Reviewed by: Johanne
Excellent adventure, was very well organized. We enjoyed it alot and definitely recommend this excursion. The excursion was on time the staff was super friendly and informative.
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Packages: | Evening Manta Snorkeling Adventure |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/04/15 |
Activity Date: | 2023/03/22 |
Reviewed by: Michelle
We are typically do-it-yourselfers and were initially skeptical about going on a guided tour. This tour turned out to be so worth it! Captain Brendan and crewmember Tuliz were very knowledgeable, competent, and friendly. We happened to see whales at close range along the way, and our guides made the most of it. The snorkeling at Captain Cook is magnificent. A fantastic experience all around!
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Packages: | 3-hour Captain Cook Cruise (1 Snorkel Stop) |
Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Posted on: | 2023/04/14 |
Activity Date: | 2023/04/12 |
Reviewed by: Or Peretz
Great crew, beautiful bay. The cruise ship was super equipped with everything you need to have a great time. The food was delicious, the snorkeling gear was great and the restrooms were clean. We highly recommend this tour!
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Packages: | Morning Kealakekua Snorkel Tour [4.5 hours] |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2023/04/13 |
Activity Date: | 2023/04/08 |
Reviewed by: CGB
Delightful crew. Simple food always available. very well organized. Had reef-safe sunscreen available. Even had prescription goggles for me. Captain told great stories. A great morning's adventure.
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Packages: | Deluxe Morning Snorkel Cruise with 2 Snorkel Stops, Breakfast & Lunch [4.5 hrs] |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/04/12 |
Activity Date: | 2023/04/09 |
Reviewed by: Kara
The food was good, the DJ and our tour guide was excellent.
Aloha Kara!
We are thrilled to learn that you had lovely evening! Best to you and yours! We hope that you'll be able to join us again someday soon!
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Packages: | Dinner Cruise |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2023/04/09 |
Activity Date: | 2023/03/25 |
Reviewed by: Kara
Delicious food paired with amazing local Hawaiian talent. This was one of our favorite luaus on Big Island after a few past years of trying around.
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Packages: | Ohana Package |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2023/04/08 |
Activity Date: | 2023/03/23 |
Reviewed by: Todd
Fantastic crew, tasty food, comfortable cruise, playful dolphins, and a beautiful sunset!
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Packages: | Sunset Cocktail Cruise |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/04/08 |
Activity Date: | 2023/03/16 |
Reviewed by: Deena H
Our experience could not have been any better! The water was calm, weather was perfect, even with the clouds, which made it more beautiful! The captain and crew, Jack, Ian, and Taiyo were so attentive, gracious, and kind towards us, as we scattered our mother's ashes. It was a day we will always treasure. We highly recommend it and look forward to another sail in the future (just for fun!). Mahalo and blessings from our Ohana to yours!
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Packages: | Private Charter: Sunset Sail Cruise |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2023/04/05 |
Activity Date: | 2023/03/19 |
Reviewed by: Jack
Dolphins and whales plus a beautiful sunset with excellent service and guidance by crew.
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Packages: | Private Charter: Sunset Sail Cruise |
Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Posted on: | 2023/04/05 |
Activity Date: | 2023/04/03 |
Reviewed by: reneec
The crew made the cruise fun and enjoyable for people of all ages.
Snacks were included, but you may not want to est if you get seasick easily.
As part of the experience, they even took some pictures during so we could just enjoy the experience ourselves.
Note: If it's the right season, you may even be able to see other wildlife on the Sunset cruise like we did!
Aloha! Thank you for joining our manta ray tour. We appreciate your kind words and are thrilled to hear that you had a great time. Come back soon, Mahalo
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkel with Sunset Cruise |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/04/01 |
Activity Date: | 2023/03/09 |
Reviewed by: Megan
We had the best experience with our two five-year olds! They were both got a little nervous about the snorkeling and the crew patiently offered different options until they agreed to the kick boards with lenses. A big hit!! We saw a variety of fish and enjoyed the beauty (and history) of Cooke Cove The slides were also entertaining as the kids watched different people (including mom and dad) zoom down!! If you are concerned about the all veg breakfast and lunch, don’t be. As meat eaters, we all agreed the food was outstanding. To top it off, the Captain’s historical knowledge and witty comments made the ride to and from the coral reefs a lot of fun. We highly recommend tour!
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Packages: | Morning Kealakekua Snorkel Tour [4.5 hours] |
Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Posted on: | 2023/03/31 |
Activity Date: | 2023/03/29 |
Reviewed by: Eric
I get anxious snorkeling and this was a fantastic alternative. The guide was super knowledgeable and funny. My 5 year old son loved it too and we could chat about what we were seeing in real time, which I loved.
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Packages: | Kona Glass Bottom Boat Cruise from Kailua-Kona Pier |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2023/03/30 |
Activity Date: | 2023/03/17 |
Reviewed by: Steve712
If you do one thing on the west side of the big island this is it. Words and pictures don't do the experience justice. The crew of the boat was safety conscious and the captain ran a tight ship. As a passenger we felt in good hands. Do your homework about what this tour involves. If you cannot swim and/or are afraid of the water this is NOT FOR YOU!!!. This tour had 1/2 a dozen non-swimmers on the tour. They were miserable and the crew had to spend an inordinate time catering to them.
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Packages: | Standard Package: Moonlight Manta Snorkel (Seasonal) |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2023/03/25 |
Activity Date: | 2023/03/22 |
Reviewed by: Coartney
Great Capitan + crew! Beautiful views! Very clean and organized! Loved the history given by crew members! Would definitely recommend!!
Aloha Courtney,
Mahalo for sharing your beautiful pictures and for your wonderful recommendation. We hope to have the pleasure of seeing you in the near future!
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Packages: | Deluxe Morning Snorkel Cruise with 2 Snorkel Stops, Breakfast & Lunch [4.5 hrs] |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2023/03/21 |
Activity Date: | 2023/03/16 |
Reviewed by: Lindsay B
The crew was amazing and qued a mother and baby, possibly 2 to the surface for play time!
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Packages: | Afternoon Whale Watch Cruise [Sailing Catamaran] |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/03/21 |
Activity Date: | 2023/03/15 |
Reviewed by: HILO
海をバックに夕陽が落ちてのハワイアンショーは素敵でした。
屋外なので雨も心配しましたが大丈夫でした。
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Packages: | Test Package |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2023/03/18 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/20 |
Reviewed by: Jenny
We arrived slightly late and the crew kindly waited a bit for us. There was only 4 of us which made the experience felt a lot more enjoyable - it was not crowded or noisy! No jostling of people.
Once out there, we got in the water smoothly and saw 2 rays, 3 times. Unfortunately, the ray sightings have reduced in recent years so we considered ourselves lucky! Highly recommend it all round!
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Packages: | Standard Package: Sunset Manta Snorkel |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2023/03/18 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/24 |
Reviewed by: Max family
This was one the best experiences ever! The guide was fantastic! (Gauge/Gage? My apologies if misspelling your name - he was super knowledgeable about the island and easy to talk to, he was also well organized and thought of everything. The entire journey was super easy to follow and we all got to see some amazing things. Hot chocolate and biscotti? Snow? Wild turkeys and sheep? Binary star system anyone? Gage will make it happen. We also had a great GREAT experience just chatting with you about the Big Island. Thank you Thank you!
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Packages: | Mauna Kea Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2023/03/13 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/22 |
Reviewed by: Shawn
We could not see any and also the ride was so bumpy
Aloha Shawn,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We extend our deepest apologies for the experience you had on our tour. We would like to hear more details about it. Could you email us at info@hawaiidolphin.com and elaborate further? We would like to rectify this situation. Thank you.
Best,
Iruka Hawai‘i ‘Ohana
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkel |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/02/26 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/24 |
Reviewed by: Spittstop
My 10 yo daughter and I did this excursion during a recent trip to the Big Island. It was an incredible and highly memorable evening and I feel privileged to have been able to do this.
We saw humpback whales and dolphins en route to the Manta Ray swim spot, and that made the excursion worthwhile, even before we'd seen the rays.
The crew were knowledgeable and fun and although the activity requires you to jump into the ocean at night without any light, I always felt safe and confident that the crew was looking after us. Having my daughter with me made that essential.
We floated for about 15 mins before we saw the rays, but when we did it was really breathtaking. We had around 30 mins or so floating before we got back on the boat for the ride back to port.
The crew took videos and photos and shared them with us which was a really lovely touch.
Wetsuits were a must as it does get cold. For those with younger children, there was a larger float that they could sit on safely, but older children were able to float in the water alongside adults.
I really couldn't recommend this highly enough. Maybe leave an extra 15 mins to find the dock as we struggled a little as there are quite a few trips leaving from the same marina at similar times.
Aloha! Thank you so much for choosing Iruka Hawaii Dolphin for your Manta Ray snorkel adventure. We are so happy that you and your daughter had such a great experience with us. We hope to see you soon, mahalo
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkel with Sunset Cruise |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2023/02/25 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/19 |
Reviewed by: MM1
Great experience getting to see the whales up and close. The crew was outstanding and very informative. I highly recommend this excursion if you are ever in the area during the whale’s migratory season. The boat size was perfect. Not too big and crowded and not too small to avoid motion sickness.
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Packages: | Morning Whale Watch Cruise [Holona Speed Powerboat] |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2023/02/18 |
Activity Date: | 2023/01/28 |
Reviewed by: Nick
Kids loved it! Highly recommend. Can't wait to come back :)
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Packages: | Royal Kona Resort - Standard Luau Package |
Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Posted on: | 2023/02/18 |
Activity Date: | 2023/01/25 |
Reviewed by: Analiese Kennedy
I know, I know, everyone likes to use the words “best” “amazing” “trip of a lifetime” THIS excursion IS absolutely THE best trip you will book! It may seem a little pricey, but the time, care, and knowledge that our tour guide Travis invested in our group was top of the line!
First of all, do not underestimate the “cold” warnings. It was frigid, cold to the bone so, dress appropriately! If you have a beanie, bring it for this trip.
Secondly, be prepared for the potential that the actual road up to the summit may be closed. Our group (along with 15 others) was told the road was closed and we would not be able to drive to the summit. Travis was able to talk with another tour operator (friends are good) and together they got the rangers to open the road for us last minute!! Yay!
Okay, so let’s talk dinner for a second. They served a vegetarian lasagna that was to die for most of my family are hard core meat eaters, so i was surprised at how quickly they snarfed it all down and EVERYONE commented on how “great” it was Make sure to bring your own water bottle (there is fresh water at the first stop) or whatever you want to drink.
Once we hit the road to climb the summit, the road was definitely an “off road” experience. Lots of major bumps but totally fun . The drive up was spectacular, so have your camera ready. The view from the top will blow your mind. Take a lot of pics and enjoy!
Then on to stargazing. Totally over the top and way exceeded my expectations! Travis had his own telescope that was a high end piece of equipment to say the least! He has so much knowledge that he was eager to share. We even got to see the once in a lifetime “green” comet he spent at least an extra hour with us up there when all the other tour operators were leaving. It was truly the most memorable experiences of my life! Mahalo to the entire team that i know has to work hard behind the scenes for this…my entire family is so grateful for the experience
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Packages: | Mauna Kea Sunset & Stargazing Tour with Dinner |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2023/02/09 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/07 |
Reviewed by: Miles & Jan
Magnificent performance from all involved dealing with the history of the hawaiin islands and the Polynesian empire. The buffet was way too much to take in!!
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Packages: | Ohana Package |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/02/07 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/05 |
Reviewed by: Susan
This was our first luau and it was exceptional! The staff was courteous, professional, welcoming, and overall delightful! The food was very well prepared and there was a wide variety of selections. The show was both entertaining as well as informative and all of the performers ( host, dancers, and musicians) were great!!
I would love to do this again some time!
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Packages: | Ohana Package |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/02/04 |
Activity Date: | 2023/02/02 |
Reviewed by: Jim
We saw lots of Mantas. I can't wait to come back and do it again.
Aloha Jim,
We are thrilled to hear you enjoyed the company of the manta's. We hope to see you in the near future!
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2023/02/04 |
Activity Date: | 2021/10/23 |
Reviewed by: Jim
Sea Paradise did a great job. We saw six mantas. I thought the boat trip would be a bit longer. Just a short ride out from shore. So it's not about sailing. But the mantas make up for it.
Aloha Jim,
Mahalo for taking the time to leave us a review. We do offer a shorter boat ride for those who are prone to getting sea sick/don't want to be on the boat for too long. We are happy to hear you enjoyed your manta tour.
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2023/02/04 |
Activity Date: | 2021/11/07 |
Reviewed by: Linda
We had such a fun time snorkeling with the mantas. We didn't realize how close they come to you in the water. One of them belly-bumped me by accident. Such graceful sea creatures.
Aloha,
The mantas are truly amazing. Mahalo for choosing Sea Paradise for your manta adventures. We hope to see you soon!
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2023/02/03 |
Activity Date: | 2022/03/30 |
Reviewed by: Grace
This was a very beautiful night! The luau experience was everything we were looking for. It felt like a true traditional experience
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Packages: | Royal Kona Resort - Standard Luau Package |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2023/02/03 |
Activity Date: | 2023/01/31 |
Reviewed by: Jim
I was a little nervous about snorkeling at night but I'm so glad I went. It's less of a snorkel and more of a snorkel float where you hold onto a floating mat with LED lights underneath. The mantas were swooping underneath us eating the plankton. It was so calm and magical. Highly recommend.
Aloha Jim,
We appreciate your recommendation! It is more of a uniform snorkel and typically not to strenuous. We agree, they are truly magical! We hope to see you in the near future!
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2023/02/03 |
Activity Date: | 2022/07/21 |
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Aloha,
Mahalo Nui Loa for taking the time to leave us a review. We hope to see you on your next visit to the Big Island!