Ocean Outfitters Hawaii — Local services in Oʻahu

This is a review of the company as a whole, not the tour guides, who were polite and friendly.

The Marine Life Tour not worth the $100+ and the company absolutely should not have tours this late in the day when they know the animals aren't active. If you want to pay $100 for a bumpy boat ride with the slight possibility that you may see a whale's spray in the distance, then this tour is for you.

We had a Marine Life Tour booked for 9 am and recieved a phone call asking if we could move it to 4:45 pm. I asked if we'd still be able to see a lot of animals and they said "definitely, they're actually more active at that time" so we said yes. The company was not honest in this as throughout our night tour, the guides kept saying that the animals are not as active at night.

We saw 3 whale blow spouts off in the distance (no whales themselves) during the entire tour. Supposedly January is whale time in Oahu so we were very disappointed in this, but wildlife is unpredictable.

There were no turtles - while we were driving, the guide told some people on the boat that a spot on the beach we were passing is known for sometimes having turtles but we didn't stop to see any and that's all there was of turtles mentioned on the tour.

The guides asked us if we wanted to see sharks (they're supposedly part of the tour) and we said yes. They took us to 3 shark spots and we stayed at each for 15-20 minutes (the majority of the tour). When the guides couldn't find any, they let us know that sharks don't approach the surface this late in the day. We then went back to shore.

We understand that wildlife is not predictable so we weren't expecting to see a ton, but we booked an early tour because we read animals were most active in the morning. The tour company shouldn't have any tours that late in the day if they know animals aren't active, or they should at least be half the price.

Last thing to note, we got there and we're told the ride would be extremely bumpy, cold, and we'd get very wet. You also are not allowed to wear shoes on the boat - those stay in a bucket at the dock. The boat's seats open up for you to store anything you want to keep dry. None of this info was given in advance in order to prepare with rain jackets or anything so make sure you know this if you still plan to go but I would recommend an earlier tour and if they try to move it to later, choose the...

I recently went on a shark tour with Ocean Outfitters Hawaii, it was an unforgettable experience, especially considering I can't swim. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel comfortable and well-prepared. They provided clear instructions on safety and what to expect, ensuring everyone felt at ease, even with the excitement that can come with being so close to such powerful creatures. As a non-swimmer, I was initially nervous about not knowing if I’ll be able to get so close to sharks due to the lack of my swimming ability, but the team made sure I felt safe throughout the entire experience. They made sure I still could get an up-close view of the sharks in the water, which was absolutely unbelievable how they got me in the positions they did, truly the best crew and people to take someone out in the open water and give them that experience. The entire tour itself it was incredible. We were taken out on a well-maintained boat and quickly found ourselves in the perfect spot for shark sightings as well as spotting whales breaching during the entire tour. The crew was knowledgeable, sharing fascinating facts about the shark species and the local ecosystem. I was amazed by how calm and majestic the sharks were in their natural environment. What stood out the most was the company’s dedication to conservation and their respect for these apex predators. The tour wasn't just about the thrill of seeing the sharks it was also about educating us on their importance and the need to protect them. Overall, I highly recommend Ocean Outfitters Hawaii for anyone looking for an exciting, educational, and badass experience with sharks, regardless of swimming ability. The professionalism and enthusiasm of the crew made this a highlight of my trip, and I will...

when I was 3 years old, I watched Jaws 3 on TV with my dad. It scared me something fierce. I had nightmares for I don’t even know how long. What it also did was plant a seed of insatiable curiosity for me with regard to sharks. It was and is the cliché that I have probably forgotten more than the average person knows about sharks. I consumed books, both nonfiction and fiction (Jaws and Meg are still books I reread every couple of years as well as various stories from Rodney Fox). Shark week was practically a holiday celebration. Then, after nearly 4 decades, the chance arose to do something I had wanted to do since seeing Jaws 3. My wife found Ocean Outfitters Hawaii who provided the means and opportunity for me to genuinely experience this. I have swam with pigmy sharks in a giant fish tank in Florida, and snorkeled with nurse sharks in Belize. But this was different. The open ocean, no sea floor visible. No, it wasn’t a great white shark, it was not even a tiger or hammerhead, which were potential sharks where I was snorkeling. I did see and swim with Galapagos Sharks. Not aggressive, more of an inquisitive shark. And it was…everything I had thought it would be. I could have snorkeled with these sharks for hours and it would have felt like minutes. They are absolutely beautiful creatures. Now, while I will never forget the experience, I was lucky enough to be joined in the water by @renee__nee who provided top-notch photography of the experience. As you can see, the photos are simply...