Honolulu Sailing

Amazing Catamaran & Snorkeling Experience!…read more We had such an incredible time on our catamaran snorkeling trip! Jake and Sam truly made the experience everything we hoped it would be--and more. They were fun, personable, knowledgeable, and kept us laughing with their jokes throughout the trip. Thanks to their expertise, we were able to snorkel with sea turtles and see so many different species of beautiful tropical fish. They knew exactly where to take us and made us feel comfortable and well taken care of the entire time. Jake and Sam were an absolute joy and really made this one of the highlights of our Hawaii vacation. 100% recommend this experience! Mahalo for such an unforgettable day!

The entire trip was amazing. The crew were super nice, very knowledgeable, and patient with those…read moreof us not experienced with snorkeling. Highly recommend. 10/10

It's Turtle Time! Come swim with these massive creatures on our Turtle Snorkel Adventure

We know the best spots to make your day on the water unforgettable.

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Jumping into adventure on our Turtle Snorkel Adventure

Diamond Head Cruises

4.8(147 reviews)

0.0 mi•Kaka'ako

Zoe and Caleb were awesome! Will definitely come back and recommend to everyone! Love how intimate…read morethe tour was and we even saw dolphins!

Very knowledgeable and attentive. We felt very safe and very well taken care off. Captain Peter was…read morevery kind and attentive to all of our needs. His partner (I am so sorry that her name escapes my aged mind right now) was amazing and made sure we got real cool videos of the majestic turtles swimming nearby. I 100% recommend them.

All smiles! Our guides are with you in the water every step of the way, ensuring a safe and fun adventure!

Family time on the water

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Sturdy and easy to maneuver.

Hawaii Glass Bottom Boats

4.7(738 reviews)

0.1 mi•Kaka'ako

Had an awesome experience with Hawai'i Glass Bottom Boat! The crew was great and super friendly…read morefrom start to finish. They also provide water on board, so there's no need to worry about bringing your own bottle. The captain was hilarious but also really informative. I've lived in Hawaii my whole life, and he was sharing history about the island that even I didn't know! It made the trip entertaining while also giving me a whole new appreciation for the place I call home. The views were beautiful, the crew made everyone feel welcome, and the whole experience was just a great time. Definitely something I'd recommend to both visitors and locals. All around a great experience -- 5 stars!

This was a really Fun boat ride. Some interesting aquatic life and city views…read more Waiver you sign electronically is pretty outrageous. Watch you step especially when boat is moving. Jim was excellent taking pics for families and groups to save the memories. Ian a great pilot. We were there in August and took the second boat out in the morning. It is a good idea to make a reservation in advance.

Out on the Water with Hawaii Glass Bottom Boat Tours

View on Hawaii Glass Bottom Boat Tours

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Out on the Water with Hawaii Glass Bottom Boat Tours

Go Hawaii Watersports

4.3(466 reviews)

0.0 mi•Kaka'ako

We had a wonderful experience! We ordered Parasailing vouchers on Groupon and called Go Hawaii…read moreWatersports to book our experience. We arrived about 45 minutes before our flight and were checked in quickly. About 15 minutes before our experience was set to begin, they walked us over to the boat and gave us life jacket. When it was time to fly, we were set harnesses and quickly locked in. The flight itself was so much fun and they dunk you in the water at the end. It was just my family of 3 and two other groups of 3 on the boat. The whole experience was a little less than an hour and totally worth it. They offer to take photos, if that's something you want as well.

We booked a experience with them and they canceled at the last minute. I am on a Cruise to Hawaii…read morea had this planned for a couple of months. They said the boat is going for maintenance, but you should have back up.

View of Waikiki from the boat

Parasailing

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Oahu Catamarans

4.8(339 reviews)

0.1 mi

Established in 1985

Great tour,great staff. Very safe, saw at least 5 turtles and many many colorful fish. Highly…read morerecommend. Book directly through website. I paid more through tripadvisor.

I was so surprised how much I enjoyed this excursion! I live in Hawaii but I wanted to do something…read morenew when my son was with me. We ha d a great time with the captain and the ladies who worked there. Outgoing personality and the best part was the dog named Sushi! We were extremely lucky to see some dolphins on our way back and they swam so close to us! We saw some turtles when we went swimming but I have to say that it was sort of crowded with the other boats around. It was difficult to really swim around with so many people. Other than that, we saw a few honu's and enjoyed the lovely swim! Highly recommend this excursion!

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Hawaii Nautical - Waikiki

4.6(656 reviews)

0.3 mi

Wanna know a Secret?…read more Watch the sunset, observe the dolphins and go snorkeling with Hawai'i Nautical! The Ko 'Olina crew is exceptional in these and many more unforgettable ocean experiences. I truly appreciate their commitment to safety and marine conservation. A big thanks to my crew--Dave, Quynh & G!

We took the one and a half hour catamaran, sunset cruise, and was on the Gold Coast yacht…read morecatamaran. We sailed through Waikiki, Diamond head then out through the ocean to watch the sunset. We were served cocktails and pupu's throughout the trip. The crew were so friendly and helpful. The yacht and catamaran was clean, with smooth sailing. We even saw a monk seal along the way. We recommend this trip to anyone.

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Bar area

Prince Kuhio Tours

4.0(270 reviews)

0.1 mi•Kaka'ako

•$$$$

Did this cruise last year as last minute and let me tell you this was the best dinner cruise yet!!…read moreThe food was frikkin good! So good I personally had to get the chef out and shake his hand n give him a tip! Talked stories for a while n he's very passionate n I can see y the food was just next level. Will be going again. Hope that chef is still there when I do go back!

Food: AMAZING! We had fish. It was tender and moist. The chef told us he was grilling it as we ate…read moresalad. The wasabi cream sauce made the dish with bok Choy, edamame beans, and rice. The salad had a really yummy sweet papaya sauce. Cheesecake standard but very yummy too! Best food on a boat. They even got our baby some fish and noodles and Cheetos. Service: Alex was so kind and attentive. My son got sea sick and she packed his food, gave me barf bags and a towel. She showed a spot where it was less rocky. She was lovely interacting with the children. Showed them all she decorated. Ambience: very chill vibe, clean bathrooms, Desiree was a cool bartender making everyone comfortable. It was very fun experience for our family. We got great pictures with Diamond head and the sunset. Captain was kind to take pictures while steering the ship. Loved it and will do again when Oahu!

Brisket loco moco with scrambled eggs and fresh fruits

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Diamond head

Ko Olina Ocean Adventures

4.8(808 reviews)

17.2 mi

It was a very delightful sunset sail! The captains and the…read morerest of the crew were so wonderful! The food and drinks were delish! We spotted a family of dolphins along the way. We had a great time!

We had a great experience on the Catamaran Snorkeling excursion. The Captain and Crew did a…read morefantastic job of getting everyone ready for the snorkeling - from the safety instructions at the beginning to the lunch afterwards. Plus, they were right in the water with us the whole time - checking on folks and pointing out Sea Turtles and other interesting things! Can't wait to get back to do this again!

Just before the sunset.

LOVED the colors at sunset!

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Dolphin Excursions Hawaii

4.9(819 reviews)

24.5 mi

Women-owned & operated

First of all, we want to thank Alexa and Ashley for the wonderful experience…read more Due to the hurricane, Lisa actively approached us about the conditions and offered a free change of date. Alexa and Ashley both had great knowledge about the animals and shared that with us. They respect the wildlife in a very lovely way and you get to share that with them when being on the boat together. Even though conditions were not in our favor, we saw dolphins and even baby dolphins! We 100% recommend this tour for everyone who respects wildlife, wants to learn more about the animals and is looking making memories in a small group. Thank you for some great forever memories!

This was one of the most amazing boat trip I have ever taken! Captain Jenn and deck hand Angie…read morewere so amazing and accommodating. Our group of 4 can not stop talking about our experience and how fun it was and how great the crew was! Thank you for this amazing experience!

Bottlenose dolphins are one of the many species of dolphin who frequent Hawaiian waters

Spotted dolphins are found year round

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Spotted eagle ray

Star of Honolulu

3.5(664 reviews)

1.1 mi

The ambiance, entertainment, and service was a five. The food was a four. Really disappointed with…read morethe lobster but the filet was good. Really liked the charcuterie board with a good selection of cheese, fruits and crackers. The best part was the entertainment. Great music and the hula show was spectacular. My five year old granddaughter was dancing and having a fantastic time. The lady performers interacted with her making it a wonderful experience for her. That made my night. The gentleman playing jazz and easy listening music did a good job. The lady jazz singer sounded great. Views from the ship were phenomenal. All in all my kids and grandkids had a good time so it was a win/win for my wife and I.

Unfortunately, our experience on the Star of Honolulu was very disappointing. Feels just like a…read moretourist trap. The best part of the entire evening was the beautiful views that was honestly the only highlight of the cruise. Beyond that, the operation felt disorganized, almost like a group of children were running the boat instead of a well-trained team. The food was just okay and definitely not worth the price we paid. Lobsters we received were pregnant which I'm sure is not okay, a lot of green near the tail. The performances were okay seemed all over the place and not authentic. Cheap costumes and again just seemed like children needing a job. We also paid extra for a celebration cake, but it arrived with a "Congratulations" banner that wasn't even appropriate for our occasion. When I finally spoke to the manager she told me there's no option to choose the occasion so all cakes come that way. To make matters worse, it was simply handed to us off to the side with no presentation or effort to make the moment feel special. The most frustrating part was the customer service. I asked to speak with a manager three separate times and was ignored each time. The manager never came to us--I had to find her myself. You can definitely find another better event For the price of this experience, I expected much better service, attention to detail, and professionalism. The views were beautiful, but they weren't enough to make up for everything else. I wouldn't choose this cruise again. Morning after update: my daughter woke up puking her brains out, im sure from the unpleasing looking lobster. I'd definitely stay away from this company and boat

Precious moment captured by me!

Our gorgeous crew!

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Mai tai drinks!

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18 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Rosa V.

7

9

5

9 years ago

DO NOT Charter a yacht with Mike Mickelwait / Honolulu Sailing Co. Our trip was unpleasant at best and outright unsafe / dangerous at worst. The yacht we chartered was clearly not fit for purpose. (Note: We are experienced Blue water sailors / boat owner of over 20 years experience). We travelled to Hawaii with the specific intention of chartering a yacht from Mike for a 8 day cruise. We had a mutually agreed date, vessel and itinerary (as promoted by Mike on his website) which we researched and planned for. Upon arrival Mike had the wrong date, the vessel was unavailable due to breakage and he strongly recommended that we did no pursue the itinerary that he had promoted and we had agreed. Mike indicated that he had another vessel available - which we agreed to as we were left with the alternative of NO vessel. No information about the yacht was forthcoming other than a very brief verbal overview. No documentation was provided aside charts and cruising guides. Mike requested that we empty the primary fuel filter daily for water (this should have been a warning to us - water in the fuel tank is not something that any customer chartering a yacht should be needing to clear on a daily basis). After setting off from Honolulu, it started to become apparent that the vessel was overdue some maintenance. The house batteries did not hold charge, the tender would not fully inflate without leaking and we had to fix the tender engine ourselves as it was leaking petrol so we fixed it ourselves (see photo in gallery). There were navigation lights not working (we fashioned new ones on route), the hatches leaked, the lines were worn (see photo in gallery), and one of the heads could not be locked off - meaning sewage could easily be expelled into the sea. Upon arriving in Hanalei, I dived the hull to see if I could scrub it to increase boat speed. After an hour of scrubbing I had to give up - there were year of barnacles and week growing on the bottom - which was too hard to get off. Whilst this was uncomfortable, we could make do. However, on the fifth day - five hours off shore from Oahu the engine failed. As the house battery did not hold charge, this meant that all systems requiring electricity started to fail. No auto pilot, no GPS, reducing our ability to navigate (in unfamiliar waters) and communicate our situation to the outside world. Mike did not respond to our request for assistance until we contacted Coastguard and they contacted him on our behalf. Through out the next twelve hours as we made for the vessels home Marina we had little contact from Mike - and the most reassuring factor was that Coastguard contacted us hourly to check we were alright, and were on hand to chase Mike when he would not respond to our phone calls to make sure he would be on hand to tow us the final distance into the Marina. Mike met us and towed us into our berth. What did Mike do at this point? Apologise? Offer a refund? Offer an alternative for the next three nights? None of the above - Mike said goodbye and just walked himself off the Marina. So what next for us? We have discussed our grievances with Mike and have not reached a satisfactory agreement. We have raised a formal complaint with the Better Business Bureau. We think Hawaii is a great place to sail and you should do it, just don't do it with Mike and Honolulu Sailing company. read more

Molly O.

1

3

2

9 years ago

Read the reviews before you book with Mike Mickelson / Honolulu sailing. They speak for themselves. I have just finished a charter and vessel we were provided 'Gauguin' was not well maintained. The state of the vessel became noticeable once we were underway. The head leaked water leaving the toilet floors smelly and wet. If was actually just gross in the heat with the smell of a dirty toilet - right next to where we were sleeping. The lines were all worn, the lifelines were threadbare in places. Mike told us that this was a 'fast boat' - whatever that means to him. After a slow passage to Hanalei we took a look at the hull. There was a turtle eating barnacles off it (see the photos). The hull / rudder & prop has this thick barnacles and weed - the prop was so encrusted that it is actually amazing that it could turn. Hawaii is such a beautiful sailing destination and I am sure you can have a great experience. Read the reviews and pick someone reputable. read more

Chris S.

0

2

0

6 years ago

We had an absolutely wonderful time with Hon Sailing Co - HIGHLY recommended to use them for your next sail! We did a sunset cruise on a Friday night and it could not have been more beautiful. We brought lots of food and they had a grill on the boat we could use. The service was fantastic as well (please ask for Michele when making a reservation, we cannot speak highly enough of her help!). Overall amazing experience - a necessary part of your time in Honolulu if you love getting out on the water read more

Vicky A.

0

2

8 years ago

I had an amazing sailing experience with Captain Jeremy! I have tried many different sailing tours and boats in Waikiki but this one was by far the best one! First of all, the boat is amazing! I felt like in a movie! Even though it was windy it was very stable and comfortable. The Captain was very accommodating and friendly. He told us a lot about sailing. We had the best view of Friday fireworks, too! If you don't have much time in Hawaii take a sailing trip with Jeremy. You will not regret it. read more

Paul O.

0

10

2

9 years ago

Mike and Honolulu Sailing is very disorganised, got our start date wrong, and the quality of the yacht and information he provided was poor e.g. the engine raw water pump was leaking the whole trip, ports and hatches would not stay open and hence the cabin was always very hot. The maintenance on the yacht was negligent, leading into safety issues i.e the engine and battery issues whilst we were offshore. Do not use Honolulu Sailing - very bad to deal with. read more

Emma H.

0

2

1

2 years ago

I had an amazing experience renting a private sail yacht on July 20th! The captain, Ty, and the assistant, Kylie, were fantastic. They made the trip unforgettable with their friendly and professional service. The yacht was clean, well-maintained, and had everything we needed. Highly recommend this company for a great time on the water! read more

Gintarė K.

8

1

6

8 years ago

It was amazing time with amazing old and new friends That boat is so comfortable, lots of space Stunning sunset Until we wait fireworks, captain lowered the sail, the music of waves and sails waved my ears. I can repeat again and again million times it was incredible good time. Biggest gratitude for a captain Jeremy read more

Johnny C.

0

8

4

8 years ago

I had the best time cruising with Honolulu Sailing company their super laid-back and very fun, the captain was great.! Booking was super easy and the boat was awesome. I'm definitely going to go again and bring a lot of my friends. I would definitely recommend going with this company for that VIP treatment. read more

Dana W.

0

2

0

5 years ago

Captain Rick and Tyler were amazing!!! We had a blast with them, they were extremely welcoming and knowledgeable. We got to see humpback whales and they made the experience extra special. When we come back to Hawaii we will definitely rent with them again! read more

Azra C.

0

1

0

8 years ago

I had such an amazing time sailing with Capt. J and his friends on the boat! They took care of everything making for a fun, care free time. definitely going to use them again and recommend them too anyone looking for a great time! thanks guys!! read more

Agne T.

3

1

0

8 years ago

Hello everyone. First of all I want to thank you for all captain Jeremy crew. It was amazing, I didn't expect so wonderful time. Sunset was stunning with my lovely husband, with lots of moments captured in photos. Many thanks guys read more

Raminta S.

57

1

2

8 years ago

It was an amazing experience.. Totally reccomend. We went sailing on friday afternoon. That's why we could see both - sunset and fireworks. It was WOW! Thank you captain Jeremy for unforgettable time! read more

Donatas G.

0

1

0

8 years ago

Aloha guys It was great time with friends, captain Jeremy and his crew. First of all I seen amazing sunset, when I was amazed again when I seen fireworks. It was relaxing time, chilling with friends. read more

Mark N.

172

8

9

8 years ago

This is probably the nicest Sailboat I've ever been on straight luxury to the t. great captain great times with great friends Friday night sunset with fireworks doesn't get any better than us read more

Marius S.

26

1

8 years ago

Best boat in HonoluluSailed for sunset and fireworks. Have a lot of fun with my friends. This boat has a lot of space, captain Jeremy and his crew was fantastic!!! read more

Blair D.

0

1

0

6 years ago

I rented this sailboat for a music video and the owners were really nice. The boat was nice and clean, we enjoyed every second of it was a vibe! read more

Getachew A.

0

1

0

4 years ago

we had a great time sailing with Tyree ,Tyler and Donny. We were well taken care of and it was everything we could have asked for.

MIcheleo B.

22

14

12

3 years ago

Bad experience unsafe boat very dirty Was told I was getting a luxury yacht and it definitely was dirty disgusting small sailboat read more

Honolulu Sailing - sailing - Updated October 2026

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The experiance of a lifetime! Captain Gaelyn was just lovely. I had a long sail one day and a…read morelesson the next, which was definitely the way to go. I was in my happy place every moment. Captain was so easy to be around and really set me at ease when i was tacking for the first few times, and i'll tell you i could not stop smiling. Could not recommend more!

I was fortunate to have Captain Gaelyn to accompany my last journey with my dear mom. Captain…read moreGaelyn is a very competent,warm and attentive person. You can totally trust her. I would love to hire her again. Her service is the first rate but the price was reasonable! Mahalo dear Captain Gaelyn! See you again!

Aloha Boat Charters

4.8

(5 reviews)

This tour was a good time! The crew was very helpful and the views were amazing! It's a shoeless…read morecruise but I was happy I chose to wear a bathing suit and sarong. I was able to sit in the spot where you could see well without worrying about the waves splashing on a dressy outfit.

We went on the Ke Kia snorkeling with the turtles. Capt. Justin and his team were great!!! Very…read morehelpful and on top of our safety, yet laid back and fun. They made sure we saw turtles and taught us some interesting things about the turtles and Hawaii. Highly recommended!!!! Such a fun way to spend our morning in paradise.

Waikiki Boat Charters

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(6 reviews)

Boat was old and slow. We bought pizza to take on board because they advertised microwave, stove,…read moreOwen etc, none of these were working because they were on a small generator. Service was non existent. They took us to a snorkeling spot where there were no fishes, not a single one. Asked them to take us to a better spot, after them acting like they were doing us a favor, they took us to another spot where there were no fish, well we saw 3 puny fishes. We saw more walking on the dock, a lot more. So let me summarize, old and slow boat, crappy service, bad route and location Would not recommend it and will not use them again. Not sure why I tipped them. Did I mention this was a private charter in case you were wondering.

What a wonderful experience. Our family requested a memorial for our parents, brother in law and…read morefamily pets on the water. My parents had lived in Oahu for 40+ years and we wanted to fulfill their last wishes. Devin and Captain Ken were kind and comforting as we planned the 1.5 hour cruise to scatter our beloveds' ashes near Diamond Head (I am on the east coast, so everything was over the phone or via email). Captain Ashley and her first mate were thorough, compassionate and helped us make the morning a truly meaningful ceremony. The Hawaiian Eco-urns were beautiful, as were the flower petals. We couldn't have planned the Blue Angel flyover- but it happened and my niece got the best photo (thanks, Dad, for winking at us from the heavens). While tears were shed, so were shared stories and big hugs. Thank you, Waikiki Boat Charters, for making the day so memorable. It was a perfect send off for those we loved.

Ocean Therapy Charters

4.7

(12 reviews)

Spoke to the operator and booked the dive weeks in advanced. I planned my trip around this activity…read moreand then less than 12 hours before the activity, they called me to cancel. On top of that, they did not refund my payment. If you don't want your vacation to be ruined, book with someone else. Now, thy are arguing that they will not process a refund because the cancellation was the night before. I completed all the forms they required and had plenty of time to review them. However, they decided to wait until the night before to review it and cancel the dive. Because they took until the night before to do so, now they conveniently say the cancellation was before 24 hours of the reservation. Why did they not review this before? I have more than 50 dives logged in different countries. I know what the physical requirements are to have a safe dive (my own safety always comes first). They cancelled because I had a minor surgery (they didn't even asked what kind) 8 months ago. The operator called at 7pm the night before with this concern and offered that his wife (who happens to be a doctor), could clear his concerns. I asked about the cost and he quoted $200-250 for the "consultation". They were just clearly looking for an excuse to cancel at the last minute and keep the payment. STAY AWAY FROM DISHONEST VENDORS!!

Did a two tank dive today one to the Sea Tiger wreck and one to a reef. Both were fantastic. The…read moreOcean Therapy is very comfortable, crew is awesome. Highly recommend this boat. Especially love that they keep it to only 6 guests

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Kevin and Sabrina were amazing, we had a great time. My 7 yr old grandson said it was "totally…read moreworth it" Highly recommend!!

Big Kahuna Water Sports

4.9

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This was by far the most amazing experience i have had being on Oahu ...Greg and Allan were…read moreawesome. I had a very bad panic moment trying b to adjust to breathing in the water. Greg helped me through it and I was able to calm down for the rest of the day. .. the sea life was astonishing... The water was the most beautiful blue words cant describe...I cant wait to go back and get my certification with them!!!!

A year late posting this review but I had the most amazing experience diving with Big Kahuna Water…read moreSports! This was only my second time ever diving - first time diving was only a few days before this at a very introductory level at Magic Island Beach. This dive was more advanced as we went out on 2 dives off of a boat. There were two groups on the boat we went out on. There was a more advanced group of divers who were finishing their Advanced Diver certification and my group who had myself and 2 others who had dived before but not in a long time and needed a refresher. Our instructor (it was a year ago so unfortunately forgot his name!) was really friendly and helpful. I was a bit nervous but he calmed my nerves, explained everything thoroughly, and made sure we were all comfortable and taken care of. He showed us a ton of really cool ocean life underwater and we got to see tons of urchins, eels, and even an octopus! He took some amazing photos and videos as well. This discovery dive was so much fun I decided to go for my PADI certification after this!! 1 year later I am PADI Open Water Diver certified and definitely continuing to dive whenever I can!! Super grateful to Big Kahuna and my dive instructor for igniting this new passion!!!

Oahu Charter Sport Fishing

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I sent my husband and family on this charter. Capt. Rick called immediately to let us know that we…read moremighty avengers to cancel due to safety. I really appreciated it. The following day, the sun was shining and they were able to go out. My husband said :"Loved the outing! It was a beautiful day and the crew was fun and easy going. We didn't catch anything, but spotted a whale. Fish being less active in warm water made it less likely to catch a fish, but the crew did their best and were awesome! I would book again and highly recommend!"

This was hands down thee best excursion we did in oahu. The captain put us on alot of fish …read more Unfortunately they weren't biting too hard. But that's fishing just like life. he pulled out some smaller couple of rods and we caught 10 skipjack Tuna, just to keep search. After a long day we were heading back to the dock and not before long we caught a big wahoo. So awesome. can't wait to eat it. great job staff! I could only remember 1 name Tim from Fiji! He was so cool and professional as well as the other young ladys and the captain! My son and i are definitely booking again! Keep them lines tight Renegade! Thank you sincerely Mike and Fernando

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(272 reviews)

We had the absolute time of our lives on our very first scuba diving adventure with Reef Pirates…read moreDiving! As complete beginners, this family dive turned out to be the absolute highlight of our trip to Hawaii. Marina was simply incredible--professional, warm, incredibly patient, and attentive. Thanks to her guidance, our children had a magical underwater journey. My daughter loved it so much that she even took off her fins and danced at the bottom of the ocean! What touched us most was how Marina cared for my wife. My wife doesn't know how to swim and was initially terrified of going into the ocean. Marina gently eased her fears with immense patience and expertise. Encouraged by Marina, my wife eventually let go of the line and went for a confident "stroll" right through the coral reefs. It was a huge milestone for her. The team's professionalism really showed when I made a beginner's mistake. Forgetting the instructions to equalize slowly while descending, I let go of the line and sank too fast, which caused severe head pain. Marina and Greg acted immediately and guided me safely back to the surface with complete composure and care. To wrap up a perfect day, they even helped us fill out our official certification paperwork after we got back to shore. This was hands-down our family's best memory in Hawaii. Thank you so much, Marina and Greg, for making our first dive so safe, joyful, and unforgettable!

Let me first start by saying the review would be a five star review if it were not for Marina, one…read moreof the dive guides. Let me go through the positive aspects first, then, I will cover the areas for improvement. First, the dive service is great for beginners. I did one previous dive in Moorea and they didn't explain anything. This time, Reef Pirates did a good job of explaining the physics and the safety procedures of diving. Also, there were several practice drills in shallow water before diving deeper, and so I think they did a good job of following proper safety and dive procedures. The guides, Dray and Marina, had over 10 and 20 years of experience, respectively, and definitely knew their stuff. Dray, who was my dive guide, was excellent. In comparison to Marina, the two have polar opposite personalities. Dray is very outgoing and friendly. I felt really safe with him as my guide and he did a good job at showing us creatures underwater. I'd highly recommend Dray if you can get him. Marina, on the other hand, is very stern and serious. I had originally been scheduled to dive with her, but I failed a shallow water test and so she sent me to Dray's group (thank God because Dray was way better). My main issue with Marina came down to the photography / videography that I purchased for $95 beforehand, but moreover, her bad attitude. After the dive was over, Marina told me she needed time to color-correct the video footage before sending it to me. Okay, I thought. Sounds fine to me. But when I received the files, she added a slow-motion effect to all of the videos right in the middle. This effectively made the video footage unusable for my purposes, and since I did not request any special effects added to the videos at the time of purchase, I requested she send the unedited videos without the slow motion effects. Marina told me she immediately deleted the originals without obtaining a final acceptance from the client. This was her first mistake. Never delete your originals until the client accepts them. Then, my real gripe was with her attitude, and she went on to say that she was doing me a "favor out of the kindness of her heart" by giving me the files, and that she had washed her hands of the responsibility of videography, and attempted to transfer the responsibility to Dray, which was pretty poor character of her throwing her colleague under the bus like that. I told her that it was not a favor she was doing for me and that she owed me videography services, and I showed her my receipt for the $95 photography/videography. She basically told me to ask Dray for any questions about these services. I requested a refund, but she declined it. Rather than making a big deal about it, I chalked it up as a loss and moved on with my life. Still, I thought it was pretty low of Marina to try and blame Dray for her mistake. Besides, some of us have to work in jobs where we get held accountable for our mistakes, so I don't have a lot of sympathy for her. The other issue with the videos and photos, not as big a deal, was they were all in "portrait" orientation (as opposed to landscape orientation). For my purposes, this also made the videos and photos unusable, for me at least. Thankfully I brought my own GoPro and had some usable footage of the turtles. In the end, I'd recommend taking your own GoPro and filming yourself, saving the $95. The diving is great and we saw many turtles. In this regard, I'd give Reef Pirates a five star review but had to take off 2 stars because of Marina.

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