Hawaiian Ocean Adventure: Discover Marine Life

Experience a private swim with whales, dolphins, and turtles in Oahu. Join a guided expedition led by certified biologists with 25+ years of experience. Discover hidden gems, engage in citizen science, and support sustainable wildlife observation.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Waiʻanae Small Boat Harbor - Experience private, research-style marine expeditions crafted for those eager to connect profoundly with the ocean, the culture, and the spirit of Hawai‘i. These intimate, small-group charters provide exceptional encounters with wild dolphins, offshore whales, sea turtles, and rare seabirds, all under the guidance of…
What's Included
  • Reef Safe Sunscreen, Hair Conditioner for that perfect ‘mermaid hair, don’t care’ look
  • Complete snorkel gear set: mask (prescription options), snorkel, fins, and a floatation belt
  • Tasty lunch and snacks, plus juices and water provided - bring a refillable water bottle for eco-friendliness
What's Not Included
  • Transportation (rental car, Uber/Lyft, theBus is recommended. Ask us for more info))
  • Gratuities
  • Please bring a towel, sun protective clothing, storage onboard for jackets, etc..
Additional Information

Guided by experts, this experience intertwines history, science, and tradition. Dolphins that have frolicked in these waters for generations, humpback whales following age-old migration paths, and seabirds soaring on winds that once led Polynesian navigators.
Below the waves, the bond between humans and the ocean grows stronger. A honu (green sea turtle)…

Location
Wild Side Specialty Tours - Small Group Swimming with Dolphins Oahu Boat Tours
Farrington Highway
Your friendly guide (in orange crew shirt) will meet you by the "A" pier gate in the Waianae Boat Harbor: 85-491 Farrington Hwy, 96792. Make sure you type in the zip code "96792" or you may get routed to the 'other' Farrington Hwy (different shore).
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(55 Ratings)
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O2750viemilyc
Apr 5, 2026
Excellent nature trip for sea life, dolphins, birding - 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!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tracyps1454lk
Apr 2, 2026
More than snorkeling - a truly immersive experience! - From initial contact to request a private charter, to communication after the trip about photos, we had nothing but amazing communication and experience with every person we met at Wild Side. Tori was very helpful, responsive and friendly in our conversations to set up the excursion and helped him answer my questions due to the recent storms. The day of the excursion our guides were Bethany and Mickie and our captain was Kim. Bethany and Mickie had so much knowledge to share about the dolphins and whales and other wildlife in the area, and made sure to point out anything they so we wouldn’t miss anything. Even though the conditions weren’t perfect, we were able to get in the water. My daughter and niece had dolphin swim right past them close to the surface while I saw a small family about 10 feet below me. It was such a special experience! On board the crew did their utmost to make sure we were as comfortable as possible and had plenty of snacks and drinks and comfort items for anyone feeling seasick. Cannot recommend them enough for an experience that is more than a snorkeling excursion. It was immersive and educational as well, and I definitely looked forward to joining them for another excursion sometime!
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Slh20172017
Jul 28, 2025
GREAT COMPANY - GREAT TOUR! - WONDERFUL! We did a LOT on our family vacation, and this experience was ranked by all of us as one of the best experiences of our whole trip (and we visited 3 islands)! We traveled with two teenage boys who love the water (ages 17 and 18, so a total of 4 people). Captain Tori and Bethany were fantastic. We traveled about 4-5 miles out I believe and saw many things both going out and coming into port. Birds, bottle-nosed dolphins, spinner dolphins and turtles. Flying fish, too! The dolphins just never get old and are so amazing! This company not only cares about your experience, but they care about the animals and their environment as well. We booked a private tour, and it was well worth it. We were asked what things were most important to us - what were we most interested in seeing and we were given options about snorkeling (how long, did we want to do it again, etc.) We had moments where we just enjoyed the ride and chilled out together, and moments where we were happily hurried into the water to catch glimpses of the wild animals that surrounded us. Bethany did an AWESOME job of getting us into the water quickly and of taking photos (which were not included but are SO worth getting). Both Tori and Bethany were knowledgeable and personable. While nobody can guarantee what you see, we had a blast! We had a 6-hour tour and we felt it was the perfect amount of time. The little breakfast they served was nice - plenty of water and drinks and a nice lunch. They had everything we needed. I highly recommend this company and any tour you can book with them. GREAT MEMORIES!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
A2473sraw
May 15, 2025
The BEST! - We joined Captain Tori, Connor, and Chris during a morning adventure! Seriously the BEST. They’re so respectful of wildlife, help educate visitors, and kept our safety (and the safety of the wildlife) in mind when we swam. We would do it again, and again, and again! 10000% recommend.
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Shannonld5610zo
Apr 30, 2025
Far exceeded expectations - This small group tour was so worthwhile. There were only five guests and three crew members onboard, and the boat went where they knew we would be likely to see wildlife. We saw turtles, a humpback whale, Dolphins surfing in our wake, and the highlight was when the captain found a pod of pilot whales. We were able to observe them from the boat and from the water. Amazing experience and I highly recommend this crew and tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Flashman86
Apr 2, 2025
A brilliant and fun adventure for the whole family - We travelled as an adult family of 6, including one intellectually disabled daughter, and Captain AJ and the wonderful Bethany could not have been kinder or more accommodating - we followed a large pod of beautiful dolphins, saw whales away off, and swam with turtles (a true highlight of our time in Hawaii), all under the expert and hugely enthusiastic guidance of Bethany who managed to combine fun and education for all of us. We appreciate your kindness and huge experience so much, thank you again for a fabulous day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Camper05523605050
Mar 23, 2025
Amazing! - Amazing and knowledgeable staff, great lunch, and awesome sea life! Would 100% recommend to friends, family, and everyone else!
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Katsue5482
Mar 22, 2025
Superb outing, great crew & captain! - We all agreed! This trip was amazing! From start to finish the 2 person crew and captain were superb. They catered to our desires and knew just where to take us. We actually saw a momma whale and baby, a turtle, a seal and had a great time snorkeling a small reef. We were a family of six which was just right for this boat (yacht? - not sure what size qualifies but we had plenty of room). They supplied drinks, snacks, sandwiches and chips - all good! I wear glasses and they even had two different goggles for me to try. We were very pleased and recommend highly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Juliebg4038cs
Mar 19, 2025
10-stars!!! Wild Side Specialty Tours! - Simply AMAZING!! Captain Tori and Biologist Brittney are unmatched! We saw Whales in the first 20 minutes and several more times on the tour! Dozens of dolphins for two hours. HIGHLY recommend Wild Side!!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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A1085oxdianed
Mar 15, 2025
West shore = best shore - Our guide Connor and Captain AJ were so knowledgeable and really made the trip feel private and fun. Then of course the ocean was gorgeous and we got to see so much beautiful wildlife - a huge pod of dolphins that came right up to the boat, sea turtles, and we were super lucky and 3 humpback whales also hung out near our boat for part of the tour. Snorkeling the reef was perfect, lots of fish and healthy coral and sea urchins, definitely worth the trip up from Honolulu. This excursion was the highlight of our vacation for sure.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $1,900 (Per Boat)
up to 15 guests
1 - Traveler
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).