
移動に時間がかかるため、海に入る際の注意や貸出のシュノーケルなどの軽いレクチャーと
レナーズに立ち寄り、ツアー会社の方が全員分のマラサダを買って来てくれました。
天気は良かったのですが、海の中は少し寒いことや浮力が増すということで多くの方がウェットスーツを借りていました。
3回のトライで、2回もイルカたちに逢うことができたのです♡
しかも鳴き声も聞こえて感動！！
トライ待ちの移動では、泳ぐイルカたちの背びれや(背びれが見えるだけで期待感UP☆)、
この時期産まれた赤ちゃんイルカのジャンプも３～４回は見れました！
また、イルカは好奇心が旺盛らしく、
船の先頭というかスレスレの所をずーっと一緒に泳いでいたのにはびっくりしました。
その後の海ガメ先生やウォータースポーツ(カヤックやスタンドアップパドルなど）も楽しめ
サイコーの時間を過ごせました♪

ちなみに私、全く泳げない(平泳ぎがﾀﾞﾒ)ですが、
どうしてもイルカを間近で見たくて参加を決めました。
ですがスタッフも多く、泳げない人には浮輪につかまらせてくれて
かかりきりでイルカ探しを手伝ってくれるので安心しました。
(自分で泳げた方が同行者とも一緒に楽しめるんでしょうが。。仕方ない^^;)

今回イルカ中学に参加ではなかったので内容は異なるかもしれませんが、
時間にも余裕があるならイルカ大学(同じツアー会社みたいです)をオススメします☆*

I was able to see whales, dolphins, and sea turtles! I had heard that the sea had been rough for the past few days with high waves and that people weren't able to see dolphins, so I was worried, but fortunately, the waves were calm on this day. Since the morning was very early, I felt like I might doze off, but I made sure to listen carefully to our guide, Sue, as she shared snorkeling tips and important points for spotting dolphins.

I heard the water was 25 to 30 meters deep, and since I had very little snorkeling experience, I was initially anxious. However, I gathered my courage and jumped into the sea, and it was like a dream world! Beautiful shades of blue spread out before my eyes, and dolphins were swimming all around. They were making sounds that were so clear I could hear them without straining my ears. I even got to see a baby dolphin, and later, I successfully encountered a sea turtle! The sea turtle was swimming leisurely at a distance that felt almost within reach.

After swimming a lot, I was quite tired and ended up sleeping soundly on the bus ride back, but it was a satisfying kind of fatigue that filled my heart. This was the best memory of my trip to Hawaii.

クジラもイルカもウミガメも見れました！
ここ数日は海が荒れていて波が高かったりイルカに会えなかったりしたと聞いていて、心配だったのですが、この日は幸いおだやかな波。朝が大変早いのでうつらうつらとしそうなところを、ガイドのスーさんからシュノーケリングのコツやイルカを見るときの注意点などをしっかり聞きます。

水深25〜30mと聞いて、シュノーケリング経験はほとんどなかったため最初は不安だったのですが、意を決して海に飛び込んでみれば、まさに夢のような世界！
美しい水色が視界一面に広がる中、あちこち行き交うイルカたちがそこにいました。
イルカたちはずっとキュウキュウと鳴いていて、耳をすまさなくても聞こえるほどでした。赤ちゃんイルカにも会えたし、その後ウミガメにも遭遇成功！ウミガメはまるで手が届きそうなくらいの距離でゆったり悠々と泳いでいました。

たくさん泳いで結構疲れて帰りのバスでは爆睡してしまったのですが、心が満たされた心地いい疲労でした。
ハワイ旅行で一番の思い出です。

The weather was great, and we were able to meet dolphins without any issues! Since we were on the ocean, I think towels and light outerwear are necessary. It was warm for November, but many people ended up borrowing wetsuits. Also, if you're bringing a change of clothes, I recommend something that's easy to put on and take off.

お天気にも恵まれ、無事にイルカにも会うこともできました！やはり海の上なので、タオルや羽織モノは必要だと思います。１１月にしては暖かかったですが、急遽ウェットスーツを借りている人も多かったです。あと。着替えを持って行くならば脱ぎ着が楽なものがオススメです。

This sunset dinner and snorkel sail was excellent! The catamaran was very spacious with plenty of space to walk around and two spacious clean bathrooms. The staff was incredibly friendly and the photographer was exceptional! The food for dinner was also very good! After being in Hawaii for four days already and snorkeling each day, I am so glad I took with snorkel tour since it was by far the best snorkeling with beautiful reefs and sea life, and the photographer came into the water and took underwater photos of us! A jump drive with all the photos cost $40 and was well worth it! Of note do take some motion sickness medicine, you are on a boat! Overall I would highly recommend this trip to any one who wants to see great corral and beautiful sea life!

I was moved to swim with the dolphins!! The staff were kind and it was great. Su-san was funny, beautiful, and a wonderful person.

イルカと泳げて感動しました！！スタッフさん親切で良かったです。すーさん面白くて綺麗で素敵な方でした。

The weather was nice on the day, and fortunately, we were able to see a pod of dolphins not too far from the beach.

The instructor and photographer skillfully got close to the dolphins, so I recommend staying close to the instructor as much as possible.

当日は天気も良く、運よく？ビーチからそれほど離れていない
場所でイルカの群れを見ることができました♪

インストラクター、カメラマンは上手くイルカの近くに行くの
で、できるだけインストラクターと一緒に行動することをオス
スメします。

The boat ride from the port took about an hour. There were a few waves, which made the boat ride enjoyable, and it felt like no time at all as we admired the mountains of Hawaii that we usually can't see. However, we were starting to worry about whether we would actually see the dolphins. The captain and crew were restless, and so were the participants.

When we looked at the surface of the water, we saw many sparkling things. It was the dorsal fins of the dolphins! We quickly put on our snorkels, and at the call of our class representative, Su-san, we jumped into the sea. As we desperately followed Su-san, we saw a family of dolphins swimming gracefully beneath us! The dolphins that came one after another were a bit smaller and differently colored than those we see in aquariums, and they were so cute.

Moreover, another group of dolphins arrived, and we were able to swim with them multiple times! Swimming in the ocean, where we couldn't hear any outside sounds and could only hear the voices of the dolphins, was truly mystical and an unforgettable experience.

Satisfied to have encountered the dolphins, we moved to the shallows to enjoy snorkeling freely. We encountered countless fish and even a sea turtle, surrounded by the great nature of Hawaii, and we savored a truly luxurious time.

This experience made me feel like I could work hard again starting tomorrow to see the sea and mountains of Hawaii someday. Thank you very much!

港からボートで約1時間の移動。少し波があったので、ボートに乗っているのも楽しく、普段は見ることができないハワイの山々を眺めながらの移動だったのであっという間でした。
ただ、なかなかイルカ先生の姿が見えず
…。
本当に出逢えるのか、私たち夫婦に不安がよぎった頃でした。
船長とクルーがそわそわ。参加者もそわそわ。
水面を見たら、キラキラしたものがたくさんあったのです。イルカ先生の背びれでした！
急いでシュノーケルを着け、学級委員長のすーさんの声で、一気に海へ。必死にすーさんについて行くと、私たちの下をイルカの家族がすいすい泳いでいました！次から次へと来るイルカは、水族館で見るものより少し小さく、色も違ってとっても可愛かったです。
しかも、また違う群れがやって来て、何度もイルカ達と一緒に泳ぐことができました！
外の音が聞こえない海の中で、イルカの声だけを聞きながら一緒に泳いだのは、本当に神秘的で、忘れられない体験です。

イルカ先生と出逢えて大満足した私たちは、浅瀬に移動して自由にシュノーケリングを楽しみました。数え切れないほどの魚と、ウミガメ先生にも出逢い、ハワイの大自然に囲まれて、とても贅沢な時間を味わいました。

いつかまたハワイの海や山を見るために、明日からまた仕事がんばろうと思えるような体験でした。
ありがとうございました！！

Many people seemed to get seasick, but it was incredibly fun! I would love to request this again when I go to Hawaii! ♪

船酔い・海酔いになった人も多々いたようですが、
最高にたのしかったです！
またハワイに行ったときはお願いしたいです♪

I gathered at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on ○○ Street at 6:15 AM, woke up at 5:30, and was at the meeting place 10 minutes early, but the bus didn't arrive. When I asked the hotel staff, I realized it was on the opposite street. I ran to ○○ Street and arrived at the meeting place by 6:17, but there was no one there. Thinking the pickup hadn't arrived yet, I asked other tour company staff present, and they said, "They usually wait for about 10 minutes, so if they haven't come by 30 minutes, you should contact them." So I waited. When they still didn't come, I called the number listed, but it was too early to connect since it was outside of business hours, and the voicemail was in English and quite fast, so I couldn't understand it. I had no choice but to wait until the business hours started at 7:00 to call again, but there was only English-speaking staff, and we couldn't communicate. I explained the situation at the Japanese counter of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, and when they spoke on my behalf, they said, "We waited for about 5 minutes, but since no one came, we left. You can either change the date or try to catch a taxi right now, but it might be too late." Since I had booked optional tours online for other days, I couldn't change it, and I didn't even know the tour location, so I had no choice but to cancel.

Other tour participants were waiting for their people to arrive, and if the phone had connected, I might have made it in time. Above all, the fact that there wasn't a single staff member who could speak Japanese was the most frustrating part.

I reserved a rotating restaurant with a night view on this site, but there were no Japanese-speaking staff there either, and the transportation to Tantalus was not scheduled properly, so it ended up being the same time as the meal. I wanted to go to Tantalus more than have dinner, but I couldn't go, and I really thought I shouldn't have made a reservation on this site!

朝6:15にハイアット・リージェンシーホテルの○○通り集合で、5:30に起きて10分前には集合場所にいたが、バスが来なくてホテルの人に聞くと反対の通りだったことに気がついた。走って○○通りまで行って6:17には集合場所にいたが、姿はなく、まだお迎え来てないのだと思い、そこにいた他のツアー会社の人などにきくと、『大体10分くらいしかは待ってくれるから30分まで待っても来なかったら連絡してみればいいよ』と言われたので待っていた。それでも来なかったので書かれていたところに電話すると、時間が早いため営業時間外で繋がらず留守電も英語でかなり早いためききとれなかった。仕方なく営業開始時間の7:00まで待ってから電話すると、英語スタッフしか居なくて私たちでの会話は無理だった。ハイアット・リージェンシーホテルの日本語カウンターで経緯を説明し、会話してもらうと、『5分くらい待ったが来なかったので出発した。日にちを変えるか、今からすぐにタクシーを拾ってきてもギリギリ間に合うか分からないくらい』とのことだった。他の日もネットでオプショナルツアーを入れていたため変更はきかず、ツアー開催場所も分からないくらいのでやむを得ず断然した。
他のツアーの人は人が来るまで待っていてくれていたし、電話が繋がればすぐに行って間に合ったかもしれないし、なにしろ、日本語が話せるスタッフが一人もいない事が一番嫌だった。

このサイトで夜景の見える回転式レストランを予約したが、そこにも日本語が話せるスタッフはいなくて付いてくるはずのタンタラスの丘送迎も時間設定ができず、勝手に食事開始時間と同じになってしまうため食事よりもタンタラスの丘に行きたかったのに行けず、本当にこのサイトで予約しちゃだめだ！と思った。

It’s not that we didn’t see dolphins or sea turtles, but it was disappointing that we couldn’t see as many as we had hoped. We only saw a few dolphins and just one sea turtle. Since the wind picked up, there were no marine sports, so we were told we had free time. But I thought, if that’s the case, then let’s go look for dolphins!! I don’t understand why we paid for the tour.

イルカやウミガメが見られなかった訳ではないが、期待していたほど見ることができなくて残念でした。イルカに至っては数匹・ウミガメは１匹のみでした。風が出てきたためマリンスポーツはなしだったので、自由時間です。といわれましたが、だったらイルカ探しに行ってよ！！って思いました。何のためにお金だしてツアーに参加したのか分からない。

I participated in the Dolphin University on November 2, 2014. We gathered at a little past 6 AM, so the energy was low, but our chairperson, Julie, was super high-energy and lifted our spirits, making us feel excited. We enjoyed delicious malasadas and then boarded the boat. I got to meet many dolphin instructors and Professor Turtle. I was even able to have a conversation with a dolphin instructor!

We challenged ourselves to see how fast we could go while kayaking, and it was really fun. At one point, Julie said, "It's your tour, so you all have to enjoy it!" I think it's true that if you don't enjoy it, you're missing out. I highly recommend it!

2014/11/2イルカ大学に参加しました。朝6時過ぎに集合とあってテンション低めだったのですが、委員長のジュリが超ハイテンションで持ち上げてくれたのでウキウキ気分に。マラサダも
おいしく頂き、いざ乗船。
イルカ先生もカメ教授もたくさん出会えました。イルカ先生と会話することができたんですよ＼(^o^)／
カヤックに乗りどこまで最速スピードが出せるか挑戦したり、本当に楽しかったです。
途中ジュリが「みなさんのツアーだからみなさんが楽しまなきゃ！」と言っていたとおり、自分が楽しまなきゃソンだと思います。
オススメです！

Overall, I had a fun time and created great memories. Although I felt a sense of discomfort with the guide, Sue (a Japanese), who spoke in a somewhat intimidating tone and exaggerated stories to satisfy the participants, I was reassured by the local staff who constantly checked on everyone’s condition during snorkeling. We saw several groups of dolphins swimming beneath us (according to Sue, there were more than 50 in a pod, but it seemed exaggerated...), and we observed dolphins jumping and playing up close from the boat. I felt like I managed to chase after a turtle, but the tropical fish in the water were beautiful and breathtaking.

I hadn’t put my face in the water for over 15 years and was worried, but thanks to the wetsuit, I wasn’t cold, and the water felt warm and pleasant.

The hamburger for lunch was clearly made from the cheapest frozen meat and bread, but perhaps because I was hungry and surrounded by stunning scenery on the boat, it tasted good.

I would like to try this again.

全体的に楽しく思い出が作れました。敬語が喋れないのか、ガイドのスーさん(日本人）の威圧的な喋り口調の日本語と、「皆さんラッキーですね、こんな事滅多に無いんですよ」と参加者を満足させるための誇張した話にずっと違和感を感じていたものの、現地スタッフはスノーケリング中、常に参加者の状態を気遣っていて安心しました。イルカは何匹かの群が自分たちの下を通り（スーさん曰く50匹以上の群れだったそうですが、誇張されてたような…）、船上では飛び跳ねたり遊んでるイルカを間近で観察しました。亀は頑張って追いかけて見れた感じでしたが、海水の中はトロピカルフィッシュが美しく感動的でした。
15年以上水に顔をつけたことがなく心配していたものの、スウェットスーツのおかげで寒くなく、水の中は暖かくて気持ち良かったです。
昼食のハンバーガーは、ハッキリ言って明らかに一番安い冷凍肉とパンをBBQしたものでしたが、お腹が減っていたのと絶景に囲まれた船上で食べたからか、美味しかったです。

またチャレンジしたいと思います。

Very enjoyable. Saw a very large sea turtle, no dolphins though, maybe wrong time of year. The boat crew was very professional and helpful. Would definitely go again.

We came here on our honeymoon and we had an awesome experience with Ocean Joy Cruises. We scheduled for the shuttle service and the bus was right on time to pick us up from our hotel. There was a little traffic to Ko-Olina but wasn't too bad. The bus driver kindly guided us through the entire ride and it was comfortable. The cruise staff were friendly and generous. They provided everyone with ginger pills to avoid motion sickness. Snorkeling was great too. Too bad that we didn't get to see the turtles but it was fun! The food wasn't fancy or anything but it was delicious and that first sip of an icy cold beer after snorkeling was heavenly. While we were having dinner, we got to see the group of dolphins swimming right next to our cruise which was phenomenal. The sunset, of course, it was breathtaking moment. My husband and I really enjoyed the cruise and we will definitely come back with our family in the future.

first of all, people working on the boat was awesome, they were very very friendly, especially guy name mason was funny and very active and he was there every moment when we needed him
the boat was not too big and luckily we only had less than twenty people so a lot of room normally around forty people on the board. I suggest to take a pill before you go on because it really help you not to through up.
snorkeling was fun experience and they teach you everything you need to know and fun part was when you go into the water they feed the fish so the fish can come to you I'm talking about a lot of fish and it was so amazing and beautiful when can I get to see that many of fish.
after snorkeling it's cold right but this boat has warm water so you can take salt water out in warm water, that was pretty good idea for help from cold and windy weather.
the boat had every drink you could think of like from hot coffee to cold soda to alcohol beverage and people working on the boat took turn to be a bartender and they actually make good tasty drinks but just let you know that alcohol is only served after snorkeling.
I gotta talk and tell you about the food. it's most delicious Hawaiian pork bbq burger and charcoal grilled chicken was so so good and fresh Hawaiian fruits was one of my favorite
during the diner time captain called out to come out and we went out and guess what?!! dolphins were swimming by, not just one couple of Dolphins
it was my first time watching Dolphins swimming around and that was amazing time.
captain was very generous he didn't want us to miss every moment so he was keep looking out and around the ocean if anything it might be interesting for us.
overall this was the best experience for us and I truly and definitely recommend to try, love to go on the board and meet them again.

We took the afternoon dolphin watch cruise that set sail at 1pm. Saw some sea turtles and a dolphin pod from afar. The snorkelling was nothing great...lots of reef fishes and mostly dead coral. Being prone to motion sickness, I was elated at how wonderfully stable the catamaran was, and for once I actually enjoyed sailing instead of spending half my time being sick over the rails. In spite of my disappointment at not seeing dolphins up close, the afternoon turned out to be a really pleasant cruise along the beautiful Ko Olina coastline. The staff were attentive and friendly. My 3 year son threw a fit when I got him out of the choppy waters during the snorkelling session. Kudos to the staff who successfully quietened him down by giving him bread to feed the fishes from the back of the ship. Food was great. Pulled pork sandwiches, chips and fruit salad were delicious. All in all, a lovely afternoon.

We, the older participants among the young people and couples, were my husband, who was joining for the first time, and me, who had participated before. We were eagerly wishing to meet dolphins. Last time, we were tired from swimming and the visibility wasn't great, so this time we had high expectations! Many dolphins and turtles came to see us. Swimming with them was the best! I was so happy! However, there were too many people on the boat, so I wished for a bit more space.

若い人やカップルに混ざって参加した熟年の私たち、以前に参加した私と初めての主人。ひたすらイルカに会いたいと願いながら。以前は泳ぎ疲れ、透明度もよくない状態だったので今回は是非と期待！たくさんのイルカさんとカメさんが会いに来てくれました。一緒に泳げて最高！嬉しかった！ただ、船にたくさん乗り過ぎなので少し余裕が欲しかったです。

The staff spoke Japanese, and when I forgot my contact lenses, they flexibly rented me prescription snorkeling gear. When I got into the sea, I was able to see dolphins and even met a sea turtle, which was very healing. I would love to participate again if I have the chance.

スタッフの方が日本語が話せる方で、コンタクトを忘れたため、落ち込んでいたところ臨機応変に度付きのシュノーケルをレンタルしてくれました(´ω｀)海に出たら、イルカも見れましたし、ウミガメにも会えてとても癒されました(´ω｀)また機会があれば参加したいと思います(´ω｀)

Dolphins are wild, so whether you can swim close to them is a matter of luck. During our visit, we spotted dolphins right after leaving the harbor, but they swam away before we could get close, and we only saw them from a distance for a moment.
I was really impressed that we could swim with the sea turtles so close.
The staff was cheerful and made the experience enjoyable, so we had a great time.

イルカは野生なので、近くで泳げるかどうかは運次第。私たちの時は、港を出てすぐにイルカを発見したのですが、近くまで行く前に離れてしまい、離れたところから一瞬しか見られませんでした。
ウミガメは本当に手の届く場所で泳げるので感激しました。
スタッフが明るくて楽しく盛り上げてくれるので楽しく過ごせました。

I was able to see both dolphins and sea turtles, as well as many other fish. The instructor was swimming with an octopus in one hand. The taro burger on the water was quite delicious. I only experienced a little bit of hula dancing, but it felt simple enough that I think I could do it. Although the morning starts early, it was a fulfilling experience that didn't feel like just a half-day tour. The staff were all bright and kind, making it a tour that anyone can enjoy!

イルカもウミガメも会うことができました｡もちろん他の魚もたくさん｡インストラクターの方はタコを片手に泳いでました｡海上のタロイモバーガーもなかなか美味｡フラダンスはさわり程度ですが､簡単なものですのでできるようになった気がします｡朝は早いですが半日ツアーとは思えない充実した一時でした｡スタッフみんなが明るく優しいので誰でも楽しめるツアーです！

We had such a great time both on the boat and in the water.
The food was great and staff members were all super nice and sweet.
I really appreciate it!

The only one bad thing for me was that I didn't remember/they didn't know how much it cost. I reserved this tour through the internet in advance like 10 days ago and payed with my credit card. Since my friends(there were 5 of us) tried to pay me by cash at the day of the tour but the voucher didn't mention about the price, I asked at the front how much they charged on my credit card. And the lady checked my name on the list and PC and said it's $485. I thought it's a little more inexpensive than I thought, so I asked her to double check and she said it's correct. So we just split the bill. But I found that they charged $695, which was the correct amount, after I left hawaii and got back home...Unfortunately all other friends are form other countries, so I gave up getting the difference in the bill from them. :(
I think the total amount should be on the voucher or at least they should have gave me correct info!

Amazing time and exceeded all hopes and exepectations

It seems I was lucky on the day I participated, as a large group of dolphins was found right away. Even without swimming, just floating with my face in the water, I could see the dolphins swimming just below us! There were baby dolphins too, and their calls were so clear; it was incredibly moving. We moved to another spot and also got to see sea turtles and beautiful fish. I was able to try stand-up paddleboarding as well, so I was very satisfied!

私が参加した日はラッキーだったみたいでイルカ先生の大群がすぐ見つかりました。泳がなくてもプカプカ顔付けて浮いてるだけで、私達のすぐ下をイルカ達が泳いで行きました！赤ちゃんイルカもいて、鳴き声もすごくはっきり聞こえてめっちゃ感動しました。場所を移動してウミガメ教授やきれいな魚達にも会えました。スタンドアップパドルもできたし満足！