Is it your dream to swim with dolphins in the wild? Here’s your chance! On this unforgettable half-day boat tour, you’ll get to be in the water with real Hawaiian spinner dolphins in the open ocean, their natural habitat.
And the best thing is that you’ll get to do this on Oahu’s remote west coast, which most visitors never get to see. The water here will amaze you. It is so crystal clear that you’ll be able to see all the way to the bottom, to depths of up to 100 feet! The boat trip is an adventure in itself. When you glide over the water’s surface and look down into the water, it literally feels like flying over the coral reef because the water is so transparent.
All kinds of marine animals love this stretch of coastline, too. Besides dolphins, you’ll see green sea turtles frolicking in the water. Plus hundreds of colorful reef fish, flying fish, and if you are here in the winter months (mid-December through March), you might even spot a majestic Pacific humpback whale, often accompanied by a newborn calf. All tours now include a hydrophone where you will get a rare and amazing chance to hear songs of the whales and dolphins!
Ko Olina Ocean Adventures operates out of the world-class Ko Olina Resort and Marina. You’ll board either of their two boats, the 37 ft. Pacific Passion or the 38 ft. Maui Explorer.
As soon as dolphins are spotted, you will have the chance to jump in the water to view them more closely. At times their number is in the hundreds. You’ll be able to see whole dolphin families swimming next to each other. And watch out for their playful acrobatics. Spinner dolphins are known for their exciting, skyward jumps, twists and turns.
Native Hawaiians have always showed a deep respect for dolphins, or na‘ia. The captains and crew of Ko Olina Ocean Adventures value and preserve this tradition. So guests are advised to simply observe this magnificent mammals and not to chase or touch them.
Later on after your swim with the dolphins, you’ll even get to swim in live coral gardens among hundreds of colorful tropical reef fish. Your snorkeling adventure then continues with a visit to “Turtle Town”, a favorite hangout spot of Hawaiian green sea turtles.
For your convenience, you may choose between two departure times. On the early morning tour, you’ll be treated to hot drinks and pastry at check-in. If you come for the mid-day tour, you’ll enjoy snack-pack chips and cold drinks. And since you’ll most probably be hungry after your snorkeling adventure, lunch will be provided upon return to the marina. Soft drinks are also included.
So all you need to bring for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure is yourself. Even the snorkel gear, including a high-quality face mask, snorkel, fins and life vest, will be provided. It is recommended to make your reservation early because seats for this exciting trip fill up fast.
What to know
Twice Daily
Check in: at 6:15am or 10:45am at the BBQ area of Lagoon 4 at Ko Olina Marina.
Tour Duration: about 4 hours with 3-3 1/2 hours of "in-water time.
Please bring: a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen and a hat.
Included: Snacks before the tour, Lunch upon return and high quality snorkel gear (mask, snorkel, fins, and a life vest to assure you an enjoyable, comfortable and safe snorkeling experience.
Wetsuit Top rental available upon check in.
Aloha Check-In: Both tours feature our Aloha Check-In service, offering complimentary hot drinks and pastry for our early morning tour or hot & cold drinks and snacks for our mid-day tour.
Lunch: Lunch is served at the marina following your tour. Choice of a hotdog, hamburger, teriyaki chicken burger or veggie burgers. Also includes french fries, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and hot and cold drinks. Bottled water is provided onboard the boat. Feel free to bring additional beverages or snacks onboard. There is an ice chest onboard.
Both Tours Include Lunch and Snorkeling Gear
Note: this tour practices the "passive float" method while swimming with the dolphins to ensure a safe and non-intrusive experience. The more you hold perfectly still, the longer your Oahu, Hawaii dolphin encounter will last. Observe Oahu's wild spinner dolphins in the Hawaiian tradition of respect for these beautiful animals.
Upgrade: Dolphin or Whale Guarantee & Wetsuit Upgrade. Non-refundable
If you do not see dolphins or whales, you will receive a full refund on your tour price. Of course our ultimate goal and the highlight of our snorkeling Oahu tour is to actually have you see dolphins from inside the ocean. Once we see dolphins from the boat, the odds of getting in the ocean with them is very high. Our captains and crew will try their very best, each and every tour, to make your in-water Oahu dolphin encounter a satisfying success. Included in the upgrade is a wetsuit top rental.
Note: In the event of a refund, only the price of the TOUR is refunded, not the guarantee upgrade.
Whale watching is included during season from December to March.
Driving Directions [ show
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92-100 Waipahe Place, Kapolei, Hawaii 96707. Lagoon 4.
Ko Olina Resort and Marina is about a 45 minute drive from Waikiki.
Take the H1 Freeway West. Once the H1 Freeway turns into a two lane highway (Farrington Hwy.), you are about three miles away from the Ko Olina exit.
Enter the Ko Olina Resort by passing a guard shack. Proceed to the Marina located at Lagoon 4.
Please bring your parking ticket to check-in for validation ($7.50 payable upon check in).
Check-in is located on the marina promenade at the barbecue area near the marina store.
