NatGeo Expeditions: Swim with Dolphins & Whales

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
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Waiʻanae Small Boat Harbor - Experience private, research-focused marine expeditions crafted for those eager to forge a profound connection with the ocean, culture, and spirit of Hawai‘i. Our exclusive, small-group charters (capped at 10 guests) provide exceptional opportunities to encounter wild dolphins, offshore whales, sea turtles, and rare…
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

Guided by experts, this experience intertwines history, science, and tradition. Dolphins that have frolicked in these waters for generations, humpback whales following age-old migration paths, and seabirds soaring on winds that once led Polynesian navigators.
Below the waves, the bond between humans and the ocean grows stronger. A honu (green sea turtle)…

Location
Aloha Ocean tours
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" or you may get routed to the 'other' Farrington Hwy (different shore).
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(51 Ratings)
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Flashman86
Apr 2, 2025
A brilliant and fun adventure for the whole family - We travelled as an adult family of 6, including one intellectually disabled daughter, and Captain AJ and the wonderful Bethany could not have been kinder or more accommodating - we followed a large pod of beautiful dolphins, saw whales away off, and swam with turtles (a true highlight of our time in Hawaii), all under the expert and hugely enthusiastic guidance of Bethany who managed to combine fun and education for all of us. We appreciate your kindness and huge experience so much, thank you again for a fabulous day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Camper05523605050
Mar 23, 2025
Amazing! - Amazing and knowledgeable staff, great lunch, and awesome sea life! Would 100% recommend to friends, family, and everyone else!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katsue5482
Mar 22, 2025
Superb outing, great crew & captain! - We all agreed! This trip was amazing! From start to finish the 2 person crew and captain were superb. They catered to our desires and knew just where to take us. We actually saw a momma whale and baby, a turtle, a seal and had a great time snorkeling a small reef. We were a family of six which was just right for this boat (yacht? - not sure what size qualifies but we had plenty of room). They supplied drinks, snacks, sandwiches and chips - all good! I wear glasses and they even had two different goggles for me to try. We were very pleased and recommend highly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Juliebg4038cs
Mar 19, 2025
10-stars!!! Wild Side Specialty Tours! - Simply AMAZING!! Captain Tori and Biologist Brittney are unmatched! We saw Whales in the first 20 minutes and several more times on the tour! Dozens of dolphins for two hours. HIGHLY recommend Wild Side!!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review provided by Tripadvisor
A1085oxdianed
Mar 15, 2025
West shore = best shore - Our guide Connor and Captain AJ were so knowledgeable and really made the trip feel private and fun. Then of course the ocean was gorgeous and we got to see so much beautiful wildlife - a huge pod of dolphins that came right up to the boat, sea turtles, and we were super lucky and 3 humpback whales also hung out near our boat for part of the tour. Snorkeling the reef was perfect, lots of fish and healthy coral and sea urchins, definitely worth the trip up from Honolulu. This excursion was the highlight of our vacation for sure.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
609kerrih
Jan 28, 2025
Excellent Crew and Experience 💯🩵 - This was my 3rd time out with Wild Side. I will go again and again with this company! Captain Liah and crew member, Conner were the best! Professional, yet so friendly and fun; safety was a priority from the crew. That was important to me. 🩵 Their knowledge to answer questions about the wildlife was very impressive. 💯 This trip was a amazing! Pilot and Humpback Whales, Rough Tooth and Spotted Dolphins were just a thrill to see! The lunch was delicious. Loved every minute of this tour ❤️
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lonp989
Jan 27, 2025
Great boat and snorkeling experience. - Bethany greeted us promptly and provided excellent information on the excursion and what to expect with wild life sitings in the ocean. Leah, our captain, provided a comfortable ride and found the dolphins and whales during our adventure. We saw many dolphins and had the opportunity to snorkel in a large school of dolphins.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Beagirlie
Jan 26, 2025
Thrilling tour with an excellent crew - We had an awesome time with our guide Conner and Captain Lea! Conner gave us safety information and what to expect. From the moment we were helped on the boat, we felt at ease. Conner was excellent in spotting Pilot whales, spotted dolphins, rough tooth dolphins, a large sea turtle and a beautiful humpback whale. Several of our group snorkeled with Conner to get a thrilling up close view of the animals. Captain Lea was also very informative to those of us who remained in the boat. The equipment and boat were in excellent condition and clean. We were also treated to a delicious lunch with a sandwich, chips, fresh pineapple and a juice. What a fun and amazing day! This was a great tour with a safe and knowledgeable crew and we would highly recommend Wild Side Hawaii…5 stars! Thank you Conner and Captain Lea 😀
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vegkayla
Jan 12, 2025
Gorgeous day on the water - Great captain and naturalist on board — they made it super special for us and customized our trip to make sure my 3yo daughter could participate. I am so glad we did a private, well worth it. We saw a ton of wildlife and went snorkeling, and the vegetarian lunch was awesome. This was one of the best days during our visit to Hawaii.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
163lindsiem
Jan 2, 2025
Great Family Day at Sea!!! - Our captain and crew were incredible! They were able to spot whales, spinner dolphins and even a tiger shark! They were knowledgeable and friendly and also let us have our family time. The boat was very nice and comfortable. We had gorgeous weather and it was a perfect way to end our Hawaiian adventure. Highly recommend!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $2,385 (Per Boat)
up to 10 guests
1 - Traveler
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).