Free Concierge Service
    Text or call 1-877-GREET-WELL
    Ask AIAI
    Ask AIAI
    1. Local experiences
    2. /Things to do in Waianae…
    3. /Animal Encounters
    4. /Wildlife Safaris
    5. /Oahu Wildlife Charter
    Why travelers choose Greetwell

    Curated by our team

    Every experience is hand selected and approved by Greetwell.

    Personal concierge

    Real humans available to help before, during, and after your booking.

    Intimate & authentic

    Including unique in-home experiences you won't find anywhere else.

    Easy booking & cancellation

    Reserve in minutes with free cancellation on most experiences.

    Greetwell

    Experiences that stay with you long after the trip

    Greetwell curates authentic local experiences and provides personal concierge support in over 500 destinations, helping you explore confidently wherever you go.

    About

    • Our Story
    • For Experience Providers
    • For Hospitality Partners
    • For Developers

    Resources

    • Travel Guides
    • Help Center
    [email protected]1-877-GREET-WELL

    Safe & Secure Payments

    © 2026 Greetwell, Inc. All rights reserved.
    Privacy PolicyTerms
    Product image 1
    Product image 2
    Product image 3
    Gallery image
    Gallery image 2
    Gallery image 3

    Oahu Wildlife Charter

    Seek marine life with expert guides along Oʻahu’s leeward coast

    4.9 stars• 1.9K reviews

    Duration

    6 hrs

    Ideal For

    Up to 8 people

    Includes

    Lunch, snacks, snorkel gear

    Highlights

    Explore Oʻahu’s leeward coast with naturalist, biologist, and photography guides. Search offshore and nearshore waters for marine life while learning about the ocean ecosystem.

    • Search seamounts and Fish Aggregation Devices for feeding marine life
    • Observe rugged coastlines, beaches, and island ranges from the water
    • Snorkel coral reefs when ocean conditions and wildlife behavior allow
    • Learn about marine science, conservation, and photography from your guides
    • Look for dolphins, whales, sea turtles, seabirds, sharks, rays, and tropical fish

    What's Included

    • Snorkel gear
    • Chicken-salad sandwich lunch with walnuts
    • Fresh pineapple
    • Chips and mac nut cookies
    • Snacks and drinks

    Important details

    • Arrive by your scheduled check-in time; the boat may depart shortly afterward
    • Complete and sign waiver forms in person
    • Minors under 18 require a parent or legal guardian onboard
    • Children under 5 require an adult from your party within arm’s reach at all times
    • Wheelchairs cannot be used onboard; vessels have no wheelchair tie-down systems
    • Entering the water requires only minimal assistance; otherwise, remain onboard for safety
    • Bring any required medication, including EpiPens for severe allergies
    • Bring your own snorkel gear if the supplied sizes do not fit
    • Vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, or gluten-free sandwiches require at least 24 hours’ notice

    Cancellation Policy

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

    Product ID: NN7ACV

    FAQs

    No. Wildlife activity, snorkeling, and in-water encounters depend on ocean conditions and animal behavior. The crew may limit water activities when conditions are unsafe or inappropriate.

    Bring a swimsuit, windbreaker, sunscreen, a secure sun hat, ultraviolet-protective sunglasses, and a reusable drinking bottle. Bring motion-sickness medication if needed, plus any required medications.

    Disclose medical, physical, or accessibility concerns at booking or check-in. Entering the water requires only minimal assistance; otherwise, remain onboard for safety. Wheelchairs cannot be used onboard.

    Meeting details

    Waianae Small Boat Harbor

    Experience provided by Wild Side Specialty Tours

    How can we help?

    We are here to assist with special requests, large groups, last minute needs, and any questions you may have.

    Call or text 1-877-GREET-WELL

    Report an issue

    Private Charter up to 8 people

    $3,485.26

    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

    Review summary

    4.9
    Excellent
    1.9K reviews•Google Maps
    405
    4
    4
    4
    8

    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

    Review 1 of 3
    5/5

    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!

    Photo of Cori Robarge

    Cori Robarge

    July 5, 2026

    Review 1 of 1
    5/5

    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!

    Photo of Cori Robarge

    Cori Robarge

    July 5, 2026

    Nearby activities

    Waianae Guided Dolphin & Turtle Snorkeling Cruise
    Snorkeling

    Waianae Guided Dolphin & Turtle Snorkeling Cruise

    Small-group wildlife viewing with guided reef snorkeling

    Small-group wildlife viewing with guided reef snorkeling
    4.9 • 1.9K reviews
    $245/ person
    Sunset Wildlife Safari in Waianae
    Wildlife Safaris

    Sunset Wildlife Safari in Waianae

    Explore West Oʻahu's sunset waters with marine naturalists and flexible wildlife-focused routing

    Explore West Oʻahu's sunset waters with marine naturalists and flexible wildlife-focused routing
    4.9 • 1.9K reviews
    $1,364/ person
    Swim With Wild Dolphins Cruise in Oahu
    Swimming with Dolphins

    Swim With Wild Dolphins Cruise in Oahu

    Cruise West Oʻahu and snorkel near wild dolphin pods

    Cruise West Oʻahu and snorkel near wild dolphin pods
    4.8 • 191 reviews
    $205/ person
    Watch Dolphins & Snorkel With Turtles in Oahu
    Snorkeling

    Watch Dolphins & Snorkel With Turtles in Oahu

    Cruise Oʻahu’s west coast for dolphin watching and turtle snorkeling

    Cruise Oʻahu’s west coast for dolphin watching and turtle snorkeling
    4.8 • 191 reviews
    $182/ person
    Private Dolphin & Snorkel Charter in Waianae
    Swimming with Dolphins

    Private Dolphin & Snorkel Charter in Waianae

    Cruise Oʻahu’s west coast to look for dolphins and snorkel

    Cruise Oʻahu’s west coast to look for dolphins and snorkel
    4.8 • 191 reviews
    $4,242
    Explore Oahu on a 9-Hour Circle Island Guided Tour
    Bus Van and Limo Tours

    Explore Oahu on a 9-Hour Circle Island Guided Tour

    Tour Oahu in a day by deluxe bus with a veteran driver-guide

    Tour Oahu in a day by deluxe bus with a veteran driver-guide
    4.8 • 191 reviews
    $147/ person