All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

Today me and my husband take part in shark encounter-u have to try it!!)) Actually we thought we'll get more adrenalin, but it turned out it's really safe and exiting trip. Like a "bonus" we saw wales and dolphins, and crew of the boat told a lot interesting facts about sharks that we didn't know. For sure u have to take go pro with u and a camera just in case ull see wales)

I signed up for the Waikiki shuttle plan. As mentioned in the reviews, the driver did not speak Japanese. The tour was scheduled for 7 AM, but they arrived promptly at 5:30 AM to pick us up. On the boat, we were the only Japanese people. All the explanations were in English, and without any Japanese guidance, the tour started.

On the first try, we went to the ocean cage with seven people. A family that joined us seemed to have requested a video, and since the staff was throwing food into the water, we were able to see the fish eating, which was great timing. The following group did not have food thrown in.

After coming out of the water, while waiting for the next two groups to experience their turn, it was very cold to stay in our swimsuits. I used the skirt I brought to change, but there is no private space on the boat, so those who want to change should think of something. If it were warm, swimsuits would be fine, but in December, the wind was cold, and I couldn't stay in my swimsuit.

I completely forgot to bring motion sickness medication, so I was anxious, but for some reason, I was totally fine. However, my friend seemed to be struggling with seasickness inside the cage. Out of about 20 people, only 2 or 3 were feeling sick. I wonder if Westerners have a constitution that doesn't get seasick? (laughs) After the tour, I wanted to do some sightseeing in Haleiwa, so I declined the ride back and we disbanded at the port. There was no discount on the price. (laughs)

ワイキキ送迎プランにて申し込みました。
ホテルへのお迎えにはクチコミ通り、日本語不可のドライバーさん。
７時からのツアーでしたが５時半にきちんとお迎えに来てくれました。
船に乗っても、日本人は私たちだけでした。
説明もすべて英語。特に日本語の案内も見る事なく
ツアーはスタート。
1番目のトライで7人で海のケージへ。
一緒入った家族がビデオを依頼したらしく、スタッフさんが海へ餌を
投入れていたので、それを食べるところが見られたりして
タイミングが良かったです。その後のグループでは
投入れていなかったので。
海から上がり、その後の2グループの体験を待つ間は
水着のままだととても寒かったので
着てきたスカートを利用して着替えましたが
プライベートスペースは船上はありませんので
着替えたい方は、何か考えた方が良いです。
暖かければ、水着でも良いのでしょうが、12月では
風が冷たく、水着ではいられませんでした。
酔い止め薬をすっかりと忘れて行ってしまったので
不安でしたが、私はなぜか全く平気でしたが
友人がケージの中で既に波に酔ってしまい大変そうでした。
20人位いた中で酔っていたのは2.3人でした。
欧米人はあまり酔わない体質なのでしょうか？笑
ツアー後は、ハレイワ観光がしたかったので
送りを断り、港で解散。
金額は値引きはありません。笑

I chose to meet at the location. I selected the 9 AM option, so I needed to be there by 8:30 AM. Therefore, I left my hotel in Waikiki at 7:30 AM. I woke up around 6:40 AM to get the kids ready. Since I woke up this early, if I had received any communication, I could have done something else instead of going all the way to the North. I completely understand that we can't set sail due to bad weather. However, I cannot understand the lack of communication. It feels like I want my time back more than my money! After all, the payment is processed immediately when making the reservation.

私は現地集合を選びました。 あさ9時からの分を選びましたので ８時３０分 現地集合でした。ですので、ワイキキのホテルを７時３０分に出ました。起きたのは
子供の用意もあり、６時４０分ごろです。これだけ早く起きてますから 連絡があれば ノース迄行かずに 別の事も出来ました。天候不良の為 出航出来ないのは もちろん理解出来ます。でも、連絡が無いのは
まったく理解出来ません。金より時間を返せ！って感じですね。金は予約時にすぐ決済するのにね。

Short and accurate recommendation...my wife said "that was totally worth getting seasick for!"

Take dramamine and have a great trip.

The rocking of the boat while waiting was severe, so those who are prone to seasickness should be cautious. There were many sharks swimming, but they lacked impact and were just diving in and out of the water. After that, I continued to suffer from seasickness, and in the end, it became a trip that only left me feeling nauseous. It's disappointing.

待っている間の船の揺れがひどく、船酔いしやすい人は要注意です。
サメもたくさん泳いでいるのですが、迫力はあまりなく、ただひたすら水の中をもぐっているだけでした。
その後も船酔いに悩まされ、結局気持ち悪さだけが残った旅行になりました。
残念です。

This was a once in a lifetime experience! The crew was great and very informative. It was so much fun!

Got caught in the "hang loose" spirit of Hawaii. The activity was booked for transporation at 9.45AM. The day before the activity a message was left at the hotelphone that transport fell through and I had to confirm (before 6PM) new transport time of 5.15AM! Of course I got back at my hotel after 12PM and wasn't able to confirm early pick-up. So I decided to go to the meeting point anyway, but no transport. Office opened at 6AM when I could finally phone in. Service level was low, merely a "No transport, sorry, reschedule please" Since that was not an option for me we had to come up with a solution. After a lot of back and forth (cab will cost you 200 one way!!)I decided to go on a citybus for 2.5 hrs which cost me 2.50 dollars and I made it with an hour to spare. Veltra was very service friendly. They contacted me and booked transport money back right away, without me even asking for it. So lesson learned: No pick-up service for shark tour!
I never even got a sorry from the Shark tour operator and the captain didn't know my name I had become a plus one!
The harbour of the tour itself was a bit dingy at best. The public toilet was filthy with bloodstains and glass bottles, but the boat had no changing option, so you have to use it.
The boat is very nice and the boat ride is awesome (unless you have motion sickness, in that case you will get sick, trust me!)The shark cage is not big, but big enough for the six per group that went in. Pay for the DVD, taking pictures yourself is very hard. The life vest will keep you floating and the ocean slams you into the cagebarrier.
The sharks are amazing and worth every bit of inconvenience. The crew is friendly and knowledgeable. They care for your safety and for the ocean wild life. It's not scary at all. When you get back I recomment getting lunch at Halewa Joe's. Just sit there and review your tour. If you can visit North shore or Turtle beach on your way back. The total tour is highly recommendable (without transport)

My wife & I love Shark Week so this activity was a clear must do. There is so much to talk about for this activity, but I'll just break it down to pros & cons. Pros: the water is really warm and about 80ft of visibility, the crew was nice, the sharks ranged at a decent 10ft to 12ft, the sharks get extremely close to the cage where you can touch a fin (but they tell you don't so beware), and most importantly not even Jaws can get through that cage (super thick bars). Cons: it's a small boat so if your prone to motion sickness you NEED dramamime since your out there for about 2 hours, no food or snacks so bring some because after your 30min dive you will be hungry and its about 1-2 hrs before you get back to Waikiki, and this is a tip from the wife - the bathroom at the dock is a park restroom so no seat covers so byosc ;). Wish I had a photo to share off my phone since it was really cool but its all on the gopro.

The weather was nice, and with calm waves, I was able to enjoy myself without getting seasick. The situation where sharks came close enough to reach out and touch was truly thrilling!

天気もよく、うそのように波のない状況で船酔いもせず楽しめました。
サメが手の届きそうなところまでせまってくる状況は、迫力満点！！

We attended this trip in September 2014, & from the start the staff were fun, knowledgeable & helpful. The sea was a bit choppy as we had the 10-00 am trip, but with Gravol inside, no issues here.
The ocean was crystal clear. the cage was a bit buffeted, due to waves, but this did not spoil our enjoyment of seeing sharks at close quarters, in their environment.
We saw around 15 sharks, & thought this was brilliant. would highly recommend.

This was one of the most exciting experiences of my life. Its hard to put into words the beauty and grace of the sharks I saw. Knowing I was completely safe made the experience all the better. Russell my driver had some wonderful information about the island and was a joy to talk to during the drive. I have recommended this adventure to everyone I talked to. Definitely would do this again.

The crew was very cool and helpful, they seemed quite knowledgeable and very helpful and conscientious of people's needs. It felt like Shark Week for real!!! We would recommend this activity for anyone looking for fun and something awesome to remember for years to come.

Incredible experience, there were up to 10 sharks at some points, coming up close to the cage. It was very safe and secure at all times.

our adventure was awesome, first i didnt think that we were going to see any sharks, but as soon as our boat arrived at the cage, about 15 good sized sharks circled the boat. being in the cage seeing the sharks up close was amazing>

We went out to sea on a boat that can hold about 20 people, crossing rough waves. We were the only Japanese there. We were divided into three groups and entered the cage in turn. The sharks gathered due to the sound of the boat's engine, so we were able to see many of them! They are not carnivorous and are said to be a type that does not attack humans, so we could enjoy it with peace of mind. While waiting on the boat and inside the cage, it rocked quite a bit, so almost everyone got seasick. Everyone who was lively and energetic on the way out was silent and exhausted on the way back... it was a good memory (laughs). As noted in the precautions, it's definitely better to take motion sickness medication. Also, it can get cold if the wind is strong, so I think it's a good idea to bring something to wear and a bath towel to dry off quickly.

20人乗りくらいのボートで荒波をこえ沖まで出ました。
日本人は私たちだけでした。
3グループに分けられ、順番に檻に入ります。
サメはボートのエンジン音で集まってくるのでたくさん見れました！
肉食ではないので人は襲わない種類らしく、安心して楽しめました。
待っている間のボートも、檻の中も、かなり揺れるのでほぼ全員船酔いしてました。
行きはノリノリで元気だったみんなが帰りは無言でぐったり。。。いい思い出です（笑）
注意事項にもあるとおり、酔い止めは絶対飲んだ方がいいですね。
あと、風が強いと寒いので羽織るものとすぐ体をふけるようにバスタオルは持って行った方がいいと思います。

My girlfriend and I decided to do this as a spur of the moment adventure and it was well worth it. The crew was very friendly and knowledgeable about the sharks we would be seeing. The boat fit 16 people so we were split into two groups of 8 that took turns going into the cage. The cage was large and was able to fit 8 people comfortably. The instant I went underwater there were three sharks just swimming right by the cage. We ended up seeing about 6-8 different sharks and it was a surreal experience. I would highly recommend this trip!

I was so scared but it was amazing!! The staff was so funny and so great!! The boat ride alone was so beautiful!! It's a beautiful location!! So many sharks!! They were all around a us!! It was amazing! I highly recommend motion sickness aides if your not use to the boat rocking!! It was a tour I would visit again!!

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!

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.

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.

Thanks so much to North Shore Shark Adventures! We had such a great time and the sharks we saw were countless! Even saw a barracuda who lingered around the cage. Captain Tanja and the crew were fantastic. They were knowledgeable,friendly,and funny. We brought home a video of our adventure and are so glad that we did! We would do this again in a minute! (This coming from someone who is afraid of everything = Karen!) I would recommend this adventure to anyone visiting the island. See you next time NSSA!

Joe & Karen, Coquitlam, BC Canada

If there is ANYTHING you ever do in your life....DO THIS....ABSOLUTELY AMAZING LIFETIME EXPERIENCE....UNFORGETTABLE

We participated as a couple with pickup from our hotel in Waikiki. We were so excited to see them up close! It seems that the sharks come closer when they hear the sound of the boat's engine, thinking they might get food, but there was no danger of them attacking. Although Japanese was not spoken on the boat or during the pickup, we were able to communicate somewhat through basic conversation. There is a Japanese translation guide on the boat.

Many people mention seasickness, but I took motion sickness medicine beforehand, so I didn't feel sick at all. It should be fine once you get used to it, but the waves can be quite strong. They ask if you want to film underwater videos. For $65, you get about 10 minutes of MP4 footage on an SD card and a bonus DVD, and after the tour, you can buy an original T-shirt for $30, both of which accept credit cards. You don't have to buy them, but I recommend it as a nice keepsake.

Also, it's definitely better to bring a disposable underwater camera. They were selling them on the boat, but since they don't speak Japanese, it's probably best to bring your own. I took a cheap waterproof digital camera I bought in Japan.

I wanted to do some sightseeing on the North Shore, but since the tour ends with immediate return to Waikiki, it might be a good idea for those familiar with Hawaii to rent a car. There seemed to be places nearby where you could park for free. Additionally, we were lucky enough to see a whale, making it a great tour!

ワイキキのホテルからの送迎付きで夫婦で参加しました。
さわれそうな距離で見られて大興奮！
船のエンジン音を聞きつけて餌がもらえると思い、鮫が寄ってくるそうですが襲ってくるような危険さはありませんでした。
送迎も船も日本語は通じませんが、なんとなくの会話で意思疎通は出来ました。
船に日本語訳の説明書はあります。
皆さん書かれている船酔いですが、酔い止めを事前に飲んだので全く船酔いはなし。慣れれば大丈夫ですが揺れは結構大きいです。
船上で水中動画撮影は必要かと聞かれます。SDカードにMP4で10分程度とおまけDVD付きで65＄、終了後にオリジナルTシャツ30＄、いずれもクレジットカードOKです。
買わなくていいけど記念になるので購入おすすめです。
あと、水中カメラは使い捨てでもいいので持っていった方が絶対いいです。船上でも販売はあったそうですが日本語が通じないので持参のほうがいいかも。私は日本で買った安い防水デジカメを持っていきました。
ノースショアで観光もしたかったのですが終われば即ワイキキへ送迎なので、ハワイ慣れしている人はレンタカーで行くのもいいかもしれないです。近くに無料で停められそうなところはありました。
あと、運よく鯨も出現して、いいツアーになりました。

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!!

If you want to see sharks up close, this is the place to be. Up on the North shore, wich in my opinion is the nicest part of the island. My brother and I had a great time. I still can't believe how big the sharks were. Crew was great !

it was a greats experience. At a certain point you have to realize that you have real sharks around you. This is something that I will definitely try again at my next visit in the area? be aware that the sea is not all the time calm and waves can bring you a different experience... Gravel could be mandatory
A must to do... Great

We were divided into three groups, but the waves in the North were high, and by the time we got to the last group, it was impossible to enjoy the experience due to seasickness! Several people were vomiting. Unfortunately, some had to withdraw. I cannot recommend this for anyone who is prone to seasickness!

３グループに分かれて参加するのですが、ノースの波は高く最後のグループになると
船酔いで鑑賞どころではありません！！
数人が吐きまくりでした。
かわいそうに棄権した方もおられました。
少しでも船酔いされる方にはオススメ出来ません！！

When my friend asked me to do this with him, I was a bit hesitant. Not knowing what to expect, my imagination relived several scenes in "Jaws". After doing some research and coming to the realization that North Shore does this on a daily basis without people loosing limbs, I agreed. It turned out to be an absolutely phenomenal experience. We arranged for the hotel pickup and once in the van, took the 45 minute ride to the North Shore area of Oahu. Once at the marina, it's about a 20-30 minute ride out to the cage. The Captain went over all the safety instructions thoroughly and describes what types of sharks we would be seeing. His shark lecture was very informative and wasn't stumped when questions were asked. Once at the site, the cage is secured to the side of the boat and after the 8-10 passengers get in, the cage is allowed to float away about 20 feet. Observing the sharks was a thing of beauty and simply can't be described in words. I would do this again in a heartbeat.