OMFG!!! LIFE CHANGING!! I'm still in awe about this truly amazing experience! We did the half day dolphin excursion with Rich as our captain and Rusty as our right hand man. Even Sailor(their dog) joined in on the ride. Since nobody else booked the tour for that day, we had the boat all to ourselves! Before we started, Rusty fitted us with snorkeling gear and fins. Gear was top of the line and well maintained. As we started out, Rusty explained in detail what to expect and the do's and don't of swimming with dolphins. Our first stop had no dolphins, but no worries, Rich took us to a Manta Ray "wash" station. There we were able to get in and watch these majestic animals get "cleaned". Unreal! After watching them for about 20 min or so we were off to find dolphins, and find them we did! Rich positioned us about 100 yards in front of the pod and Rusty helped us get geared up and into the water. Once in you could here the dolphins communicating in the water before you see them. The all of the sudden BAM they are all around you!! Dolphins of all shapes and sizes and even babies were just casually swimming by checking us out. So EPIC! Once the pod past, we swam back to the boat and were off again to find more. After a couple of hrs we had lunch on the bow of the boat while the dolphins put on a show for us. Sadly, Rich informed us that it was time to say Aloha and we headed back to the harbor. Man time went too fast. I could have stayed watching the dolphins all day. Overall the trip, staff, and food was first class all the way. Great family owned local business. If you are ever on the Big Island, DO THIS!!! They also offer a great kama'aina rate as well! Thanks Dolphin Journeys for this once in a lifetime treat!! read more

First of all, anyone leaving a bad review for this place must have not gone to the right place... this woman and her crew are amazing! We had the pleasure of not meeting her just once, but twice. She is super knowledgeable and their love for the ocean and taking care of it was so nice, we even stopped to remove trash from the ocean. They bring everything you need, supply you with everything, and when your on their boat it feels like family. We have had the privilege to be in Hawaii and live amongst the locals the last few times here and their sense of ohana and just overall life gets me every time. And being with Nancy and her helper Cody brought it all back. This is not the kind of tour where you sit on a boat with 30 other tourists and listen to facts, if you want to actually be in it and , and experience the ocean, take this tour. Their knowledge will come through in casual conversation and you will learn so much more. They do though know the limits of the ocean, and if something is dangerous, they won't do it.. Now on to the dolphin part...within 15 mins of getting out of the harbor.. Nancy took us to a spot where dolphins came to us and began playing with the boat. In another 5.. we were in the water, and within 5 mins, I was surrounded , this happened for the next few hours, at one point.. 35 of them around us. At another one came up under me, surfaced just under my body, and turned around and looked at me and motioned with his nose for me to follow. It honestly didn't feel real.. and I still can't believe it happened. We then for the last part went to a reef and did some snorkeling. This was amazing, Nancy was amazing, and I will return... if I could give it ten stars I would. read more

If you are looking for an amazing experience I highly recommend Dolphin Journeys for your swim with the wild dolphins excursion while on the big island. Captain Nancy and first mate Jeanette gave us a day we will not forget. They only allow up to 6 people per tour so you aren't crammed in with a ton of people. Her boat was spacious and well kept. Not only did we get to swim with some very friendly dolphins, we also got to see a hunchback whale breach the surface! The sandwiches and salads for lunch were perfect along with the fresh pineapple and non-alcoholic beverages which were included with the excursion. Thanks Captain Nancy, we learned so much from you! read more

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Where to begin... maybe "wow?" We went on a four-hour trip to visit with the dolphins. I would recommend this trip to anybody. Though I'm sure it's possible to go dolphin watching without a tour guide, there are numerous benefits to having one. Captain Nancy is *incredibly* knowledgable about sea life in general and dolphins in particular. The benefit of her knowledge and experience alone is sufficient justification for the cost of the trip. You got a question about dolphins? She's got answers. She and her crew are also highly respectful of our seafaring distant-cousins, treating them as friends and family rather than as a tourist attraction. As it should be. Keep in mind what this is, and what this is not. This is a guided journey on a small craft for a small group of people to enjoy the company of dolphins in the open sea. This is not a carefully scripted interactive experience in a controlled environment, so don't go expecting that. You're in the sea, not in a resort. If the dolphins come to visit you, it's because they want to. If you are prone to getting sea sick, prepare accordingly. There are waves in the ocean, I'm terribly sorry to report. Tip: arrive early and visit the deli at the harbor for breakfast. They also stock Emergen-C and motion sickness remedies. The crew provides the gear you'll need-- snorkel, mask, fins, and vests if you want them, plus help in using your equipment if you need it. I needed a little refresher in using fins. The dolphins themselves are wonderful creatures. They may not come right up to you, but the water is so clear you can see them- hundreds of them- swimming around with you. You can hear their calls/singing/sonar in the water and even above the water if you have good hearing. During our trip we saw a number of mom/dad/kid groups swimming with us. Don't expect them to necessarily come up to you for a hug, but some did come within about 10-15 feet of me on one occasion. They also like to show off, spinning up out of the water, flying through the air, and sometimes diving, sometimes belly-flopping back in. They're very curious, and very playful when they choose to be. Just keep in mind these are wild animals in their natural habitat. They're not here specifically to entertain you, but they very well might choose to! We also had some time to watch a feeding manta ray and visit a coral reef during our trip, taking in as much beauty of the ocean as we could in our 4-hour trip. Sandwiches, snacks and drinks were also provided. Think "picnic lunch" not "resort buffet." Set your expectations according to what you're doing. That said, my sandwich was plenty tasty. The crew is prepared to help you out in whatever way you need it as well. I managed to get stung on the hand and ankle by a jellyfish, and they were ready with the vinegar and advice. If you need help, they'll gladly give it. If you just want to have whatever experience you're having, they'll also leave you to it. If you're heading to the big island, do yourself a favor and go on this trip. It's worth every penny, and then some! read more

I would do this again! The experience of a life time swimming with the dolphins, being so close to them, and hearing them communicate under water. I did the half day dolphin excursion and half day whale watching. I would do it again! We saw a baby humpback with it's mom- priceless. Rich and Jane were knowledgeable and friendly. Can't wait to do this again on my next visit back to Kona! read more

Dolphin Journeys - Great dolphin excursion - Snorkeling Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

As I watched the Dolphin pods play, I couldn't wait to get into the water. With a fantastic crew of Jan, Peter and Sailor, Captain Nancy welcomed us to the pods giving us the utmost care. Jan was VERY knowledgeable about the dolphins and their habits. Both Jan and Pete were accomplished in the water and always on the spot with locations, information and hospitality. Not only has swimming with wild dolphins been checked off our "Bucket List", we may uncheck it and do it all again with Dolphin Journey's. Very welcoming! A value we'll never regret. read more

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This excursion is VERY worthy of your time and hard-earned money! Awesome Awesome awesome!!!! Bring sunblock, a towel, and an underwater camera if you have one. Definitely worth every penny. My 13 year old daughter had never snorkeled before and the crew (Daniel and Shawn) were extremely patient with her and taught her how. Once she got a hang of it, it was hard to get her out of the water. What you get: 1. To snorkel amid dozens of beautiful Hawaiian spinner dolphins 2. To snorkel pristine and vibrant reefs 3. To be entertained and cared for by a great crew on a solid water craft Get here and do this! You won't regret it. Captain Nancy and her husband were a pleasure and were kind enough to drop us off in town afterwards. read more

If you like boating, swimming in the ocean, and a personalized experience, then Dolphin Journeys is the ONLY company on the Big Island for your vacation experience. The staff is attentive, knowledgeable and very personable. They provide a choice of sandwiches and thirst quenching beverages for each guest, Forget your towel -- they have one for you. They make sure your mask with snorkel fits, with no leaks, and fins are comfortable. They also have sunscreen on-board, bottled water, and a covered area out of the sun. Guests will enjoy sitting on the bow of the boat watching the dolphins play as you motor up the coast line. They have trips out nearly every morning, but be sure to make your reservations in advance. Dolphin Journeys provides a swim support guide for children and beginner swimmers. Children as young as two years old, and grandparents age 92 can be accommodated, so this is a very family friendly operation. read more

We booked a private Dolphin Swim for our family of 5 - $1,250 total...Was priceless Had an amazing time! Highly recommend! Truly a unique experience Kathy and Randy made "Journey" INCREDIBLE!!! read more

I went out on this boat today to swim with the dolphins and what a huge gift we got! Three different breeds of dolphins showed up throughout the trip to let us play with them. Not only that but we got to see three different sets of whales while looking for the dolphins and an Eagle Ray before we even left the harbor! This is a small boat that can accomodate 6 guests which makes the trip and experience much more personable than what you get on the larger boats. The captain and crew are very helpful and insightful. They serve snacks, beverages and sandwiches for lunch. Definitely consider this company if you want an upclose and personal experience with the dolphins with excellent customer care. read more

Unbelievable experience! Got to swim with many pods of wild dolphins in addition to a rogue Manta ray!! The crew was awesome and incredible! read more

I can't say enough wonderful things about how wonderful this excursion was! I researched a few companies before settling on Dolphin Journeys. I opted for the extended 6 hour combined dolphin swim and whale-watch. Captain Cathy piloted us well and steered us true, dropping us into the middle of a huge pod of very mellow dolphins (estimated at around 300)- just after every other tour boat was taking off from the area. So we had the pod all to ourselves, and they hung out with us for what seemed like hours. It was absolutely transcendent. We went to another site, a manta cleaning station and were graced with seeing both a manta and an eagle ray. This was more of a "drift snorkel" area, and she did a great job of staying close to us. They provided a light lunch and plenty of drinks and snacks which hit the spot without being too much food, perfect for a day in the water. We struck out on the whales, but that was predictable because it was the first few days of the season. Randall, our dolphin-whisperer and in-water guide did a great job of staying close to offer any needed pointers and assistance. We received briefings on dolphin behavior and how to optimize our swim while respecting the wild nature of the dolphins, and all the staff, from phone calls to hands on deck had great personalities and were very accommodating. The attached photo was taken in the water- we were amazingly close! I was so excited I left my hat on the boat, and they were kind enough to mail it back to me in the states. A wonderful company that clearly has deep respect for nature. read more

A great way to spend my birthday. We saw manta rays, a whale and tons of dolphins. Thank you you Captain Nancy and crew for making this a fun adventure!!! It was a wonderful day read more

The dolphin journey we did was absolutely incredible. I had never even seen real dolphins in real life and to be swimming within feet of dozens of actual, wild dolphins was incredible!! Watching them play and jump was such a treat and I'm very grateful for Captain Nancy for doing this work and I'm very excited about going on another journey! I HIGHLY recommend you consider having Captain Nancy take you and your loved ones out on a journey. It'll be a great positive experience for you. read more

The crew and Captain Nancy were so passionate about the dolphins and their job that they made our experience fantastic. We not only encountered over 80 dolphins swimming under and around us, but they provided a heathy and delicious lunch to top it off. I highly recommend dolphin discovery because they were so nice, informative and organized. Thank you for a great experience! read more

This trip changed my life! I've heard about the energy of dolphins and how beautiful these kind of things are, though what Dolphin Journeys offered (both the dolphins themselves and Captain Nancy and her crew) just completely blew me out of the water! It's been over a year that I have done the trip and I am still talking about it! I would quiet literally make a trip to Hawaii exclusively to go on another Trip with the Dolphin Journey tour. Thank you SO MUCH Captain Nancy! Aloha to you all :) read more

Nancy and crew thank you again so much for introducing my family to the adventure you and the crew provide!! As always it iwas memoriable spiritual and so amazing!!! Aloha read more

I have been out on Dolphin Journey's a few times with friends and I just want to tell you: this is a FULL SERVICE opportunity to swim with the dolphins and be cared for in the water. If you have kids or people who have not snorkeled or been in open water before, YOU WANT TO COME ON THIS TOUR! The crew is BEYOND helpful and experienced. I did the Manta dive with Nancy and her crew and her folks helped us the whole time as we were a bit apprehensive about being in the water at night. The patience, expertise and service is unmatched. read more

Was just on the boat today and there were at least 80+ Dolphins that we were arms length and at least 15-feet from. It was truly phenomenal. The crew were very supportive and we even had surprise cupcakes for one of the passengers birthdays. It truly was powerful and I will look forward to being back on island again very soon. Thank you Dolphins and Capt. Nancy. read more

Our family had the most awesome excursion with these guys. Capt. Nancy, Jeanie and Andy were competent and fun educators and guides, and the real stars, the dolphins were shear joy! If you go to the Big Island, do not miss the opportunity to take one of these excursions, it will delight enlighten and change you! Thanks Dolphin Journeys! read more

I will make this short: HIRE THIS COMPANY -- ESPECIALLY CAPTAIN NANCY--FOR YOUR DOLPHIN SWIMMING TRIP! Their professionalism was unparalleled. They care about the dolphins. They know where they are likely to find them. We swam for about 2 hours with 2 pods of dolphins, about 150 per pod. Like meeting God. In Dolphin form. read more

I've only written reviews (4 total) on Yelp when something is so good you should never pass it up, or so bad that I am compelled to save strangers the agony.. and I am happy to report, this is AS GOOD AS IT GETS. I've been on several boat charters, big and small, and this, if you enjoy authenticity and a personalized experience, is really good. Nancy, Anthony and Mica got us aboard quickly, and we spent almost the whole four hours in and around 200-300 dolphins. we were in the water, swimming with them after Nancy's informational intro, and it couldn't have been cooler, more thrilling, or more beyond our expectations. Go do it, if you have any interest in checking out Hawaii's waters and especially the spinner dolphins! read more

My husband and I had the MOST amazing experience at Dolphin Journeys!! The staff was unbelievably helpful and did everything in their power to esure we had a memorable day. They happily helped us take pictures and videos and get into the very best position to see the dolphins at all times. The team and captain created a wonderful day that we will never forget. I can not recommend them highly enough.. This was by far the highlight of our trip and the most memorable experience over the course of 10 days in hawaii. Do not miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!!! - Marisa & Michael Washington, DC read more

Fyi not as reviewed. On a back-up boat without any bathroom or fresh water rinse. Not experts at finding dolphins they just follow all the other boats around. Did not get along with Nancy who only interest is in doing what she wants regardless of how much you spent for a family excursion that is not as depicted. She is not good with kids. Totally first time my husband and I would have asked for a refund for an excursion as it was that bad in 20+ years of international travels. read more

Went on the Evening w/Manta Rays excursion...the description makes it sound like a nice, light dinner watching the sunset, etc, we pictured a table on a boat....dinner turned out to be cold, unappetizing chicken & potato salad from a tupperware container, and the uneaten chicken from plate was to be reused...not sanitary =( Description is very misleading in regard to dinner, could not eat a bite. Small boat gets tossed around in the waves, not good if you get seasick. Staff was nice though, very helpful in the water, but just beware this is definitely a "mom and pop" family type of thing, for us, not in a good way - not professional in terms of food/setup. read more

This adventure will change your life. Would give it 6 stars if I could. The crew were Minnesota nice and very happy. High quality snorkel gear, yummy lunch and we saw more than we could have ever expected. It may be a bit more expensive than other tours but it's worth it as they only take 6 people max so you don't feel like sardines like all the other companies who squeeze 20-30 people in a small boat. Much more personal and we went to several spots where we were the only boat around. A little bit of luck is involved but we must have been the luckiest people ever. Not only did we swim with tons of dolphins two separate times, we spotted a hammerhead shark that followed our boat for 10 minutes (which is very rare), saw a manta ray, watched several whales breach and ended it with a beautiful snorkel reef with crystal clear water. All in all it was incredible. Thanks Nancy, Bennit and Jim. Job well done. We also appreciated that captain Jim stopped three times to pick up trash floating. read more

Dolphin Journeys is the premier way to spend time & swim with the dolphins. Have done it twice & gets better every time. It is one of the top 5 things I have ever experienced in my life. Love the way Dolphin Journeys is respectful of the whales & dolphins. Saw some other out fits that weren't so respectful. Love this crew & how we were able to respectfully swim with dolphins & their young. Amazing! read more

My girlfriend and I had a great time. Saw plenty of spinner dolphins and got to swim (race!) with many of them. Also saw a whale breach and lots of spouts. Justin and Nancy are phenomenal and extremely attentive. I ask a lot of questions and Justin answered all of them. I would not write this review if I didn't have a great time and think Justin and Nancy were great. You won't be disappointed. read more

Nancy and Randy were wonderful captains! Very knowledgable and accommodating and knew exactly where the Dolphins were. Small group of just us four which is definitely the way to go. More intimate and relaxing. All you had to do was keep your snorkel gear near you and jump in when you see them! They provide drinks, lunch, sunscreen and first aid if need be. We saw dozen upon dozens of dolphins, swam playfully with them and then even saw 4 humpbacks. This was certainly worth the amazing experience! If you have a go pro or waterproof camera please bring! These pictures will last forever!!! read more

Just came back from a swim with dolphin tour! Super fun! The guides were knowledgeable and took the time to make sure we saw a ton of dolphins! We got to swim and be within a arm's length of them! They also took us to a snorkeling reef where we saw a lot of fish and sea turtles! Scott and Mike are the best! read more

If you are looking for an enjoyable day with the dolphins, swim away from Dolphin Journeys and Captain Nancy. It was a day of broken promises and disappointment. I'm physically disabled and choose this company because it was advertised as disabled friendly. It wasn't. First, the office looks like some fly by night operation. When we got there, we were told that their boat was broken and they would be borrowing a boat, but it wouldn't be a problem to get me in the water. There was a ramp down to the boat. It was a steep ramp that no wheelchair should go down. After a death defying ride down the ramp, it was time to board the boat. This was a charter fishing boat that you had to jump on. Not disabled friendly. After we were under way, we asked how we get in and out of the water. Captain Nancy pointed to the back of the boat and a PVC pipe ladder. When we told her that I couldn't climb the ladder, she replied "We can just toss her in and pull her back on by her arms". What??? Needless to say, I didn't get to go in the water. Our pathetic lunch was a deli sandwich that may or may not have been properly stored on the boat. Is mayonnaise supposed to be warm? No chips and a community bowl of pineapple and another community bowl of carrots. I'm sure the health department would be okay with that, right? Who needs utensils?!?! After lunch, we headed back to the harbor. Getting off the boat and back up the "ramp" was just as harrowing as the beginning. There weren't any life jackets or swim belts on the boat to borrow even if I could get in the water. Overall, it was a very disappointing day. I did get to see dolphins, but this was an excursion that I booked for both my mom and I to do. It was also disappointing for her to leave me behind on the boat. When you are a disabled traveler, you get pretty excited when you find an excursion that is advertised for people with disabilities. It is a huge disappointment when you find that this company is shrouded in falsehoods in order to make a buck. Someone is going to get hurt by Captain Nancy's lies. If you want to swim with the dolphins, look for a company with integrity and you will have a much more enjoyable day on the water. read more

I really enjoyed Captain Nancy, Jan and the crew at Dolphin Journeys, they are kind, genuine and knowledgeable. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the experience as it was presented, as swimming with dolphins. I had imagined and looked forward to being in the ocean with the dolphins close by and being able to quietly observe them. We got into the water in the same place at the same time as several other boats with many others. The mass of people ruined the experience for me. The other large groups splashed, kicked and chased the dolphins to a distance away from us. My 12 year old daughter was fortunate to be swimming in a group with Captain Nancy and she was able to get close up to a pod, but she was the only one out of seven of us to have that experience. On the way back to the harbor we had several large pods of dolphins swimming around the boat. We literally had the dolphins swimming just under our feet as we hung them off the front of the boat. This was special and my children were thrilled, but as the person who did the research, booked the excursion and paid for the trip I had hoped for more. read more

Awesome Experience. I Can't wait to do it again! Beautiful weather, helpful crew and extremely informative captain. The Dolphins were amazing and the crew treated them with utmost respect. Encountering wild Dolphins is truly something else read more