All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

We had an excellent time on our cruise! We saw whales almost immediately, a mama and her calf. We followed them for about an hour, seeing mostly their backs and spouts, but right at the end the baby started breaching over and over! Mama breached once, too. Totally worth it!!!

This was our first trip to Hawaii with our sixth grader and preschooler. We signed up for Dolphin School because we wanted to give them a wonderful experience. At first, I hesitated because it seemed expensive for the whole family, but in the end, I felt it was a fantastic experience for the price! It took just over an hour by shuttle bus from the Waikiki area to West Oahu. From there, we took a banana boat-style speedboat out to sea to look for dolphins! Amazingly, we encountered a pod of dolphins just one minute after setting sail! We all jumped into the water, and as we looked underwater, about 20 dolphins swam right beneath us. There were baby dolphins too! It was an incredible experience! We encountered dolphin pods several more times! Along the way, we were thrilled to see a manta ray, which gracefully swam right below us! Since it was such a special day, the captain confidently said that we might also see whales and took the boat further out! I thought seeing a whale was a long shot, but...

We actually encountered a humpback whale! And it was close! Plus, it was a mother and calf! The boat was filled with excitement and happiness. Right after hearing that seeing a whale's tail brings good luck, we were lucky enough to see one jump right in front of us, and we all got to see its tail! They said this might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I certainly agreed (＾ω＾). To see dolphins, manta rays, and whales all in one day was amazing! The kids were so moved, their eyes wide with wonder! However, when the whale appeared, it seemed like they were too seasick to enjoy it. Even the adults were excited at Dolphin School. All the staff were friendly and fun to talk to, and I’m really glad we chose Dolphin School! Next time we go to Hawaii, I’ll try the university program!

For those planning to participate! The staff suggested leaving cameras at the port, so we did, but I think you can bring them as long as you’re careful not to drop them on the boat! Unfortunately, we have no photos of such a wonderful experience. They do sell a DVD with photos taken by the staff, but since it included other people and was a bit pricey, we decided against it. Also, make sure to eat a little breakfast beforehand, or you’ll get hungry! Light snacks are served at the end.

小6と年長さんの男の子に連れての初ハワイ。何か素敵な体験をさせてあげたいとイルカ中学に申し込みました。最初は家族で申し込むと高いし、ちょっと悩みましたが、結果安かったと思うくらい素晴らしい体験ができました！ワイキキエリアから送迎バスで西オアフまで1時間ちょっと。そこから高速のバナナボート風のボートで沖にでてイルカを探しました！でもなんと出航1分でイルカの群れに遭遇！みんなで海に入り、海中を見ると20頭くらいの群れが私たちの真下を間近に通って行きました。赤ちゃんイルカも一緒でした！素晴らしい体験でした！そのあとも何度もイルカの群れに遭遇！途中、なんとダイバーの憧れのマンタが現れまたもや私たちの真下を悠々と泳いで行きました！そんな日だったので、船長さんが鯨も現れると断言してくれて更に沖に船を進めてくれました！さすがに鯨は～って思ったけれど



なんと！ザトウ鯨に遭遇！しかも近い！しかも親子！船上は興奮と幸せに包まれました。鯨の尾をみると幸せになれるという説明を聞いた直後にはなんと間近てジャンプまでしてくれてみんなで尾を見ることができました！こんな事はたぶんみなさんの人生で2度とないかもしれませんと言われて、確かにそうだなぁと思いました(＾ω＾)イルカも群れ、マンタ、鯨、全て見られるなんて！子供たちも感動して目を丸くしてました！でも鯨が現れたときは船酔いでそれどころではなかったみたいです。大人も興奮したイルカ中学。スタッフみなさんフレンドリーで話も楽しく、ほんとーにイルカ中学にしてよかった！またハワイに行ったら次は大学にチャレンジしてみます！
これから参加予定の方に！
スタッフの方にカメラは港においていった方がいいと言われたので置いて行きましたが船上では落とさないようにすれば撮れるので持っていってもいいと思います！私たちはそんなすてきや体験をしたの1枚も写真がなく、ちよっと残念。スタッフが撮った写真をDVDにして販売もしてくれますが、他の方も写っているものだし、ちょっと高かったのでやめました。あと朝ごはんは少し食べていかないとお腹すきます！軽食は最後に出るので。

I thought the whales were quite far away, but I was very satisfied because I was able to see the dolphins at a very close distance.

クジラはかなり遠いのでこんなものかな？と思いましたが、イルカがかなり近い距離で見れたので大変満足しています。

When I arrived to Kewalo Basin Harbor little bit earlier than their check-in time by our self, I couldn't fin their pier. It is just couple ships next from the pirates ship.
It is just small boat. But, Captain and crew's hospitality was really good.
Small ship means can turn easy to chase whale. Unfortunately, we couldn't watch whales much closer. But, Crews tried to do their best.
During activity, when my wife wanted to lay down on storage of life jackets, Captain brought life jacket for her to use it as cushion. Other staff was very kind for our kids. It was fun and much enjoyed.
I am sure that I will try to aboard this activity once again at next time.
Thank you very much for making our very good time.

We thoroughly enjoyed our whale watching experience with Captain Don and Deck-hand Shane. We saw more whales than we had expected. The best part of the trip was when a whale surfaced right behind the catamaran. We were all stunned! Definitely a highlight of our Hawaiian vacation.

This was my first whale watching experience, and I participated without any prior knowledge. They picked us up from the hotel on time, and we arrived at the port, which is about a 20-30 minute drive from central Waikiki. From there, we boarded the Navatek.

The Navatek is not a very large boat, but inside, there was unlimited coffee and tea, and snacks and motion sickness medication were available for purchase.

Once we set off, the guide explained in both English and Japanese, "The spouts are a sign that whales are nearby, so please look for these signs and let us know." We went out on deck and searched for whales with the guide. During the hour and a half, we were able to see the whales' breaches, tails, and spouts several times. However, since the whales were a bit far from the boat and appeared suddenly, it was difficult to take photos with our smartphones or digital cameras.

At the end of the cruise, there were also photos of the whales taken by the guide available for purchase.

While it was a bit lacking in excitement, the view of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head from the Navatek was truly wonderful, and the cruise was very comfortable with little rocking.

It felt more like a cruise with the bonus of seeing whales, but I enjoyed it.

初めてのホエールウォッチング、予備知識なく参加しました。時間通りホテルに迎えに来て頂き、ワイキキ中心部から車で20～30分の港に到着。そこからナバテック号に乗りこみました。ナバテック号はそれほど大きい船ではないですが、船内はコーヒー、紅茶が飲み放題で、軽食や酔い止めの販売もありました。

出発するとガイドさんから「潮吹きがクジラのいる合図ですので、みなさんもこの合図を見つけて私たちに教えて下さい。」と英語、日本語でクジラの見つけ方のレクチャーがあり、わたしたちは甲板に出て、ガイドさんと一緒にクジラを探しました。1時間半ほどの間にクジラのブリッジや尾ひれ、潮吹きを何回か観ることが出来ました。ただし、船から少し距離があるのとクジラは急に出てきてくれるので、スマホやデジカメで写真を撮るのは難しかったです。

クルーズの最後には、ガイドさんの撮ったクジラの写真販売もありました。

迫力に欠けるのが残念でしたが、ナバテック号からのワイキキビーチの眺めや、ダイヤモンドヘッドがとても素晴らしく揺れも少ないクルーズはとても快適でした。

ホエールウォッチングというよりは、クルーズプラスクジラが見えてラッキーというような感じでしたが、楽しめました。

I participated in whale watching for the first time. I didn't expect to see whales multiple times off the coast of Waikiki. Despite our cruise ship being nearby, the whales didn't seem scared, and we were able to watch them for a while. The crew on the cruise ship announced, "You can see the whales at 12 o'clock," using the direction of the ship as a clock face, which made it easy to spot them since they also provided the announcement in Japanese. When we couldn't see any whales, we enjoyed the scenery of Waikiki, watched flying fish, and had free coffee. I took photos with my own digital camera, but I also purchased some photos taken by a professional crew member at the end. The whales came close enough to see with the naked eye, so I felt it was better to see them directly rather than through the camera's scope. As mentioned by others, the air conditioning on the shuttle bus and the deck of the cruise ship was quite strong, so bringing a light jacket was a good idea. I would have liked to see breaching if possible, but I was very satisfied overall. Although it was only while we were docked after boarding, we were allowed into the wheelhouse, which made my child very happy.

ホエールウォッチングに初めて参加しました。ワイキキ近海にて、何度も鯨の姿が見れるとは思いませんでした。私たちの乗っているクルーズ船が、近くで航行しているのにもかかわらず、怖がっていないのか暫くの間鯨を見る事ができました。クルーズ船のクルーの方が、『12時の方向（船の進行方向正面）にて鯨が見えます。』のように、時計の時間を船の方角に見立てて教えていただけたので、その方向を見れば鯨がいるというアナウンスを、日本語でもしていただけたので、簡単に見つけることができました。鯨が見えない時間は、ワイキキの風景を見たり、飛び魚を見たり、無料のコーヒーなどを飲んで過ごしました。自前のデジカメで、写真を撮りましたが最後に写真専門のクルーの方が撮られた写真の販売もありましたので、そちらも購入しました。鯨は、肉眼で見える距離まで近づいて着ていましたので、カメラのスコープから見る鯨より、自分の目でしっかり見たほうがいいと感じました。他の方の書き込みにもありましたが、送迎のバスの中も、クルーズ船のデッキ内もかなりエアコンが効いており、薄手の羽織物を持っていって正解でした。できれば、ブリーチングも見たかったですが、十分満足でした。乗船後の停泊中のみでしたが、操舵室にも入れて子供が大喜びでした。

Two years ago, I participated in a tour to see dolphins on a regular boat, not the Navatek. At that time, I was very satisfied because I saw many dolphins jumping. This time, since it was about whales, I prepared myself for the possibility of not seeing any, but with a little hope, I signed up for the Navatek, which is known for being stable and not rocking too much.

I brought my mother, my husband, and my two daughters aged 7 and 5, so I thought a stable boat that wouldn’t make anyone seasick would be best.

When I saw the boat this time, I was impressed and thought, "Wow! It has two sails!" After boarding and moving to the spot for about 30 minutes, the boat stopped, and we began searching for whales. However, time passed with nothing but a quiet surface and beautiful scenery, and I was thinking, "Are we going to head back now?" just when I spotted a whale's blow! Everyone cheered. Then we saw the whale's back and tail in that order! After that, we discovered about ten whales in the same way, seeing their backs and tails.

The children were very happy, and there was no seasickness as we disembarked. Previously, there was a dolphin tour that included lunch (where you could make your own hamburgers on board), but this time it was a tour without lunch, just drinks.

I thought it might be better to have lunch on land after the tour, as there was a chance of missing the moment of spotting a whale while making and eating a hamburger.

This time, we didn’t see any whales breaching, but I was very satisfied because we saw many whales.

I also learned that the spots for seeing dolphins and whales are completely different. It would be wonderful if there were tours that could see both together!

I would like to participate again.

２年前にはナバテック号ではなくて、ふつうのもう一つの船で「イルカ」を見に行くツアーに参加しました。そのときはイルカがたくさん飛んでいるのが見えて、とても満足でした。今回はクジラだし、なかなかお目にかかれないだろうと…見られないことを覚悟で、それでも少しの期待とともに「あまり揺れない」というナバテック号に申込みました。
自分の母と、夫、7歳と5歳の娘2人を連れての乗船だったので、揺れない・酔わない船が良いと思いました。

今回船を見て「おおー！帆先が2つある」と感動したこと、そして乗り込んで30分ほど、スポットに移動して船が止まり、クジラを探すのですが…何も音沙汰なく静かな水面ときれいな景色をバックに時間が過ぎていき、期待をしていなかったのもありますが「もうこれで帰るのかな」と思っていた矢先、クジラのブロウ（潮吹き）を発見！みんな歓声を上げていました。そして背中、尾びれの順でクジラが見えたのです！その後は
10頭ほど、同じように潮吹きで発見してからそのあと背中→尾びれの順に見えました。

子供たちもとても喜んでおり、船酔いすることもなく、下船しました。
以前はランチ付（船上で自分でハンバーガーを作れる）のイルカツアーでしたが、
今回はランチなしのドリンクのみのツアーでした。

ハンバーガーを作って食べている間に、クジラを発見できる瞬間を逃してしまう
可能性もあるため、お昼はゆっくり陸に上がってから食べるのも手だと思いました。

今回はクジラの背面打ち？は見られませんでしたが、たくさんクジラをみることができたので大満足です。

イルカとクジラの見られるスポットが全然違うことも今回知りました。
できればいっしょに見ることができるツアーなどあれば、もっと素敵ですね！

また参加したいです。

I was hoping to see humpback whales jumping like in the pictures, but I learned that they don't jump during this time as they are preparing to give birth. Occasionally, I could see the whales' backs, but I was a bit disappointed as I had imagined something more whale-like.
After seeing the whales, we went cruising all the way to Waikiki. The scenery was beautiful, which was nice.

写真にあるようなザトウクジラのジャンプしているところを見れると思っていたのですが、この時期は出産前でジャンプはしないとのこと。時々、クジラの背中が見えるのですが、もっとクジラっぽいのを想像していただけに少し残念でした。
クジラを見た後はワイキキの先までクルージング。景色も良くてよかったです。

Fantastic experience, was great for me because i cant swim but have always wanted to see deep under water! Saw some amazing fish! Loved the free time snorkelling after the bobs! Got really close to a beautiful turtle! Staff were very friendly and helpful!

We participated in this optional tour during our first trip to Hawaii with my mother, two daughters, and husband. It was the girls' strong desire to join, but... we only saw the tail and back for a very short time. Even so, we were excited and shouted loudly, but I wondered if only very lucky people get to see the dynamic sight like in the photos. Moreover, the captain would say, "In the direction of ○○ o'clock," but everything was in English. While the foreigners moved quickly, the Japanese were all confused and flustered. In the meantime, the foreigners took the spots, and we couldn't get onto the deck. The announcements were mostly in English, and the crew also spoke almost exclusively in English. When we asked if anyone understood Japanese, they just shook their heads. We hardly understood any explanations. If we're going to spend half a day on this tour, I thought it would be more effective to extend our time for shopping around Waikiki or Kahala.

母と娘二人と夫の5人で人生初のハワイ旅行で、このオプショナルに参加しました。娘達のたっての希望で、参加したのですが...見えたのはほんの短い時間、尻尾と背中がちょっぴりでした。それでも、興奮して大きな声は出ましたが、写真のようなダイナミックな姿を見られるのは本当に運の良い人だけなのかな、と思いました。そして、何より、船長さんが「○○時の方向」と教えてくれるのですが、全て英語のみで、外人の方々はさっさと移動するのですが、日本人は皆、分からずオロオロ。その間に外人の方々に場所を取られてデッキに入れず。アナウンスも英語ばかりで、クルーの方々もほぼ英語のみで、日本語のわかる方、ときいても、首を振られるばかり。説明などはほぼわかりませんでした。このツアーに半日を費やすのなら、ワイキキやカハラ辺りまで、足を伸ばしてショッピングに時間を使う方が有効だな、と思いました。

It was fun with an F. Everyone was super nice and efficient. The only draw back was that they told me we would be back in waikiki by 1230..1 but we didn't get back til 130. We were rushed to our next event.

I participated in a tour during the season when whale watching is enjoyable. First, we set sail from the harbor and enjoyed wonderful views of Waikiki and Diamond Head from the Navatek. Onboard, there was a free coffee service, and we could purchase snacks at the shop, as well as receive explanations about whale ecology.

After that, we arrived at the whale watching point, where the boat slowly circled to help us spot whales. While I was eagerly scanning the ocean, two whales spouted water. Cheers erupted from various spots on the boat, and I couldn't help but shout out in excitement. After about an hour of sailing without seeing any whales, we were taken to the next point. There, as we continued to scan the area, a whale splashed water and jumped right in front of us. All the tour participants cheered with joy.

Through this tour, I had the rare experience of actually seeing whales. Thank you very much.

　今回、ホエールウオッチングが楽しめるシーズンということでツアーに参加しました。まずは港から出航しナバテック号からワイキキやダイヤモンドヘッドなどのすばらしい景色を楽しむことができます。また、船内ではコーヒの無料サービスや売店などで軽食を購入することができ、ホエールの生態などの説明も受けることができます。
　その後、ホエールウォッチングのポイントに到着し、ホエールを発見できるようにゆっくり旋回してくれます。わくわくしながら目を凝らして海を眺めていたその時です。２匹のホエールが潮吹きをしました。所々で歓声があがっていました。私自身も思わず声をあげて興奮しました。その後、1時間ほど航海するもホエールがいなかったので、次のポイントに連れて行ってくれました。そこでもしばらく旋回しホエールを発見できるように目を凝らしていると、目の前でホエールが水しぶきをあげて、ジャンプをしてくれました。ツアー参加者全員が声をあげて喜んでいました。
　今回のツアーを通じて実際にホエールを見ることができて大変貴重な経験ができました。ありがとうございました。

It's a very good program where you can interact with dolphins. My daughter was also very happy. However, I had a hard time killing time until the bus back. It feels more like a small aquarium aside from the dolphins. It might be better to arrange your own transportation.

イルカと触れ合いができる非常に良いプログラムです。
娘も大喜びでした。 ただ、帰路のバスまでの時間を潰すのに難儀しました。 イルカ以外は小規模な水族園というかんじですので。
足は自分で手配しても良いかもしれません。

Excellent Experience even thought I couldn't enjoy it due to pressure in my ears. However I heard it was an excellent experience from my husband.

I previously went on a whale watching cruise in Australia, where I was able to see various jumps up close, so I thought, "Let's experience that excitement again," and decided to participate. The boat was stable, and I didn't feel much rocking.

They communicated the direction of the whales using a clock reference, which I thought was a clear way to express it, but we weren't able to encounter any whales for a while. After quite a bit of traveling, we finally spotted a spout in the distance, and everyone cheered, focusing their attention on that point, but it seemed to dive and we heard nothing afterward.

After running for a while longer, we saw another spout at a similar distance. It felt like the whales were escaping whenever we tried to get closer. Another whale was spotted in a different direction, raising everyone's hopes, but it was just a spout again. I think we saw a little bit of its back, but it was far from being an emotional experience.

Since we were running off Diamond Head, it felt more like a tour of viewing Diamond Head from the sea. When I spoke with others who participated, they mentioned that they had seen whales during a dolphin swimming tour the day before, and they even jumped. It seems that even this level of encounter counts as an encounter, but it didn't qualify for the statement, "If you do not encounter a whale, we will issue a pass for a free re-boarding of the whale watching cruise."

以前、オーストラリアでホエールウォッチングクルーズをしたことがあり、いろいろなジャンプを間近で見ることができたので、「感動を再び」と思い、参加しました。
船は安定感があり、揺れはあまり感じられませんでした。
クジラがいた方向を時計で伝えるとのことで、わかりやすい表現でよいなとは思ったものの、クジラとなかなか遭遇できない。
かなり走った後、遠くで潮吹きが見られ、みんなも歓声を上げ、視点が一点に絞られたのですが、潜ってしまったようで音沙汰なし。
またしばらく走ると、同じくらいの距離で潮吹き。
近づこうとすればクジラは逃げていく感じでした。
別の方向に鯨が発見され、みんなの期待も高まったのですが、やはり潮吹き程度。少しだけ背中が見られたかな。
でも、感動とはかけ離れたものでした。
ダイヤモンドヘッド沖を走るので、まるで海からダイヤモンドヘッドを眺めるツアーのような感じでした。
参加された方とお話をしたところ、昨日のイルカと泳ぐツアーでクジラを見ることができて、ジャンプもしてたとのこと。
この程度の遭遇でも遭遇には変わりないようで、「クジラに遭遇できなかった場合、ホエールウオッチング・クルーズに無料で再乗船できるパスを発行致します。」には該当しませんでした。

It was my first whale watching cruise in Hawaii, and the weather was great. Shortly after heading out to sea, we encountered a mother and calf whale, and we were able to see whales multiple times until the cruise ended. Due to Hawaiian law, we had to maintain a distance from the whales while watching, but there was one moment when a whale appeared right next to the cruise ship, and I was amazed by its impressive size. It was such a sudden appearance that I regretted not being able to take a photo. The cruise ship, the Navatik, was a catamaran, which meant there was little rocking, making for a comfortable cruise. I heard that during the season, whales can also be seen from Waikiki, but being able to see them up close from the cruise ship really allows you to feel the power of the whales. I highly recommend this cruise for anyone planning to go whale watching.

ハワイでの初ホエールウォッチングクルージングでしたが、天気も良く沖に出て間もなく親子くじらと遭遇しクルーズが終了するまで何度もくじらを見ることができました。ハワイの法律でくじらに近づいてはだめとのことで距離を保ってのホエールウォチングでしたが、１回だけクルーズ船のすぐそばにくじらが現れたときは迫力の大きさに感動しました。いきなりの出現でしたので写真がとれなかったのは残念でした。またクルーズ船もナバティック号で双胴船のため揺れも少なく、快適なクルージングでした。シーズン中はワイキキからもくじらが見えるとのことでしたが、やはりクルーズ船で近くで見れるのはくじらの迫力を身近に感じることができて感動します。ホエールウオッチングを予定されている方には、おすすめのクルーズです。

I was able to go whale watching at a closer distance than I imagined! I was able to see not just one whale, but two or three, and the photos turned out great. The explanations and guidance in Japanese were easy to understand, and even the staff who didn't speak Japanese were very friendly and accommodating. The boat was clean, and I thoroughly enjoyed the views of Hawaii from the sea! It was a very enjoyable cruise, and I was lucky enough to see not only whales but also dolphins. I highly recommend it! ♪

想像以上に近い距離でホエールウォッチングすることができました！
クジラも１頭だけではなく、２頭、３頭見ることができ、写真もばっちりでした。
日本語での説明や案内も分かりやすく、日本語が通じないスタッフの方たちもとってもフレンドリーで対応が良かったです。
船もきれいで、海から見るハワイの風景も満喫することができました！
クジラだけじゃなく、イルカなども運よく見ることができ非常に楽しいクルーズになりました。
おすすめです♪

I ordered a paid cocktail on board, and since I was returning home the next day and didn't have enough US dollars on hand, I requested to pay with my card. The other guests at the same table were immediately asked to sign for their credit cards, but my card was not returned. When I inquired, they asked if all my orders were complete, and after I confirmed they were, they said they would bring it right away, but it never came. Even after prompting again, nothing happened. When I asked a Japanese staff member in Japanese if they were skimming my card, it was returned, but they said, "You should pay with cash or a traveler's check instead of a card," and as they left, they patted my shoulder and said, "This is normal in America. It's different from Japan."

I said I didn't want to pay a tip, but they insisted, "Please give what you feel," and I paid $2 on a $16 order, but I didn't want to return it and pay for the cocktail. I have traveled to mainland America and have been to more than five states. This does not seem normal for America. I was without my card for such a long time, and even after three prompts, all I got was "wait."

I am more disappointed with the poor staff response than not seeing the whales. I would never recommend this to my friends.

船内で有料のカクテルを注文し、翌日が帰国のため手持ちの米ドルが心もとなかったため、カードでの支払いをお願いしました。
すると同じテーブルの他の客はすぐにクレジットカードにサインを求められてましたが、私のカードは戻ってきません。
催促すると全ての注文が終わっているか確認され、終わっていると告げるとすぐに持ってくると言うものの一向に来ません。もう一度催促してもダメ。日本人スタッフに日本語でスキミングでもしているのかと問いただすと、カードは戻って来たものの、「カードではなく現金かトラベラーズチェックで払えばいい」と言い、去り際には「アメリカではこれが普通。日本とは違うのよ」と私の肩を叩いていなくなりました。
チップは払いたくないと言いましたが「お気持ちでください」と請求され、16ドルの注文に2ドル払いましたが、返品してカクテル代も払いたくありませんでした。
アメリカ本土にも旅行したことがあります。五つ以上の州にも行ってます。アメリカの普通とは思えません。それほど長い時間カードを返して貰えず、3度の催促にも「待って」だけでした。
クジラが見えなかったことより、スタッフの対応の悪さにがっかりです。
友達には絶対勧めません。

I visited on December 6, 2013. This time, I was picked up from Ko Olina, so it was very easy with only about a 30-minute ride. It saves about an hour compared to going from Honolulu, so I especially recommend it for those staying in Ko Olina. This tour had about 20 participants, with a wide age range from their 20s to 60s, which made it feel cozy and nice. The guide spoke only in Japanese, which made me feel very comfortable participating. From the port, we took a boat for about 20 to 30 minutes to reach an area where dolphins might be. The boat also passed through stunning scenery, so we could enjoy the views. The captain found a spot where dolphins were likely to be and prepared for snorkeling. After jumping into the water, we encountered a large group of dolphins just one minute later! There were about 20 dolphins gracefully swimming slowly about 7 to 8 meters away. I was surprised at how quickly we found them! After the group moved away, we returned to the boat and headed to the next spot. The second encounter was amazing, with a group of 30 to 40 dolphins. Furthermore, the dolphins came up close, just about 3 meters away. I could even hear their sounds, and it truly felt like we were swimming together. I recommend this experience for families, couples, and friends. The guide mentioned that encounters like this happen only about twice a year...

２０１３年１２月６日に行ってきました。今回はコオリナからのピックアップでしたので、片道３０分程でとても楽々でした。ホノルルから行くより１時間くらいは時間短縮出来るので、コオリナの宿泊の方は特にお勧めです。今回は２０名ほどのツアーで、年齢層も２０代～６０代と幅広くこじんまりした感じで良かったです。ガイドもすべて日本語でとても安心して参加できました。港からは約２０分～３０分ほど船に乗り、イルカのいそうな場所へ向かいます。この船も絶景を通るので景色も堪能できます。船長がイルカのいそうな現場を見つけシュノーケル準備。海に飛び込み１分後、早速イルカの大群に遭遇！！！推進７～８メートルくらいを２０頭ほどで優雅にゆっくりと泳いでます。こんなにすぐ！という感じでビックリ！一旦群れが去ったので船に戻り、次のスポットへ。２回目が凄く、群れが３０～４０頭。更にはイルカも上昇してきて、距離はわずか３メートルほど。泣き声も聞こえ、本当に一緒に泳いでいる感じでした。ご家族やカップルお友達同士、様々な方にお勧めです。※年に２回ほどは遭遇出来ないとガイドさんがおっしゃってました・・・。

The shark tank was a blast! The crew was fun, professional, lots of energy, they made the experience worthwhile. They made us a video, totally worth the extra $, explained everything extremely well. I was a little unsure as we entered the cage but once we got in and saw all the sharks no fear, just fun. We saw many sharks, they were curious swimming around the cage, they didn't try to ram it or anything crazy. Just a great morning swimming with the sharks! This is a must!!

I participated with two friends. It had been my dream to swim with dolphins in Hawaii, so I had high expectations.

On the day of the tour, our guide, Su-san, was very entertaining, and we had a great time in the car on the way there.

Once we got into the water, it took a while for the dolphins to come close, but we were thrilled to see 5 to 8 dolphins swimming right below our group! It was so exciting! Later, when we moved to swim with the fish, we had fun feeding the beautiful tropical fish. I also saw a turtle swimming very close to me (probably within 1 to 2 meters) as it returned to its underwater habitat! That was also incredibly moving! I didn't see it, but I heard there were sea lions as well.

In addition to the dolphins and turtles, the scenery of the surrounding mountains was stunning. The weather was nice, and the divine, quintessentially Hawaiian landscape was absolutely beautiful.

Although it’s not a cheap tour, given the richness of the experience in just half a day, it was worth every penny! I heard there are tours where you can swim with manta rays on the Big Island, so if I get the chance, I definitely want to go! I had such a great time!

友人と3人で参加しました。以前から、ハワイに行ったらドルフィンスイムをするのが夢だったので期待大でした。

当日は、ガイドのすーさんが非常に面白く行きの車の中から楽しかったです。

海に入ってからはなかなかそばにイルカが来てくれなかったのですが、何と、自分たちのグループの真下をスーと5～8匹のイルカが泳いで行ったのを見れました！！大興奮！！
その後移動してお魚たちと泳いだ時も、綺麗な熱帯魚？たちに餌をあげれて楽しかったです。亀も自分のすぐ近く（たぶん1～2メートル範囲）をスーと泳いで、水中のすみか？に帰って行くのを見れました！これも大感動！私は見れなかったですが、アシカもいたとか。
また、イルカや亀だけではなく周辺の山側の景色も素晴らしかったです。天気が良かったこともあり、神々しくハワイらしい景色が非常に良かったです。

決して安いツアーでは無いですが、半日でこの充実ぶりなら惜しくない！！
ハワイ島ではマンタと泳げるツアーもあるとのことでしたので機会があれば絶対行きたいです。本当に楽しかった！！

My favorite experience while in Hawaii. You get a boat ride, amazing scenery, great staff, its fun, and you also snorkel. They also take lots of pics for you ! Highly recommended. Dont miss out!

Since I participated from Kailua, I headed to the location without a shuttle. There is no tour desk at the site, so be careful as the meeting point is at a specific location. (I ended up going to the tour desk of another tour company.)

Since I used the second boat, we were able to use the large boat from Dolphin University, which was lucky because I got to eat a cheeseburger on the way back. The boat from Dolphin Junior High looked quite small, so that was good, but my friend got seasick and was throwing up, so it's best for those who get motion sickness to take medication before boarding. I also rented a wetsuit for $10. It serves as sunscreen and helps you float to some extent without a life jacket, so I recommend it.

We saw a lot of dolphins on the way to the point. I was excited to see baby dolphins jumping and being quite friendly. Unfortunately, we couldn't find any sea turtles at the point, but we enjoyed snorkeling there. The local staff were fishing.

It was a shame that there was no photographer accompanying us this time, so we didn't have any photos. It seems that a photographer doesn't accompany every trip, so it's a good idea to bring a disposable underwater camera for peace of mind. A friend who brought a waterproof camera seemed to have issues because they didn't have a housing for it, and it stopped working partway through. Also, the storage area under the bench isn't completely waterproof, so I think it's better to bring a beach bag that closes, like one made of vinyl.

On the way back, we saw a sea turtle taking a breath, which completed our mission. If you love dolphins, this is definitely an activity you'll enjoy.

カイルアからの参加だったので送迎なしで現地に向かいました。
現地にツアーデスクはなく、ポイント集合なので注意です。
（別のツアー会社のツアーデスクに行ってしまいました）
2便利用だったためか、戻ってきたイルカ大学の大きな船をそのまま使用できる
ことになり、帰りにチーズバーガーも食べられラッキーでした。
船もイルカ中学はかなり小さそうだったので、良かったですが
それでも友人は船酔いして吐きまくっていたので、酔う人は乗船前に
酔い止めを飲んだほうがベストです。
また、10ドルでウェットスーツも借りました。
日焼け止めにもなるし、ライフジャケットをつけなくてもある程度浮くのでオススメです。

イルカはポイントに向かう途中から沢山見られました。
赤ちゃんイルカもジャンプしたり、かなり友好的な姿に興奮しました。
ウミガメは残念ながらポイントにいっても発見できなかったのですが
そこではシュノーケルを楽しみました。
ロコのスタッフは魚を釣ってました。

今回、カメラマンが同行しなかったので写真が無くて残念でした。
毎回同行するわけではないようなので、使い捨ての水中カメラは持って行ったほうが安心です。防水カメラを持っていった友人はハウスをつけていなかったためか、途中で動かなくなってしまったようでした。
また、荷物入れはベンチの下で完全に防水なわけではないのでビニール製などの口が閉じるビーチバックを持って行ったほうがいいと思います。

帰りがけに息継ぎをするウミガメも見られてミッションコンプリートとなりました。
イルカが好きなら絶対楽しめるアクティビティですね。

Superb experience, i recommend to all. Also to those who cannot dive and are afraid in to be in the close enviroment. You feel like in the airplane. Great speak of guide, wonderful view.

We went to Sea Life Park as a family, and I participated in the Dolphin Encounter with my niece. The activity was explained in Japanese, so it's reassuring for those who don't understand English! It's definitely smoother to participate in the activities if you wear a swimsuit. The water in the dolphin pool was a bit cold, but I guess that's to match the dolphins' temperature. For adults, the water was up to the waist, but my niece was submerged up to her shoulders, so she looked cold the whole time. It's a rare experience to get so close to dolphins, so I think it was a valuable experience. The kids were thrilled! Even family members who just came to watch could walk around the park and see the dolphin and sea lion shows, so they wouldn't get bored. The park isn't too large, so it's manageable even with children.

Most of the visitors were families with kids. There weren't too many people, so you can enjoy the shows without needing to secure seats in advance. The view from Sea Life Park is also fantastic, allowing you to soak in the atmosphere of being in Hawaii! The price of the photos is a bit high, but I purchased them as a keepsake.

I highly recommend this valuable experience of interacting with dolphins and other animals under the wonderful blue sky of Hawaii!

家族でシーライフパークに行き、ドルフィン・エンカウンターには姪っ子と参加しました。アクティビティの説明は日本語であったので英語が分からなくても安心です！水着は必ず着ていった方がスムーズにアクティビティに参加できます。イルカのプールの水が少々冷たかったですが。。。いるかの温度に合わせているのなら仕方ないですね。大人は腰くらいですが姪っ子は肩までつかってしまうので終始寒そうでした。あんなにイルカに近づける体験ができることは滅多にないことなので貴重な体験ができたと思います。子供は大喜びです！見学に来てただけの家族も園内を回ったり、イルカやアシカのショーを見ることができるので飽きずに済むと思います。園内がそこまで広くないので子供連れでも疲れずに回れます。
ほとんどのお客さんが子供連れの方でした。人もそこまで多くないのでショーの席を取る必要もなくゆっくり見学できます。シーライフパークからの眺めも素晴らしいのでハワイにいるな～という雰囲気を味わえますよ！写真の価格は少し高いですが記念になるので購入しました。
ハワイの素晴らしい青空の下、イルカや他の動物と触れ合える貴重な体験を皆様にお勧めします！

I wasn't sure where or how to pick up the commemorative photos we took, so I couldn't get them. Is it possible to have them sent to my home? I haven't received any emails from the tour company regarding this, so could you please inquire about it?

記念写真撮ったものをどこにどうやって取りに行けばいいのか分からずに手に入らなかったのですが自宅郵送で送ってもらうのは可能でしょうか？
催行会社からそれに関するメールが来ないので問い合わせて頂けないでしょうか？

I came to Hawaii for my son's wedding.
I was scheduled to participate in Dolphin University, but I was transferred to the university due to boat maintenance.
Lucky!!
I got to see a lot of dolphins!!
My son and his wife participated in the tour the next day and they said they saw dolphins and whales.

Dolphin University, November 2, 2nd trip.

息子の結婚式でハワイに来ました。
イルカ中学に参加予定でしたが船のメンテナンスのため大学に編入されました。
ラッキー!!
いっぱいイルカを見れました!!
息子夫婦は翌日のツアーに参加しイルカとクジラが見れたそうです。

イルカ大学　11月2日　2便

I had to give this a 3 star rating to get it to post. My earlier one star rating wouldn't post and my comments were sent to the tour operator for comment. Each issue that I raised the company flat out lied about. As indicated in a prior review, it was disappointing that the scooters had to be moved around by the divers, they are not in working order to be moved under their own power. It looked like they were broken or missing engine parts. I loved the concept, the crew was fantastic and I would have said it was OK, but given that the event is not as advertised and that Bob's Underwater Scooter Adventure management flat out lied I would then question the safety of the event. False advertising. One star.

I participated in the encounter with my child. The dolphins we saw up close were cuter than I expected, and my child was thrilled. It was a wonderful experience for us. I would like to participate again next time. Thank you for the fun tour.

エンカウンターに子供と参加しました。
近くで見るイルカは思っていた以上に可愛く、子供も大喜び。
とても良い経験をさせてあげることができました。
また次回も参加したいと思います。
楽しいツアーをありがとうございました。