Do I need to be a strong swimmer to get in the water?

You must be comfortable swimming to enter the ocean. Flotation aids are provided, and you need to be able to climb a short ladder back onto the boat after snorkeling.

Are gratuities included?

Gratuity is not required, but crew tips are customary. A 10% to 15% tip is standard.

Free Concierge Service

Text or call 1-877-GREET-WELL

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Waianae Guided Dolphin & Turtle Snorkeling Cruise

Name: Waianae Guided Dolphin & Turtle Snorkeling Cruise
Brand: Wild Side Specialty Tours
Price: 245.49 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.9 (1889 reviews)

Small-group wildlife viewing with guided reef snorkeling

4.9 stars• 1.9K reviews

Duration

3+ hours

Ideal For

Up to 10 people

Includes

Snorkel gear, snacks & juices

Highlights

Explore O'ahu's west coast by power catamaran with naturalist and marine biologist guides. Look for marine life and join guided snorkeling in a small-group setting.

Observe dolphins, whales, seabirds, and other marine life in their natural habitat
Join guided snorkeling at coral reefs and turtle areas
Learn about Hawaiian ocean wildlife and legends from certified guides
Contribute to citizen science by documenting wildlife behavior and marine debris
Relax in shaded seating or on deck aboard a 34-foot power catamaran

What's Included

Snorkel gear and flotation devices
Local snacks and juices
Lunch on late-morning tours
Private onboard restroom

Important details

Arrive 15 minutes before the 7:00am or 11:15am check-in for the safety briefing
Each adult must complete a waiver before departure
Ages 5+ only for shared tours; minors require a parent or legal guardian onboard
Entering the water requires basic swimming skills and climbing a short ladder back onto the boat with minimal assistance
Weight limit is approximately 250 lbs per person
Not wheelchair accessible; requires steady mobility on a moving boat, at the dock, and on the swim ladder
Water activities depend on surf, sea conditions, wildlife behavior, and safety considerations
Bring your own food and epinephrine auto-injector if you have food allergies or dietary restrictions
Bring non-spray sunscreen, a towel, and a reusable water bottle

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations with less than 10 days' notice and no-shows are subject to full charge. Cancelled charters are rescheduled whenever possible.

Product ID: A596GJ

FAQs

Arrive 15 minutes before check-in. If you miss the group safety briefing or the boat, you will be treated as a no-show and charged in full.

Bring sunscreen (no spray-on), sunglasses, a hat, towels, cover-ups, a reusable water bottle, and a jacket (especially in winter). You can use the provided snorkel gear or bring your own.

Shared tours suggest ages 10+. Children count as adults for booking purposes. If you’re bringing a child age 5 or under, they are usually only allowed on private charters.

Meeting details

A Pier Gate, Waianae Small Boat Harbor

Experience provided by Wild Side Specialty Tours

Why book through Greetwell?

No Added Fees
No booking or service fees, ever
Concierge Support Included
Real humans ready to help with timing, questions, or special requests
Free Cancellation Available
Most experiences can be cancelled for a full refund

Discover what we've curated for you

Waianae Guided Dolphin & Turtle Snorkeling Cruise

Small-group wildlife viewing with guided reef snorkeling

4.9 stars• 1.9K reviews

Duration

3+ hours

Ideal For

Up to 10 people

Includes

Snorkel gear, snacks & juices

Highlights

Explore O'ahu's west coast by power catamaran with naturalist and marine biologist guides. Look for marine life and join guided snorkeling in a small-group setting.

Observe dolphins, whales, seabirds, and other marine life in their natural habitat
Join guided snorkeling at coral reefs and turtle areas
Learn about Hawaiian ocean wildlife and legends from certified guides
Contribute to citizen science by documenting wildlife behavior and marine debris
Relax in shaded seating or on deck aboard a 34-foot power catamaran

What's Included

Snorkel gear and flotation devices
Local snacks and juices
Lunch on late-morning tours
Private onboard restroom

Important details

Arrive 15 minutes before the 7:00am or 11:15am check-in for the safety briefing
Each adult must complete a waiver before departure
Ages 5+ only for shared tours; minors require a parent or legal guardian onboard
Entering the water requires basic swimming skills and climbing a short ladder back onto the boat with minimal assistance
Weight limit is approximately 250 lbs per person
Not wheelchair accessible; requires steady mobility on a moving boat, at the dock, and on the swim ladder
Water activities depend on surf, sea conditions, wildlife behavior, and safety considerations
Bring your own food and epinephrine auto-injector if you have food allergies or dietary restrictions
Bring non-spray sunscreen, a towel, and a reusable water bottle

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations with less than 10 days' notice and no-shows are subject to full charge. Cancelled charters are rescheduled whenever possible.

Product ID: A596GJ

FAQs

Arrive 15 minutes before check-in. If you miss the group safety briefing or the boat, you will be treated as a no-show and charged in full.

Bring sunscreen (no spray-on), sunglasses, a hat, towels, cover-ups, a reusable water bottle, and a jacket (especially in winter). You can use the provided snorkel gear or bring your own.

Shared tours suggest ages 10+. Children count as adults for booking purposes. If you’re bringing a child age 5 or under, they are usually only allowed on private charters.

Review summary

4.9

Excellent

1.9K reviewsGoogle Maps

This tour delivers something genuinely special: a chance to encounter wild marine life while supporting a crew that actually cares about conservation. The team, frequently mentioned by name (Connor, Bethany, Captain Flow, Captain Dave, and others), aren't just running a business—they're marine biologists and ecologists conducting real research. Guests consistently praise how knowledgeable and passionate the staff is, and that enthusiasm is contagious. You'll feel like part of their mission rather than just a tourist checking boxes. The wildlife encounters are impressive and varied. Most groups see multiple dolphin species (spinners, spotted, bottlenose, and even pygmy killer whales), plus green sea turtles are practically guaranteed. One lucky group even swam with a whale shark. What sets this apart is the ethical approach: the crew knows animal behavior well enough to facilitate meaningful encounters without harassing wildlife. They'll stay out longer if needed to deliver on the experience, and they genuinely get excited alongside you when something rare appears. The small group size makes everything feel personal and intimate rather than like a cattle call. The only minor critique from one reviewer mentioned the snorkeling reef being somewhat average, but that seems like an outlier when most people are raving about sea turtles, eagle rays, and the overall underwater experience. Lunch is included and gets positive mentions too. If you want an ocean tour that's both thrilling and responsible, this crew earns its stellar reputation.

What people are saying

My group and I came to Hawaii knowing we wanted to snorkel and see marine life, and I found this tour while searching for the best turtle and dolphin excursions. I’m sooo glad I did! My group was a little hesitant at first because it cost a bit more than some of the other tours, but I had a feeling it would be worth it, especially because it’s run by marine biologists. I really appreciated that they focus on respectful dolphin encounters instead of chasing the animals or stressing them out. That’s exactly the kind of tour I want to support. Micky was our guide, and she was phenomenal. She was so knowledgeable and genuinely cared about our experience. Captain Matt was the same way. They both really wanted to make sure we had the best time possible. The boat was also small, I think around 10 people max, so it never felt crowded. It felt intimate and special. We got to encounter so many dolphins, then saw an insane number of spinner dolphins, and even though we were getting close to our cutoff time, Micky and Matt still took us to another snorkel spot so we could see fish and turtles. It was honestly magical. My group all agreed this was the best tour of the trip and an absolute highlight. Definitely book this tour. You won’t regret it! Also, Micky took so many videos of our interactions and emailed it to our group afterwards. That was so kind! Also, Micky’s husband was on the tour with us, and he does cage-free shark diving through Island View, one of the oldest companies on the North Shore. Again, it sounded like a very respectful wildlife experience. We ended up booking that shark tour too, which is something I never would have done or even known about if we hadn’t taken this excursion. Thanks, guys, for an unforgettable experience!

Cori Robarge

July 5, 2026

Cori Robarge

July 5, 2026

Meeting details

A Pier Gate, Waianae Small Boat Harbor

Experience provided by Wild Side Specialty Tours

Why book through Greetwell?

No Added Fees
No booking or service fees, ever
Concierge Support Included
Real humans ready to help with timing, questions, or special requests
Free Cancellation Available
Most experiences can be cancelled for a full refund