All Reviews for Snorkeling Cruises & Tours

We participated as a couple with our 5-year-old and 3-year-old. I was worried if the kids would enjoy it, but they had a great time. I wondered if we would really get to see dolphins, but we encountered many dolphins and it was very healing. The kids couldn't swim with the dolphins, but they were able to see them well from the boat. I wished to see wild dolphins rather than trained ones, and that wish came true, which was wonderful. We definitely want to participate again next time!!!

５歳、３歳、夫婦で参加しました。子供が楽しめるか不安でしたが十分楽しめました。本当にイルカに会えるのか・・・とも思いましたがたくさんのイルカに会え、とても癒されました。子供達はさすがにイルカと泳ぐ事は出来ませんでしたが船の上から十分に見れました。飼いならされたイルカよりも野生のイルカを・・・という願いが叶い、とても良かったです。次回も是非、参加させて頂きます！！！

It's a beautiful sea. The water reaches up to my ankles, and when the sun shines, it's truly bright white and beautiful. The yacht snacks are delicious, and you can also enjoy snorkeling. I would love to participate with my family again. It became a wonderful memory.

　綺麗な海です。足首ぐらいまで水につかりますが、日がさすと本当に真っ白で綺麗です。ヨットの軽食もおいしく、シュノーケルも楽しめます。また家族で参加したいです。いい思い出になりました。

Surrounded by over 50 dolphins and a few turtles at close range in the mysterious God Hands, I was moved to encounter a seal as well, and my family was overjoyed! Tomoko, who kindly escorted my wife, who cannot swim, without a hint of displeasure until the very end—thank you! I heard you will be returning home in a month, but your kindness truly resonated with us.

神秘のゴッドハンズの沖で至近距離で５０匹以上のイルカや数匹の亀に囲まれて感動していると何とアザラシまで遭遇してしまい、家族は大喜び！泳ぎのできない妻を嫌な顔ひとつせず、最後まで親身にエスコートしてくださったトモコさん！ありがとう！あと１ヶ月したら帰国とのことでしたが、心が伝わりました。

This is the next comment from Akkaemama~~~!!! I had an amazing time too~~~~~!! Thank you, class representative Ryuichi!! I've participated in other dolphin tours, but this was the most luxurious experience I could have asked for!! At first, I thought the boat might be scary, but it was not scary at all, and compared to larger boats, we could see the dolphins up close when they came near!! We were blessed with beautiful weather that day, the water temperature was warm, and the water was clear!! I didn't rent a wetsuit, but compared to other tours, the equipment was solid and the price was reasonable!! Other tours felt more expensive~. The content was excellent!! The food was a light snack, but there are so many delicious things in Hawaii, and there were plenty of other things I wanted to eat, so this tour was perfect for us!! I will definitely participate again!!! Class representative, I look forward to working with you again!!!

あっかえままさんの次のコメントだ~~~！！！私も最高に楽しかったですよ~~~~~！！学級委員長の龍一さん！！お世話になりました！！他のイルカツアーにも参加をしてますが、一番贅沢な時間を過ごさせてもらう事ができました！！ボートは初め怖いかな？？っておもっいましたが･･全然こわくないし、大きなボートに比べてイルカが近くに来た時まじかにみれます！！この日は晴天にもめぐまれ、水温もあったかくて水もクリアでした！！ウエットは借りなかったけど他のツアーに比べるとしっかりしたもので、お値段もリーズナブル！！他ツアーは高かった気がするぅ~。
内容は最高！！ご飯は軽食ですが、ハワイにはたくさんおいしい物があって、他で食べたい物が山ほどあったので私達には最適なツアーでした！！間違いなくまた参加します！！！学級委員長またよろしくおねがいしまーーす！

I participated with a family of friends (ages 6 to 65). Those who are prone to seasickness were advised to take medication in the shuttle car, but I forgot to take it and was completely fine.

At first, I was a bit anxious about the name "Private Dolphin Middle School," but it was the cheapest option, and they offered free rentals for fins and prescription goggles, so I decided to go with it. However, Yuriko, the owner, who is also the class representative and principal, really paid attention to each individual and made an effort to ensure everyone had a great time.

That's probably why this relatively new travel company, which just celebrated its first anniversary in May, is so popular.

The meals included snacks, cinnamon rolls, cheese, fruits, juice, and hot tea. Even though we worried about overeating on the boat (laughs), it was more than enough for us.

As for the main content, the course included sea turtles, fish, and dolphins. Although we didn't see any sea turtles at first, we were taken to a point where we could see them up close at the end.

To our surprise, a pod of over 20 dolphins appeared! My 6-year-old son can't swim, but he did his best to chase them with a life jacket and snorkel. Thankfully, Yuriko supported him, so I could chase after them without worry (laughs). Luckily, the dolphins turned around and swam right beneath my son, which was amazing! Thanks to that, we got some great photos together.

$130 is a bit pricey, but it's worth it. Once you experience it, feeding and touching them will feel insufficient!

I heard there's also something called Dolphin University.

友人ファミリーと一緒に（6歳~65歳）参加しました。
船に酔いやすい人は送迎の車で薬を飲むよう言われましたが、飲み忘れたけどまったく大丈夫でした。

初めは「私立イルカ中学」という名前に不安がありましたが、1番安かったし、フィン、度つきのゴーグルの貸し出しが無料だった・・・というだけで決めましたが、オーナーで学級委員長でもあり学長でもあるユリコさんが本当に一人一人に気を配り、楽しんで帰ってもらおうとしているのが伝わりました。

なのでまだ5月で1周年という新しい旅行会社にもかかわらず人気なのでしょう。

食事はスナック、シナモンロール、チーズ、フルーツ、ジュース、温かいお茶でした。
船の上で食べ過ぎても、色々心配なので（笑）私達には十分でした。


肝心な内容なのですが、ウミガメ→お魚竜宮城→イルカちゃんというコースで、最初にウミガメには会えなかったのですが、最後に又ウミガメのポイントへ連れて行っていただけ、間近に見ることが出来ました。

イルカも20頭以上の群れで現れびっくり！！
6歳の息子は泳げないけどライフジャケットと何とかシュノーケルで一生懸命追いかけますが・・・ユリコさんが息子をサポートしてくれたので私も安心して追いかけられました（笑）
ラッキーなことに、イルカ達がＵターンしてくれ息子の真下を泳いでくれ最高でした！！
お陰で親子で激写しまくり。

＄１３０は高いけど、その価値はあります。
1度体験してしまったら、餌をやる、タッチする・・なんて物足りなくなりますよ！！

イルカ大学というのもあるらしい。

We encountered dolphins just a few minutes after setting sail! They swam right up close to us, it was amazing!

出航して数分でイルカさんに遭遇！
すぐ近くまで泳いできてくれてサイコーでした！

The early morning pickup at 5 AM was tough, but I was super lucky to experience the full menu in the morning.

First, even though it's almost May, I encountered a mother and baby whale, and then I got to swim with tropical fish and turtles at the Dragon Palace. The sea turtles swam leisurely, allowing me to gaze at them while swimming alongside (laughs).

However, I was worried that I might not get to see the dolphins since I couldn't find them for a while. Just when I started to think it might be a bad day, I received information that they were near the power plant on the West Coast, so we headed there directly on a high-speed boat. It felt like a roller coaster on the sea, and we arrived on time. Finally, I spotted the dolphins.

After watching them jump and spin eight times from the boat, I quietly entered the water from behind them and was finally able to swim with them. In the morning, they swam slowly with one eye closed, so I got to experience several pods swimming right beneath me and beside me. It was thrilling and a bit healing at the same time. Yay! I guess this was thanks to the high-speed boat and the crew.

The staff were fun and kind, and I’m really glad I participated. (By the way, it's a good idea to use motion sickness medication and a wetsuit for peace of mind.) Next time, I want to come with my family, not just my wife!

朝５時の迎えはきつかったけど、午前中にフルメニューの体験が出来、超ラッキー。
まず初めは、間もなく５月というのに、鯨の親子に出会え、その後竜宮城で熱帯魚たちや亀とも泳げた。海亀はゆったりと泳いでくれるので横で泳ぎながら見つめ合えちゃった（笑)
ただ、なかなか肝心のイルカに出会えなくて、今日はだめな日なのかな？と不安に思ったところ、ウエストコーストの発電所の辺りにいるらしいとの情報が入り、高速ボートで直行。海の上のジェットコースターのようで楽しい上に、時間内に到着。そしてついにイルカ先生たちを発見。
船上からジャンプスピンを８回見た後、彼らの後ろからソーッと海に入り、ついに先生たちとと泳ぐことが出来ました。
朝のうちは、片目をつぶって寝ながらゆっくり泳ぐ彼らなので、いくつかの群れが自分の真下の海底や自分の真横で泳いでくれるのを体験。興奮と共にちょっと癒される感じを体験。やったね！これも高速ボートと航海士のお陰かな。
　スタッフも楽しく、親切でホントに参加して良かった。
（なお、酔い止め薬とウェットスーツは利用したほうが安心。）
今度は、妻だけじゃなく、家族とも来たいな！

Would have liked to have seen more fish on the snorkel trip, but nice crew.

We really enjoyed the activity and the scenery was beautiful. It was great to view the island from a different vantage point. The friendly staff and food was great! It was definitely worth the money.You can be as active or as relaxed as you want to be.The staff was great with the kids.Unfortunately , it rained on our day so it kind of put a damper on things. The staff did their best to make it up to us. I would only recommend to bring extra clothes and a raincoat of some kind just in case.

My trip to Hawaii for six nights and eight days became the best memory ever.

I participated in a morning tour. It was a bit chilly that day, so I wore a T-shirt and a jacket over my swimsuit. There were a lot of participants, and we departed with two boats. I think there were about 20 to 30 people on our boat.

Upon arriving at the sandbar, we got off the boat and into the sea. It was quite cold, so about 30% of the people rented wetsuits. At first, the water was about waist-deep, but it quickly became shallower. The view was amazing! The color of the sea changed into various hues as we reached the sandbar. We had some free time there, and they took two photos of each group, which we could purchase later.

Also, since there’s a risk of getting wet, it’s definitely better to bring a waterproof camera. They sell cameras that can be used underwater for $20. Although I reluctantly bought one, I was really glad I did later on. I recommend purchasing one if you don’t have it; you can take photos of fish and turtles underwater! It’s a must-have!

After that, we returned to the boat and went snorkeling around the sandbar. At this point, everyone had rented wetsuits. While there weren't many beautiful tropical fish, we saw plenty of fish. And surprisingly, we encountered a turtle early on! It seems that seeing turtles near the sandbar is quite rare, and even the staff was surprised.

When we returned to the boat, it was meal time. The food was delicious, and I even went back for seconds. Next, we changed spots to visit the turtle habitat. While snorkeling there, we were able to see two more turtles.

Then we returned to the boat to watch the turtles basking in the sun. We spotted about five or six turtles floating on the surface! It was truly refreshing and amazing to see such large sea turtles swimming freely in the ocean. I was able to take great photos with my underwater camera, and it was the best experience. This is a tour I would want to participate in every time I visit Hawaii.

When boarding the boat, I recommend securing a spot near the front (this is where you get on and off). Also, act quickly. Even if there are turtles around, if you come later, they might already be gone. I think the spot for watching the turtles basking is the best position.

６泊８日でのハワイ旅行で一番最高の思い出になりました。
午前のツアーに参加。当日は肌寒く、水着の上にＴシャツ＋上着を着用。
参加者はとても多く、２台で出発。私たちの船には２０~３０人くらい居たと思います。
サンドバーに到着し、船から海へ。結構寒かったので、３割くらいの人はウェットスーツを借りていました。
最初は海面が腰くらいまででしたが、すぐに浅瀬に。眺めは最高！！海の色が何色にも変わっていきサンドバーに到着という感じです。そこでしばらくフリータイム。写真も１組２枚撮っていただけますが、後で購入する形になります。
また、水に濡れる心配があるため、防水カメラは絶対持って行ったほうがいいです。水中でも撮れるカメラの販売がありますが、２０ドルです。不本意ながらも購入しましたが、後から買ってよかったと心底思いました。持ってない人は購入をおすすめします。水の中で魚やカメさんの撮影ができます！！必需品です！
その後再度船に戻り、サンドバーの周りをシュノーケリング。この時点で皆がウェットスーツを借りていました。
キレイな熱帯魚はほとんどいませんが、魚はたくさん見れました。そしてなんとここで早くもカメさんと遭遇！！サンドバー付近で見れるのはめったにないらしく、スタッフも驚いていました。
船に戻るとお食事タイム。とってもおいしくておかわりまでしてしまいました。次はスポットを変えてカメさんの生息地域へ。シュノーケリングしながらここでさらに２匹見ることができました。
次は船に戻りカメさんの甲羅干しを見に行きます。海面にプカプカ浮いて甲羅干しをしているカメさんを５~６匹発見！！
あんなに大きな海亀が普通に海で泳いでいることが本当にもう新鮮で驚きで感動しっぱなしでした。水中カメラでバッチリ撮ることもでき、最高の体験ができました。ハワイに行ったら毎回参加したいと思うツアーでした。

船に乗るときは先頭付近(ここから乗り降りします)を陣取ることをお勧めします。そしてなんでも早めに行動を。せっかくカメさんが居ても後から来ると既にもういない・・・なんてこともありますので。カメの甲羅干しも一番見れる位置だと思います。

There were 12 Japanese participants and 4 staff members, and the class representative, Yuriko, warmly welcomed us, easing our nerves. By the time we set out to sea on the Zodiac, I had already made friends with the other participants. No one experienced seasickness.

We went into the water twice and were captivated by a huge pod of dolphins that couldn't fit in the camera frame. We also saw three sea turtles, one of which came up to the surface, but it was surrounded by about 15 Western tourists from another tour who, not knowing it was an "endangered species," excitedly touched it and it quickly dove back down... Their manners were terrible (crying).

Swimming with dolphins felt like a dream, and I was truly moved by the many mystical sights we encountered! It seems there are also dolphin school trips and training camps, which I'm curious about. That day was warm, and since we didn't see any whales, I'm planning to join again during a slightly colder season next time!

参加者は12人の日本人と、スタッフさん4人で、学級委員長のユリコさんが明るく迎えてくれて緊張が解けたので、ゾディアックで海に出る頃には他の参加者さんと仲良くなれました。船酔いしてる人もいなかったです。

2回海に入って、カメラの画面に収まりきらない数のイルカの大群が見れて夢中になって泳ぎました。海亀も3匹見れて、1匹は海面に出て来てくれましたが他のツアーの欧米人15人位に囲まれ「絶滅保護動物」と知らないのか騒ぎながら一斉に触りすぐ海底に潜ってしまいました…マナーが悪すぎです(泣)　

イルカと泳げるなんて夢のようだったし、神秘的な光景が沢山見れて本当に感動します!!イルカ修学旅行やイルカ合宿もあるようでそれも気になってます。その日は暖かくクジラが見れなかったので次回はもう少し寒い時期に参加しようと計画中です！

My first overseas trip was to Hawaii.
What I was looking forward to the most was the class with the dolphins.
There were 10 Japanese participants, including my mother and me, 6 foreigners, and 4 staff members...
I guess that made for quite a large group?

I took a spot right at the front of the boat, and despite being blown by the strong wind, I had a really fun time.
After a short ride, we spotted a whale!
It was quite close, and I could hear the sound of it spouting water.
After seeing the whale, we went searching for the dolphin teachers...

There they were!
A bottlenose dolphin teacher.
However, it seemed that the bottlenose dolphin couldn't swim with us, so we just watched it, but it swam alongside the boat.
It was so close that I felt like I could almost touch it!
I was so excited and thrilled!
I wanted to keep playing tag with it... (laughs)

Though it was hard to say goodbye to the bottlenose dolphin, we moved on to search for the striped dolphin teacher.
Then we discovered a group of them!
I heard they were sleeping...
So, we quietly entered the water, trying not to splash, and put our faces in the water to watch the dolphin teachers.
Seeing so many dolphins swimming right below me was incredibly exciting and mysterious...
It's a shame I couldn't see them up close, but some participants might have had a good view?
I wanted to spend more time with the striped dolphins...
Reluctantly, we moved on to the next point to see the sea turtles.
Here, wearing life jackets was optional.
So, I decided not to wear one...
But it was cold, so I had borrowed a wetsuit from the start, which made it difficult to dive properly, but I was surprised to see a large sea turtle right next to me!
We swam together for a few seconds.
The sea turtle took a breath and dove deep, and I thought about following it, but I couldn't dive like the turtle... (sigh)
Next time I come to Hawaii, I definitely want to participate again!
I learned a few tips, so next time, I'm eager to see many dolphin teachers.
The only downside was that it was cold...
Am I just too sensitive to the cold? (laughs)
I'm looking forward to participating during a warmer season next time.
Thank you very much, and I hope to do this again!☆

初めての海外旅行が、今回のハワイ。
そして何よりも楽しみにしていたのが、【イルカ中学】の授業でした。
参加者は、私と母を含め、日本人が10名、外国の方が6名、スタッフさんが4名・・・。
人数的には、多かったのかな？

私はボートの真ん前を陣取りスゴイ風にあおられながらも、とっても楽しい時間でした。
少し走ると、クジラさんが♪
結構近くにいたりして、潮を吹く音が聞こえました。
クジラさんを見た後は、イルカ先生探しに。。。

いました！
バンドウイルカ先生が。
でも、バンドウ先生は一緒に泳ぐことが出来ないらしく、ミテルだけでしたが、ボートと一緒に泳いでくれました。
とっても近くで、手で触れそうな至近距離！
ドキドキワクワクです♪
ずっと一緒に追いかけっこをしたいくらい。。。（笑）

名残惜しかったけど、バンドウ先生とバイバイして、今度はハシナガイルカ先生探しに。
そして群れでいる先生を発見♪
話によると、寝てるそうな・・・？
なので、そぉ~っと海に入って足をばたつかせないようにして海に顔をつけてイルカ先生ウォッチング。
沢山のイルカ先生が、自分の真下をスゥ~ッって泳いでいくのは、とっても興奮で、とっても不思議で・・・。
至近距離では見れなかったのが残念ですが、参加者した人の中では、良い感じに見れた人もいたかも？
ハシナガ先生とも、もっともっと居たかったけど。。。
後ろ髪を引かれつつも、次のウミガメさんのポイントへ移動。
ココではライフジャッケットの着用は自由。
なので、私はなしにして・・・。
でも、寒かったので、最初からウェットスーツを借りてきてたので、うまく潜ったり出来ませんでしたが、大きなウミガメさんが、すぐ真横にいてビックリ！
数秒でしたが一緒に泳いでました。
ウミガメさんは、息を吸って？深く下へもぐって行ってしまい、ついていこうと思ったけど、ウミガメさんのようには潜れず。。。（苦笑）
次回ハワイに来たらまた絶対に参加させてもらいたいです♪
チョットコツを覚えたので、今度は、沢山イルカ先生を見る気満々です。
残念なのは、寒かったこと・・・。
私が寒がりすぎなのか？（笑）
もう少し暖かい時期に参加するのを楽しみにしています。
また、是非よろしくお願い致します☆

The weather wasn't very good and it was a bit chilly, which was disappointing. However, the guide was very cheerful and it was fun. Also, we encountered a sea turtle, but it was really fast and we couldn't see it. It seems like the people at the front were able to see it... I want to try again. I would love to participate again!

あまり天気が良くなく肌寒かったので残念でした。でもガイドさんがとても陽気で楽しかったです。あと、ウミガメも遭遇したのですが、すごくスピードが速くてみられませんでした。先頭の方にいた人たちはみられたみたいでした。。。再チャレンジしたいなぁ。また、参加したいです！！

We had a beautiful day for our snorkeling trip, we could not have asked for more beautiful weather. The crew was friendly and the boat was really nice and modern. We saw some dolphins out in the distance although they barely came above the surface and we saw a few turtles. There were no whale sightings on our cruise. The snorkeling was a little disappointing because the water was really choppy and we were dealing with an extremely strong current. There really wasnt a lot to see underwater. It was a little scary for the first time snorkelers and a few people got sea sick. We had a really large group (over 30 people) which made it difficult to move around the boat and it also made it difficult to move around out in the water without getting hit in the face by another persons fins. I think this cruise would have been a lot more enjoyable had there been 20 people or less on the boat.

I participated with my cousin and her 5-year-old child. The weather was clear on the day, but the wind was very strong. The boat was rocking a lot, and we couldn't even eat the snacks that were served along the way. However, we encountered many dolphins. During the first try, we could even hear the dolphins' calls. Unfortunately, during the second try, we were late and couldn't see anything because I was calming the child who didn't want to get in the water, while others seemed very satisfied with the large number of whales they saw compared to the first try. It seems that it's a bit much for a 5-year-old. But it's okay to leave the child on the boat because the staff takes care of them. I brought my camera to take pictures of the dolphins, but the staff took many photos and will send them to us via email later. So, it seems better to just focus on watching the dolphins. We couldn't go to the Dragon Palace, but we did encounter whales and mantas. I think I will participate again next time.

いとことその子供（５歳）と３人で参加しました。
当日は、晴天でしたが、風がとても強かったです。
船は大揺れで、途中出された軽食も食べるどころではありませんでした。
ですが、たくさんのイルカに遭遇。一回目のトライでは、イルカの鳴き声まで聞くことができました。二回目のトライでは、出遅れてしまい何も見ることが出来ず、残念。というのも、水中に入らない子供をなだめていたからで、他の人たちは、一回目よりも大量のクジラに大満足のようでした。
やはり、５歳の子供には、無理のようです。でも、船上に子供を残しても、スタッフの方が面倒をみてくださるので大丈夫です。自分でイルカの写真を撮ろうとカメラを持っていったのですが、スタッフの方がたくさんの写真を撮っていて、あとでメールに送信してくださいます。ですから、ただ、イルカを見ることだけに専念する方がよさそうです。
竜宮城に行くことはできませんでしたが、クジラやマンタにも遭遇できましたよ。
また、次回も参加しようと思います。

The experience of a lifetime and the staff was first rate

The beach was beautiful. Very good for boogie boarding but snorkeling was not happening unless you took a thirty minute walk to get there with all of your equipment. To get to the beach was a five minute walk which was not bad but there was no transportation offered to the family to get to the snorkeling part of the beach. Really this outing was over priced. Carrying four boogie boards, towels, and snorkeling gear with kids is not fun. So we did not to get to go snorkeling here. There should have been a small shuttle offered to get to certain areas of the beach. Who wants to be carrying this equipment back and forth to the beach. The meals offered was good but again we had to wait till just before leaving to eat because the food services are back at the rental facility. All they need to offer is a shuttle and I would not hesitate returning.

On the day we participated, fortunately, we encountered a pod of dolphins about 10 minutes after the boat departed. The sight of dolphins swimming in the ocean was very magical, and all the participants were captivated, swimming alongside the dolphins. While it's common to see dolphins and sea turtles at aquariums, I think swimming with wild dolphins and sea turtles is a rare experience. The staff were also very accommodating, making it a wonderful memory. I believe this tour is worth getting up early for. Since there are no changing facilities at the port, I recommend wearing clothes that are easy to put on and take off.

私たちが参加した日は，幸い，ボートが出港してから１０分くらいでイルカの群れに遭遇することができました。海の中でイルカが泳ぐ姿はとても幻想的で，参加者はみんな，夢中になってイルカと一緒に泳いでいました。水族館でイルカやウミガメを見ることはあっても，野生のイルカやウミガメと一緒に泳ぐことはなかなかできない経験だと思います。スタッフの方々の対応も良く，とても良い思い出になりました。早起きして参加する価値のあるツアーだと思います。港には着替える場所が整っていないので，着脱しやすい服がおすすめです。

I really wanted to see dolphins, so I joined this tour.

After about an hour's drive in a van, we arrived at Waianae Yacht Harbor. (The driving in this van was a bit rough...) From there, we moved to the dolphin point on a high-speed Zodiac! They said it was less likely to make you seasick because of the speed, but there were still about three people who got sick, so I think it's better to take motion sickness medication. Also, they provide snacks and drinks on the boat, but if you're prone to seasickness, it's better to hold back on those.

The Zodiac was packed, with nearly 30 people on board, which was surprising!

I’m not sure how far we traveled, but we finally encountered a pod of dolphins!! I immediately jumped into the water to swim with them, but it didn’t go well, so I moved a bit and tried again! This time, the pod was swimming right underneath us, and I was so excited. The water wasn’t too cold, but it was chilly after getting out, so I definitely recommend borrowing a wetsuit. (It was $10 per person, paid after we got back to land.)

After swimming with the dolphins, we moved to a sea turtle spot! The water was so clear that you could almost see the bottom, and it was breathtaking. There were about three turtles as well. After enjoying snorkeling to the fullest, we returned to land. Once we were back, there was quite a bit of waiting time to write our impressions in a notebook and type our email addresses into something like a laptop before heading home. However, we were able to return to Waikiki by around 12:30, so we could enjoy other activities in the afternoon.

The wild dolphins were much smaller and cuter than I imagined. I highly recommend this tour for dolphin lovers!

イルカにどうしても会いたくて、このツアーに参加しました。

バンで１時間ほど走って、ワイアナエ・ヨット・ハーバーに到着。（このバンの運転は、ちょっと荒いです・・・）
そこから高速ソディアックで、イルカポイントへ移動！高速なので、酔いにくいということでしたが、やはり酔っている人が３人ぐらいいたので、酔い止めは飲んでおいた方がいいと思います。
あと、船の上で、お菓子や飲み物などを出してくれますが、酔いやすい人は、控えた方がいいと思います。
ソディアックは、こんなに乗れるの？というぐらい満員で、全員で30人弱ぐらい乗っていたと思います。

どれぐらいの距離を移動したかはわかりませんが、ついに、イルカの群れに遭遇！！
すぐに海に入り、イルカと一緒に泳ごうとしましたが、うまくいかず、少し移動して、もう一度トライ！
次は、ほんとに自分達の真下をイルカの群れが泳いでいて、大興奮でした。
海の中は、そこまで寒くありませんでしたが、水から上がった後が寒いので、ウェットスーツは絶対借りた方がいいと思います。（一人$１０で、陸に着いた後、支払いました。）

イルカと泳いだ後は、海ガメスポットへ移動！
水が澄んでいて、底までみえそうなほど綺麗で、感動しました。カメも、３匹ぐらいいました。
シュノーケリングを十分楽しんでから、陸へ。
陸へ上がった後、感想をノートに書いたり、自分のメールアドレスをノートパソコンのようなものに打ちこんだりして、帰るまで、割と待ち時間があります。
でも、ワイキキに１２時半ぐらいまでに、帰れるので、昼からは、また違うことをして楽しめます。

野生のイルカ達は、想像よりずっと小さくて、とてもかわいかったですよ。イルカ好きの人には、おすすめのツアーです。

In mid-February, I participated alone. I quickly became friendly with two other solo participants and had a great time. The staff were also enjoyable and helped create a lively atmosphere. Next time, I want to learn from a very charming female photographer and participate in a way that allows me to dive deeper and longer.

2月中旬、一人で参加しました。
すぐに、一人参加の二名の方々とうちとけ、
楽しく過ごせました。
スタッフの方々も、楽しく、盛り上げてくれました。
次回は、とってもチャーミングな女性カメラマンを見習い、もっと深く、長く、潜れるようになって参加したいです。

I boarded the pickup car with sleepy eyes, starting early in the morning. Since the wind was blowing, I asked if it would be shaky, but I was told the boat is fast, so it would be fine. On the way, we passed by the Hitachi tree and the house of a certain famous person, and then we arrived at our destination. After boarding, we had a light snack and headed to the whale watching spot. I was thrilled to see a mother and baby whale!

Next, we went to the dolphin watching point. Dolphins are nocturnal, so they come to shallow waters during the day, allowing us to safely observe them. Of course, we swam with them! They were so cute! It was a rare experience to see such a large group of dolphins.

Next, we went to the diving point.

I was very satisfied with the turtles, many fish, and the beautiful sea.

The staff were kind, fun, and made the experience enjoyable!

早朝スタートで眠い目をこすりながらお迎えの車に乗車☆
風がふいていたのでゆれるんじゃないか…って聞くと船が速いのでだいじょうぶのこと☆
行く途中に日立の木や某有名人のお家を横目に現地に到着☆
乗船後、軽食をとりクジラのウォッチングスポットへ
クジラの親子をみれて感激！！

次にイルカのウォッチングポイントへ…☆
イルカは夜行性なので昼間は浅瀬にくるので浅瀬で安全に鑑賞☆もちろん一緒におよぎました☆
かわいかったぁ☆あんなに大群のイルカをみれるなんて貴重な体験でした☆


次にダイビングポイントへ

亀やたくさんのおさかなときれいな海で大満足☆

スタッフさんも親切でノリがよくてたのしかったです☆

From Waianae, about an hour's drive west of Waikiki on Oahu, we took a boat towards Ko Olina and headed to Kahe Point.
Right after we set off, we spotted a whale. It was far away, but we could see it clearly.
Then we encountered dolphins!
The water was cold, but the dolphins were amazing!!!
In the morning, it seems the dolphins swim while they are still sleeping. On that day, they were swimming quite slowly, but we couldn't catch up at all! After that, we moved to a spot with lots of fish, where we snorkeled, and then headed to Turtle Point.
Sea turtles are considered the guardians of the Hawaiian sea and are treated with great respect. If you touch one, there's a fine of 500,000 yen, haha.
But we were able to get quite close. Turtles can swim fast when they really try, but generally, they seem to just sway with the waves, and even as a snorkeling beginner, I could swim alongside them quite easily, haha.

Since it was such a great experience, I decided to try again on the last day!
This time, we heard there was a pod of dolphins at Makua, the westernmost point of Oahu, so we tried a different spot!
Makua is considered a sacred place. The sea there is truly beautiful.
Right after we set off, we spotted another whale! This time, we encountered a mother and calf! We were able to see them much closer than before. The largest creatures on Earth, their presence is breathtakingly beautiful.
Then we headed to the dolphin spot! There were even more dolphins than last time, including babies, and we were able to swim up close.

One of my dreams since childhood came true.
Thank you to all the middle school students who made this dolphin experience so addictive!

オアフ島の西、ワイキキから車で一時間くらいの所に有るワイアナエから、ボートに乗りコオリナ方面へボートを走らせカヘポイントへ。
出発早々クジラ発見、遠かったけどその姿はしっかり見れた。
そしてイルカに遭遇！
水は冷たかったけど、イルカ、、感動！！！
朝はイルカも寝ながら泳いでるらしい。この日はかなりゆっくり泳いでいるとか、でも全然追いつけない！その後、魚の多いポイントへ移動、そこでもシュノーケル、そしてタートルポイントへ。
ウミガメはハワイの海の守り神として、とても大事にされている。触ったら罰金５０万とかww
でもかなり接近出来ました。亀も本気で泳いだら早いんだろうけど、基本的には波に揺られてる感じだし、シュノーケル初心者の私でもかなり楽に一緒に泳げたw

せっかくだから、最終日にもう一度try!
この日はワイアナエからオアフ島の最西端にあるマクアにイルカの群れがいるとの事で前回とは違うポイントでtry!
マクアは聖地とされている場所。本当に美しい海。
出発早々またクジラ発見！今度は親子のクジラに遭遇！前回より近くに見る事が出来ました。地球上で一番大きな生物。その存在感は息をのむ美しさです。
そしてイルカのいるポイントへ！こちらも前回より群れの数も多く子供もいて、間近に泳ぐ事が出来ました。

子供の頃からの夢の一つがかないました。
かなり癖になりますいるか中学の皆さんありがとうございました。

On February 27th, my family of four (myself, my husband, our 3-year-old son, and my 64-year-old grandmother) participated. It was quite windy and cold that day, so we borrowed wetsuits and set off! We arrived at the dolphin point at a pretty high speed. Along the way, we were able to spot several whales as well!! While slowly swimming beneath many dolphins that were peacefully resting, we also took our time swimming. It was so soothing. My son found snorkeling a bit challenging for the first time, but he was very happy saying, "I saw a dolphin!" We were thrilled to meet many sea turtles and fish at the underwater palace. Yuriko and Ryuichi were also wonderful people, and we definitely plan to visit again!

２月２７日、家族４人（私・ダンナ・３歳の息子・６４歳のばあちゃん）で参加しました。
当日は、風が強く寒かったのでウエットスーツを借りて出発！かなりのスピードでかっとばしてイルカポイントに到着。途中、クジラも数頭見つけることができました！！眠りながらゆっくり泳ぐたくさんのイルカさん達を真下に見ながら、こちらもゆっくり泳ぎました。癒されますね~。息子は、初めてのシュノーケルが少し難しかったようですが、「イルカ見えた~」ととても喜んでいました。竜宮城では、たくさんの海ガメさんや魚たちにも会えて感激です。ユリコさんや、リュウイチさんもとても素敵な方々で、またぜひ遊びに行きますね！

I was excited from the morning knowing that we would see dolphins. Once we got on the van, the organizer quickly remembered everyone's names and chatted with us, making the journey enjoyable right from the start!

When we arrived at the port and boarded the boat, we set off. The boat was a bit bumpy and scary, but I was so captivated by the magnificent scenery that I forgot about it. Wild dolphins appeared almost immediately, and one by one, we started jumping in from the boat. The dolphins were coming in groups, and it felt like they were swimming underneath us rather than just following us. It was my first time seeing dolphins in person, and I was so moved, especially when I could even hear their sounds!

After that, we went to see sea turtles. There were about four turtles in deeper water, and I was looking down at them from above. One of them came up to the surface, and it felt so close that I thought I could reach out and touch it! I managed to take some great photos too!

On the way back, we were given light snacks, and it was truly the best experience. It was a bit cold, but we could borrow wetsuits, so we managed to cope with the chill. Thank you, Yuriko and Aya!

イルカが見えるって事で朝からワクワクしていました。
バンに乗り込んで、すぐに主催者の方はすぐにみんなの名前を覚えてくれて、色々話しをしてくれて向かう時から楽しかったです！
港についてボートに乗り込んで、出発☆ボートは少しフワフワして怖かったんですが、雄大な景色に見とれてその事も忘れていました。
野生のイルカはすぐに現れて、あとはボートから順番に次々飛び込んでいって。どんどんイルカの群れが来て追っているというより、下を通って行く感じでした。初めて生でイルカを見て感動なのに、声まで聞こえてきてもっと感動でした♪
その後はウミガメを見に行きました。深い所にウミガメが４匹？ぐらいいて、上から眺めていたんですが、その内の１匹が水面まで上がってきて手が届きそうでした~近い！近い！と思うぐらいだった。そして写真はいいのが撮れました！
帰りは軽食を配って頂いて、本当に最高のいい体験ができました。少し寒いんですが、ウエットスーツも借りれるので寒さはなんとかしのげます。
ユリコさん、アヤさんありがとうございました。

I participated in the tour on February 11. I've been to Oahu countless times, but it was my first time in the West Coast area. I was first impressed by the clarity of the water. I wore a rash guard, but I thought it might be a bit cold. However, after borrowing a wetsuit, I found it really warm and comfortable. You should definitely wear one.

We encountered whales right after departing. Moreover, it was a mother and her calf. I was incredibly lucky to see the mother whale teaching her calf how to swim! And they were right next to the boat, spouting water multiple times. I was amazed by their size.

After seeing enough whales, we set off again to search for dolphins. We quickly encountered a pod of dolphins. I often see dolphins in captivity, but it was my first time swimming with so many wild dolphins! It seemed there were several groups, and dolphins kept coming one after another. There was even a group with a baby dolphin, which was incredibly cute.

After that, we went to a spot with fish and sea turtles. There were lots of fish, and I saw two sea turtles. They say swimming with sea turtles brings happiness, and I felt like I received a lot of happiness.

Our guide, Yuriko, also made the tour even more enjoyable with her bright personality. Thank you very much. I will participate again.

2月11日のツアーに参加させていただきました。
オアフは数え切れないほど行っていますが、西海岸エリアは初めて。海の透明度にまず感動。
ラッシュガードは着ていったものの、やっぱり少し寒いかなと思っていましたが、ウェットスーツを借りてきたら、ほんとにあったかくて快適。これは絶対着たほうがいいです。
出港してすぐにクジラに遭遇。しかも親子連れ。なんとおかあさんクジラが子クジラに泳ぎを教えているところ。こんなのが見れるなんてものすごくラッキー！
しかも、ボートの真横。何度も潮を吹いて。その大きさに感動。
充分、クジラを見たあと、イルカを探して再び出発。
イルカの群れにもすぐに遭遇。
飼育されているイルカはしょっちゅう見ていましたが、野生のイルカをあんなにたくさん、しかも一緒に海の中で泳いだなんてもちろん初めて！
いくつかのグループがいたらしく、次から次へとイルカがやってきます。子イルカを連れたグループもいて、すごくかわいかった。
そのあと、お魚＆ウミガメスポットへ。お魚いっぱい。2頭のウミガメがいました。ウミガメと一緒に泳ぐと幸せになれるとか。たくさんのしあわせをもらった気がします。
ガイドのユリコさんの明るさもツアーを一層楽しいものにしてくれました。ありがとうございました。また参加します。

Great boat, wonderful crew and a delicous meal just the icing on the cake to the most beautiful sunset we have ever seen. Hawaii sunsets are pretty sitting on the beach but you can't beat the beauty of seeing it out on the water. This tour is out in west Oahu (Koolina) far away from waikiki which is exactly what we were looking for!

We participated as a family, including our 5-year-old child. Since it was an early morning activity, the temperature was quite low and it was really cold. Everything was a first experience after getting on the boat; we saw whales in the distance, and the experience of swimming close to a pod of dolphins is something I will never forget. My 5-year-old daughter, who was afraid of the ocean, was taken care of kindly by the staff member Yuriko, who swam with her the whole time. Even after returning home, we keep talking about the ocean that day with Yuriko. It seems to have become her best memory in Hawaii. I'm really glad we chose this tour among the various dolphin tours available. I definitely want to participate again next time. Thank you very much.

５歳の子供を含む家族で参加しました。
早朝からのアクティビティだったので、気温もだいぶ低くとにかく寒かったです。
ボートに乗ってからは全てが初体験で、鯨も遠くに見えたし、何頭ものイルカの群れを間近で泳いだ体験は一生忘れられません。
海を怖がっていた5歳の娘も、スタッフのユリコさんがずっと一緒に泳いで優しく面倒を見ていてくれて、帰ってからもずっとユリコさんとあの日の海の話をしています。
ハワイでの一番の思い出になったようでした。
色々あるイルカツアーの中でここを選んで本当に良かったです。
次回も是非参加させて頂きます。
ありがとうございました。

We had an awesome time. We are not the strongest swimmers, so this was a great experience. Do this! It~s so much fun!

As a result, I chose the early morning plan, but unfortunately, I couldn't see the dolphins. (It was just bad luck.)

However, I was able to interact closely with the turtles and enjoy snorkeling! Above all, Peter, the local staff member, was very fluent in Japanese, provided excellent explanations, and was wonderful in his responses. We were able to chat during the transfer, and I was very satisfied with the experience.

As a side note, during the transfer from the hotel to the site, I was able to see the high school that President Obama attended and the Hitachi tree, and the staff during the transfer were also very good.

If I have the chance to go to Hawaii again, I think I will choose this plan again.

結果としては早朝プランにしたがイルカにあることは出来なかった。（これは運が悪かった）

しかし、亀にはすぐ近くで触れ合うことができたし、
シュノーケリングを楽しむ事ができた！
なにより現地のスタッフであるピーターさんが
非常に日本語も流暢であり、説明もうまく、
対応もすばらしかった。
移動中もいろいろと話ができ、とても満足のいく内容ｘでした。

補足ですが、ホテルからのピックアップから現地への
移動中にオバマ氏出身高校や、日立の木を見る事ができ、
移動スタッフの対応もよかったです。

次回ハワイにいけるようでしたら、またこのプランを
選ぼうと思います。

On January 7th, I participated with my 68-year-old mother. When I reconfirmed, I hesitantly mentioned that I could swim, and the organizer, Yuriko, cheerfully agreed, saying, "How wonderful!" On the day of the event, she was high-energy from the morning, quickly remembering and calling out each participant's name, creating a lively atmosphere.

The west side of the island, Waianae, which is not often visited by other tours, has jagged mountains rising behind it. From the yacht harbor, we set out to sea on a speedy inflatable boat, a Zodiac, and the blue sea was clear enough to see down below! Fortunately, we spotted our first pod of dolphins about 30 minutes after departure and immediately jumped into the water! However, while the dolphins were visible from the boat, I couldn't catch up to them in the water, and I wasn't able to swim with them on my first try. Others who were swimming with me also returned to the boat for a retry after the pod swam away.

On the next attempt, we successfully chased the pod of dolphins from above! The playful spinner dolphins, true to their name, jumped and spun, swimming with their bellies up in the water, truly enjoying their freedom. At one point, I noticed a white spray from the dolphins in front of us... could it be... dolphin poop? Well, I guess it was a good omen for the new year (laughs).

After two dives at the dolphin point, we moved to the turtle point. Here, if you are confident in your swimming, you can remove your life jacket and swim while chasing the turtles. They are so close that you might be tempted to reach out and touch them. The turtles swim gracefully, flapping their fins that resemble angel wings. They are really cute! We also had two dives at the turtle point. Just when I thought I saw four turtles, I felt something prickly touching my hands and feet. I wondered if it was a jellyfish, but it turned out to be sea lice. I got a couple of small bumps on my hand that felt like mosquito bites, but they disappeared quickly. I heard that washing with vinegar helps.

Due to that, I gave up on the second dive midway, but the captain, KK, who is the top local lifeguard, took us to a surf point that locals usually keep to themselves, where we could watch the skills of advanced local surfers. We also got to see stand-up paddleboarding, which has recently become popular in Hawaii. Finally, we returned to the harbor while watching the dolphins from the boat.

1月7日に、68歳の母との参加でした。リコンファームの際、水泳はできますが…と恐る恐るそれを伝えてみると主催者のユリコさんは「まあステキ！」と快諾してくださり、当日は朝からハイテンションで寝ぼけ眼をこすりこすりの参加者ひとりひとりの名前をすぐ覚えて声をかけてくれ、盛り上げてくれます。

なかなか他のツアーでは行くことのできない島の西部、ワイアナエは後ろにギザギザの山が切り立ち、ヨットハーバーからスピードの出る軽いゴムボート、ゾディアックで海へ出ると下まで見通せる青い海！
我々は幸いにも出て30分くらいで最初のイルカの群れを発見でき、すぐ海へＧＯ！
しかし船の上からはゆっくり見えたイルカたちも海の中では追いつくことができず、最初のトライでは私は一緒に泳ぐことはできませんでした。一緒に泳いでいた人たちも、イルカの群れが離れてしまったということで一度船へ戻り再挑戦。
次のトライではずっとイルカの群れを上から追いかけることに成功！遊び好きなスピナードルフィンたちは、その名の通りジャンプにスピンに、水中ではお腹を上にして泳いだり、本当に自由を謳歌しています。
途中、前方のイルカから白い噴射物…　これはもしやフン…？などということもありましたがまあ新年早々ウンがついたということで（笑）

イルカポイントで２度のダイブの後は、ウミガメポイントへ移動。こちらでは泳ぎに自信があればライフジャケットを外せて、ずーっと亀先生を追いかけて泳ぎます。あんまり近いので思わず手を伸ばしそうになります。ウミガメは天使の羽そっくりのひれをパター、パターと動かして飛ぶように泳ぎます。ホントにかわいい！
ウミガメポイントでも２度のダイブ。今度は亀が４匹も！と思ったら時折チクチクと手足を差すものが。クラゲ？と思ったらシーライス（海シラミ）だそうです。私は手に２箇所ほどちょっと蚊に食われたくらいのふくらみができてすぐに消えましたが、お酢で洗うといいそうです。

そんなことで２度目のダイブは途中で断念しましたが船のキャプテンＫＫが地元のライフサーバーの一番偉い人！だそうで、その後はロコ以外は近づけないようなサーフポイントへ行ってくれて、地元の上級サーファーの妙技を見物。最近ハワイではやっているというスタンダップ・パドルも見学できました。
さらにはまたイルカたちを船上から見ながら帰港。