All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

I participated with my sister.

Although we had an early morning gathering, the president of the Dolphin Junior High School cheered up the participants, who were still waking up and feeling low-energy. From the car windows, we were able to see "This Tree, What Tree," Pearl Harbor, and the Disney Hotel, which gave us a bit of a sightseeing experience.

I was a bit anxious after hearing that there were two days the previous week when we couldn't see dolphins, but after about 10 minutes of departing from the port, we dove right into the sea! When the captain shouted, "Look down!!" I desperately peered into the water, and there they were—the dolphins I had longed to see! Not only did I get to see them, but I was truly moved to hear their "kyu-kyu" sounds.

After that, we moved to a tropical fish and honu spot. When we had food, aggressive tropical fish swarmed around us (laughs). We also managed to meet a honu that was napping.

Originally, this was supposed to be the end, but because we found the dolphins early, we were given a special second dolphin dive! We were able to see an even larger group of dolphins than the first time, which was incredibly exciting!

Actually, my sister had been feeling a bit unwell since the morning, but she completely recovered without realizing it. It seemed like the dolphins had healed her.

Thank you to everyone at Dolphin Junior High for the fun lesson! ^^

姉妹で参加させていただきました。

早朝の集合でしたが、
車内では寝起きでテンション低めの参加者達をイルカ中学会長さんが盛り上げてくださり、
車窓からは「この木なんの木」やパールハーバー、ディズニーホテルなどを見ることできて
ちょっとした観光気分を味わうことができました。

前週に２日イルカに会えない日があったと聞いて若干不安でしたが、
港を出発して10分程ですぐに海へダイブ！
船長さんの「シタヲミテー！！」の言葉で必死に海中を覗くと、
念願のイルカが！！
姿を見ることができたのはもちろんのこと、
「キューキュー」という鳴き声を聞くことができたのには本当に感動しました。

その後は熱帯魚＆ホヌスポットへ移動。
餌を持っていると、わらわらと群がってくるアグレッシブな熱帯魚たち(笑)
お昼寝中だったホヌにも何とか会うことができました。

本来はこれで終了らしいのですが、
イルカの発見が早かったからとのことで、
特別に2回目のイルカダイブ！
1回目よりもさらに大群のイルカ達を見ることができて大感動！！

実は朝から若干体調が悪かった妹ですが、
知らぬ間にすっかり回復。
イルカ達に癒されたようでした。

イルカ中学のみなさん、楽しい授業をありがとうございました^^

My daughter participated in the Royal Swim. The very friendly dolphin was super cute! However, it would be nicer if the price were a bit lower.

娘がロイヤルスイムに参加しました。
とても人懐っこいイルカは、超可愛かったですよ^^
でも、出来れば値段がもう少し安いと懐にも優しいな。。

Wish we could have seen more underwater sites. But its the next best thing to snorkeling for those who haven't done it.

I booked Dolphin Adventure. I was moved to touch a dolphin for the first time and swim with it. The time we had to interact was very short, but it became a lifelong memory.
Afterward, I watched the dolphin show. Here, there are dolphin and whale calves, called wolphins. I was surprised to learn about wolphins during the show, as I had never seen them in Japan, and it was truly moving.

ドルフィンアドベンチャーを予約しましま。初めてイルカに触れ、また一緒に泳げたので感動しました。触れ合える時間はすごく短いですが、一生の思い出になりました。
終わった後に、イルカのショーを見ました。ここには、イルカとクジラの子供、ウォルフィンがいます。私はショーの時に初めてウォルフィンがいるのを知って、ビックリしました‼︎日本では見ることができないので、すごく感動しました。

Amazing experience to see such beautiful creatures up close! Highly recommend to everyone!!!

This was an incredible activity. There were quite a few sharks and we were right there with them. It was crazy. We even saw a whale on our way out to the cage. While we were in the cage we could hear the whale singing. It was an awesome activity. The crew was very nice and helpful. We had a great time!

天気も良く、ホエールウォッチング日和でした。
本当にクジラが見れるのか心配でしたが、何頭ものクジラが見れて興奮と感動でした。
食事は、それなりに美味しかったです。
船の中では、自由行動だったので過ごしやすかったです。
お勧めです。

In the morning, I spotted a whale in the distance, and since it was far away, I was able to participate for free in the afternoon as well. In the afternoon, I was able to see the whale up close, which was amazing!! The crew was kind, and at the end, I could buy photos of the whales we saw today. I couldn't take good pictures with my own camera, so it became a nice memento. The food was delicious, but when you're engrossed in watching the whales, you don't have the chance to eat. I definitely want to participate again next time.

午前中、遠くの方にクジラを発見したのですが、遠かったということで、午後も無料で参加することができました。午後は近くでクジラを見ることができて最高でした！！
クルーの方も親切だったし、最後に今日見たクジラの写真を買うこともできます。
自分のカメラでは上手く撮れなかったので、いい記念になりました。
ご飯は美味しかったのですが、クジラに夢中になると食べる余裕がなくなっちゃいますね。
次回もまた参加したいです。

I signed up for this experience because my companion, who was visiting Hawaii for the first time, wanted to go on a boat, see whales, and dance the hula—all in one package. Although the wind was strong, the boat was large enough that I felt comfortable. We saw the whales' tails twice. The activities were divided into three parts: hula, ukulele, and lei-making. My friend was thrilled to finally dance as she had always wanted. The staff was also very friendly. Next time, I want to go when the whales are more active.

ハワイが初めての同行者が希望した、船に乗りたい・クジラを見たい・フラダンスを踊りたいがまとめて叶うので、申し込みました。風が強かったですが、船が大きいので、弱い私も大丈夫でした。クジラは尾だけ２回見られました。フラとウクレレとレイ作りの３つに分かれて教えてくれました。友人は念願かなって楽しそうに踊っていました。スタッフも親切でした。今度はクジラが活発な時期に行ってみたいです。

I saw a whale. However, I couldn't take a good photo. I also saw a dolphin, maybe? It would have been better if the whale had made bolder movements.

クジラが、見えました。　でも、写真がうまく撮れませんでした。　イルカ？　かなー？もみれましたよ。もう少し、クジラさんの大胆な動きがあったら、よかったです。

The scenery was absolutely stunning, so I thought it was okay if I didn't get to see any whales. I was worried about getting seasick, but it was actually very comfortable and I didn't feel sick at all.

The whales surfaced several times, spouting water, and when they dove, I could see their large tails. Right after we set off, we saw a sea turtle, and on the way back, we were able to see a lot of flying fish. I'm glad I took the Navatek.

とにかく景色が素晴らしかったので、クジラに会えなくても仕方ないかと思ったくらいです。船酔いが心配だったのですが、実に快適で全く酔うこともありませんでした。
クジラは何度も海面まで上昇し潮吹きし、潜る時には大きな尾ビレが並んで見えました。出発してすぐにウミガメを、帰りにはたくさんのトビウオを見ることができました。ナバテック号に乗って良かったです。

It was the last chance day. I finally got to see the whales that I had wanted to see for a long time. Thank you very much. Next time, I might be okay without a meal... because there were only a few options for food...

最後のチャンス日でした。以前から見たかったクジラさん達。今回のオプショナルツアーでやっと叶うことができました。ありがとうございました。次回は食事なしでもいいかな。。。と思いました。食事の種類がわずかだったので・・・。

We participated as a couple. We left early in the morning and drove for an hour to the West Coast, a place not often visited by tours. During the drive, our enthusiastic guide shared a wealth of information about the tour, Hawaii, personal introductions, and safety instructions, keeping the conversation lively until we reached our destination.

After using the restroom, we changed into wetsuits, which were available for a voluntary fee of $10. They even had sizes for my larger frame. It was a good decision to rent one since the water was still cold. We encountered dolphins shortly after setting sail. Following the captain's and the guide's instructions, we entered the water. There were a lot of dolphins! I never expected to see them so soon; it felt like a natural aquarium. We were treated to numerous dolphin jumps and even spotted sea turtles, along with octopuses and various tropical fish. The weather was perfect, with no wind, making for the best conditions. For my wife, who is not a strong swimmer, they provided something like a floatation device. Normally, life jackets are available, so it's not necessary, but those who feel scared might want to borrow one.

夫婦で参加しました。早朝に出発し車で１時間、あまりツアーで行かない西海岸へ行きます。
車の中でテンションの高いガイドさんから、おもしろおかしくツアーのこと、ハワイのこと、自己紹介、注意事項など盛りだくさんのお話があります。沈黙することなく目的地に到着。
トイレを済ませ、ウェットスーツに着替えます。任意で１０ドルです。太目の私のサイズもありました。海の中はまだ寒いので借りてよかったです。出航してすぐにイルカに遭遇。キャプテンと学級委員（ガイド）の指示で海に入ります。大量のイルカです。こんなに早くお目にかかるとは！天然の水族館です。イルカのジャンプを何度も見せてくれました。ウミガメも見ることができました。他にもタコやいろんな熱帯魚。当日は風もなく天候にも恵まれ最高のコンディションでした。泳ぎの苦手な妻には浮輪のようなものを貸してくださいました。本来はライフジャケットがあるので必要ありません。それでも怖いひとは借りておくとよいでしょう。

It was very fun watching the whales and having excellent drinks! Very awesome experience!

☆Private Dolphin Middle School☆
We were picked up at 6:25 AM, and although we were worried about the cloudy weather in Waikiki, we arrived at Waianae Harbor on the West Coast in about an hour, and the sun started to shine. The dolphin watching was conducted in a classroom format with a tour guide. Mr. TAKAO's explanations (he looked a lot like Tetsuya Takeda) prioritized the safety of the participants, and he prayed in the morning for everyone to encounter dolphins.

Before we reached the point, our feelings and prayers were answered, and we encountered a pod of bottlenose dolphins. Feeling optimistic, we first went snorkeling at a spot with sea turtles and fish to get accustomed to the water. There was an explanation that those who are sensitive to the cold water temperature could rent a wetsuit for $10, and many people took advantage of that. I was fine in the water with my long-sleeved rash guard, but the wind after getting back on the boat was tough; I managed to cope with my towel.

With the keen eyes of our dolphin-finding captain, we changed locations a few times and jumped into the water!

At first, everyone was so eager to see the dolphins that we struggled to communicate with them, and they seemed to swim away. However, after a few attempts and relaxing a bit, we could hear the dolphins' sounds up close, like "kyurukyuru."

With the captain's visual spotting from the boat and Mr. TAKAO's accurate guidance, we heard the call to "look down, look down." A few dolphins swam really close to us. It was such a joy to meet wild dolphins freely moving in the vast ocean!

I definitely want to join this tour again, and next time I want to participate in Dolphin University as well. I'm a little proud of the eco bag we received as a graduation certificate!

☆私立イルカ中学☆
早朝６：２５ピックアップ、ワイキキの曇天を気にしてたけれどウエスト・コーストのワイアナエ港に約一時間で到着どんどん晴れてきて。イルカウオッチングをバスの中から授業形態にしてのツアーガイド。ＴＡＫＡＯさんの説明（武田鉄矢に超似てました）参加者さんたちの安全第一、皆がイルカと遭遇できるように朝一でお祈りしてきてくれました。
　
皆の気持ちと祈りが通じてポイントに到着前に、ハンドウイルカの群れと遭遇。幸先の良さを感じつつ、この日は先にウミガメやお魚たちのいるポイントでシュノーケルの身体慣らし。バスの中から水温が低くて寒いの苦手な方は１０ドルでウエットスーツ借りられる説明があり、何人もの方が借りてました。私は長袖のラッシュガードで水中は全く大丈夫でしたが船に上がってからの風が堪えました、持参のバスタオルでどうにかしのげましたが。
イルカ探しの名人キャプテンの目で数回場所を変えながら、水中にイン！

最初は皆のイルカだイルカと気持ちが先走り上手くイルカさんたちとのコミュニケーションが取れず、逃げられちゃってる感じでしたが数回のチャレンジで気負いが取れてリラックスしたせいか「キュルキュル」とイルカさんたちの声まで聞こえる近さに。

キャプテンの船上からの目視とガイドのＴＡＫＡＯさんの的確な判断で「下観て、下観て」の声が。ほんとに近くを数頭が泳いでくるんです。大海原を自由に動き回ってる野生のイルカとの対面うれしかったぁ～＾＾

また参加したいツアーだし、今度はイルカ大学にも参加したいです。卒業証書としていただいたエコバックちょっと自慢です＾＾；

From March 24, 2014, for one week, my family took our first trip to Hawaii (Maui). Since we weren't interested in package tours, I researched and chose one of the option tours myself. I was skeptical about whether we could really see whales so close to the port, but... it seemed like three whales were swimming together, possibly a mother and her calf? To my great fortune, one of the whales jumped out of the water! I couldn't help but let out a joyful shout. The boat searched around for spots where the whales might surface. Nearby, small boats seemed to gather, perhaps aware of the sonar capabilities of the Star of Honolulu. At the end of the enjoyable cruise, we were also able to see a pod of about ten dolphins, making it a truly satisfying whale watching experience.

２０１４年３月２４日から１週間、家族で初めてのハワイ（マウイ島）旅行でした。パッケージツアーに興味がないので、自分であれこれ調べてオプションツアーの一つとしてチョイスしました。港からそんなに遠くない範囲で本当にクジラを見ることができるのか半信半疑だったのですが・・・３頭が一緒に回遊していたようですが、親子でしょうか？なんと幸運にもそのうちの１頭のクジラが海中からジャンプしたのです。歓喜の叫び声が思わず漏れてしまいました。船はクジラ達が海面に出てきそうな場所を探して探し回ります。近くにはスターオブホノルル号のおそらくソナーの性能を知ってか小さなボートも群がってきますね。楽しいクルーズの最後には１０数頭の群れをなすイルカも見ることができて本当に満足のいくホエールウォッチングになりました。

I wanted to show my 5-year-old child a whale, but they got bored staring at the ocean for too long and were in a bit of a mood. However, they seemed to enjoy the buffet and ate a lot. We also had a great time making leis after the meal!

5歳の子供にクジラを見せてあげたかったのですが、ずっと海を眺めているのに退屈してしまい、ご機嫌ナナメ。でも、ビュッフェは楽しかったようで、モリモリ食べてくれました。また、食後のレイ作りも楽しかったです！

I participated because I wanted to see whales that are unique to this season. I didn't have high expectations since I heard mixed reviews about whether people saw them or not, but luckily, the weather was clear and hot that day, and I was able to see 5 to 6 breaches! I think I was very lucky. Since photos capture moments, it might be better to use video instead. Also, I opted for the breakfast option, but if you take your time eating, you might miss the moments, so it might not have been necessary. Sorry to the tour staff.

この時期ならではのホエールを見たくて参加。クチコミはあまり見れなかったとか見れたとか色々で運不運もあるかと期待しなかったのですが、この日は晴天で暑かったことも幸いしてか、5～6回の背うちが見れました！とてもラッキーだったと思います。写真は瞬間なので難しいのでムービーかビデオがいいかもしれません。それと朝食付きにしたのですが、ゆっくり食べていると瞬間見逃す場合もあるので無くてもよかったかもしれません。ツアーの方すみません。

What a fantastic time my daughter and I had snuba diving, all three guys were just great and so informative, this was the best part of our trip.

I was nervous at first but the staff made it easy to get into the BOB. The divers were excellent and guided me at first and then sent me on my way. I've done other excursions and saw more fish and turtles on this trip. The pictures turned out very professional. I have told my daughter and her fiancé to definitely do this next month on their visit.

I signed up because I wanted to take pictures of whales. Since it was the end of the season on April 13, and someone who went in January said they "didn't see any," I participated without much expectation... But, wonderfully, the whales showed up! In fact, they appeared 4 to 5 times (their heads?). I couldn't hear the captain's (or guide's?) announcements about whale sightings well in English, but I followed the dash of the foreign children, and somehow managed to take some pictures. It would have been perfect if I could have taken photos a bit closer, but seeing this much is enough, right!? I signed up without lunch this time, and it was the right choice because if I wanted to keep taking pictures, there wouldn't have been time to eat.

クジラの写真を撮りたくて申し込みました。
4/13ということでシーズン終わりで、1月に行った人が「見れなかった」と言っていたので、期待せず参加しましたが・・・。
見事、クジラさん出てくれました！それも4～5回（頭？）も！
船長（？）によるクジラ発見案内は英語でよく聞き取れなかったのですが、外国の子供たちの歓声とともにダッシュする後をついて行って、写真を何とか撮ることが出来ました。
もう少し近くで撮影することができれば最高ですが、これだけ見れれば十分でしょう！？
今回ランチなしで申し込みましたが、常に写真を撮りたかったら食事している暇はなかったので正解でした。

I was able to see 3 to 4 whales spouting water and showing their dorsal fins and tails at the surface of the sea. They appeared quite frequently, so it was a satisfying tour overall. It would have been amazing to see them jump, but perhaps they were tired, as they only swam at the surface.

３～４頭の鯨の潮吹きや背びれ・尾ひれを海面に出すところを見ることができました。結構な頻度で姿を現したので、それなりに満足できるツアーでした。
ジャンプまで見れれば最高でしたが、お疲れなのか海面を泳ぐまででした。

Amazing experience! Well over a dozen sharks swimming around, close to the cage. Plenty of time in the water. I would definitely recommend the video which probably adds a few minutes to your experience and is reasonably priced. The staff was personable and safety focused making for a great experience. Of all the activities we have done this trip this is the one we will do again our next time out.

I had heard that it was the season to see a lot of whales, so I was a bit anxious about whether we would see any... but I was very satisfied because we saw plenty. The boat was also large, so I was glad I didn't get seasick. It was great that it was a morning tour, allowing us to return to the hotel around noon, so we could enjoy plenty of activities in the afternoon.

クジラが多く見れる時期と聞いていたので、見れるのかなぁ...と不安でしたが、いっぱい見れて満足でした。
船も大きかったので、船酔いしなくて良かったです。
朝からのツアーで、お昼頃にはホテルに帰ってこれるので、午後にたっぷり遊べるのも良かったです。

The best kick ass time in Hawaii, the divers were very attentive. Seeing the ocean from underneath is awesome for this non-swimmer.Younger kids could enjoy this. Bring cash for the pictures as credit cards not accepted.

To fulfill my mother's dream of swimming with dolphins, we participated in "Dolphin Adventure." My mother, who can't swim, was anxious, but the staff were very friendly and kind, and she was able to realize her dream safely! We touched and kissed the dolphin LAKA, and swam together! In reality, the swimming lasted only about 10 seconds, but both my mother and I were super excited! It was a valuable experience for us. Thank you, LAKA!

イルカと泳ぎたい！という母の夢をかなえるため、“ドルフィンアドベンチャー”に参加しました。
泳げない母は不安になっていましたが、スタッフの方もとてもフレンドリーで優しく、無事に夢をかなえることができました‼︎
イルカのLAKAちゃんに、触れたり、キスしたり、そして一緒に泳ぎました！実際、泳いでるのは10秒ないくらいのあっという間の時間でしたが、母も私も大興奮‼︎
貴重な経験をさせて頂きましたo(^▽^)o
LAKAちゃん、ありがとう♡

This was probably the best experience in my life. So awesome and a must do if you're in Oahu! I'm definitely doing it again and bringing more friends! The sharks come so close and if you get lucky like us, you'll see some whales! Definitely do it!

I went on this with my boyfriend and we had lots of fun! Def was not scary but very neat to see the sharks from a different perspective.

Very good 2.5 hours spent aboard the catamaran. The crew seemed knowledgeable and were happy to point out a whole host of things to look at. We managed to see about 10 sightings of whales, some jumping out of the water, some 'blowing' and some fantastic tail shots. Would recommend to others.

I'm glad I got to see wild whales for the first time, but they didn't jump or anything, so I didn't feel much excitement. But I guess that's just how whales are (laughs). They seemed to swim alongside us for a long time, occasionally blowing air and showing their backs. The staff were all very nice, and you could tell they wanted to make it enjoyable for everyone. It's a big boat, so it's less likely to make you seasick, but it's still a good idea to take some motion sickness medication just in case.

野生のクジラを初めて見れてよかったですが、ジャンプなどしてくれるわけでなかったので迫力は感じられませんでした。でもこれはクジラの気分なのでしょうがないです（笑）
ずっと横には泳いでいたようなのですが、時々潮を吹いて背中が見えるくらい。
スタッフはみなさん感じがよく、楽しませようという感じが伝わってきました。
大きい船なので酔いにくいですが、酔い止め薬を飲んでおいた方が安心です。