Private Oahu Swim with Whales, Dolphins, and Turtles: Guided 3+hr Expedition by Certified Biologists
4.8
32 Ratings
Waianae
Experience a private swim with whales, dolphins, and turtles in Oahu. Join a guided expedition led by certified biologists with 25+ years of experience. Discover hidden gems, engage in citizen science, and support sustainable wildlife observation.
Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Waiʻanae Small Boat Harbor - Embark on an unforgettable journey into the heart of the 2023-2024 humpback whale watching season! From December to April, witness giants gracing Hawaiian waters. Immerse yourself with their enchanting songs via our onboard hydrophone.

Our research-style expeditions offer more than Humpback sightings. Encounter dolphins, pilot whales, sea turtles, and seabirds as our naturalist/biologist crew shares insight into Hawaiian legends and ocean wildlife.

For the adventurous, join certified safety divers in swimming with whales, dolphins, turtles, and snorkeling coral reefs. With a max of six guests, enjoy intimate wildlife encounters.

Aboard our 34 ft. power cat, “Alakaʻi,” wander freely or secure a front-row seat for iconic photos. Enjoy shade, a private bathroom, and a homemade lunch with local flavors. Snacks and drinks available.

Rest assured, our interactions follow federal laws and are certified by the Whale and Cetacean Alliance. Our biologists maintain long-term relationships with non-profits and government agencies, ensuring ethical practices.

Join us for an immersive and responsible whale watching experience, where the ocean’s magic comes alive, creating lasting memories.

What's Included
  • Reef Safe Sunscreen, Hair Conditioner for that perfect ‘mermaid hair, don’t care’ look
  • Complete snorkel gear set: mask (prescription options), snorkel, fins, and a floatation belt
  • Tasty lunch and snacks, plus juices and water provided - bring a refillable water bottle for eco-friendliness
What's Not Included
  • Transportation (rental car, Uber/Lyft, theBus is recommended. Ask us for more info))
  • Gratuities
  • Please bring a towel, sun protective clothing, storage onboard for jackets, etc..
Additional Information

Transforming Fantasies into Experiences - Over Two Decades of ‘NatGeo’ Level Adventures

Limited to six participants, optimizing the probability of swimming alongside wild dolphins and whales, and enabling swift decision-making in evolving circumstances - including efficient ladder maneuvering!

Our crew is comprised of certified lifeguards, seasoned biologists/naturalists/safety divers with comprehensive knowledge of the finest routes and undiscovered jewels.

We provide guided reef snorkeling tours (highlighting what others often overlook)

Every tour incorporates Citizen Science, which includes the tracking of marine waste, abandoned fishing nets, endangered & protected species, etc. We utilize professional cameras equipped with long lenses for research photography (photo IDs) during wildlife interactions. Our contributions extend to various marine conservation and mammal journals.

Founded by a female marine biologist and managed by women, we operate according to federal laws and are certified by the Whale and Cetacean Alliance, ensuring wildlife viewing is conducted in a sustainable, respectful and ethical manner.

  • Severe allergies - as we may be 1/2 hour or more from medical help, please have epi-pens onboard with you.
Location
Waiʻanae Small Boat Harbor
Farrington Highway
Your friendly guide will meet you by the "A" pier gate (usually wearing orange Wild Side shirt) in the Waianae Boat Harbor: 85-491 Farrington Hwy, 96792. Make sure you type in the zip code "96792" so you don't get routed to the 'other side' Farrington Hwy.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(32 Ratings)
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Rosepointe
Apr 30, 2024
Great Experience….Fabulous Crew and a Surprise to us Lunch - We are whale watchers around the world and always go on snorkeling and whale watching tours. I read about this company months ago and contacted them while in Hawaii. There were four of us on the boat….room for a total of six. There was a naturalist wanting many pictures for his work and we referred to him as “Orange”, and a Captain who has sailed many places including our home area….The Caribbean. We vacation there all of the time. The guys were fabulous. Watching any sea life takes patience and time. And the Whales,Dolphins, Turtles, and other creatures make their own plans. The beauty of a trip Iike this is one can adjust the day and change plans as needed. My husband and I never expected to see whales as we know many are back in Alaska now. On our way back from a great snorkel with a large group of dolphins and their babies and time watching a group of pilot whales otherwise knows dolphins. We were shocked as a humpback and her baby went by the side of the boat and both did a dive together big tail and little tail right behind the boat. This baby was too young to travel yet I suspect. It was a fabulous moment. Adjusting a tour is the joy of a trip like this. And I forwarded pictures to the other coupe with us last night. We had just met.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leannah836
Apr 27, 2024
An amazing opportunity not to be missed! - We thoroughly enjoyed our trip out on the water with the expert crew! We saw many dolphins, Spotted and Spinner. What I appreciated the most - and why we chose this tour - is their dedication to conservation and their contribution to research and preservation of marine animals. The guides are very knowledgeable generously shared information about marine animals as well as myths and legends of the gorgeous mountain valley. The scenery was spectacular. They did their best to give us the best experience possible and we appreciated every moment!
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Dafl2017
Apr 10, 2024
Incredible tour!! - Absolutely incredible tour!!! We had the BEST time! All the crew were fantastic and went out of their way to make it the best day for us. They were all extremely knowledgeable. We were lucky enough to swim with pilot whales and turtles. We also saw spinner dolphins and a hammerhead shark from the boat Would definitely recommend this company for your tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bkwhitten
Apr 3, 2024
Wonderful ecological experience - Best Whale watching and snorkeling trip we've done in Oahu. It was the end of the whale season, but we still saw a whale. We also saw dolphins and saw with 7 sea turtles in a peaceful bay. The best part was that there were 3 crew members to 5 guests. An amazing ratio and the crew was committed to ocean ecology which is very important to us. Even though they didn't advertise that they were part of the NOAA Dolphin Smart program, they followed all the rules. I would definitely go again in a heartbeat.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brianan92
Mar 26, 2024
Amazing private tour! - This tour was spectacular. Bethany and Leah were amazing - very friendly, professional, fun and knowledgeable. We went at the end of March and we're lucky enough to see dolphins, whales and a turtle. We also saw colorful fish. This is a small more personal tour which was incredible and felt a lot more private. Highly recommend, and would definitely do again!
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Venture61781694294
Mar 23, 2024
Private 6 hour tour - Our tour was a private tour for 6 hours with just my husband and I. Captain Leah and First Mate Bethany were gracious hosts and excellent in spotting turtles, whales, dolphins, albatross and 2 species of Booby's-Brown and Red Footed. They made sure we had plenty of photo opportunities through out our time on the boat. I recommend this tour for anyone who wants great photos of marine life or just to see the windward side of Oahu.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sarahkb1516ue
Mar 19, 2024
If you do one thing on O’hau-DO THIS!!! - This was one of the best experiences of any trip we’ve ever been on and the first review I’ve ever written (I felt compelled to share). Our whole family was able to join (ages ranged 10-70) and everyone had the best time. Not only did we get to see bottlenose dolphins and humpback whales up close from the boat, but we got to swim literally surrounded by the dolphins … and sea turtles. Bethany, Micky and Leah were amazingly knowledgeable and knew just where to be to cultivate an amazing experience for the whole family. We learned so much. This is a treasure and worth every penny.
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Michelleso1234sq
Mar 19, 2024
Beautiful experience - We had a great time. Informative crew & captain. Beautiful scenery we were lucky enough to have a whale & calf sighting. Also a couple groups of spinner dolphins. They unfortunately ran into some mechanical problems & were very accommodating for our excursion having to be cut a little short! Overall it was a wonderful experience ❤️👍🏻😊
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roving07513103436
Mar 1, 2024
Most beautiful experience - The all-female crew was knowledgeable, accommodating, intuitive and down to earth. They helped us feel cared for and safe in order to experience our journey to its fullest. We couldn’t have wished for a better excursion.
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Z830zetaniaw
Feb 24, 2024
BEST CRUISE EVER! - Best experience ever! We saw multiple hump backed whales - including calves - and the calves were breaching!! The crew couldn't believe it and said they had never seen calves breach so many times. Usually just a couple times and then they tire out. We saw multiple mother and calf couples and were thrilled!! We also had bottle nosed dolphins and we snorkled with turtles and beautiful fish - we were fortunate to have the wildlife trifecta - I'd like to believe it was because it was my birthday - the crew certainly believed it to be true. The all women crew was exceptional So knowledgeable, professional and fun! The weather was great - overcast and comfortable and the seas were favorable enough for the captain to take us all the way past Kaena point - so we could see even more whales and both sides of the island! We highly recommend this cruise! Being with an organization that is so dedicated to research, as well as educating the public was the deciding factor before we took the cruise - now, we can definitely recommend them for the wonderful time they provide for their guests!
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May 2024
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