All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

The guides were great and it was a casual relaxing boat ride with pretty views of Diamond Head and Waikiki. Didn’t get to see much but it was nice to be out on the water.

I was looking forward to showing the children the whales, but we couldn't see any at all, and it turned into just a regular cruise.

くじらを子供たちに見せてあげられるかと楽しみにしておりましたが、全く見ることができず、単なるクルーズになってしまいました。

I participated in a whale watching tour that included breakfast. The boat was larger than I expected, which made for a comfortable experience. I was thrilled to spot a whale spouting water! I was also satisfied to see it raise its tail. I want to go again!

朝食付きのホエールウォッチングに参加しました。
思っていたより大きな船で、ゆったりしました。
肝心のクジラは、潮を上げているところを見つけ、大興奮！
尾びれを上げたところも見れて満足。
又行きたい！

Diving down to 100 feet, we could see the sunken ship and artificial coral reefs. Around them, many fish, sharks, and turtles swam gracefully. It seemed like the kids really enjoyed this first-time experience.

100フィートまで潜水すると、沈められた船や人工の珊瑚礁が見えました。そのまわりに沢山の魚やサメ、亀が優雅に泳ぐのが見えました。初めての体験に子供達も楽しめたようです。

Crew, Equipment exceeded expectation, for swimmers and non swimmers alike. IWS Underwater scooter is an event you will cherish. My wife and I were thankful they could take us on short notice. A complete package from reservation, pick up, instruction, operation, pics and drop off.

I was a bit anxious about participating alone, but once it started, I found that it was totally fine to join by myself. There was support in Japanese as well.

I got to see dolphins and turtles up close, and I enjoyed snorkeling in the beautiful sea. I swam quite a distance, so half a day was just the right amount of time.

一人参加で不安がありましたが
始まってみれば一人で参加でも全然大丈夫でした
日本語でのサポートもあるし

近距離でイルカにもカメにも会えました
綺麗な海でシュノーケリングも楽しめました。
なかなかの距離を泳いだので半日で時間的にも
ちょうどよかったです

The staff was amazing, but for money, this was just ok for us. We spent 2 hours cruising the ocean looking for whales. We did not see any, but did see some dolphins and a sea turtle. I was under the impression that the boat would be a catamaran, and would have some areas to sit, relax, and watch. But, apparently on certain days, the Disney resort uses that boat and so we took a boat normally used for scuba diving out. There was not much seating that allowed for you to view the ocean and watch for whales, so basically we stood the whole 2 hours on some pretty choppy water. They had some snacks and refreshments which my son enjoyed, but about an hour in he was pretty bored. Again, the staff was awesome, but the experience as a whole I probably would not do again. They did give us a voucher to return for free. We will see.

I was able to see the dorsal fin and tail fin for just a moment! It took a lot of patience to catch a glimpse of the whale pod.

背びれや尾びれが本当に一瞬だけ見れました！なかなかのクジラの群れを見ることが出来ず忍耐力が必要でした

At "Dolphin Middle School," the instructor is the class president, and the teacher is the "Bottlenose Dolphin." The Pacific White-Sided Dolphin is the "Boss," the sea turtle is "Professor Turtle," and the whale is "The Great Teacher"! This creates a wonderfully entertaining atmosphere for participants.

The main focus of the tour is to see the wild "Pacific White-Sided Dolphin," but since they are wild, there's no guarantee you'll encounter them.

When I went, unfortunately, I didn't get to meet the dolphin teacher, but I was able to see not only the boss and Professor Turtle but also The Great Teacher multiple times!

They are very kind to those who have never snorkeled before, and snorkeling gracefully with Professor Turtle is a lot of fun.

There is also a professional photographer on board, so they take plenty of underwater photos. Although there is a fee, you receive the data, allowing you to print or save them as you like, which is a nice bonus.

「イルカ中学」では、インストラクターは学級院長、先生は「ハシナガイルカ」。
バンドウイルカは「番長」で、ウミガメは「カメ教授」、クジラは「大先生」！
という、なんとも面白いノリで参加者を盛り上げてくれます。

イルカ先生こと「野生のハシナガイルカ」を見るのがメインのツアーですが、野生なので必ず出会えるとは限りません。

私が行った際も、残念ながらイルカ先生には出会えませんでしたが、番頭やカメ教授だけではなく、大先生を何度も観ることができました！

シュノーケルをやったことがない人にも親切に教えてくれますし、カメ教授との優雅なシュノーケリングは楽しいです。

泳ぎのプロでもあるカメラマンも一緒に乗っているので、水中の写真もいっぱい撮ってくれます。有料ではありますが、データでもらえるので自分の好きなようにプリントアウトしたり保存できるのも嬉しいです。

I was really looking forward to the underwater walk on this trip, and it turned out to be a wonderful experience just as I had hoped. I was moved by the beautiful underwater scenery and the fish and sea turtles swimming up close. The guide was also kind and attentive, which made it easy for me to trust them with my children. I'm glad I purchased the memorable photos and videos. I definitely want to experience it again!

今回の旅行で海底散歩をとても楽しみにしていて
思った通り素晴らしい体験ができました。
きれいな水中と間近で泳ぐ魚やウミガメに遭遇し感動しどうしでした。
ガイドの方も親切丁寧なので子供たちも安心してまかせることが
できました。
思い出の写真と動画も購入してよかったです。
またぜひ体験したいです。

This spot offers dolphin shows and touch pools, making it a great place for families to relax and enjoy. You can see the ocean from the park, and the scenery is beautiful. When purchasing alcohol in the park, it seems that ID verification is required, so it's recommended to bring a copy of your official identification. Since the air conditioning on the round-trip bus is strong, it's a good idea to prepare a long-sleeve shirt. (We purchased a bath towel in the park.)

イルカのショーやタッチプールなどがあり、家族でゆったりと楽しめるスポットです。
園内から海が見えて、景観も良いです。
園内でアルコールを購入する際は、ID確認が必要のようです。公的証明書のコピー持参をお勧めします。
往復のバスの冷房が強い為、長袖の準備も。
（我家はパーク内でバスタオルを購入しました。）

It was an awesome experience! Seeing the sharks so close was amazing!

My 9-year-old daughter participated in the experience. It was raining from the morning, and since she was attending alone, I had some concerns about how it would go until it started. However, once it began, she seemed to enjoy the experience. The story about the turtles was explained in English, but it was easy to understand, as they occasionally included Japanese words and used photos and models, so she seemed to grasp most of it.

Although she participated alone, there were Japanese children in the same group, so she quickly warmed up to them and chatted happily. She was able to interact with the dolphins much more than she had expected, and she looked very satisfied.

9才の娘が体験。
雨も朝から降っていて、一人で参加の為、どんな風になるのか始まるまで、不安も少しありましたが、始まると楽しそうに体験出来ていました。カメのお話も英語での説明ですが、分かりやすく時々日本語単語を交えて、写真や模型なども使ってくれて、だいたいは理解していたようです。
一人で参加でしたが、同じグループには日本の子どもたちがいたこともあり、すぐに打ち解けて仲良く話したり、イルカとも思っていたよりたくさん触れ合えて子どもは大満足の様子でした。

As soon as we set off, we spotted a pod of dolphins, which made me think we were off to a good start. However, after that, we didn't see anything and it ended there. Given the high expectations, it was disappointing not to see any whales, and the experience ended up being boring. Additionally, since we didn't see any whales, we were given tickets that could be used during the season starting the next day, but I felt there were high hurdles, such as the fact that the tickets were only valid until January of the following year and that reservations could only be made by phone (likely in English), with no option for online booking. I think it would be better if there were options like receiving a gift (such as a whale plush toy) or a re-ticket if nothing is seen.

出発早々、イルカの群れが見えて、幸先良いかと思いましたが、その後、何も見えず、終了しました。期待が高かった分、クジラが見えなかったため、つまらなく終わりました。また、クジラが見えなかったため、翌日からシーズン内で利用できるチケットをもらいましたが、翌日から年1月までであること、電話(おそらく英語)での予約のみでwebでの予約が出来ないなどハードルが高いと感じました。見れない場合、プレゼント(例えばクジラのぬいぐるみなど)か再チケットかを選べるなどあると良いと思います。

I was supposed to go see whales, but ended up only seeing dolphins?! When I asked others, it seems that whales are rarely seen at this time of year. It's a total rip-off, and I want my money back!!

クジラを見に行ったはずが、イルカを見ただけで終わり⁉️他の人に聞いたところ、今の時期は、めったにクジラは見られないらしい。ぼったくりも甚だしいし、お金を返してほしい‼️

We gathered quite early, and after boarding, we had to wait for over 30 minutes, which was tough with kids. However, we were happy to see a large group of dolphins right after we set sail, although we didn't spot any whales. I really appreciated how hard the captain worked to take us around and how the crew was considerate towards the children; it felt very thoughtful. After disembarking, the return journey was smooth, but I thought it would have been nice to have a little time for shopping.

随分早めの集合なのか、乗船してからぼんやり待つ時間30分以上でした。子連れには辛いですが、、出航してすぐにイルカの大群が見れてハッピーでしたが鯨みえず。
でも船長さんがかなり頑張ってあちこち飛ばしてくれたり船員の方が子供に気遣いしてくれているのはすごくわかり良心的だと思いました。
降りてからはさくさく帰路なんですがちょいとショッピングの時間が取れてもよいかもと思いました。

I thought it would be lucky if I could see a whale, but about an hour after boarding, I encountered a mother and baby whale! I even got to see them jump, and they came quite close, which was incredibly exciting.
I also had the opportunity to experience cultural activities like making leis and playing the ukulele, and I was able to participate in two or three of them as time allowed!

クジラが見れたらラッキーだな、くらいの気持ちでいましたが乗船から一時間くらいでくじらの親子に会えました！ジャンプもみられ、かなり近くにクジラがきてくれて大興奮でした。
カルチャー体験もレイ作りやウクレレ、フラ時間の許す限り２個３個と体験させてもらえました！

The entire family had a great time feeding the fish and spotting sea turtles.

Unfortunately, the water was murky, and it didn't feel like a very beautiful underwater walk. (I think it depends on the season...) Also, the inside of the submarine was very cold, and the seats were chilly, so I was desperately trying to endure the cold in the second half. (It's essential to bring warm clothing.) I had gone to the restroom before getting on the submarine, but my child got really cold, and in the end, it turned into a "I need to go to the restroom!" situation, which made me anxious.

残念ながら水が濁っていて、あまりキレイな海中散歩という感じではありませんでした。（時期にもよると思いますが・・・）
また潜水艦の中がとても寒くて、シートも冷え冷えなので、後半は寒さに耐えるのに必死・・・。（防寒着持参必須です。）
潜水艦に乗る前にトイレを済ませていたけれど、子供が冷え切って、最後はトイレ～～～～という感じになってしまい、ハラハラしました。

The meeting point at the hotel is about a 30-minute ride to the boat. When I participated in dolphin watching last time, we traveled quite far, so I wondered if we could see whales in such a city area. However, we spotted one about 30 minutes after departure! Since it was a larger boat, we couldn't get too close, but thanks to the crew's patience in spotting them, we were able to see a mother and baby whale quite closely in the second half of the trip.

The weather was nice, and even when we couldn't see any whales, the views of Honolulu were so beautiful that I didn't get bored. However, the waves were quite high, and there were moments when the boat rocked a lot, so I think anyone prone to motion sickness should definitely take medication. (I was fine, so I had a great time throughout!) The buffet-style sandwiches were also delicious.

When we returned to the hotel after getting off the boat, the bus was waiting in a different location. (By the way, in the morning, we were told to take the bus with the number one sign for the return trip.) Since the sign was held in a place not visible from the boat dock, we couldn't see it, so I thought it would be better if the boarding and alighting locations were the same. (I apologize if this was explained in English!)

集合場所のホテルから船までは30分程度。
前回イルカウォッチングに参加した際は、かなり遠くまで走ったので、こんな街中？で鯨が見れるのかな…と思いましたが、出航して30分程度で発見！
大きめの船の為なかなか近付く事は出来ませんでしたが、クルーの方が根気よく見定めてくれたおかげで、後半かなり近くで親子クジラの姿を見る事が出来ました。
天気も良く、クジラが見えない間もホノルルの景色がとても美しくて飽きませんでしたが、結構波が高くて大きく揺れる事があったので、乗り物酔いしやすい方は薬必須だと思います。（私は平気なので、終始とても楽しかったです！）
バイキング方式でのサンドイッチも美味しかったです。
船を降りてホテルに戻るとき、バスが離れた場所で待機されていたのですが（そういえば朝、帰りは1番の札を掲げたバスに乗って下さいねと言われた）、船乗り場から見えない場所で札を掲げられても私達は分からないので…、それなら乗降場所は同じようにされた方が良いのでは？と思いました。（英語で説明されていたなら、すみません！）

It was a pleasant cruise with great weather. Everyone on the deck was thrilled when a mother and baby whale spouted together! On the way back, a pod of dolphins appeared and put on an impressive spin show. The breakfast buffet was delicious, and I think it was enjoyable as a cruise even if we hadn't seen any whales.

天気もよく気持ちよいクルーズでした。クジラの親子がそろって潮吹きしたのでデッキのみんなは大興奮！
帰路にはイルカの群れが現れ、派手なスピンを見せてくれました。
朝食バイキングもおいしく、たとえクジラが見られなかったとしてもクルーズとして楽しめる内容だと思いました。

I was lucky to encounter Dolphin Teacher as soon as I arrived at the point! And there was a huge group!! I also saw seals, which there are only about 1,300 of! I was able to see sea turtles too!

I participated alone, but the guides were cheerful and engaged with me, making it enjoyable throughout!!

Not only did I interact with the animals, but thanks to the guides, I was able to learn about Hawaii's history and current situation. I'm really glad I participated!

運良くポイントに着いてすぐにイルカ先生に遭遇できました！しかも大群！！
そして約1300頭しかいないというアザラシも観えました！
ウミガメも観れました！

1人での参加でしたが
ガイドさん達がニコニコと話しかけてくれ
終始楽しかったです！！

生き物と触れ合うだけではなく
ガイドさんのおかげでハワイの歴史や現状を
学ぶことができました。
参加して本当によかったです！

We participated in a dolphin tour with children (ages 2, 5, 5, 7, and 8), two parents (both 70), and four siblings. To put it simply, it was a challenging but very rewarding experience.

This time, we aimed to keep costs down and organized our travel plans independently. Although this tour was not cheap, after encountering over 100 dolphins, it’s hard to say it was expensive. However, it really depends on luck; if we had only seen 2 or 3 dolphins, it would have been a different story.

After swimming with the dolphins, we moved to a snorkeling point where we encountered many sea turtles and tropical fish. I believe this alone made the tour worthwhile, and it felt like a great deal.

Additionally, the thoughtful touches that other tours often lack, such as providing snacks, spam rice balls, and juice, as well as regularly applying anti-fog solution for everyone’s masks, showed that all the staff shared the same philosophy. I was truly impressed. I would definitely use this service again.

At one point, my wife got seasick and felt quite unwell. Taking motion sickness medication is a must.

子供(2、5、5、7、8歳)、親(70歳2人)、兄弟夫婦(4人)でイルカ中学に参加しました。
結論から言うと参加して大変、良かったです。
今回は費用をかけないのをモットーに個人手配で旅行プランを組んでまして、このツアーは決して安くなかったですが、100頭を超えるイルカたちに出会えてしまった後では高いと言えるはずもありません。ただこれは本当に運みたいなので、仮に2〜3頭しか見れなかったらと思うと、なんとも言えないです。
ただ、イルカと泳いだ後に移動したシュノーケルポイントでは、ウミガメ、熱帯魚？に沢山会え、これだけでもツアーとして成立すると思い、とてもお得感ありました。
また、スナック菓子やスパムおにぎり、ジュースの供給、視界をクリアに保つために定期的に曇り止め液を全員に施すなど、他のツアーにはないきめ細やかな気遣いもいただき、本当に全スタッフが理念を共有してるな、と感心しました。また、利用します。
途中、妻が船酔いでグロッキーに。酔い止めは、必須です。

I participated in a tour that started at 10 AM with a Japanese-speaking guide. The guide spoke somewhat difficult-to-understand Japanese, possibly because they were of Japanese descent, but their witty and lively talk made it really enjoyable. I was able to see the submarine submerging into the ocean and then emerging from it, so I captured some great videos. We encountered turtles twice underwater, but they moved away quickly, so I couldn't get them on camera. It might be better to keep filming continuously. The kids were also very satisfied with the experience of riding a submarine, which they can't do in Japan.

日本語ガイドのある10時からのツアーに参加しました。ガイドさんは日系人なのか、やや聴き取りづらい日本語でしたが、ウィットに富んだ軽快なトークで凄く楽しめました。潜水艦が海中に沈むところや海中から現れるところも見れたのでバッチリ動画に収めました。海中ではカメに２回遭遇しましたが、あっという間に移動していきカメラには撮れませんでした。動画で撮影し続けた方が良いかもしれません。日本では体験出来ない潜水艦乗船に子供達も大満足でした。

As a result, we didn't see any whales, but we did see dolphins! On the day of our reservation, I mistakenly went to the wrong bus stop, but they kindly allowed us to change to the next day. The staff were friendly, and although we didn't see any whales, we were satisfied with seeing the dolphins!

結果、クジラは見えませんでした。イルカは見れました！予約した当日、バス乗り場を間違えましたが快く次の日に変更してくれました。スタッフの方も新鮮で、クジラは見れませんでしたがいるかは見れて満足です！

I participated in early March. There were Japanese staff members. My elderly mother (72 years old) was able to experience it without any difficulties. It was cold since it was March. The water reaches up to my chest (because I am short). The shower did not have hot water. They take photos for you, and you can buy one for $40. After finishing, there was plenty of time until the bus departure, so we were able to relax. It was also nice that we could stop for sightseeing at one place on the way back.

3月初旬に参加しました。日本人スタッフさんがいました。年配の母（72歳）も不自由なく体験出来ました。3月ってこともあり寒かったです。胸の辺りまでつかります（背が低いので）。シャワーのお湯が出ず。写真撮ってくれます、買うのは１枚40ドル。終わってからも帰りのバスの時間までたっぷりあるのでゆっくり出来ました。帰り道に下車観光一ヶ所出来たのも良かったです。

I participated with my grandchildren (5 years old and 3 years old). It was fun. Seeing the happy faces of my grandchildren makes the high cost seem reasonable. If it were a little cheaper, I wouldn't have any complaints.

孫連れ（５歳、３歳）での参加でした。楽しかったです。孫のうれしそうな顔をみると、高い費用も安く思えてきます。もう少し安かったら文句なしですね。

I visited with my grandchildren (5 and 3 years old), and we had a wonderful time. In particular, the commemorative photo we took with the dolphins as a family will be a lifelong memory. Next time, when my grandchildren are a bit older, I would like to participate in a plan where we can swim together.

孫連れ（５歳、３歳）でしたが、楽しい時間でした。特に、家族皆で撮ったイルカとの記念写真は一生の思い出になります。次は、孫がもう少し大きくなったら、一緒に泳げるプランに参加したいと思ってます。

Since I was staying at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, the meeting place was very easy to find and convenient. From the boat that took us to the submarine, we had a great view of Waikiki Beach and took memorable photos with Diamond Head in the background! We even got to see sea turtles!

Before long, we arrived at the submarine. The transfer was safe and secure. The underwater visibility was clear without any murkiness. While we couldn't see fish as large as those in the brochure right in front of us, we did see many small fish swimming around.

Around the sunken airplane and ship on the ocean floor, we spotted a lot of fish! We were able to enjoy watching the ocean floor for longer than expected, which was fun for both kids and adults. There are headphones for a Japanese guide, but you can have a great time even without listening to it.

ヒルトンハワイアンビレッジに泊まっていたので、集合場所はとてもわかりやすく、便利でした。
潜水艦まで移動する船からは、ワイキキのビーチを一望でき、ダイアモンドヘッドをバックに記念撮影！海ガメにも会えました！
程なく潜水艦まで到着。移動も安全安心です。
海中は濁りもなく、よく見えました。パンフレットほどの大きさ、目の前に、とはなかなかなりませんが、小さな魚たちが泳ぐ姿が多く見られました。
海底に沈む飛行機や船の周りでは、多くの魚たちを見られます！
予想以上に長い時間、ゆっくり海底を見られて、子どもも大人も楽しめました。
日本語ガイドのヘッドホンがありますが、特にそれを聞かなくても十分楽しめます。

It was truly amazing to meet Dolphin Sensei right after leaving the port. The photographer and all the staff were friendly, which made me feel at ease (there was no strange high energy). I was able to enjoy it even more. Waking up early to join this tour was definitely the right choice.

港を出てすぐにイルカ先生に出会えて本当に最高でした。
盛り上げ上手なカメラマンさんや、スタッフの皆さんが親切で
（変なテンションの高さがなく私としては安心できました。）
さらに楽しむことができました。
早起きをしてこのツアーに参加して大正解でした。