All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

We were a group of 4 that went out for about 2-hours. The weather was perfect and the crew was great. One of our crew played the guitar for us and sang as well.

The boat was pretty spacious. Would recommend this one again!

I got seasick and threw up, but there were so many dolphins, and it was fun! I didn't even know we could see sea turtles too, which was amazing! ✨

船酔いしてしまい吐いたけど、イルカの群れがたくさん居て楽しかったです！しかもウミガメまでも見れるなんて知らなくて最高でした！✨

It felt like we were casually scuba diving down to the seabed. I was very satisfied to see various sizes of fish and sea turtles! The water can get murky or hard to see depending on the currents and weather, but I think only those with a broad mindset who can accept that should go.

海底までいくので、気軽にスキューバダイビングをしているようでした。そして大小様々な魚やウミガメが見れて大満足でした！潮流、天気によって海水が濁ったり見えにくかったりするようですが、それも仕方がないと思える心が広い人だけがいけばいいと思います。

I am terrified of sharks but this tour completely changed my views! I had such a fun time and I would do it with this company again as they took great care of my fear and made it comfort.

I participated in the main event of this trip, the Dolphin Touch. The price was so high that I hesitated, but I decided to go for it thinking it would help support the dolphins' lives.

After the driver dropped everyone off at the park, he just disappeared, leaving us all a bit confused about what to do. We nervously approached the reception desk, and I was relieved that the staff understood when I presented the voucher. The voucher is essential. Neither the driver nor the reception staff spoke Japanese. I received a paper with the return meeting time written in Japanese and went inside. There were staff members who spoke Japanese, so they explained everything to us, which was a huge help.

We were in the water for about 20 to 30 minutes, and with a group of around 10 people, there was one trainer and one dolphin, so we took turns touching and taking photos. Everything was in English, but they communicated how to touch the dolphins using gestures, so it worked out fine.

After that, we had lunch at the park's restaurant (optional) and then went to the area where we could interact with birds. The kids seemed to really enjoy this, going in multiple times to feed them. They were pecked at without mercy, but despite the pain, they looked like they were having a great time.

We were also given lettuce-like leaves by the staff to feed the fish, and they were eating it surprisingly eagerly. It felt like a small aquarium, but since it wasn't crowded, we could take our time to look around. The scenic coastal road on the way there and back made for a fun day.

今回の旅行のメインイベント、イルカタッチに参加しました。
料金が高すぎて迷うほどでしたが、イルカ達の生活の足しになっていると思って思い切って申し込みました。
ドライバーさん、パークについて皆を降ろしたらそのままいなくなってしまって、どうしたら良いのか皆ザワザワ。恐る恐る受付窓口に行ってバウチャーを出したら受付の方がわかってくれて良かったです。バウチャー必須です。ドライバーもですが、受付でも日本語は通じません。帰りの集合時間が日本語で書かれた紙をもらい、中へ。中には日本語を話すスタッフがいたのであれこれ説明してもらえてすごく助かりました。
水に入っているのは20～30分ですが、10名ほどのグループにトレーナーとイルカが1匹なので順番にタッチしたり写真撮ったりします。全て英語でしたが身振り手振りで触り方などを教えてもらえるのでなんとかなります。
そのあと、園内のレストランで昼食を食べて(任意)、鳥に触れ合えるコーナーへ。
子供達はこれがすごく楽しかったようで、何度も入っては餌をあげていました。容赦なく指をつつかれたりしますが、痛がりながらも楽しそうでした。
スタッフからレタスみたいな葉っぱをもらって魚にあげることもできます。
びっくりするくらいむしゃむしゃ食べてました。笑
規模が小さい水族館な感じですが、混んでいなかったのでゆっくり見ることが出来ました。行き帰りも景色の良い海沿いの道なので楽しい一日になりました。

Wasn't quite sure what to expect when you hear you're swimming with sharks without a cage. It was a very neat experience. The sharks pretty much stay below you. The crew does a good job of explaining their behavior and what to do around them. The crew was very knowledgable and made the tour exciting. I think the only thing I would change is maybe running the line that everyone hangs onto away from the boat. I felt like at times the waves would bring me back into the boat. It would be nice to just float on the surface away from the boat. But it was still very cool, the crew lets you go out and dive down and "hang" with the sharks for a little bit. Definitely a bucket list item. Would suggest brining your own snorkel gear if you find it hard to fit rentals. Bring a GoPro too! But if you forget, they're taking video and pics of everyone the whole time! Other than that, book it and go have fun!! Well worth the time and money!!

We participated as a family since there were activities available for children aged 5 and under, and we had never touched a dolphin before.

We arrived at the park around 10 AM. There was a line for entry, so we waited in line. After waiting for 10 or 20 minutes, the line wasn't moving much. Since the activity was scheduled for 11 AM, we felt a bit anxious and frustrated. We finally got in and made our way to the dolphin pool. We weren't sure where to go for preparation, but we rushed in at the last moment, and thankfully, we made it. It would have been better if the entry process was smoother. Also, it would be helpful if the preparation area had clearer maps or guides.

The interaction with the dolphin (Nalu) was great. The explanations were in English, so those who are not familiar with English might not understand, but you can still enjoy the atmosphere. The fun time went by in a flash, and since the pickup for our return was at 2 PM, we didn't have enough time to fully enjoy the park. That's a bit disappointing. It seems that visiting this park twice might be enough to fully enjoy it.

5歳の子どもが参加できるアクティビティという制限の中、イルカに触れたことなかったので、親子で参加。

パークには10時ころに到着。入場は列ができていたので、並んで待っていました。10分、20分待てど列はなかなか前へ進みません。11時からのアクティビティなのでちょっと不安、イライラが。何とか入って、イルカのプールへ。どこに準備でどこに行くのかわからず最後に駆け込むように、でも間に合ってよかったです。もう少し入場がスムーズならいいのですが。あと準備の場所も案内図などが分かりやすければよいのですが。

イルカ（Nalu君）との触れあいは良かったです。説明は英語なので、英語不慣れな方は理解できないと思いますが、雰囲気で楽しめますよ。
楽しい時間はあっという間、14時には帰りのピックアップがくるので、パーク内で十分に堪能できなかった。ちょっと残念。
このパークは2回ほど行くと十分楽しめるのかも。

It was a very valuable experience for the children. The staff were also very kind and provided thorough explanations to the children's questions.

子供にとってとても貴重な体験となりました。
スタッフの方もとても親切で、子供の質問にも丁寧にく説明をしてくれます。

Interacting with the dolphins was very enjoyable. It was a valuable experience. Since you can also feed sea turtles and small birds, I think it's a place that will make children very happy.

イルカ触れ合いはとても楽しかったです。貴重な体験ができました。海亀や小鳥の餌やりなどもできるので、子供がとても喜ぶ場所だと思います。

I participated in a dolphin encounter with elementary and middle school students.

If you take the shuttle bus from the Marriott Hotel on the east side of Waikiki, it departs around 9:00 AM, so you don't need to wake up too early, and the travel distance is not too long (about 30 minutes). The bus also has a restroom, making it easy to participate with children.

The aquarium is of medium size, and there isn't a significant difference in the dolphin and sea lion shows compared to Japan. (Don't compare it to places like Churaumi, Kaiyukan, or Hakkeijima.)

The important part of interacting with the dolphins can be experienced slowly over a good amount of time (about 45 minutes?), and companions can take photos from the opposite shore (which has shade), so there were several participants with one child and one guardian. (Dads took photos and watched the bags from the shore.)

There are also tours to search for wild dolphins offshore, but for families with children, the early departure time and travel distance can be challenging, and since you can't guarantee seeing or interacting with them, the kids said they were glad to have participated in this tour.

小学生、中学生を連れてドルフィンエンカウンターに参加しました。

ワイキキ東側のマリオットホテルから送迎バスでの出発であれば、9:00頃なのであまり早起きも必要なく移動距離も長すぎず（30分程度）、バスにトイレも付いているので子連れでも参加しやすかったです。

水族館としての規模は中程度で、イルカやアシカのショーも日本と比べて大きな違いはありません。（美ら海、海遊館、八景島などと比べてはいけません）

肝心のイルカとの触れ合いはゆっくりと時間をかけて体験できる（45分程度？）のと、同行者も対岸（日陰もあり）などから撮影は出来るので、子供＋保護者１名での参加者も数名いました。（お父さんは陸から撮影＆荷物番）

他に沖で野生のイルカを探すツアーもありますが、子連れには出発時刻（早朝）や移動距離の苦労もあり、確定で会える訳でも触れる訳でもない為、本ツアーに参加してよかったと子供たちも言っていました。

the kids lvoed to get to see the fish from the portholes! great day underwater

I think it's better to take excessive measures against seasickness. Even if the waves are calm when departing, once you head out to sea, the weather doesn't matter and the waves can be high, making you feel sick even in the cage.

I couldn't understand anything from the English guide, but it was manageable.

There are a huge number of sharks, and they don't attack, making the experience wonderful.

とにかく船酔い対策は過剰なくらいした方がいいと思います。
出航する時は波が穏やかでも沖に出れば天候など関係なく波が高く、檻に入っても酔います。

英語ガイドで何も理解はできませんでしたがなんとかなります。

サメはすごい量いて、襲ってくることもなく体験としては素晴らしいです。

The private boat charter was a great help for families with small children. Since there were many little kids, it was really nice for us parents not to have to worry about other customers being around. Not only did we go wild dolphin watching, but we were also lucky enough to see whales. The dolphins swam alongside the boat, and we were able to see them up close, which was incredibly cute. I definitely want to participate again, but when I tried to make the next reservation, it seemed that my next visit to Hawaii was fully booked, so I couldn't reserve. I'm really disappointed... I wish I had planned earlier.

貸切ボートチャーターは小さい子連れには助かりました。小さい子供が多かったので、他のお客様がいないことは親としては気を遣わなくてとってもよかったです。野生のイルカウォッチングだけでなく、運が良くクジラを見る事ができました。イルカが船に合わせて泳いでくれたのか、近くでみることができてとってもかわいかったです。ぜひまた参加したいと思い、次の予約をしようと思いましたら次のハワイ訪問日はいっぱいのようで、
予約できなくて残念です。。。もっと早く計画しておけばよかったです。

All families were very happy & having so much fun. It was really fantastic trip. I want to revisit when I come back to Hawaii. Thank you for all kindly arrangements.

It was disappointing that some facilities were closed, but there was a staff member who spoke Japanese and was very kind in assisting us. I had a great time feeding and touching the dolphins; it was a very enjoyable experience. Next time, I would like to participate in a tour to swim with the dolphins when my grandchild is older.

一部施設がクローズだったのが残念でしたが、現地スタッフで日本語が出来る方がいて大変親切に対応して頂きました。
イルカに餌をあげたり触ることも出来、大変楽しい経験が出来ました。
今度は孫も大きくなったらイルカと一緒に泳ぐツアーに参加したいと思います。

The experience was not very good considering the high price. Since it's a submarine, the windows are small and visibility is poor, so I couldn't see much. I didn't really feel like I was diving, but I did feel a bit nauseous. I was hoping to see sea turtles, but unfortunately, I didn't see any.

高い値段の割には体験としてあまり良くなかったです。
潜水艦なので窓が小さく、見通しもよくないのであまり良く見えませんでした。
潜っている実感も特にないですが少し酔います。
ウミガメも見れるかと思ったけど見れず残念

I had a hard time encountering dolphins...
The captain gave us a chance to meet dolphins until the very end.
We were able to see the best pod of dolphins.
Watching the dolphins swim together brought me dreams and happiness.
Thank you! ♪

なかなかイルカに出会えず‥
キャプテンも最後までイルカと会えるチャンスをくれました。
最高のイルカの群れを見ることが出来ました。
イルカの仲良く泳ぐ姿、夢と幸せを頂きました。
ありがとうございます♪

It's a small aquarium, but the tour itself was wonderful, and I had a great time without feeling bored. My parents (65 years old) were also satisfied.

小さな水族館ですがツアー内容自体素晴らしく、時間を持て余すことなくとても楽しめました。両親(65歳)も満足していました。

There are sharks everywhere, not just a few. Sharks in 360 degrees.
The cage is so wide that not only my hands and feet but even my body can easily stick out; in fact, if the sharks really try, they could get in too. It's a tour that depends on the sharks' mood.
There were no Japanese participants, but there was one Japanese staff member, which made me feel very reassured.
A GoPro is essential; it seems you can rent one there too. I think it will be a topic of conversation for ages, so you should definitely take photos and videos. I’ll probably brag about it to my grandchildren right before I die.
I was in the cage for 20 minutes, but I think 10 minutes would have been enough (laughs). In the first half, I was moved by seeing the sharks, and in the second half, I was just swaying around like in a washing machine. I got seasick. You will definitely get seasick. Even if you take motion sickness medication, you will still feel it.
The staff member said the weather on the day I participated was very calm, but once you're in the cage, that doesn't matter; you will get seasick.
On the way back on the boat, a handsome guy with bronze hair was throwing up right in front of me. The boat was moving at a decent speed, so the vomit was flying sideways. Even while throwing up, he was still handsome.
The distance from the hotel in Waikiki to the North Shore is too far, so it's better to check your transportation options properly. It seemed like everyone came by rental car. We took a bus transfer, but I was most worried about whether we would make it there.
Overall, I was very satisfied! I don't think I'll ever get the chance to swim with sharks again in my life, so if you're hesitating, you should definitely do it. You’ll get to see the handsome guy's blue face.

サメがうじゃうじゃおる、ちらほらじゃない。360度サメ。
檻の幅が広すぎて手足どころか身体も全然出る、なんならサメも頑張りゃ入れる。サメのお気持ち次第のツアー。
参加者に日本人はいなかったけど、スタッフに1人日本人のお兄さんがいたのでとっても安心でした。
GoProは必須、向こうでもレンタル出来るみたい。未来永劫話のネタになると思うから絶対写真も動画も撮るべき。死ぬ直前にも孫に自慢する思う。
20分檻の中に居たけど、10分でええと思った（笑）前半はサメ見て感動して、後半は洗濯機の中でただただ揺られてた。酔う。絶対に酔う。酔い止め飲んでも酔う。
自分が参加した日の気候、めちゃくちゃ穏やかってお兄さん言ってたけど、檻の中入りゃあそんなん関係ない、酔います。
帰りの船の中、ブロンズヘアのイケメンが目の前でずっと吐きょうた。まあまあの速度で船動いとるからゲロが真横に吹き飛んでた。吐いててもイケメンはイケメン。
ワイキキのホテルからノースショアまでが遠すぎて、足はちゃんと調べた方が良い。みんなレンタカーで来てたっぽい。自分たちはバス乗り継いで行ったけど、辿り着けるかが1番不安だった。
総じて大満足！サメと泳げることとか多分これからの人生でないと思うから、迷ってるならやるべき。イケメンの青い顔が見れます。

We arrive at the park in time for the opening. The shuttle car is very cold. It's chilly.
Drinks inside the park are expensive, so let's bring a water bottle or a plastic bottle. There are hydration spots at the restaurant.
Interacting with the dolphins can get you somewhat wet as they splash water around. I think the price is reasonable.

開園に合わせてパークに到着します。送迎の車はクーラーガンガンです。寒いです。
パーク内で飲み物は高いので水筒やペットボトルを持っていきましょう。レストランに吸水スポットがあります。
イルカとのふれあいはイルカが水をバシャバシャしてくるのでまぁまぁ濡れます。
値段的にはまぁまぁかなと思います。

Great experience pretty clear cut check in and the dolphins are extremely friendly

The sea felt great and I was excited. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see any whales, but that's okay. I enjoyed it as if I were on a cruise.

海が気持ちよく行きはワクワク
残念ながらクジラは会えませんでしたが仕方ないですね。
クルージングをしたつもりで楽しみました

If you’re second guessing whether or not you should do it, DON’T. I’m so glad I didn’t let my fear get in the way of experiencing such an unforgettable moment. I learned a great deal and have found a new appreciation for these apexes predictors.

We were blessed with very nice weather and felt the impressive submarine and pleasant sea breeze as we moved towards the submarine. Everything was wonderful! It was the best dream-like experience! Both my mother and child were very satisfied, and after getting off, they were excited, saying, "We saw sea turtles! There were so many fish!"

It was a unique world, different from regular snorkeling, almost like a movie. The explanations were in English, delivered by a lively and entertaining host, while my mother and child enjoyed the commentary in Japanese that they had downloaded in advance.

This is a tour that I definitely recommend trying at least once!

とても良い気候に恵まれ、迫力のある潜水艦と気持ちの良いシーブリーズを感じながら潜水艦へと移動する船。
すべてが気持ちよかったです！最高の夢のような体験でした！
母も子供も大満足で、降りた後も海亀に会えたね！お魚さんたち沢山いたね！と興奮していました(^^)
貴重なシュノーケリングとはまた違う映画のような世界でした。
説明は英語でお姉さんの迫力あり、笑いありの楽しいホストと、母と子供は事前にダウンロードしておいた日本語音声で解説を楽しんでいました。
ぜひ一度は乗ってみてほしい、体験してほしいツアーでした！

This was an excellent start to a seven-day island excursion. Enjoyed every aspect of the journey including the boat ride to and from. The submarine crew did an excellent job of insuring that viewers on both sides of the vessel got to see the same sights. Fish of all size, turtles, and even eels all clearly visible coupled with insightful commentary from a comedic crew member.

We participated with children. The explanations were in English, and we were able to see many fish. We also saw turtles, and the kids were very happy. Please be careful near the seats by the stairs for getting on and off the submarine, as seawater may fall there when disembarking.

子供連れで参加しました。解説は英語ですが、たくさんの魚を見ることができました。カメも見ることができ、子供たちは大喜びでした。潜水艦の登り降りする階段付近の席は、下船時に海水が落ちてくるのでご注意下さい。

We departed from West Oahu, but unfortunately, we didn't see a single whale that day. We also experienced a cruise departing from Waikiki as a backup service from the same company, but we still didn't encounter any whales! However, if you don't see any whales, you receive a free boarding ticket for the next time, so if you have flexibility in your schedule, you can reschedule for another day. If you're visiting for about five days, you might not have time to switch to another day, so it's a bit of a gamble... There were no Japanese crew members, so everything was in English. Our family was the only Japanese guests. But as long as you can find the departure location, you should be fine even if you don't understand English.

西オアフから出発ですが、その日は残念ながら１頭も会えず。
リベンジでワイキキからも出発するクルーズ（同じ会社の振り替えサービス）も体験しましたが、くじらに会えず！
ただ、見れなかった場合は次回無料乗船券がもらえるので、日程的に余裕がある人は違う日に振り替えられます。5日くらいの観光できているとほかの日に振り替える時間がないと思うので、一か八かですね・・・。
日本人のクルーはいませんので、すべて英語です。
日本人客は私たち家族だけでした。でも出発場所にさえちゃんとたどり着ければ英語がわからなくても大丈夫です。

Great Morning Out, was the only package on the Island (I checked with tonnes of tour guides out there) that offered Transport to the North Shore and Time in the town up there.
100% recommend, Get out of Waikiki and see the island and some Sharks. We also saw Dolphins and Wales but didn't get a refund for that.

It was a fun and valuable experience, but I can't help but think that it wasn't that rare of an experience.

The slow pace of travel and seeing sea turtles, which I feel like you can see anywhere in Hawaii, lacked impact as the main attraction.

Of course, it was enjoyable!

楽しかったし貴重な体験でしたがそれほど珍しい体験ではないかと思ってしまいます。

ゆっくり過ぎる移動である事やハワイならどこでも見れる気がするウミガメを見るのが目玉ではインパクトに欠けました。

もちろん楽しかったですが！

I experienced this with my 4-year-old and 6-year-old children. The explanations were all in English, and while the staff's responses were a bit rough at times, it was great to see the kids enjoying themselves. It seems like the facility is under renovation, so we couldn't see everything, and since there's nothing around, it was a little disappointing.

4歳と6歳の子と体験しました。
説明は全て英語、スタッフの方は少し雑な対応があったりしましたが、子供たちが喜んでいたので良かったです。
施設が改装工事中？のようで全てを見ることができず、周りにも何もないところなので少し残念。