Dolphin trips · OAHU
The 15 best oahu dolphin tours you can book today, with what each costs, how long you are on the water and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.
You’ll sail aboard the 61-foot Kai OliOli catamaran from Ko Olina, scan Oahu’s west coast for whales and dolphins, snorkel with turtles and tropical fish, then enjoy a Hawaiian buffet, drinks, warm showers, and optional Waikiki pickup.
“Wonderful staff, great experience. It’s so fun to have a photographer with you on the trip. The staff were so attentive and fun.”
Join Indigo Ocean Hawaii for a four-hour catamaran trip from Waianae Small Boat Harbor. Captain JB, Uncle John, Sasha, Nicole, and the crew search for wild dolphins, turtles, whales, fish, and octopuses, with snorkeling, lunch, pickup, and photo options included.
“Do not use this company. The crew had no clue what they were doing. Rushed us into the ocean multiple times only to scare away the dolphins and rush us back in. They rushed us in so quickly that one woman jumped on top of me, giving me a bloody nose and concussion. They handed me ice and that was it. They were extremely rude. One person on the boat was throwing up and instead of offering help, one crew member said "well, that's the ocean." There are plenty of great crews that will make this experience memorable. Don't make the mistake of choosing this one. They did not find…”
Cruise Oahu’s Waianae Coast aboard a 32-foot boat with a small group and marine biology-trained crew such as Lisa, Morgan, Jenna, and Liza. Look for spinner dolphins, winter humpback whales, turtles, and reef fish, then snorkel with included gear. Hotel pickup and a deli lunch make this an easy half-day outing.
“This is our second time doing this excursion and it did not disappoint. Lisa, Ashley and Captain Flow were so friendly and knowledgeable. Our family was able to see dolphins and had some great snorkeling spots. Lunch was great too. We can’t wait to come back and do it again.”
Ride a 32-foot motorboat from Waianae with a marine biologist or naturalist guide, searching for wild dolphins and winter humpback whales before snorkeling with turtles and reef fish. Hotel pickup, lunch, gear, and drinks are included. Dolphin swimming depends on animal behavior and sea conditions.
“This was such a fun trip! The guides were super nice and knowledgeable. We had great luck seeing a bunch of whales, swimming with dolphins, and awesome snorkeling”
Cruise from Waianae along Oahu’s Leeward Coast on a catamaran with guides such as Captain Jessie, Ian, Nick, and Nicole. Watch for spinner dolphins, turtles, and seasonal humpback whales, then snorkel at a calm reef before enjoying sandwiches, drinks, and return views.
“Great tour! Captain Nick, Ian, and Nicole made sure everyone had a good time. I saw plenty of dolphin and fish. And even a couple of sea turtle I’ll point out that I was very nervous about getting into the ocean, and I felt safe the entire time.”
From Waianae, Aloha Ocean takes you along West Oahu in a luxury powerboat with no more than six guests. Guides such as Shanti, Brooke, Koa, Stef, Lauren, and Rebecca search for wild dolphins, turtles, reef fish, seals, and whales. Snorkel gear is included, but wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
“Guides are fantastic. They found plenty of wildlife for our small group, and we had several opportunities to swim with the dolphins. Highly recommended!”
Set out from Waiʻanae at 7:30 a.m. with Iruka Hawaii Dolphin for a fast-paced wild dolphin swim, then snorkel at Makaha with turtles and reef fish. Your four-hour catamaran trip includes lunch, gear, paddleboards, kayaks, a floating mat, a 21-foot waterslide, and hotel pickup from selected Waikiki and Ko Olina locations.
“Wonderful experience! Yuji, Jake, Morgan, Chloe and Laura were wonderful guides and we saw four different species of dolphins as well as a pin cushion star fish and a turtle!”
Set out from Waiʻanae for a three-hour cruise with Iruka Hawaii Dolphin. Look for spinner, bottlenose, and Pan Tropical Spotted dolphins, then snorkel at Makaha with turtles and tropical fish. Your boat also has a 21-foot slide, floating mat, paddleboard, kayak, lunch, and a hot shower.
“The captain and crew were very friendly. We also got to see rare pigmy whales. The snorkeling was a lot of fun. A great day at sea!”
Ride the Dolphin Warrior from Waiʻanae, watch for wild spinner dolphins, and enter the water when conditions allow. You’ll also snorkel with turtles and reef fish, enjoy a sandwich or veggie wrap, and cruise past Oahu’s west coast. The boat holds no more than 19 people.
“This was the best boat dolphin experience I've had. I know dolphins were not guaranteed, but these boys made sure we had the gear and were ready. It didn't take long before we found them. Yuya was our picture guy an d so enthusiastic about the ocean, dolphins and everyone on the boat. Yuya made us laugh and smile. He stayed with us tracked dolphins and shot pictures underwater of all the animals we saw. We swat least 4 species that day. We go free time to snorkeling the reef and chase water bubbles & swim with fish At the end of the day we had the option to buy…”
Board the 50-foot Haleiwa Queen at Kewalo Basin for a gentle one-hour cruise along Waikiki. Look through four underwater viewing ports for reef fish and turtles while the crew shares island history. Dolphins and seasonal whales are possible, but sightings are never guaranteed.
“It was a nice boat ride but that is all it was. We seen a few fish, but that was quite a let down. We did not see turtles or dolphins.”
Set out with Iruka Hawaii Dolphin along Oahu’s Waianae Coast for fast-paced dolphin swims, turtle snorkeling at Makaha, lunch, and ocean play. Captain Stef and the crew lead a 210-minute trip with a 21-foot waterslide, paddleboards, kayak, floating mat, hot shower, and shaded seating.
“Wir haben im Rahmen dieser Tour etwa 70 US-Dollar an einen Guide gezahlt, der uns im Gegenzug Fotos versprochen hat. Diese Bilder wollte er uns per E-Mail zusenden. Leider haben wir die Fotos trotz mehrfachen Nachfragens nie erhalten. Im Zusammenhang mit der Tour stellt dies für uns eine klare Abzocke dar.”
Cruise Oahu’s west coast with guides such as Sway, Captain Joe, Jeremy, Ryan, and Zoe. Watch wild spinner dolphins, snorkel with fish and honu, kayak, paddleboard, ride a 20-foot waterslide, eat lunch, and enjoy hula. Waikiki and Ko Olina shuttles, gear, and harbor parking are included.
“Every members were so cool and nice! I felt safe every moment and had a lot of fun. Thanks for good memories on our honeymoon 🥰”
Join Hawaii Nautical at 1:30 pm for a two-hour catamaran sail from Waiʻanae Small Boat Harbor. Snorkel with provided gear, watch for Hawaiian green sea turtles and spinner dolphins, and enjoy snacks, drinks, shaded seating, and an onboard restroom.
“We got to see a sea turtle and touch an octopus. Everyone was very friendly. Don’t have anything else to write. You should fix that”
Join Indigo Ocean Hawaii for a four-hour West Oʻahu catamaran trip with a 40-person boat, dolphin searches, snorkeling, lunch, and mountain views. Guides including Michael, Captain Nicole, and JB help you spot dolphins, turtles, fish, whales, and other sea life. Hotel pickup is available.
“it was very fun and amazing experience swimming with the dolphins and than snorkeling. dinner on the boat was delicious as well while watching the dolphins jump and play aroud the boat!”
Sail from Waiʻanae with Indigo Ocean Hawaii for about three hours of dolphin and seasonal whale watching, turtle snorkeling, snacks, and a Kalua pork lunch. Guides such as Julie, JB, Nalu, and Ricky may lead the trip. Wildlife is wild, so sightings are never guaranteed.
“Me and my husband have been completing my bucket list (i have cancer) and the last thing i wanted to do was to see Wild dolphins as they have been my favorite animal since i was 3 years old. We tried 3 different tours and NOTHING! But these guys made it happen and i couldn’t be any more happy! We saw at least 20 dolphins, from couples to mommas and their babies! They taught us about the island and the types of dolphins we saw which I LOVED. The snorkeling was just an added bonus for me ! The crew kept us hydrated and fed while playing great music and…”
Pick a hull, pick the water you want to be in, or decide whether you want them wild.
