Top Oahu Dolphin Watching

Loved our snorkeling experience with Avery and Steph! They were the best guides and really went above and beyond to make sure we had a great experience. They have floaties if you’re not the most confident swimmer and they provide all the snorkel gear too if you don’t have your own. We saw 3 turtles and like a million incredible fish. Highly recommend!

Had an amazing experience snorkeling and sailing out by West Oahu!! We were guaranteed to see dolphins and we saw them! The crew was effervescent and friendly - gave great recs, took pictures, and routinely asking if anyone needed anything. Quin, Sophia, and Macarah were outstanding!

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.