West Oahu Snorkel Cruise, Marine Life & Dolphin Watch Expedition from Waianae
Overall Rating
4.79
Dolphins! Dolphins! Dolphins!
Reviewed by: Karol Lisboa, 2015/11/06Booking with VELTRA was really easy and fast, I gave them my information and they took care of the rest for me.
Dolphin Excursions Hawaii was also great! I had no problems with my pick up and
the boat crew was kind, friendly and helpful, they took many incredible pictures during the tour.
The West Side of the Island is beautiful. Snorkeling was amaaazing, we spotted so many dolphins, turtles and different species of fish. After the tour we had lunch at the Spinners Cafe, the food was very tasty.
I love marine life, especially dolphins, they are incredible animals! I had a lot of fun! This tour was the highlight of my trip.
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Activity Date: | 2015/11/04 |
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Great day
Reviewed by: John Scott, 2015/08/09We had an awesome time. We saw Dolphins almost immediately once on the water. I swear I had Dolphins swim under me and to see the little babies was great too. We saw turtles as well which is always great. The crew were great and informative. An all round excellent day and looking forward to the photos from Lexi.
Mahalo for choosing to join us and we hope to see you again!!! -Lisa
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2015/08/05 |
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Good but can get very dizzy
Reviewed by: Kate, 2015/03/09The staffs were nice and the activity itself was priceless. But motion sickness can really get to you... most of the people on our boat were feeling sick after half an hour.. I was puking from the beginning to the end although I had preventive patch on me. So be sure to be in the best physical condition as possible in order to truly enjoy what the ocean has got to offer!!!!
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2015/02/26 |
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Dolphin excursions
Reviewed by: Lina, 2015/02/23It was a good experience, recommend wet suit, and don't go too early, and take lots of anti nausea...
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Activity Date: | 2015/02/20 |
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Amazing
Reviewed by: Red Headed Sister's, 2014/10/04The best excursion of our trip!! Dolphin Excursions staff are very educated and professional. Keep the customer in mind.
Mahalo Red Headed Sister's for your review and joining us. We strive to have the most experienced crew that harbor a bit of magical luck on the side. Hope to see you guys again soon. :) Lisa, Operations Manager
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Activity Date: | 2014/09/21 |
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uniquely hawaiian adventure
Reviewed by: marilyn, 2014/09/07Awesome adventure! Truly enjoyed being on a boat being overseen by experienced and helpful staff. Saw turtles and dolphins and snorkled as they swam around us. Great lunch too
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2014/09/04 |
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See the Baby Dolphins!
Reviewed by: Marisa, 2014/08/22Timely pick-up, great folks, and tasty food. Oh, and did I mention dolphins! I thoroughly enjoyed myself and can say that this is by far the best dolphin snorkel I've been on. I got my gear within 5 minutes of check-in and put in my lunch choice. Dolphin Excursions is an educationally based tour company and some of the people there are marine biologists. They seemed to read the behavior of the dolphins very well. The baby spinner dolphins are super cute! This is a great time of year because the dolphins are having babies so they are fun to watch. We went out about 3 times to snorkel, twice with the dolphins so close. I have never seen so many dolphins with me in the water, and you can even hear them 'singing' before you see them. When we got back, lunch was already made. The food is great at Spinner's Cafe, and the people are courteous. I had a great time and can say that many others did as well.
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
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Best.Day.Ever.
Reviewed by: Chelsea Lee, 2014/07/15It was bloody amazing. So worth the money. Do it, you won't regret it.
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Activity Date: | 2014/07/09 |
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Absolute Must! Best part of ou trip - kids two thumbs up!
Reviewed by: Tracey, 2014/07/01Me and my two kids (20 and 21) went on this excursion with Mandy, Jenn and Allie (photographer)! This was the absolute best part of our trip. We enjoy snorkeling and had already visited Hanauma Bay - but this is 100x better than that.
We were fortunate to see bottle-nose dolphins as well as spinner dolphins and snorkel with all of them. Plus sea turtles, crabs and even an eel. Super clear water - absolutely wonderful. Perfect even for younger kids. Well worth the price - top notch crew!
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2014/06/27 |
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Dolphins !!!
Reviewed by: Peter Muth, 2014/05/03Within 3 weeks in Hawaii packed with exciting excursions including helicopter flights, scuba diving and hiking, this was the initial reason to travel all the way from Germany - and it was worth it !!!
My wife always wanted to see those animals in the wild, and our guide dropped us right in front of a group of dolphins.
Wonderful - Great day out !!!
Big mahalo for joining us and for your review! We do hope you "drop" in again and join us for another Dolphin Excursion. We value all guests and do love our return snorkel adventurers.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2014/04/13 |
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Awesome
Reviewed by: Melissa McIntosh, 2013/11/14We had a blast! It was the coolest experience we have ever had!
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Activity Date: | 2013/11/08 |
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Good times!
Reviewed by: Jami, 2013/11/10The girls were very knowledgeable and friendly - Jenna even made a nest of life jackets for me in the bow to lay out and get some sun when I was done swimming! They took us to an area with plenty of dolphins to see, and a few were as close as 5 feet away!
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Activity Date: | 2013/11/07 |
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Amazing!!
Reviewed by: salejo, 2013/09/03Mandy & Ali were great guides during the entire excursion. We arrived at our destination to pick our food options and grab our snorkeling gear. No restroom on the boat so please go before getting on the boat! You can bring your own drink & snack on the boat since lunch won't be til afterwards. We swam w/ spinner dolphins at our 1st spot. It was so amazing to see the baby dolphins! We explored the reef at our 2nd spot, which had so many different kinds of fishes. Ali swam to us w/ a starfish & other things for pictures & even explained to us what we were holding. After this, they took us out to see the spotted dolphins (Hawaiian name "kiko"). There were sooo many of them riding our waves, swimming under the boat, & flipping in the air. It was so amazing to watch. They explained they were hunting & they hardly see these dolphins. Afterwards, you go back to eat lunch then head back to your hotel. This was the highlight of my trip & I plan to do this again when I come back!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2013/08/29 |
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Wonderful experience
Reviewed by: Michelle, 2013/08/31The trip was a wonderful experience for both adults and children. The guides were amazing. They were eager to share their incredible stories. Highly recommend the tour.
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Activity Date: | 2013/08/08 |
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Dolphin Swim
Reviewed by: Mekhemar Family, 2013/07/22My 10 and 11 year old daughters and I went on this excursion. It was a dream come true. Our captain took us up to a cove area where there were a good 30-50 spinner dolphins were hanging out! We had a blast. We then moved over to the sea turtles and we just loved that as well.
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Activity Date: | 2013/06/26 |
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Dolphin & Snorkel Tour
Reviewed by: Kylie, 2013/07/15This was without a doubt the highlight of our holiday, loved it. The girls that took us out were great, they took us to our first location where we got the chance to swim with about 5-6 dolphins, then we moved on to the sea turtles, just great. On our return trip the girls took us back to our first location where there was now a pod of about 70 dolphins that we got to swim with. Just amazing. Thanks girls.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2013/06/24 |
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Great adventure
Reviewed by: Jana, 2013/06/09it was a really great day! staff was really friendly and we saw a lot! had great day on the ocean. i would totally do it again! I also enjoyed the pictures taken a lot! great pictures!
This was an incredible day! Do it! ;)
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Activity Date: | 2013/05/19 |
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Snorkel Tour
Reviewed by: Cher, 2013/06/05I really enjoyed this tour. It was the highlight of our trip! Even though I was not a good swimmer and had never snorkeled they really took good care of me and encouraged me every step of the way! I was impressed with the ladies who escorted us. They made sure we all saw the dolphin's and turtle's. I'm ready to try this adventure again! Cher
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2013/05/30 |
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Excellent adventure. Don't miss it!!
Reviewed by: Stone Family, 2013/04/19This was awesome!!! We not only saw dolphins but we saw humpback whales at the end of their migration. They also took us to a reef where we snorkeled with a sea turtle and saw tons of tropical fish. The girls on the boat crew were awesome. Highly educated about the ocean environment and the sea creatures. This was definitely one of the highlights of our Hawaii vacation. Don't miss this activity. Especially if you can do it during the whale migration season. Also, Domingo, our shuttle driver that picked us up from the hotel was a great tour guide as well.
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2013/04/03 |
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Just Terrific
Reviewed by: garathome, 2013/04/12They pick you up at your hotel and drive you to the west side. They gear you up, they advise you not to touch or chase. You get on the water and if you're lucky, like us, you spot a pair of hump back whales. Then when they locate the dolphin herd, you get to swim among them for about an hour. Then you get to spend almost as much time over a reef, where you can swim with sea turtles and other fish. It was just terrific.
Then you get a decent sandwich and a drink, because you will be hungry after a full morning. Then they drive you back to Waikiki.
Excellent photo disk available to chronicle your trip, at a good price, if you wish. 400 photos of your trip + bonus file with great pics of dolphins, whales, and the area.
Only negative was no changing facility, public restrooms only. Also no bathroom on the boat so be prepared.
Definitely worth the price for this experience.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2013/03/28 |
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An experience of a lifetime!
Reviewed by: Tahlia, 2013/02/20Such an amazing experience! The staff were really helpful and friendly and knew a lot about the animals we would be seeing. We got to snorkel with a pod of dolphins for about an hour - an hour and a half, which was fantastic and then they took us to another snorkel reef spot where we saw about 5 sea turtles ! Would definitely recommend it !
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| Attended as: | Couples |
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None
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous, 2013/01/19The staff was great. The excursion was not very exciting I would have loved to spend more time with the dolphins but it seemed the staff was more into the whales. The captain was somewhat careless, my husband ended up on the floor. I would not do this excursion again.
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
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Nervous At First, But Wonderful!
Reviewed by: C.N., 2012/12/01I was nervous at first because it was a rubber boat but it was a wonderful experience and if you go purchase the CD that is taken with your group.. It came this week. Wonderful.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
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Absolutely Fantastic!
Reviewed by: Tina, 2012/11/17I've been on a few excursions. . .all have been fun, but this was my favorite. I highly recommend it! The staff was great fun and very knowledgeable. We saw so many dolphins, a sea turtle, and a sting ray. We were able to snorkel along side and enjoy! It was a bonus they had a photographer on board that took underwater pictures so we have our memories in pictures of all we enjoyed that day. You won't be disappointed!!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
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Halloween Week Review
Reviewed by: Rhode Island Couple, 2012/11/07This was our second visit with this company and we were even more pleased this time than we were before!
This is a well run company staffed by people who know how to please! Captain Jenna and First Mate Katie were both superb! There was little wasted time looking for dolphins and turtles as Jenna knew right where to go to find them. She also ensured we had the maximum time in each area. We came away very satisfied.
Yes, we would even entertain another visit and hopefully bring friends.
Also, Jim Ward was a very personable photographer who was very prompt in send out his photos for download.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
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Outstanding!!!
Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous, 2012/10/22Found 50 dolphins for us to swim with. Great crew.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
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Well worth it
Reviewed by: Lianne from NZ, 2012/07/24I read alot of reviews prior to booking, and this excursion sounded the best...and in my opinion it is! The crew were wonderful - very knowledgable, friendly and helpful. I felt in capable hands the whole time, having never snorkelled with dolphins before. It was awesome, and we weren't rushed at all. I am looking forward to getting the professional photos from Ali. I have wonderful memories of this day and will definitely recommend this experience to others. I am sure that if I return to Oahu, I will definitely do this trip again!
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| Attended as: | Friends |
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Family Trip
Reviewed by: Terry, 2011/06/30My family and I went on the Hawaii Dolphin Swim & Snorkel on June 26, 2011 morning swim. It was beyond our expectations. We found dolphins right away and the captain and crew knew exactly where to find them. There were several dolphin pods and we were able to get pretty close to them but not touching them. 3 of them hovered about 5 feet below my wife and I making their squeal and clicking sounds. It was amazing. The snorkel equipment they provided was in good shape and very reliable. The boat was fine with plenty of room to move around and feel safe aboard. The crew was very professional, friendly and entertaining. The food was average but any time you've been in the water for a while, coming out to a hot burger is always delicious. I would highly recommend this trip especially if you want to get in the water. We also had time to freelance snorkel in an area 25 feet deep that had several sea turtles hanging out. They were fabulous to watch swim by you on their way to the surface
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
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Highlight of our Oahu Vacation!
Reviewed by: cathy, 2011/03/11We booked this tour after reading about it on a web site. We asked our kids do you want to go to amusemant park setting and touch dolphins, OR swim with them in the ocean, and the results was unanimous The wild ones in the ocean! They picked us up at our hotel and took us to the boat, they were very friendly and punctual. The staff on the boat were beyond awesome. They were fun and explained everything and paid special attention to our 9 year old who was a little scared to go out in the big ocean. Pete sense her fear, and took control and jumped in the water with her and she had the best seat in the house on his back swimming with dolphins! He even brough her up a sea urchin to delight her while she was eating lunch! We had pretty rough water but the captain on the boat did a great job, very obvious he knew exactly what to do in in rough ocean. They bbq'd burgers for lunch with purple colored hamburger buns wheich totally delighted our daughter! They entertained us afterward
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
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A Fun Day
Reviewed by: Canuck, 2011/01/22Thank you for a fun day. The ocean condition was a little less than ideal today, but I saw plenty of dolphines, whales, and even a turtle. It was amazing.
The staff members were very kind, entertaining, and plain fun people. I had a faburous day.
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| Attended as: | Friends |
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Mahalo Karol for joining us! It was our pleasure to introduce you to the West Side's wild life. We do hope you come out and see us again!