Dolphin tours can be a fun and enjoyable tourist activity for any traveler. You can find dolphin tours all over in Hawaii. From swim with dolphins Oahu tours, to boat tours, and everything between, knowing which to book can be difficult. The table below can help you choose the best experience for the cost for you and your family.
Swimming with dolphins can be the highlight of an entire vacation. It’s important to remember that dolphins are their own creatures with their own set of needs. Without proper due diligence, swimming with dolphins can be harmful to the animal.
Find a trustworthy tour operator to ensure that your experience is as eco-friendly as possible. Also, remember the following general rules of dolphin interaction. Allow dolphins to approach you, rather than approaching the dolphins yourself.
You in no way want to disturb, harm or scare an unsuspecting animal. Allowing them to approach you on their own terms ensures a peaceful and pleasant encounter for everyone. Don’t attempt to feed dolphins. Dolphins in the wild have a natural food supply that’s tailor made for them.
Interrupting their eating habits with human food can interrupt the ocean’s food chain. This can lead to sickness for the dolphins. In some cases, feeding dolphins can even be illegal!
| Tour Operator | Offerings |
|---|---|
| Dolphins and You | With Dolphins and You, you get much more than a dolphin swim! Before embarking on your tour, guests will enjoy a traditional E’Ho Mai Ceremony. Then you’ll have the chance to swim with spinner dolphins in their natural habitat. Excursions will be chaperoned by a tour guide, who will lead you to the best spots. Then, snorkel with sea turtles and fish while the crew snaps a lots of photos of you and your family in the water. After snorkeling, choose between kayaking or paddle-boarding. Lastly, Enjoy a hula performance and our delicious taro bun burgers. Tours leave at 5:30 A.M. and 9:30 A.M. daily. Dolphins and You is the longest-running and highest-rated dolphin swim tour in Oahu. |
| Dolphin Excursions Snorkel Adventures | Each dolphin tour includes what you would expect; the chance to see and swim with spinner dolphins up close! What you also might see are humpback whales, and the option to snorkel with sea turtles and other sea life. Transportation is available from hotels in Waikiki. There’s always the option to drive yourself as well if you’ve acquired transportation. Excursions being at 7 A.M. and 10:30 A.M. |
| Wild Side Specialty Tours | Skilled biologists operate this tour company. With their passion for showing travelers the real wild side of Hawaii, this tour is a real gem. Their Best of the West tour is intimate, as it’s limited to only six travelers. This option is great for a family wanting to rent the entire boat for themselves. Guests enjoy year-round whale spotting, a guided snorkeling tour, and near-shore dolphin encounters. Plus, an educational briefing on the best ways to interact with dolphins in the wild is available. Tours leave at 8:00 A.M., and guests ages 12 and up are welcome. |
| Hanauma Bay Dive Tours | Sign up for a three-hour dolphin swimming adventure with,transportation from your Waikiki hotel. Each guest has the chance to play and take photos with the dolphins for roughly 40 minutes. Snorkeling with sea turtles is also included in the excursion, as well as a lunch at the dolphin house. The tour leaves at 7:00 A.M. and 10:30 A.M. |
| Ko Olina Ocean Adventures | This tour is all about remaining in a passive floating position to get as close as possible to the Hawaiian spinner dolphins. The dolphins perceive you to be a friend, rather than a predator! Afterwards, enjoy some snorkeling lessons in the beautiful water. If your dolphin tour is during the right season, you’ll also bear witness to exciting whale watching. Tours begin at 6:15 A.M. and 10:45 A.M. You can also combine your dolphin swim experience with a luau experience for a package deal. |
| SeaLife Park Hawaii | For those who would rather interact with dolphins in a controlled environment, there’s SeaLife Park Hawaii. Interact one-on-one with two dolphins and then go for a swim, hanging on to their dorsal fin or backs. Prefer to keep your head dry, but still want to get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures? Dolphin encounters allow guests to stand in waist-deep water and play with the animals in captivity. |
There are other dolphin adventures available on or around Oahu. The activities listed above are all accessible with ease from Honolulu and Waikiki. Most offer much of the same experience, though some are more suitable for different groups.
Which you choose is dependent on your interests, age, time preferences, and more. Prices vary, but most are over $100. That often includes transportation, snorkel equipment rental, and a meal. Contact your dolphin swim tour operator of choice for more information on what you can expect!
