Top Oahu On the Water

We decided to parasail on a whim. It was something I’ve wanted to do but my wife is scared of large bodies of water and heights. I threw it out there and she said she’d try it too! We were both nervous but once we got on the boat and saw all the beautiful surrounds and the water itself it calmed us. This experience is something I believe EVERYONE that can, should try! It is WELL WORTH the money spent!! This was an opportunity I never thought I’d get to experience with my wife and we both enjoyed it so much!!

Believe the hype. When it says turtles guaranteed, they were right. We deliberately booked the 8am session (Friday 18 September 2026), as this time was recommended as the best time to see the turtles due to calm conditions and when they are most active. The water was so clear that you could see the reef an ocean floor (about 20 feet or 6 metres). You could see the turtles feeding at the bottom, and they would regularly come to the surface to breathe, so close that we would have to back off to be the minimum distance away (10 feet or 3 metres) as regulated by law. To be this close to dozens and dozens of turtles across the 90 minutes in the water was astounding. Definitely one of the best experiences of our lives, and something our kids will never forget. If you are going to book the snorkelling experience, Hawaii Ocean Charters should be your first choice operator. Communication between booking and the tour was clear and timely. As a small group of maximum 20 people, they catered brilliantly to everyone’s ability. We had 3 children who had never snorkelled before, and Erica and Gerald took amazing care of them the entire time. They made sure that all of the gear, including snorkel, googles, flippers, and floatation vest, wear appropriately sized and comfortable. In the water, Erica constantly stayed nearby the kids, happily answering all of their many questions. When my daughter had enough swimming, Gerald happily allowed her to hang onto his surfboard while they paddled around together. Adults also had flotation devices (waist belts), but strong swimmers are best without it. Having some basic swimming experience is suggested, so that you feel comfortable face down in the water, and pick up the kicking action with flippers quickly. With other tour groups out there too, the whole team were fantastic in ensuring our group remained together, and were safe distances away from other boats arriving and departing. Our captain (sorry, name forgotten) was friendly, professional, and highly knowledgeable, picking a fantastic spot to find the turtles, as well as ensuring a safe and comfortable ride. The boat was extremely well maintained and had a range of seating options, from the main deck at the back, to an elevated deck where the captain was, and an option to ride at the front of the boat. Meanwhile, Erica was very experienced in guiding us in the water to find the best spots to see turtles, fish, and other aquatic life around the reef.

It’s a great experience. We like the convenience of the landing location as it’s at the heart of Waikiki beach. The crew are wonderful and explained the boat and safety clearly. We took the 11:30 morning sail. Very nice weather and we enjoyed the sailing a lot!

The Ohana Surf Project was amazing from start to finish. The shuttle was fast and easy and the lesson was incredible. We had 8 people, all with no experience, ranging from ages 10-60. We were all able to stand with the help of the instructors. Chelsea, Matt, and the rest of the team made surfing accessible to everyone!!! Also, get the pictures…100% worth it!!!!

I am scared of heights and tried this out with my mom for our first time in Hawaii. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Although we paid for the whole shabang- the staff respected that we wanted a shorter flight time and we enjoyed it! I would definitely do it again…it was so peaceful!

Kyle was great. Eased us into the world of scuba diving. He was well knowledgeable explaining what we would do in and out of the water, a really good instructor. Easily approachable and answered any questions we had in common sense answers. Good job Kyle.

Our guide, Alexio and his two teammates did a fantastic job. They made lot of jokes to make everyone laugh during the trip. They shared lots of information about whales and we did see quite a few of whales which is fantastic! What an unforgettable outing.

Great sunset cruise with a great captainand bartender! Music, good drinks, and the views on every side were beautiful. We saw a lot of whales, which was an added bonus. Highly recommend. There is a bathroom on board and if you are a little uneasy, I would suggest wrist bands or motion sickness meds prior. I would def do this again.