Things to do in Oahu › Oahu tours and activities › Whale watching and dolphin tours › Oahu Dolphin and Snorkel Tour with Waikiki Pickup and Lunch
Oahu Dolphin and Snorkel Tour with Waikiki Pickup and Lunch
★ #2 of 14 in our list “Whale watching and dolphin tours” Picked from the 46 whale watching and dolphin tours in the Oahu catalog, the way every tour here gets picked.
Updated price re-read every day; listing, times and pickup notes reviewed with it
Dolphins and You combines dolphin watching off Waianae with a separate turtle snorkel. The 3 hours aboard cost from $183 per adult. Selected Waikiki and Ko Olina pickups serve daily departures at 8 a.m. or noon. Your lunch choice doesn't change the route. You get a 20-foot waterslide alongside the snorkel stop when ocean conditions allow water activities.
Our check
Oahu Dolphin and Snorkel Tour with Waikiki Pickup and Lunch at a glance
| Duration | 3 hours aboard, plus transfers |
| Price | from $183 per adult |
| Departures | 8 a.m. or noon daily |
| Pickup | Selected Waikiki and Ko Olina hotels |
| Boat | Two decks, up to 70 guests |
| Water time | Turtle snorkeling after dolphin watching, 20-foot slide when conditions allow |
| Ages | 2 to 80, adult accompaniment for children aged 2 to 11 |
| Food | Turkey sandwich, spinach wrap or PBJ sandwich |
| Main trade-off | Hotel pickup up to 2 hours before departure |
| Guide languages | English, Japanese |
Read from the operator's listing on the booking page, October 30, 2026. The price is the tour's starting price in U.S. dollars, re-read every day, last on . Children pay less.
What's included
- Lunch
- Water Activities: 20-foot Water Slide, Stand-up Paddle Boards, Kayaks
- Dolphin Watching Cruise on West Oahu
- Snorkel Gear: Mask, Fins, Safety Jacket
- Round-trip Transportation from Waikiki Hotels
- Snorkeling with Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles
- Alcoholic Beverages Available for Purchase
What's not included
- Optional: Wet suit rental + $5 per person
- Gratuities
- No outside alcoholic beverages allowed
- Photo Package Available on Purchase
Options
Which option to book
The options change your lunch choice. Each includes pickup and departs daily at 8 a.m. or noon.
| Option | Departures |
|---|---|
| Lunch Option 1:Turkey Sandwich | 8 a.m. and noon, daily |
| Lunch Option 3: PBJ | 8 a.m. and noon, daily |
| Lunch Option 2: Spinach Wrap | 8 a.m. and noon, daily |
The catch: The trip needs at least 10 bookings to run, so a smaller total can mean rescheduling.
The day
How does the day work?
The Waianae cruise starts with dolphin watching before a separate snorkel stop and lunch aboard.
- 1
Waianae departure
Your selected hotel shuttle brings you west, or you meet the crew at the harbor. The boat heads offshore to search for spinner dolphins.
- 2
Dolphin watching
You watch spinners from the boat. Sightings aren't certain, and the crew keeps looking during the cruise.
- 3
Turtle snorkeling
The next stop puts you in the water to look for turtles and reef fish. Crew members help with gear and snorkeling.
- 4
Water activities
The slide and kayaks offer more water time when conditions allow. Staying on deck is also an option.
- 5
Lunch and return
Lunch comes with chips and lemonade. The crew performs hula during the trip back to Waianae Boat Harbor.
Your 3 hours on the boat end back at Waianae Boat Harbor. Hotel transfers add time at both ends. Sea conditions can change the water activities.
Pickup and meeting point
- Hotel shuttle: Selected Waikiki and Ko Olina stops have earlier pickup times. Aqua Palms pickups are 6 a.m. or 10 a.m. for the morning or noon boat.
- Driving there: Check-in is outside the brown restroom building at 85-491 Farrington Highway in Waianae. Drivers arrive at 7:50 a.m. or 11:50 a.m. for their chosen boat.
- What to bring: Bring a swimsuit and towel for the water stop. A long-sleeve shirt helps in cooler months, and you may be asked to remove shoes before boarding.
- Food needs: Lunch substitutions for allergies aren't available. Your own meal is needed for dietary restrictions, and outside alcoholic drinks aren't allowed.
Before you book
- Bring your own meal for dietary restrictions. Lunches aren't customizable, and allergy or gluten-free requests can't be accommodated.
Fit
Is this tour right for you?
Families with children aged 2 and up can pair dolphin watching with water play here. You don't need snorkeling experience. Your trip includes crew help and selected hotel transport. It's a boat for up to 70 guests.
For ages 4 and up, Dolphin Excursions offers a 16-guest boat from $193.88 per adult. For a hot meal from Ko Olina, Ocean Joy costs from $174 per adult without hotel transport.
Who it's not for
- Families bringing children under 2
- Travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Guests expecting to swim with spinner dolphins
Good to know
Know before you go
Children must be at least 2 years old, and those ages 2 to 11 need an accompanying adult. You don't need previous snorkeling experience. The trip isn't recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.
Wear your swimsuit and bring a towel. You may need a long-sleeve layer in cooler weather, and shoes come off for boarding. Outside alcoholic drinks aren't allowed on this boat.
Your lunch can't be customized for allergies or gluten-free diets. Bring your own meal if the available choices don't meet your needs. A turkey sandwich is the default when you haven't selected lunch.
The sailing needs at least 10 bookings to operate. If that minimum isn't reached, your trip may be moved to another date. Ocean conditions can also change the activities available during your cruise.
Your pickup point must be arranged before the tour day. Aqua Palms departures are at 6 a.m. or 10 a.m. Without an arranged hotel pickup, you meet at Waianae Boat Harbor.
Your mobile reservation can include 1 to 30 travelers with an adult in the party. Full refunds require at least 24 hours' notice. Later cancellations fall outside the standard refund window.
Reviews
How is it rated?
Alternatives
Which tour to choose instead
Fewer people and wildlife guides
Wild Dolphin Watching and Snorkel Safari off the West Coast of OahuDolphin Excursions costs from $193.88 per adult with marine biologists and naturalists. Its 16-guest raft takes children from age 4.
★ 4.9 · 879 reviews · from $193.88 per adult
A hot meal near Ko Olina
Luxury Snorkel Cruise with Dolphin Watch and Hawaiian MealOcean Joy's cruise costs from $174 per adult without transport. Your reef swim is followed by a hot Hawaiian meal and warm showers.
★ 4.7 · 1,513 reviews · from $174 per adult
Wildlife viewing without swimming
Waikiki 2-Hour Whale Watching with Guaranteed SightingsPink Sails offers whale watching from $53.31 per person near Waikiki. You stay aboard for 2 hours.
★ 4.6 · 1,336 reviews · from $53.31 per person
All 14 tours in the list “Whale watching and dolphin tours” · Oahu tours and activities by category
Questions
People also ask
- What does the Dolphins and You tour cost?
The tour costs from $183 per adult with lunch and snorkel equipment included. You spend 3 hours on the boat. Selected hotel transport is included too, while wetsuit rental and photo packages cost extra.
- Do you swim with spinner dolphins on Dolphins and You?
No, spinner dolphin watching takes place from the boat. Your 3-hour outing also has a separate reef snorkel where you can look for turtles and fish. Wildlife sightings aren't guaranteed, and conditions can change the water activities.
- What time should drivers reach Dolphins and You at Waianae?
Drivers check in at 7:50 a.m. for the morning tour or 11:50 a.m. for noon. You meet the guide in front of the harbor's brown restroom building. Those times are for harbor arrivals, with hotel pickups scheduled earlier.
- Is Dolphins and You suitable for children who haven't snorkeled?
Children ages 2 and up can join without previous snorkeling experience. The crew provides guidance and safety jackets. You still need to accompany children ages 2 to 11, and the 20-foot slide depends on ocean conditions.
- How early does Dolphins and You pick up in Ko Olina?
The Aulani pickup is at 7:15 a.m. for the morning cruise or 11:15 a.m. for noon. Your boat departure is later at Waianae. Check the assigned meeting point before leaving your room, since the shuttle serves selected locations.
Times and conditions as the booking page listed them on October 30, 2026; the price is re-read every day, last on . Booking happens on the booking page, at its price; a booking through the button earns this site a commission, and your price is the same.