What is the Best Dolphin & Turtle Swimming Tour on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi?
Whether you climb to the summits of Oʻahu’s volcanic peaks or watch the world-class surfers on the beaches of Oʻahu’s North Shore, swimming with the dolphins and turtles on the Waiʻanae Coast is, without a doubt, one of the best things to do on the island!
That being said, there are a variety of tour options to consider when it comes to swimming with the dolphins and turtles on Oʻahu, but in my opinion, the Aloha Ocean tour is the best option that you can choose, which you can read about in detail in the sections below.
What is the Best Time of Day for a Dolphin Tour?
The answer to this question is easy: early morning, and I say this for a few reasons!
First, early morning ocean tours are typically when the conditions are calmest; the wind is light and variable, which is all to say that you are the least likely to become seasick.
I also say this because the first tour in the morning is when the conditions are the most beautiful in the water. As the sunrise breaks over the Waiʻanae Mountain Range onshore, first light hitting the water creates the most beautiful turquoise-blue conditions, with light rays beaming through the water’s surface!
Why am I Recommending this Viator Tour?
One of my favorite things about booking through Viator is the reserve-now-and-pay-later option. As long as you’re booking more than three days in advance, you have the option to book ahead and cancel in the future if you change your mind.
Waiʻanae Small Boat Harbor Parking
Aloha Ocean tours meet at the Waiʻanae Small Boat Harbor on the West Side of Oʻahu, about a half hour prior to the start of your tour.
Parking can be found on the right-hand side of the lot only, as the left-hand side is designated for truck and trailer parking.
Google Maps Directions: Waiʻanae Small Boat Harbor
Aloha Ocean’s Dolphin & Turtle Tour
Coming from someone who has spent many years swimming and free diving from the beaches off Oʻahu’s West Side, I can honestly say that I’ve always been skeptical about the experience that offshore tours offered.
However, when the opportunity came up to give it a try with Aloha Ocean and share my experience, I couldn’t say no, and I now understand more than ever why booking a tour with Aloha Ocean is the best kind of experience on the water that you can have!
Waiʻanae Small Boat Harbor
Our Aloha Ocean dolphin and turtle tour began just after 7 a.m. with a quick safety brief before boarding and getting underway shortly thereafter.
As we left the harbor, Aloha Ocean headed straight offshore to a handful of known locations where various species of dolphins and whales are known to hang out.
This is one of the biggest reasons why a guided tour is the best choice, because they take you to a number of locations that are otherwise inaccessible from any beach.
Upon heading a few miles offshore, Aloha Ocean and the neighboring boats begin scouting some of their known locations, while keeping in constant communication with other boats in the area in order to give guests the best experience in the water.
Once offshore, guests may have the opportunity to see a variety of different species, including Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Rough-toothed Dolphins, Pilot Whales, and Pygmy Whales!
The one species that is the most famous but seasonal to Hawaiʻi are the Humpback Whales. These are the whales that famously breach high above the surface of the water, creating huge splashes, but they are seasonal to the winter only, as they make the long journey south from Alaska to the warmer Hawaiian waters, where mothers will give birth to their calves.
Then, after we got the opportunity to see the Humpback Whales from afar, Aloha Ocean got us in position to jump in with the Spotted Dolphins!
The best thing about having a small group is that our captain, Lauren, could focus on just the few of us that there were, telling us where and in what direction to swim to have the best experience!
I think the photo says it all, but the biggest advantage of booking with Aloha Ocean is the small group size.
This allows guests the ability to quickly enter and exit the water, which cannot be said about larger tours, so that they can reposition the boat a number of times, giving guests the most opportunities to swim with the dolphins!
This is all to say that the Spotted Dolphins are fast, so having the opportunity to swim with them is very dependent on being able to maneuver in a small boat around their quick movements.
Mākua Valley
The Aloha Ocean tour then continues further west to a place called Mākua Valley, a historically significant and culturally disputed place on Oʻahu for many years.
Your captain will be able to tell you more, but in short, Mākua Valley has been a place of contest between Native Hawaiians, who once called the valley home, and the U.S. military, who used the valley for live-fire training for many years.
However, since 2004, there has been no live-fire in Mākua Valley, allowing visitors the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Mākua Valley like it once was. Today, its primary purpose is conservation, in order to protect some of the world’s rarest and most endangered species.
At any rate, guests onboard with Aloha Ocean will have the opportunity to get in the water at Mākua, but what truly makes Mākua and Mākaha special from the first few locations is that the ocean floor is visible in these shallower waters, creating that picturesque turquoise-blue color that simply cannot be seen in deeper waters!
Mākaha Point
The final stop along the tour is Mākaha Point/ Valley, where guests onboard will have the best opportunity to see the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles, or Honu, and my personal favorite, the Yellow Tang!
A fun fact about the Yellow Tang is that researchers who studied the species found that Hawaiʻi is said to have among the highest genetic diversity of anywhere in the world, pointing to the idea that Yellow Tangs originated in Hawaiʻi before spreading elsewhere around the globe!
Waiʻanae Small Boat Harbor
While this work is truly done for the love of Hawaiʻi and the ocean, consider leaving a tip with one or all of your tour guides if you had a great time!
Anything is appreciated, and it truly helps to ensure that responsible operators and guides can continue to show the same amount of care for your safety, the wildlife’s safety, and that of the environment!
Snorkeling Advice
If you plan on swimming with the dolphins and turtles, as well as snorkeling elsewhere on your trip, I recommend arriving with your own quality mask and snorkel before flying to Hawaiʻi for the best experience.
This can ensure that you have a mask that fits well, doesn’t fog up, or have any issues that can interrupt your experience in the water.
Take it from someone who lives in Hawaiʻi; bring your own Mantis mask and snorkel! They are the best and most comfortable masks on the market, by far!
More Oʻahu Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing Oʻahu adventures, check out my separate posts below!
Best Hotels & Restaurants in Waikīkī
If you’re trying to decided where to stay on Oʻahu, check out my top 10 list for the best resorts and restaurants in Waikīkī.
I break down what makes one hotel a better choice over another, so that you can find the best fit for your stay on the island.
Read My Separate Post: Best Waikīkī Hotels & Restaurants
Waikīkī
HNL Airport-Hotel Shuttle
Prices on ride-share apps like Uber/ Lyft cannot beat the price of booking your hotel shuttle prior to arrival. I say this because there are additional fees for ride-share airport pick-ups at Honolulu Airport (HNL), which is why I recommend booking your transportation in advance using the options below.
Additionally, the last option below will go as far as the Ko ʻOlina Resorts on the West Side and Turtle Bay on Oʻahu’s North Shore!
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Oʻahu
Visiting Other Islands
If you are visiting Oʻahu or heading to another island, check out some of my personal recommendations for Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokai, Lānaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island) in these separate posts.
If you’re trying to decide which island is right for your visit, check out my overview about each island in the post below.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Hawaiian Island to Visit?
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
The weather in Hawaiʻi can often appear to be warm and beautiful throughout the year, but in my experience, there is a lot more to consider when planning what time of year to visit the islands, such as what island you are considering, what sides of each island do you plan to stay, what activities are you most interested in, the wildlife, and countless other nuanced variables that can all impact the type of trip you can expect to have.
For these reasons, I highly recommend reading through my separate article to not only understand my thoughts regarding the best time of year to come to Hawaiʻi but also what you need to consider based on the time of year that you plan to visit.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
10 Best Tours & Excursions on Oʻahu
There are a lot of different tour options to choose from on Oʻahu, but to make it easier to decide, I made a list of my favorite tours because some things simply are better with a local guide!
Read My Separate Post: Best Tours on Oʻahu
Oʻahu
Safety
All hikes in Hawaiʻi should not be compared to trails outside of the islands, and hikers should exercise due caution on every adventure, given that many are extremely dangerous.
By this, I mean that Hawaiʻi is known for hot, humid weather, steep, dramatic, and unstable cliffs, and flash floods, which can occur without warning. Therefore, it is important that you check the local forecast, understand the physical condition of your entire group, and pack sufficient food and water before attempting any adventure.
Disclaimer
All information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for information or advice from qualified professionals or managing agencies.
Noah Lang Photography LLC makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information provided here, and readers should use their own discretion, judgement, and seek professional advice where it is appropriate.
Furthermore, Noah Lang Photography LLC shall not be held responsible for any injuries, lost individuals, or legal issues arising from the use of information provided on this website, and if applicable, the above safety disclaimer should be referenced to provide a generic overview of the risks involved.
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Disclosure
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