Wild Side Specialty Tours - Small Group Swimming with Dolphins Oahu Boat Tours — Attraction in Oʻahu

Did a 3-hr 7 am tour 2 weeks ago with Wild Side and it was legit! We were relatively lucky and watched a pod of spotted dolphins (racing alongside the boat), a pod of spinner dolphins (keeping our distance as required), 2 large Green Turtles, a manta ray (near the harbor by chance), a little of 2 humpbacks (juveniles, a long distance away), flying fish, and a few other animals in addition. And we avoided a little rain that came as we wrapped up. Went into the tour on my own, with 5 other ppl. Which was great because our crew - Bethany, Gretel, Capt Flo - sought the group's input, from the start as well as during the tour, on what wildlife/activities we were hoping for, in order to tailor or adjust the tour, within reason, to give us better chances of fulfilling our hopes. Our group was hoping for whales among other things, even though whale season was only beginning. Because the group sizes are small, it was easier for us to reach consensus on some time searching for humpbacks, which made it possible for the crew to devote more time there and, happily, get lucky, rather than sticking to a standardized itinerary that would've missed that glimpse. Small groups also made it highly likely that every person could watch the spotted dolphins underwater or snorkel a clear/calm reef, since it was quicker to get the small group in and out of the water while the dolphins were still around, a little less ppl blocking views or accidentally kicking you, and a smaller boat could also move us quicker to where dolphins or anything else might be. Props to the crew for getting us underwater with a group of wild dolphins about 20 ft by us!

I was drawn to Wild Side because their focus on marine science and academics. The guides were passionate about the wildlife and sites and sharing their knowledge. They're attentive to making sure we were safe and comfortable, but overall, our crew was easygoing. Our group were casual snorkelers, and the sea was on the chillier side for my body this time, but everybody is diff. We probably spent about 30 min underwater in total, give or take. If you don't want to swim or swim every stop, the crew was cool with that too. If wanted, the crew had a hydrophone available on the boat, it's a handheld box with an attached cable and mic that gets dropped in the water, and the box plays any sounds heard under the water if they're loud enough - like a nearby humpback. Also included was a small lunch of chicken salad sandwich, chips, pineapple, juice, which we ate (and I enjoyed) on the ride back to harbor.

The boat, Alaka’i, did have a marine head (small toilet with a piston you hand-pump, to flush). I felt Alaka’i offered good amount of space for the 9 ppl - I didn't feel trapped by the space or crew, and I still got fair views in between ppl regardless if everyone was along the guardrails - we could climb over and sit 3-4 ppl at the front of the boat, or everybody if some stand and hold railing, and the back and mid cabin could also seat everybody if wanted. As long as we followed the crew's safety instructions, we could move around the boat as it traveled, to reach our bags or just watch from a diff position.

At end of tour, I decided to pay the extra $165 for their Pro photo pack, since my iphone-in-plastic-pouch’s underwater video didn’t come out great lol. Wild Side emailed me the photos and vids 2 weeks later, and I’m happy with what I got. Pack basically included all the same highlights, above and below water, at much higher detail than my iphone could. The crew used a GoPro shooting 2160p60, as well as a waterboxed Canon mirrorless with a 14-35mm f/4L lens. And the photo pack also included neat underwater video and photos of some of the wildlife that our group could not get in the water for (boat is moving, harbor visibility is murky etc). The pack was like a director’s cut - a clearer, also-more-lengthy memento of what I saw that day, which is what I had been hoping for.

No two days may be the same, but I'd be happy to try this tour again if I'm...

“Warning - potentially life changing. Certainly life affirming. Our award-winning cruises are intimate, ecologically friendly, nature-minded, and foster lasting connections "'where the wild things are". That’s what the ad says on the Internet. The experience was all of that and so much more. If you only do one thing in Hawaii, DO THIS. The website does not exaggerate in the least. The well-run, well-kept docks, the spotless boat, the facility itself and the friendly, professional, knowledgeable crew made a wonderful impression that just kept getting better as we left the docks, right on time, and headed for the open ocean on a glorious Hawaii morning. Ho'ohana - I watched them work with purpose and intent. I learned a lot of Hawaiian words that day, and actually got to live some of their meanings. After chatting with Tori the Captain, in 20 seconds I knew she was a consummate professional who loves her work and it showed throughout our adventure. A perfect example of Malama, as I watched the crew serve and honor, care for and protect, from the heart. The devotion and dedication of the crew were evident everywhere I looked. All of the plentiful equipment was in excellent shape and perfectly suited for our purposes. Within 7 minutes or so of leaving the docks, we came upon 3 pods of spinner dolphin moms with their babies. Off went the engines and our adventure began. As I pushed off from the rear of the boat, I noticed well-kept, spotless engine. No barnacles I could see, no oil leaking into the sea, no funny smells. The absence of these pollutants is what I noticed. These folks are pros who care deeply for Mother Ocean and have clearly devoted their lives to that endeavor and it shows in all they do. Mahalo - It was easy to see they live in thankfulness, and speak in appreciation; Nana i kumu - They have found their truth and it constantly inspires them; 'Imi 'Ike - They have pursued wisdom, have learned and know well; and Lokomaika'i - They shared it with their guests. Their rules were simple, few and made perfect sense. Don’t molest or approach the sea life, especially the dolphins. What I respected most was the attitude of the crew: “Take nothing from Mother Ocean and leave no trace of your visit.” I love that. Ho'ohanohano - Honor the dignity of others, act with integrity and respect.

We came upon a funeral ceremony where ashes were scattered and a life was celebrated by loved ones. Among the canoe boats in the ceremony were pods of dolphins, behaving respectably, jumping, diving, spinning and just being a part of Life the way I think it was meant to be. For those few hours, all of us were connected and a part of something so much bigger than just "us." It was Pono - When all is good and right. Please don’t change a single thing. Indeed, in 5 weeks, I will be doing it again. This is a once in a lifetime experience for which one should be prepared for the unexpected. It is inspiring, it is “certainly life affirming,” and especially “life changing.” Even while free diving the turtle cleaning station, I expected some murky waters, yet the waters were that shade of Hawaiian Blue that only appears in the Pacific, off the coast of Oahu. Everything was crystal clear. I left the adventure with a feeling of Paha'oha'o - To wonder - filled with a sense of wonder at how much more there is to our world than just "us" and how crucial it is for all of us to do our part to ensure that Mother Ocean continues eternally, as She should. I hope never to repeat this experience again – it was too special to want to precisely repeat, however I plan to swim with the dolphins and the turtles again next month when I visit Wild Side for another, once in a lifetime...

Updated 7/24/2025: Just got home from an amazing trip to Oahu!

While there, Captain Tori, Bethany and Conner with Wild Side Hawaii treated us to an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience aboard their vessel Hale Kai. We booked a 3hr Best-Of-The-West tour for our group of 7 and it did not disappoint.

Right after leaving the harbor, we encountered a pod of Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins coming in to rest after a night of hunting. Conner and Bethany explained their nocturnal habits, and we observed them from a distance so as not to disrupt them.

Next up, we happened upon a pod of spotted dolphins who had a ton of fun racing and jumping off the bow of the boat.

Our first in-water experience was with a pod of Bottlenose Dolphins that were out a bit further (in almost 1000' of water!!!). They swam right next to us, and hearing their clicks and chirps was surreal!

Our kids really wanted to see Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles, so our next stop was a reef known for its Turtle Cleaning Station. We got close up with a number of Turtles as they were being cleaned by fish in the area. We spent a fair amount of time here, with the kids getting to experience a lot of time exploring the reef and dodging turtles who had no sense of personal space :).

Finally, we hit the highlight of the trip. Truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. Another boat reported a sighting of a whale shark. Once this news came in, we rushed back to the boat and set off to see if we could locate it. It surfaced right next to the boat, and we were able to enter the water with it. The team from Wild Side conducts photography and identification for wildlife research and conservation, so they were in the water documenting the whale shark while we swam with it. It was a remarkable experience to be right next to the largest fish in the sea. After the whale shark decided to move on our trip was over and we headed back to the harbor. Upon entering the harbor, we got two more surprises. A Hawaiian Monk Seal beached on the rocks to get some sun, and a tiger shark was prowling the harbor looking for something to snack on.

To net it out: The trip out west to tour with Wild Side exceeded all of our expectations. The whole family has memories that will last a lifetime. Don’t hesitate to book with Wild...