All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

This was an amazing experience. We saw the whales and we also got to see tons of sharks. The sail was great. Being that far out on the ocean was a wonderful experience.

Just before boarding, the trip was canceled due to poor visibility in the water, which affected the next schedule, but I was able to board the next day. It was my first experience, so I was excited. The boat ride to the submarine, feeling the sea breeze, was enjoyable and refreshing. However, the underwater view was not as clear as I had expected. I had imagined a slightly clearer sea. Overall, I think it's an experience worth trying at least once.

乗船する寸前で海中の視界不良で中止になり、次の
スケジュールへ影響しましたが、次の日に乗船する事が
できました。初めての経験でしたのでワクワクでした。
海風を浴びて潜水艦までの船も楽しく、気持ち良かったです。但し、海中は期待したよりきれいに見えませんでした。
もう少し、きれいな海を想像していたのですが。
まあ、全体的には1度は体験してみるべきと思います。

My bother and I went on the Oahu Day Cruise on April 10th 2008 just for an activity for the day. The cruise was an amazing experience with great staff and good people. The whales were amazing that day, so there was no lack of seeing one. I would highly recommend this activity during april or wnever there are whales to watch. It was quite an experience. Thanks to Hawaii Activities, and the Star of Honolulu crew.

My family had a wonderful time on this cruise. We would do this again if we go back to Hawaii. Everyone should try it, the food was great, the entertainment was great. Evrything was wonderful.

This was my fifth time in Hawaii, but it was my first visit to Sea Life Park. I had participated in dolphin watching tours before, but this tour was incredibly satisfying. I was able to see, touch, and even kiss the dolphins up close. At first, I thought, "This is a bit expensive," but considering the experience I had, I felt it was worth it. The staff hardly spoke any Japanese at all. They talked about the precautions when interacting with the dolphins, but I understood very little. Most of the participants were American, and I managed to follow along by mimicking them. One thing I learned was that you should not touch the dolphins' eyes. I was a bit confused at times, but the dolphins were so adorable. It made me feel very happy. Next time I go to Hawaii, I want to have even more experiences at Sea Life Park.

５回目のハワイでしたが初めてシーライフパークに行きました。以前にもイルカを見るツアーなどに参加した事がありましたがこのツアーは大満足でした。まじかにイルカを見れ、触れ、キスまで・・・。最初は”少し高いなー”と思っていましたがこれだけの体験をできるなら安いと思いました。飼育係りの方は全くと言うくらい日本語はできません。イルカと接する注意点などを話していましたがほとんど解りませんでした。参加者もほとんどアメリカ系の人でその人達の見よう見真似で何とかなりました。一つ解った事はイルカの目に触れてはいけないという事くらいでした。色々戸惑いましたがやはりイルカはとっても可愛かったです。とても幸せな気分になりました。今度ハワイに行ったらシーライフパークでもっと色々な体験をしてみたいです。

The meal, the activities alongside the watching, and the prices were all satisfactory. We saw whales several times!! However, they didn't jump as much as in the photos. It felt more like their fins were rolling with the waves. Still, being able to experience whales up close like this is truly unique to Hawaii.

食事内容、ウォッチングと平行しているアクティビティー、料金とも納得できるものでした。クジラも何度か出てくれましたしね！！でもあの写真程はジャンプしませんでした。波とともに背びれがうねる~と言う感じです。それにしても　こんなに近くでクジラを感じられるのはやはりハワイならではですよね。　

This was so much fun. The kids had a blast. We saw the cutest pink spinner dolphin. Everyone loved the boat ride...the whales, sharks and dolphins we saw were a bonus!

This was the greatest! My 7 year old daughter had a great time and the crew was really caring about her experience. I will definitely do this again! I recommend this charter to everyone. Gives you a whole new perspective on sharks!

A great experience. Saw many whales and the crew was really great. I would recommend this activity to everyone.

IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE WATCHING WHALES WHILE HAVING LUNCH. HAD A GREAT TIME!

We took the catamaran trip to whale watch on the north shore of oahu and it did live up to it's promise. We saw not only whales but sharks and a large sea turtle. The crew was great, seems like a family business. We took the trip to celebrate my mom's birthday and let's just say....she is still talking about it!!

This was a great whale watch. Saw 5 whales jumping out of the water, 4 others swimming near the boat and a mother nursing a baby whale just to our left.

Very enjoyable.

This was an awesome experience. You can't get any closer than this to live sharkes in the oceans. I could have reached out and touch them - but highly discouraged to do so.

This is an awesome experience and a great way to view sharks in thier own natural environment. Very graceful and peaceful to watch.

this is definitely not for the faint of heart! Although sharks do NOT like to eat humans (as it is commonly believed)! It is very exhilarating to watch them all around you. We would recommend it to anyone looking to have the experience of their lives!

The first major activity my friends and I did during our 4 day stay on Oahu and I have to say it was an amazing time, and definitely worth the experience.

My sister and I had a great time and would love to do it again in the future. There were more sharks than we thought and they were great to look at, thanks

It was a unique experience. I was lucky enough to hear the whales while under water!

We briefly saw some whales, but did not really get close enough to get any good pictures. Food was okay. The air conditioning was on high and everyone, even the mem on board were complaining about how cold it was. It was cool and windy out on deck, but people were going out to try to warm up. It really distracted from the enjoyment of the cruise.

Since I am not a scuba diver and the most snorkeling I have done was in my pool I would have to say this was a great experience. I took my three children ages 17,16, and 13. They had a wonderful time. The staff was nice. Having the fish each out of our hands was awesome. We even saw a huge turtle. Either before or after you go in the BOB you can snorkel around the boat. This was cool too. I wish I could have taken my underwater camera but they take great pictures with their camera for you. Of course there is charge to get a disc of the photos. The one down side is when we got home we were given the wrong photos. So be sure to ask them to double check before you leave. They are sending me the right one in the mail. Still overall this is a great experience for those who can't scuba dive yet.

The Whale watch cruise aboard the Star of Honolulu was enjoyable. We did see whales from a distance and near the boat. We also saw spinner dolphins at the beginning of the cruise.
The other activities on board besides the whale watching was entertaining. My daughter enjoyed making leis for us and herself.
The lunch that was served was delicious and my boyfriend enjoyed returning to the buffet for a second helping of the salads. My daughter enjoyed the fruits and cookies that were served. The price of drinks were a bit pricey.

I want to thank the staff who helped me cleanup after my daughter when she became seasick on the cruise. They also stopped by our table afterwards and inquired about how she was doing. Thanks for your concern. Thanks also to the passengers who helped me as well with their kleenex and kindness.

I would recommend this cruise to anyone who wants an off island excursion. It shows the island's beauty from a different viewpoint.

We always want to try subra driving but never do it, BOB can sucess our underwater experience with comfortable environment, we really enjoy it even if my wife afraid with fishes. If luckly, you can also snokeling with turtle like us. We recommend to try it to have a first experience under the water if you can't swim.

We had booked a submarine tour for five family members, but on the day of the tour, the weather was bad, and we had to either cancel or reschedule. We were able to change it to another day at 9 AM. Even during the 9 AM slot, the commentary was in Japanese. The water was a bit murky, but we were able to see sea turtles, so we were satisfied.

　家族5名でサブマリンツアーを予約していましたが、当日、天候が悪く、キャンセルか別の日へ変更ということになり、別の日の9時に変更していただきました。9時台でも日本語での解説でした。
ちょっと、水は濁ってはいましたが、ウミガメも見ることができたので、満足でした。
　

Saw lots of sharks, and very close. Guides were informative and fun. Great experience.

The cruise was nice and we DID see whales! Not a lot of them, but a few spouts and breaches. Too far to really get any type of photo. The lunch is well worth it - better food than what we had at the Polynesian Center Luau!!! I'd recommend to friends who are on first time visits.

It was my first time going whale watching. After doing some research, I found that booking through Alan was the cheapest option. We participated in the no-lunch course, and it was the right choice! Although they say it doesn't sway much, it still rocked a bit... If you're prone to seasickness, it's best to take some motion sickness medication in advance. Oh, they also provide motion sickness medication on board. Coffee, tea, and water are free!

The weather was nice on the day of the trip, and the interpreter mentioned, "It's the season, so we see whales every day," so I was hopeful... but no whales appeared, no matter how long we waited. Other guests seemed to be getting restless too. There were hula, ukulele, and lei-making classes offered, but I couldn't bring myself to participate since we hadn't seen any whales yet... (Other guests joined in and seemed to be enjoying it!) Just as we were nearing the return time, we finally saw a mother and calf whale breaching! However... they were far away... We only caught a glimpse of them a few times. I thought, "Is this really it?" But, since they are wild animals and there are regulations against getting within 100 meters, it can't be helped. My expectations were too high. Still, even from a distance, watching the mother and calf whales swimming leisurely made me feel quite happy!

I recommend bringing a light long-sleeve shirt when boarding. It can get quite cold on the water due to the strong wind.

初ホールウォッチングでした。いろいろ調べた結果、アランちゃんから申し込むのが一番安かったです。私達は昼なしコースで参加しました。そして正解でした！揺れにくい、とは言ってもやっぱり揺れました･･･。船に弱い方は、あらかじめ酔い止めを飲んでおいたほうが良いでしょう。あ、船内でも酔い止めをくれますよ。コーヒー、紅茶、水は無料です♪

当日は天気もよく、通訳の方が「今はシーズンなので毎日鯨を見れてます」と仰っていたので期待していたのですが。。。待てど暮らせど鯨現れず。。。ほかのお客さん達も時間を持て余しているようでした。フラ、ウクレレ、レイ教室も催されていましたが、まだ鯨を見れてないのに･･･と私は参加する気持ちになれませんでした。（ほかのお客さん達は参加していました。楽しんでいましたよ！）そして、もう帰港時間間際･･･というところでやっと親子鯨のブリーチングを見れました！ただ・・・遠い・・・。ぷしゅーっていうのと、背中チラリが何回か見れただけ。あれ？これで終わりなの？と思ってしまいました。でも、野生ですし、100Ｍ以内近づいたらいけない規制があるようで、仕方がないですね。期待が大きすぎました。でも、遠くでしたが、ゆったり泳いでいる親子くじらを見て、なんだか幸せ気分になれました♪

乗船するときは、薄手の長袖を持っていかれたほうがいいと思います。海の上って風が強く結構寒いです。

Great whale watching tour. We seen 14 whales. It was awesome.

The whale watching was GREAT! The whales were active and acting as if they knew we were there to see them. From reading other comments, we thought we were not going to see any whales or they would not be as active as the pictures show. But, they were definately right on time! Plus, the lunch they served on the boat was good. For the price you pay, you will get your moneys worth and certainly enjoy yourself. I would recommend this activity to anyone that enjoy whale watching, especially on a nice boat.

I participated in a course without pickup service, but it was no problem since I just had to show my voucher. I joined the Royal Swim, but perhaps due to the off-peak season, there were only five participants, including myself. Most of the others were from foreign countries like Australia and Canada, and since I was the only Japanese person, I felt a bit lonely. The female instructor initially said, "I can speak a little Japanese, so it's okay," but the only things she actually said in Japanese were "My name is ~" and "Are you okay?" along with "belly button," while the rest of the explanations were all in English. With my English skills, I could only understand about 30% of what was said, but since I watched a Japanese video beforehand, I had no particular issues swimming along.

The water temperature was indeed cold, but I got used to it after a while. However, when I got out of the water, I was cold and shivering. In a previous review, it was mentioned that there were only two changing rooms, but in reality, there were plenty, so I was able to change right away without waiting.

The price is high, but it's a valuable experience, so I recommend it.

送迎なしのコースに参加しましたが、バウチャーを見せるだけなので問題なしでした。ロイヤルスイムに参加しましたが閑散期のせいか、私を含め5人しか参加者がいませんでした。オーストラリアやカナダなど外国から来た方ばっかりでしたがみなさん英語圏の人ばかりで、私だけ日本人だったのでちょっとさみしかったです。インストラクターの女性は｢少し日本語が話せるから大丈夫よ｣と初めに言っていましたが、実際喋ったのは｢私の名前は～です｣｢大丈夫？｣｢おへそ｣くらいであとは全部英語による説明でした。私の英語力では3割くらいしか聞き取れませんでしたが、事前に日本語のビデオを見るので一緒に泳いだりする分には特に問題はありませんでした。
水温は確かに冷たいですがしばらくすると慣れて来ます。でも水からあがると寒くて震えてしまいました。以前の書き込みで更衣室が二つしかないと書かれていましたが、実際は沢山あったので、待つことなくすぐに着替えられました。
お値段は高いですが貴重な体験ができるのでおすすめです

I participated in the Royal Swim with seven friends. It seems that groups are divided based on the type of activity, even if it's the same time, and we were in a group with one girl. When they first asked if we were Japanese and I answered yes, the explanation video was in Japanese, and we also had a translator with us. We stored our belongings in lockers without locks, but if you're worried about valuables, they sell padlocks, so it might be a good idea to buy one if you're in a group.

Before the activity started, I had never been close to a dolphin, so I thought, "They're big! Scary!!" at first, but once I touched them, they were gentle, and as we went along, I couldn't help but find them adorable. There were even many opinions about wanting to buy a dolphin! (laughs) I ended up purchasing some photos as well. I felt that the foot push was the main focus, so it was a bit disappointing that I didn't have photos of that... At first, I thought it was a bit expensive, but I enjoyed it without any regrets.

友人たちと7人でロイヤルスイムに参加しました。同じ時間でもアクティビティーの種類によってグループが分けられるみたいで、
私たちと1人の女の子のグループでした。
最初にJapaneseかと聞かれてYesと答えると、
説明ビデオも日本語、通訳のお姉さんもつけてもらえました。荷物は鍵無しのロッカーに預けますが、貴重品が気になる場合は南京錠が売ってるので、グループなら１つ購入したら良いかもしれないですね。
アクティビティーが始まる前、
イルカに近づいたことなんか無かったので、
大きい!怖い！！と少し思いましたが、
触ってみるとおとなしいし、
進むに連れて可愛くて仕方なくなりました。
イルカ買いたい！欲しい！っていう意見が多いくらい（笑）
写真もつい購入してしましました。
ただフットプッシュがメインな気がしたので、その写真が無かったのは残念でしたが･･･。最初は少し高いかなと思いましたが、
後悔なく楽しめました。

I participated in the Dolphin Encounter with my 5-year-old son. We checked in at the guest counter inside Seaside Park. There were Japanese staff members, which made me, as a beginner, feel at ease.

We put on life vests and listened to a brief explanation from the trainer (in English) before heading straight to the pool. There were about 20 participants.

First, we were allowed to touch the dolphin's back and belly. My son was a bit hesitant at first, but he gradually got used to it. Following the trainer's instructions, the dolphin gave me a kiss on my cheek and lips. It was my first time interacting with a dolphin so closely, and I was truly moved.

The experience lasted about 45 minutes, but it didn't feel short at all. At the end, they were selling photos of us being kissed by the dolphin and DVDs. Sadly, we ended up buying them as a keepsake...

Even though we made a last-minute reservation, I appreciate Alan for handling everything properly. The phone call to confirm the reservation was a bit amusing (laughs).

ドルフィンエンカウンターに、５歳の息子と参加しました。
シーサイドパーク内のゲストカウンターにて受付をしました。日本人のスタッフもいて、初心者の私にも安心できました。
ライフベストを装着し、トレーナーから簡単な説明（ここは英語）を聞き、早速プールへ。参加者は２０名程度でした。
まずイルカの背中とお腹を触らせてくれます。息子も最初はおそるおそるでしたが、次第になれてきました。
トレーナーの指示で、イルカが私のほっぺたとくちびるにキス。こんな間近でイルカとふれあうことは初めてなので、感動してしまいました。
時間は４５分程度でしたが、短いとは感じませんでした。
最後はイルカにキスされている写真とＤＶＤを販売していました。悲しいかな、思い出として買ってしまう我々・・・
直前の予約でしたが、きちんと対応いただきアランさんには感謝しています。予約確認の電話対応がちょっと笑えました（笑）