Blue Horizon: Custom Biologist-Led Boat Expedition
4.8
36 Ratings
Waianae

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, 15 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Waiʻanae Small Boat Harbor - Unforgettable journeys into the heart of fall year round wild dolphin offshore whale watching. Humpback whale watching season runs from December to April. Witness giants choosing mates and taking care of newborns in Hawaiian waters. Immerse yourself with their enchanting songs via our onboard hydrophone.

Our research-style expeditions offer intimate encounters with wild dolphins, whales, sea turtles, and seabirds, guided by expert naturalists who share insights into wildlife behaviors as well as Hawaiian culture. For the adventurous, join certified divers to swim with these creatures and snorkel coral reefs, all in a small group setting of up to only six guests per charter.

Wander freely aboard the 34 ft. power cat, “Alaka’i,”, perfect for Insta-worthy photos. Enjoy shade, a private bathroom, and homemade local style lunch. Snacks and drinks fully available.

Rest assured, our interactions follow state and federal laws and are further certified by the Whale Cetacean Alliance. Our biologists maintain long-term relationships with non-profits and government agencies, ensuring ethical practices while participating in Citizen Science on each charter.

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

Turning Dreams into Reality - 25+ years of “NatGeo” style expeditions

Six-guest group size gives the best odds of swimming with wild dolphins and whales and the flexibility to make “on-the-spot” decisions in changing situations - including up and down the ladder quickly!

Inspiring crew of lifeguard-certified, trained biologists/naturalists/safety divers with deep knowledge of best routes and hidden gems

Guided reef snorkeling (we’ll point out what others miss)

Citizen Science gathered on each tour including tracking of marine debris, ghost nets, endangered/protected species, etc. Pro cameras with long lens used for research photos (photo IDs) of wildlife encounters. We’ve been co-authors in numerous conservation and marine mammal journals

Woman-owned and led, female marine biologist founded. Each experience is enhanced by expert commentary and personalized attention while being indulged with island-favorite amenities - while “giving back” to ocean conservation.

  • Severe allergies - as we may be 1/2 hour or more from medical help, please have epi-pens onboard with you.
Location
850491 Farrington Hwy
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" so you don't get routed to the 'other side' of Farrington Hwy.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.8
(36 Ratings)
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Trip55746346388
Aug 15, 2024
Amazing Adventure! - Wow! What an amazing experience! Our crew leader Bethany and captain Jack were fantastic and got us swimming with rare pigmy killer whales practically within minutes of getting out onto the water. I really love their passion for respecting and honoring the beautiful animals you encounter in the water. Our family practically had a private chartered experience and it was so fantastic! Can’t wait to come back and do another longer tour. Thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kevin
Jul 21, 2024
Six stars - Amazing. And perfect for families especially. We (family of four Inc two teens) took the Best of the West tour in July 2024. It was excellent from the moment we met Captain Liah and Connor until the moment we arrived back. Our preference was to see dolphins and - while there can never be any guarantees- it was clear that Captain Liah was determined we should see dolphins. It wasn’t long before we found a pod of 6-8 who were very happy to swim alongside the boat and seemed just as interested in us as we were in them. After making sure it was safe to do so, and making sure that our presence would not distress the dolphins on any way, we entered the water. Almost immediately five dolphins swam from maybe 30m away to within a couple of metres of us. I’d say it was bucket list experience but it felt even more special than that. Just amazing. The water was so beautiful and clear that we had the best possible view as they swam past us. We also saw an eagle ray and sea turtles at another snorkelling spot, and enjoyed a lovely lunch was we headed back to the marina. Liah and Connor were just amazing throughout and made our trip so special. I’d strongly recommend this trip for families.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
921jillyp
Jul 4, 2024
Special, Nat Geo vibes! - My tour was such a cool experience. It's definitely not just another "package snorkel tour" - as in their name it really is a specialty tour. It almost felt like being on a research boat like you see in Nat Geo documentaries etc and that's the kind of experience I wanted and I loved it. Living my marine biologist dreams! The small group size also makes it feel special and personalized. I want to go again already!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gloriaf703
Jun 21, 2024
Incredible Citizen Science Experience - Amazing creatures spotted - swam with dolphins, an eagle nose ray, and many fish at the reef. We saw even more dolphins and turtles from the boat. The crew was knowledgeable and personable - lunch and snacks were also delicious. We felt very comfortable and taken care of on the tour. Photo package is very worth it!!!! I personally prefer this small tour which supports conservation and citizen science work vs a touristy oversold experience. Would 100% do again and recommend to anyone who wants to give back to Hawaii! Best advice is to be in the moment and enjoy every opportunity!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rosepointe
Apr 30, 2024
Great Experience….Fabulous Crew and a Surprise to us Lunch - We are whale watchers around the world and always go on snorkeling and whale watching tours. I read about this company months ago and contacted them while in Hawaii. There were four of us on the boat….room for a total of six. There was a naturalist wanting many pictures for his work and we referred to him as “Orange”, and a Captain who has sailed many places including our home area….The Caribbean. We vacation there all of the time. The guys were fabulous. Watching any sea life takes patience and time. And the Whales,Dolphins, Turtles, and other creatures make their own plans. The beauty of a trip Iike this is one can adjust the day and change plans as needed. My husband and I never expected to see whales as we know many are back in Alaska now. On our way back from a great snorkel with a large group of dolphins and their babies and time watching a group of pilot whales otherwise knows dolphins. We were shocked as a humpback and her baby went by the side of the boat and both did a dive together big tail and little tail right behind the boat. This baby was too young to travel yet I suspect. It was a fabulous moment. Adjusting a tour is the joy of a trip like this. And I forwarded pictures to the other coupe with us last night. We had just met.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leannah836
Apr 27, 2024
An amazing opportunity not to be missed! - We thoroughly enjoyed our trip out on the water with the expert crew! We saw many dolphins, Spotted and Spinner. What I appreciated the most - and why we chose this tour - is their dedication to conservation and their contribution to research and preservation of marine animals. The guides are very knowledgeable generously shared information about marine animals as well as myths and legends of the gorgeous mountain valley. The scenery was spectacular. They did their best to give us the best experience possible and we appreciated every moment!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dafl2017
Apr 10, 2024
Incredible tour!! - Absolutely incredible tour!!! We had the BEST time! All the crew were fantastic and went out of their way to make it the best day for us. They were all extremely knowledgeable. We were lucky enough to swim with pilot whales and turtles. We also saw spinner dolphins and a hammerhead shark from the boat Would definitely recommend this company for your tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bkwhitten
Apr 3, 2024
Wonderful ecological experience - Best Whale watching and snorkeling trip we've done in Oahu. It was the end of the whale season, but we still saw a whale. We also saw dolphins and saw with 7 sea turtles in a peaceful bay. The best part was that there were 3 crew members to 5 guests. An amazing ratio and the crew was committed to ocean ecology which is very important to us. Even though they didn't advertise that they were part of the NOAA Dolphin Smart program, they followed all the rules. I would definitely go again in a heartbeat.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brianan92
Mar 26, 2024
Amazing private tour! - This tour was spectacular. Bethany and Leah were amazing - very friendly, professional, fun and knowledgeable. We went at the end of March and we're lucky enough to see dolphins, whales and a turtle. We also saw colorful fish. This is a small more personal tour which was incredible and felt a lot more private. Highly recommend, and would definitely do again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Venture61781694294
Mar 23, 2024
Private 6 hour tour - Our tour was a private tour for 6 hours with just my husband and I. Captain Leah and First Mate Bethany were gracious hosts and excellent in spotting turtles, whales, dolphins, albatross and 2 species of Booby's-Brown and Red Footed. They made sure we had plenty of photo opportunities through out our time on the boat. I recommend this tour for anyone who wants great photos of marine life or just to see the windward side of Oahu.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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September 2024
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