7am Whale & Turtle excursion on 14June! Absolutely phenomenal experience! Can't recommend them or the tour enough. Crew was fantastic, accommodating, and met their guests needs by tailoring support accordingly. Some of us had experience snorkeling while others needed support and they were intentional to tailor our experience to meet both. Fun and educational. The crew distinctly sought to educate us throughout, providing informative understandings of the sea life we were engaging at the time. Absolutely cannot recommend enough! Plus, a snack at the end read more

Had the best time with Shannon, Alex and Matt!! Went with my husband, 4 year old son and 10 year old daughter. Crew is very eager to get you in the water with the animals in an ethical way, which I loved. They will ask you what you want to see when you first get on. When we arrived at the first pod of dolphins, there was a larger tour (about 20-30) already there. I was grateful our tour had only 4 other guests and two crew with us in the water at all times (as well as the captain on the boat).. The dolphins swam right below us, it was magical. On the ride back, my daughter asked if we could do it again! Would highly, highly recommend Wild Side and would book again! read more

Wild Side Specialty Tours - Our two guides with us in the water! - Snorkeling Near Me - Waianae, Hawaii

We did the 6 hour sea'fari with Bethany and crew and had just the most amazing experience. Our daughter is interested in marine biology so I emailed Wild Side to see which of their tours would be the best fit. We went out with 3 different boat charter companies during our time in Oahu and this was by far the absolute best. The west side is so much calmer than the other sides of the island and we got to see and do so much! We swam with spotted eagle rays, turtles, spotted dolphins, and got to see lots of living coral reef. We located and sent in coordinates for a "ghost net" that was too big for us to bring on board so that it could be collected to make sure that it didn't harm any creatures. Their ethics are so spot on - before we left the debris they used the gopro to make sure that there wasn't anything actively entangled. In deeper water we saw false killer whales - tons of them - and spent time watching them and learning about their behaviors. While another boat sent their crew in with them, we did not send anyone into the water with them and there was definitely a change in their behavior when people were in the water with them. We felt like we were part of marine biology on the island while also getting once in a lifetime experiences and photos. The photos are so amazing - definitely worth it to purchase! I can't imagine us going back to Oahu and not doing this again. Obviously the ocean is going to be different every time, but Wild Side's team was just so wonderful and we learned so much. Highly highly recommend! read more

Wild Side Specialty Tours - One of the pictures Bethany took on our tour. - Snorkeling Near Me - Waianae, Hawaii

We joined the 6 hour trip with Wild Side and it was amazing!!! The communication and preparations before the trip was top notch, and the trip itself was unbeatable. We started at 6am and the morning was a tranquil visit to all the animals in the ocean. Our guides were Connor and Bethany, and they are knowledgeable naturalists and wonderful guides who took good care of us inside and outside of the water. Captain Kim knew we were birders and wanted to take photos of the shearwaters, boobys, and albatrosses and she always positioned the boat while giving us the best and most stable view for photography, while maintaining a respectful distance to the animals to avoid stressing them. We went out to Ka'ena point and had a great view of the Laysan albatross colony. There is truly nothing like having an albatross fly overhead. Along the way, we saw spotted dolphins actively feeding and playing, and also saw spinner dolphins! Seeing the monk seal lounging on the beach was a bonus. The wedge tail shearwaters had just returned so they were busy on the water. We also found masked boobys and brown booby feeding. We also saw turtles at their cleaning station! Connor and Bethany were knowledgeable about the landscape and the ecology and shared wonderful information. They are genuinely the nicest people! Highly recommended. The boat is comfortable and we were taking care of by the team (beverages, snacks, fruits, pastries). Thank you! read more

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Amazing seafari with Bethany, Alex, and Captain Jack. Their attention to detail, to wildlife, to safety, and hospitality were top notch. We saw and snorkeled with turtles, dolphins, eagle ray. The highlight was snorkeling with dozens of pilot whales. This was a small group (7 guests) and everything on board was fantastic. There were plenty of snacks and cold soft drinks. They provided snorkeling gear too if needed. Definitely buy the photo package because Bethany is in the water with you getting pictures of the wildlife and you. read more

I love doing water snorkeling adventures and seeing whales, dolphins and turtles. This trip did not disappoint.I actually did two half tours in a row because the full day adventure was not available that day. We were so lucky that the first time out we saw humpbacks! It was incredible. Remember that wildlife is wild and there are no prescheduled shows. It is up to the wildlife if they will be there or not. All one can do is to look for them and cross your fingers! That first time we saw a lot whale action and one even came close to the boat! We tried to swim with the dolphins but that wasn't too successful. However, we had such a good time with the whales! The second time I went the same day the whales were hiding but the dolphins were really out and about! We jumped in the first time but we were not quick enough but the second time, wow! | had my go pro with me but I am not accomplished at using it yet. I thought I had gotten a video of me swimming along side a group of dolphins but I may have messed that up. However, I have that great memory! We even got to see two turtles on our back to the harbor. I have been on many whale watching tours but what was so nice about this one is that they have a limited number of people on board. There is no crowding which is enchanting! BTW-Oahu was coming off a big storm and even through it had passed the waters were still a bit rough at times. We had been disappointed that our other water adventures (two different companies) were canceled on Monday and Tuesday. It would have been crazy and unsafe. Also, if you go right after a storm the water is still too clouded to see properly as we found out with another vendor doing Turtle Canyon tours. We couldn't see anything and the waves were too strong. Remember, if tours cancel for weather it is good that they do cancel as you would not be able to see anything and cross your fingers for positive energy that the wildlife will come out of hiding to see you!!!! read more

Wild Side Specialty Tours - dolphins - Snorkeling Near Me - Waianae, Hawaii

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Our group had an unforgettable 6hr tour with Wildside. I could not have asked for more. The crew was both chill and super professional. Connor, the marine biologist was a wealth of information about any and all creatures. The captain seamlessly found all the spots before any other tour groups arrived so we had the ocean to ourselves. Swimming with pilot whales, spotted dolphins and a sting ray. Unbelievable. read more

Wild Side Specialty Tours - Us on the boat. Loved the snacks! - Snorkeling Near Me - Waianae, Hawaii

We had a "bucket list" experience! We swam with dolphins, snorkeled past sea turtles and saw our very first flying fish! Besides that the crew was BEYOND amazing and taught us so much about nature and wildlife on the island. We can't say enough good about our trip! From yummy fresh snacks to concern and care for our safety and comfort. Wow! Thank you Wild Side! It's an unforgettable memory! read more

Wild Side Specialty Tours - Snorkeling Near Me - Waianae, Hawaii

We just finished an incredible morning with Wild Side. We're a group of 7 people and it was like having a private charter. I was concerned because we have school age children as well as grandparents, and they took such good care of us. They had all the snorkel equipment, tons of drinks and snacks and took pictures. We saw spotted dolphins up close and got to snorkel with turtles. Captain Matt and our guides Connor and Bethany were experts and professionals! read more

This is definitely the best company you can use for a tour in O'ahu! We booked the Best of the West tour last August and it was the most fun we've had on a snorkeling tour in our lives. The crew were very fun and kind and really tried to make sure that we were seeing everything we could and they did so with upmost respect for the animals. We got to see a green sea turtle from the boat, which is always amazing, but the highlight of our tour was seeing a gigantic pod of dolphins! There were dozens all around the boat and it was a thrill to see them. They then maneuvered us to be able to jump in the water and have them swim all around us, which is something we'll never forget. We really loved how much care they took to make sure that we weren't bothering the animals and were just observing these amazing creatures. We also got to swim on a reef, which is always a wonderful thing to do. We absolutely loved this tour and the people who run it and would recommend this to anyone and everyone! read more

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The first thing that becomes apparent when you meet Bethany, Nikki, and Matt, is they love what they do. They were genuinely happy to see you walking down the dock and are ready to help you have a very memorable experience. The second thing that becomes apparent and is met with even more passion, is the respect they have for the wildlife while delivering the most memorable experience. The team today succeeded in every way. Thank you. read more

AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING! My friend and I joined the Best of the West turn at the beginning of June, and had such a great experience. The HIGHLIGHT: 1) Seeing 40-50 pilot whales next to the boat. It really is a once in a lifetime experience. But we were told this is a rare experience and does not happen on every tour. 2) Swimming with a sea turtle right in front of you (yes, we tried to keep the 10 feet recommended distance, but the little guy kept swimming towards us). But no tour can be perfect. We were lucky enough to spot a pod of spinner dolphins within the last 10-15 minutes of the tour. By that time, all the snorkeling gears were put away. The crew was very nice and accommodating, they passed the gears back out, and we hurried to jump in the water. However, we were only able to see the dolphins over the water for the most part, and they quickly swam away from us after we got into the ocean. Overall, this experience is amazing. The crew were friendly and knowledgeable. The lunch sandwich and snacks were delicious. Tips: 1) Use the bathroom at the harbor before boarding the boat. 2) Arrive on time. It took us about 55 minutes to drive from Waikiki to Waianae Boat Harbor (no traffic) 3) Get used to the water by swimming in the ocean or pool at least once before the tour. I did not do that, and it took me the first 10 minutes to get used to swimming with waives and snorkeling 4) Take motion sickness medication if you have a slight chance of getting it. I've never vomited on a boat before, and I did 3 times on this boat because it's small and the waives were big. Three out of six guests felt nauseated, so better same than sorry. They also have cold towels, ginger candy and ginger ale on board. 5) Bring CASH to tip your crew. You will have a great time, and remember they are part of what made this experience wonderful. read more

Wild Side Specialty Tours - Pilot whales!! - Snorkeling Near Me - Waianae, Hawaii

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Before traveling to Oahu we researched many wildlife and snorkeling tours, and I am so glad we went with Wild Side tours!!! We did the 6 hour wildlife tour, and it was amazing. The crew was wonderful, very friendly and catering to our group and 8 year old kiddo. They helped him feel safe and confident in the water as a first time snorkeler. We appreciated how they were so into conservation, to the point of even going out of their way to cleanup trash in the ocean. On the tour we saw so many dolphins right off the boat, and sea turtles and fish at two snorkeling sites. We also enjoyed the selection of snacks and fruit they provided. Overall a great experience and would highly recommend! read more

We had an amazing time with Wild Side! Probably Our best day! They're fun, friendly and respectful of the ocean. I literally have nothing bad to say about them! Best day of our vacation by far! read more

Wild Side Specialty Tours - Snorkeling Near Me - Waianae, Hawaii

My coworkers and I booked this tour because she works on this boat. We arrived and were greeted by friendly captain and crew. It was my first time on a tour like this. I was lucky to swim with turtles and pan-tropical spotted dolphins. I was lucky to be able to see them because I know sometimes Mother Nature doesn't cooperate and people don't see much. Very grateful for the great experience read more

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Oh my gosh! Captain Bryce and his team Isaiah and Michelle were genuinely kind and so pleasantly attentive! We had a fantastic trip and will go again next time we are here. We saw and swam with DOLPHINS! Captain Bryce knew just how to position the boat so we could snorkel with the dolphins in the deep sea. The whole experience was beyond magical. Please know, the crew cannot make dolphins etc appear, they are vastly experienced but there's a lot of luck involved so there are no guarantees so be prepared to just sit back and enjoy the spectacular scenery, everything else is frosting. read more

We had a best of the west tour booked for 3/26/22 for my mothers birthday. Although we didnt get to see any whales everything else was awesome. Captain Bryce did a good job keeping us entertained and safe recommend checking this place out if you can. Also really cant beat having a nice private group going out. read more

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Posting an updated review - Went with this company because of the very positive reviews. Booking process was efficient with very friendly staff. Boat staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. They did have lunch, drinks, and snacks onboard for us. However, be aware - boat is smaller than expected and not good for rougher waters at all. We'd booked a private wildlife viewing tour. Our experience on the water was not that great since we were in Hawaii the week of the extremely bad rain storms in December; I realize the company has no control over weather. We were the first tour back out a few days after the storm, and ocean conditions were much less than optimal. Most other companies had not yet resumed operations. We were told we'd not have much opportunity to view wildlife as the waters were still murky and most wildlife had not yet returned to the tour areas, so the crew was very up front about level-setting expectations for the morning. My prior review was negative, as I felt things could have been handled differently and a bit better. The company owner responded and asked me to reach out to discuss our experiences with them. The owner, Tori, very generously offered to help make things better. We agreed on a partial refund, which was not expected and is very much appreciated. Because of this response from the company, I've updated my review. While ours was not the best ocean experience due to conditions at the time, the company response to our situation deserves the higher rating for their positive customer service. We don't get to Hawaii often, but I'll consider booking with them again when we have time to try another wildlife tour on a future visit. read more

Highly recommend! We will definitely book a tour with Wild Side again. We had a small group (just 6 guest combined), it was very personal. The guys and captain are super friendly and very knowledgeable about the wildlife and the area. We saw two different kinds of whales, dolphins and turtles up close. The crew was very patient, searched for the best spots. We had a fantastic time! The lunch was delicious too. Don't even read more reviews, just book! :) read more

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Leah and Bethany of Wild Side did a phenomenal job taking us out for the morning. Both were professional, courteous and flexible - ensuring that we were able to experience the best of Hawaii. We saw a variety of dolphins and when there wasn't any sea turtles at the first snorkeling site, they quickly boarded us and took us to another site to see some. Bethany and Leah were very knowledgeable and took the time to educate us on the sea life too. Without question, one of the highlights of our time in Hawaii. (Two members of our group were locals from Hawaii and they said, this was one of the best tours they've gone on too.). Reserve early as the tours book up quickly in advance. read more

Fantastic. We read that these guys had amazing reviews, and so we went in with high expectations, and honestly - they exceeded them. I'm pretty exhausted from a long day, so won't write a long review! But suffice to say that from the moment we were greeted to the moment we got off, they made us feel like we were their whole focus, that we were the best group ever and that they had a blast with us. It's impressive to come across as super professional from the get go, but also a lot of personality. Captain Bryce and marine biologist, El, were awesome. They were incredibly respectful of both the marine life and the environment, as well as being concerned for our safety and well-being at all times. The catamaran and the equipment were also excellent and in top notch condition. The trip had been a great one, and then..... Captain saw on the horizon a jumping Spotted Dolphin. So he set off in that direction. We didn't initially believe him, as none of us had seen anything... but not only was he proven right, we then stumbled upon an epic pod of 'false killer whales' (only 200 left of this species) who put on the most stunning display of arial acrobatics. Even El and the Captain were melting down over how incredible it was. Job done, very happy customers - can't recommend it enough. read more

one morning we saw over a dozen whales, even more dolphins and a few turtles just from the boat. Then we got in the water, swam with a large dolphin pod, in a very respectful and responsible way. We also swam with some sea turtles and had a surprise sighting of two monk seals {which our guide was very careful that we kept our distance and didn't interfere with them}. The captain, on board marine and biologist and the Noelle ( dolphin whisperer) made sure we safely experienced as many marine mammals as possible without disturbing them. read more

Wild Side Specialty Tours - Snorkeling Near Me - Waianae, Hawaii

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If I could give Wild Side SIX stars on Yelp, I would. My fiancé really wanted to swim with dolphins, so he was in charge of finding a suitable place to book. I didn't know anything about the adventure and just went along with his plan. We drove for about an hour from where we were staying and easily found parking in the giant lot. I saw swarms of tourists gathering in massive groups, praying we weren't a part of those. Thankfully, we made our way to the dock with a modest-sized yacht. We were greeted by Jess and her captain, who made us feel welcome as the first ones on their boat. We chatted and waited for the other six people to show up. What a small and wonderfully intimate group! That was by far the best part of the experience. Our leaders were knowledgeable about dolphin behavior, teaching us how to respect them in their natural habitat and observe from a distance. We were definitely far less intimidating than the hoards of 50+ Japanese tourists jumping into the water at once. Insanity. At our best, we snorkeled with 15+ dolphins. Seeing baby dolphins with their moms was so heartwarming! On the way back, we were given a fantastic lunch. I passed out on the deck and slept until we arrived back. Even though I get seasick, I did pretty well. Good driving. For the rest of the weekend, we told a bunch of our friends (locals) about this tour and how much it cost. They were interested and asked us for all the information. I'm glad we can spread the word about Wild Side. They were the highlight of our Hawaii trip, and we'd love to do it again! read more

Our family of 5 had the best experience on our recent Oahu vacation with Captain Bryce, Ashlee and Doug from Wild Side. We were privileged to see a pod of spotted dolphins as they swam by our boat and were fortunate due to the Captain's maneuvering, to be in the water as they raced by. We also snorkeled to see turtles and the coral reefs they were hiding in. We saw humpback whales and on one occasion, one breaching and on another, see and hear a mother and her calf. Seeing everything that we did is an experience that we will never forget and hopefully my kids will always cherish. But Ashlee, Bryce and Doug made it truly special. We immediately hit it off and it honestly felt like being on an outing with long time friends. The crew was absolutely exceptional. They not only genuinely care about the ocean and what they do, but they warmly welcomed us to be a part of what they are passionate about. I highly recommend exploring the Oahu shores with Wild Side. They sincerely epitomize ocean preservation and conservation. It's a special experience that you'll always want to relive! read more

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What a wonderful tour company! The wife and I chose to spend a little more money and go on the Alaka'i which is limited to 6 guests. It was just myself, the wife and another family of 4 so we received much more attention than a larger sized group. We were led by Jess and Jed on the boat and they provided delicious snacks, drinks and a simple but good lunch. My wife and I were running a little late and called the morning of saying we were stuck in construction traffic heading into the pier but they put us at ease saying they wouldn't leave without us and we ended up 15 minutes late. That was a positive sign of what was to come. We headed out in a clear beautiful morning on June 19th @ 8:00am. Almost immediately we were able to get in the water as we located spotted dolphins and were able to swim with them from a safe distance as to not disturb the pod. That checked off a bucket list item for the wife to swim with dolphins in the wild. Less than a half hour later we were able to get in the water once again and snorkled with the spinner dolphins. The remainder of the morning was also spectacular as we were able to snorkle and see the beautiful fish, octopus and sea turtles! We had a wonderful experience and look forward to receiving the link with all the GoPro pictures and videos of our experience on Tuesday, June 19th! read more

Knowledgeable crew, gorgeous views, lots of dolphins and a couple whales. Too windy/cold for this bunch of wimps to get in th water, although the crew was more than willing. Small boat allows everyone to have great interaction with crew and ask as many questions as you have. Devotion to eco-friendly was evident, but it did require fuel to power the boat! Rough seas and a small boat was not kind to delicate stomachs. read more

We had such a great time with Wild Side. I learned so much about the sea life in Hawaii, and got to see dolphins in their natural habitat. This is definitely a must if you're on vacation or even if you live on island. read more

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We had a amazing time watching dolphins jumping and playing and snorkeling with spotted dolphins, turtles and lots of fish. The crew was helpful and knowledgeable and made the experience so fun! read more

Wild Side Specialty Tours - Dolphins - Snorkeling Near Me - Waianae, Hawaii

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They managed a trifecta (pentafecta?) yesterday. We saw a Hawaiian monk seal, a huge pod of pilot whales, spotted and bottlenose dolphins and a snorkel with good fish. Captain Bryce, First Mate El, and the third crewmember whose name I have forgotten were warm, welcoming, and accommodated my sore knee even though it made me slow to get back in the boat. Thank you so much. read more

Wild Side Specialty Tours - Pilot whales! - Snorkeling Near Me - Waianae, Hawaii

This was the most amazing experience! Bryce & El were so knowledgeable and nice. We saw more dolphins than we ever expected to see & jumping in the water with them was a dream come true! Can't wait to do it again. read more

Highlight of the trip!! This tour cannot be beat. We did the morning tour with Captain Bryce, Isaiah, and Elizabeth and they were absolutely amazing and so knowledgeable about the wildlife!! We snorkeled with sea turtles, an eel and many fish. And we came across pilot whales!!!! Truly a memorable experience. This tour only had 5 guests on it, which made for a more intimate and one-on-one tour. We learned so much from the crew on board and I cannot thank them enough for sharing their passion with us. Cannot wait to come back!! read more

It's all about the details and this company has thought through them. We were warmly welcomed onto the boat and given the low down on what to expect, safely, rules, and how to get around the boat without being tossed about. The crew, Kim, Bryce, and April, made us feel right at home and like family. They were knowledgeable, engaging, encouraging and kind. We felt so safe and well taken care of the whole time. The weather was perfect so we did not have to navigate rain or wind or choppy water. We did not struggle at all with feeling sick to our stomachs even a little bit. We did take sea sick medicine before-hand which is just a good idea! I know they cannot predict or control what you will see. But they were excellent spotters and took us to several dolphin pods and were always paying attention to finding awesome critters for us to see. What we saw was nothing short of EPIC. We saw spinner dolphin pods several times. They spun and jumped right by us. We swam in the region and they went right under our feet. We saw spotted dolphins which followed the boat for a good while. It was amazing. We got out and swam with them and it was in the deep deep blue sea literally!!! It was so gorgeous and unique I will NEVER forget what I saw. We literally saw hundreds of dolphins on the tour...hundreds! We also saw turtles, colored fish, a huge ray, and a small shark plus some cool birds. The dolphins were beyond fantastic though right by the boat almost half the time. We snorkeled 3 separate times throughout before having lunch. They fed us lunch which was in a cute little basket and honestly was the best sandwich I have had in a while, so fresh and delicious. Everything felt like homemade charm and not quick and packaged as other places can be. If you are looking for a smaller more family feel experience it is definitely the best!!! I loved every single second!!! read more

The ONE thing I HAD to do in Hawaii was snorkel with the sea turtles, which is the main reason why I booked the Best of the West tour. It wasn't a certainty, but we ended up finding a group of turtles and were able to get into the water with them. It was AMAZING!!!! We also got to see a few humpback whales. We saw a mom, her baby and an escort, as well as some other male whales who wanted a piece of that momma whale. It was really interesting, but if you're on this tour and want to move on, let the tour guides know because they will follow those whales for the entire time allotted if you don't tell them "hey, I want to see the turtles or dolphins too!" :) We were following those whales were about an hour before we moved onto finding some turtles and dolphins. We also saw some dolphins swimming around our boat, and one was even jumping and spinning around! It was really amzing that they all felt comfortable swimming so close to our boat. We weren't able to get into the water with them, although the team definitely tried to make it happen. Unfortunately, they were swimming too fast for us to even try to keep up. The guides were really nice, but I do think the main guy we had on our ship needs to get with the Hawaiian laid back style a bit more. He was a little high-strung and started complaining about the population growth on Oahu getting out of control. But, he had just moved to Oahu five years ago so I don't know if he realized the silliness of his complaints. The tour is definitely expensive ($215 a person!), but it was well worth the money for the chance to swim close to sea turtles, see a group of 50 dolphins around our boat and witness a mom humpback getting courted while with her baby. Remember your ginger pills and sunscreen and you'll have a great time! read more

Wild Side Specialty Tours - Sea Turtle - Snorkeling Near Me - Waianae, Hawaii

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We (Gary and Michele) gave ourselves an anniversary gift of Best of the West Side tour on 23 March '14. This tour limits the number of passengers to 6 with no one under the age of 12. For our tour there was only one other couple, so it felt much like having our own private charter. As we started to leave the harbor we were briefed on boat safety, sea life protocol and asked what we'd like to do and see. Since we, and the other couple, live here in Oah'u snorkeling to see turtles and reef fish is easy for us to do without taking up time on the boat. So, it was agreed upon that we all would like to see whales and see and swim with dolphins! Captain Tori Cullins and her crew, who were sisters, Malori and Loren were the perfect hosts. Captain Cullins knew just where to find the whales and dolphins, maneuvering the boat skillfully. The sisters shared their knowledge of marine mammals while keeping it upbeat and interesting. A sea turtle popped its head out of the water to wish us a fun day as we got underway. Since the number of passengers is so limited they can go further out and get to places that the larger tours can't. This meant that we didn't have to be bothered with all of the other tour boats being around us, and gave us greater freedom maneuvering with the marine life. We headed out of the harbor, and about 15-20 minutes later we saw our first dolphins. During the course of the cruise we saw spotted, bottlenose and spinner dolphins. We also got some quality time whale watching and even came across another green sea turtle.. When we found the spinner dolphins the crew said it was time to get into the water! What a thrill to be up close with these wonderful creatures. We must have been in the water at least 30 minutes with them. There was plenty of snacks, cold sodas, water and homemade chicken salad sandwiches. Make sure you don't dehydrate while you're out. If you're prone to seasickness please take something for it before you head out. As one other reviewer wrote, they got seasick, and it impacted everyone elses tour. If you don't have your own snorkel and fins not to worry they have spares on the boat. We would HIGHLY recommend taking this tour, the experience is unforgettable. Don't waste your money on sea life parks and confined spaces for these magnificent creatures. Experience them in their own environment, not our artificial ones! read more

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This was the best tour we have taken! It's not like other "boat rides". The crew is very knowledgeable and caring whether it is for the people on board or the animals in the ocean. They research animals and make sure you are safe at all times. This was the best things we did on Oahu! I highly recommend it. You will not want to get off the boat. read more

Are all those reviews for real? I have 2 words to describe our experience " Tourist trap" We hired the private tour to see the turtles and dolphins. What we got was storytelling about the turtles and dolphins. The crew was nice , but a very expensive boat ride just to listen to 2 nice people talk. The drinking water was included. Never expected to come from a plastic bin container served with reusable plastic cups! They didn't have a miserable noodle to facilitate snorkeling for some of us that needed. We saw a couple of turtles and no dolphins. read more

I've been on their dolphin tours twice in the past few years and have enjoyed myself both times. This family run business cares about the safety of their passengers as well as that of the animals on the water. They are very knowledgeable about the dolphins and aren't just trying to make a buck off of us tourists. It cost about $118 for each of us for the tour and you have to book it far in advance so don't lag. The boat leaves around 7:30am and you get back to shore around 11am. They take you to one of the 3 known spots that the Hawaiian spinner dolphins like to come in and rest in the mornings after a full night of eating and swimming out to sea. The first time I went out a few years back, I was lucky enough to be able to go into the water and swim with large pods of the dolphins. It was awesome they trusted us enough to let us swim with them, to hear them clicking in the water, and seeing them with their babies. Unfortunately, this time we went out, we found them, but they were moving too fast and were scattered about that even if we did go in the water, we wouldn't be able to see them. But at least we saw them swimming about and I caught some pics. Not the best but I tried, with the boat, water, wind on water, and dolphins all moving about, and with a point and shoot, I did the best. Afterwards, they took us to a great snorkeling location near a power plant which had warm water and tons of fish. We even saw a turtle. If you want to see dolphins, take a ride out with these guys, they are the best. They also offer various packages so read their site to find out more. read more

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We had the best time on our tour! We saw multiple different groups of humpback whales, a monk seal and multiple turtles! We saw many fish and turtles while snorkeling and the guides catered to what we wanted to prioritize. The captain was very knowledgeable as well as the crew. Would definitely go again! Private bathroom on the boat is a plus too! read more

What an amazing experience!!!! This tour is so much better than the crappy tours they sell you at the hotels. So my husband knew I've been wanting to go whale watching and what I got instead was so much better. We got to swim with dolphins, turtles, and see whales!!! I was like a little kid at a candy store filled with excitement! When the captain would ask do you want to get closer to the whales, with a cute voice I would be like "YES PLEASE" I was so filled with Joy! The crew was so caring, even gave me motion ease to help with my motion sickness.. That stuff works miracles. I would definitely do this tour again & again. I believe our crew was Elizabeth, Sophia, & Downing. I'm the worst with names but they were absolutely wonderful! read more

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Highly recommend Wild Side Specialty Tours if you're looking to go whale watching in Oahu! Each tour has a maximum of 6 people so you are getting the most intimate tour and together, you can figure out what you want to do (i.e. if you don't care as much about snorkeling, you can skip that and spend more time whale watching). The team running the boat knows other captains who call them and tell them where they've seen whales, plus they clearly all love what they do and it's completely contagious. read more