With crystal-clear water, calm ocean conditions, and several dolphin species that call these waters home, Oahu offers one of the best opportunities to see dolphins in the wild. Watching these incredible animals glide through the water in their natural habitat is easily one of the most magical marine experiences you can have in Hawaii.
There are several boat tour companies that we highly recommend for the best chance to get incredible, close-up sightings, but there are also a few beaches you can look out from and snorkel from where you can observe them too.
However you choose to search for dolphins, it is important to be aware of the rules associated with it, so that you can enjoy seeing them safely and respectfully.
Rules and Regulations of Swimming with Wild dolphins
Dolphins in Hawaii are federally protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, so there are some important rules to follow when interacting with them.
Within 2 nautical miles of shore across all Hawaiian islands, it is illegal to intentionally approach within 50 yards of spinner dolphins. This rule exists because spinner dolphins hunt offshore at night and return to the coastal waters during the day to rest. Disturbing them during their resting period could cause them stress and impact their ability to survive.
Other dolphin species such as spotted dolphins and bottlenose dolphins may be encountered offshore, but tour operators must still follow strict guidelines and ensure passive observation.
Best Dolphin Tours
During our time living on Oahu, one of our absolute favorite activities was swimming with dolphins. We have taken tours with each of these dolphin tour companies (some multiple times) and will give honest reviews of each and what to expect so that you can choose which best fits your needs.
All these tours depart from Wai’anae, on the west coast of Oahu (just under an hour drive from Honolulu), which is an exceptionally beautiful part of the island with relatively calm water, and is a hub for marine life. For these reasons, it’s a flawless place to immerse yourself in its marine habitats and observe the wildlife in their natural surroundings. All of the boat tours that we promote are operated with the highest standards with regards to safety and eco-friendliness.
We’ll go through our experience with three companies in more detail below, but here are our top 3 dolphin tours at a glance:
Dolphin Excursions (Our Top)
Our favorite tour operator for spotting dolphins is Dolphin Excursions Hawaii, who we have booked multiple tours with and had some of our most fascinating dolphin interactions with. You will be provided with snorkel gear and dry bags for your belongings before your boat will depart from, and travel all along Oahu’s west coast, which offers some of the calmest and clearest water around the island. The crew are amazing and, as you make your way out to sea, they will brief you on information about some of the marine life you will be observing and are more than happy to field any other questions you have throughout the day.
On our tour, we were instructed to slip on our snorkel gear at certain points, the boat stopped, and we hopped in the water for passive observation as the dolphins chose to approach or swim nearby. As our boat moved up and down the coast, often a pod of dolphins would curiously approach and swim alongside it, giving us a spectacular sight of them swimming next to us and periodically jumping out of the water. We took this opportunity to reach over the side of the boat and stick our GoPro in the water which caught some brilliant underwater footage of the dolphins swimming. If you are here during winter, you will also have a great chance of seeing humpback whales breaching and blowing water out of their spouts.
We were also taken to a reef on our excursion, which was close to the shore and amazing for snorkeling, where we saw plenty of colorful, tropical fish as well as Hawaiian green sea turtles. In our experience, the tour included about a dozen people total (maximum capacity is 16) and the boat had a very relaxed and spacious feel to it. Lunch (sandwich of your choice plus a bag of chips) as well as a cooler of soda and water is included in your tour.
Indigo Ocean Hawaii (scenic catamaran plus on board photographer)
If you’re looking for a relaxing cruise along the island’s west coast as you search for wild dolphins, then Indigo Ocean Hawaii will suit you perfectly. You will board a double-hull catamaran, giving a smooth and stable ride on the ocean, and when the crew gets some music playing, while you feel the ocean breeze on your face, you can really sit back and chill.
They also provide round trip transportation which is a huge plus
This half-day tour includes swimming and snorkeling, which is when you will catch the best views of the dolphins gracefully swimming below. When in the water, you can also expect to see a host of cool species, including turtles, seals, and of course, dolphins.
In our experience, we were taken to three different snorkel spots where we got to swim with schools of tropical fish, bottlenose dolphins, and even got to spot the rare Pygmy killer whales! The crew were really helpful in getting people ready with their gear and ensured a smooth snorkel excursion for everyone, including beginners. The whole crew was attentive throughout the day, and the photographer was a welcome bonus as he got great shots of us, making sure the day would never be forgotten. We caught more sightings of dolphins when the boat was moving, watching them swim next to us, and leap out of the water in the process was so exciting.
One of the best parts of this tour is the on-board photographer who captured so many amazing shots not only of the dolphins in the water, but also of us aboard the catamaran and swimming in the water. We even brought our own GoPro and still decided to purchase the photos.
Lunch was provided in the form of delicious local food, Kalua pork with sweet potatoes, and there was a cooler with non-alcoholic drinks too. As we made our way back, we were treated to some stunning views of the Waianae mountains. There is a shuttle bus included that runs from Waikiki and from Ko Olina if you need transportation.
Wild Side Specialty Tours (Small group size)
This small-group tour accommodates no more than 8 people and explores multiple marine habitats off the west coast, which often includes dolphin sightings. The crew of marine biologists will give you some interesting briefings on the wildlife as you head out and are really pleasant folks to hang out with in general. When the boat is in the vicinity of dolphins, they will often get curious and will swim alongside it, which is when you will get an amazing look at them from above the water.
For a closer view of the dolphins, getting in the water with them is your best bet. All gear is provided for snorkeling, and when the time comes, you will get into the water from the back of the boat, along with a crew member, and look down to see the dolphin pod gliding beneath you. In our experience, we were the only 2 people in our group (out of six total) who got in the water, so the crew was able to focus on us when it came to getting photos and videos of us in the water. We were lucky to spot a few humpback whales on our excursion, and the crew were able to use an underwater microphone to pick up their songs, which was fascinating to hear.
Snacks are included, and the boat has a bathroom and features a shaded area at the back, as well as seats at the front, which are ideal for spotting wildlife.
Other Dolphin Tour Companies on Oahu, Hawaii
There are a host of other great tour companies, who we haven’t booked with yet, that offer amazing dolphin encounters around Oahu. Each company will cater to different needs with their own unique experience, and through research and word-of-mouth, we have some more great recommendations and what you can expect with each one.
Dolphins and You: Great option for kids; boat has an inflatable slide that goes into the water, paddle boards available; hula dancers, upbeat music, and great entertainment; includes transportation
Hawaii Nautical: Luxury catamaran; includes transportation as well as breakfast and lunch; dolphin sightings guarenteed (or reride ticket); this tour includes snorkeling, but dolphin sightings are mainly from the boat (where other tours offer dolphin sightings in the water)
Iraku Hawaii Dolphin: Begins with traditional Hawaiian “Oli” (ancient chant) for safe travels; spot pods of dolphins from the boat; snorkel with green sea turtles and colorful fish
Best Beaches To Spot Dolphins
Oahu has a handful of beaches that serve as excellent vantage points to observe dolphins off the coast. Showing up early in the morning gives you the best chance of spotting some and bringing a pair of binoculars is always a good idea to catch their flips and twirls.
For a closer and more immersive view, you can snorkel from the beach and be lucky enough to cross paths with some dolphins in the water. Oftentimes, the dolphins that you spot at these beaches are spinner dolphins, who have made their way close to shore after a night of hunting. As mentioned earlier, it is illegal to be within 50 yards of spinner dolphins so as not to disturb their resting period. If you do have the pleasure of snorkeling as dolphins swim by, appreciate them from a sensible distance never swim towards them.
Electric Beach (Kahe Point Beach Park)
Located on Oahu’s west coast, Electric Beach is a spectacular snorkel spot with a wide variety of marine life attracted by its clean, warm water which is released from the nearby power station. The area where you will snorkel is 500-600 feet out from the small rocky beach, and there are some strong waves you will have to swim through in order to get there, so we only advise going out if you’re a strong swimmer.
Once you make it past the surf, the water calms and you will continue heading straight out until you reach the pipe where the power station’s outtake of water comes from. With that comes a plethora of beautiful coral, fish, turtles, and even dolphins on occasion. Dolphins show up here year-round, and the best chance of spotting them isearly on a calm morning. Parking is available and there are bathroom facilities next to the lot; a lifeguard is on duty from 9am to 5;50pm.
Waimea Beach
This iconic north shore beach is too rough to snorkel in the winter, but from May to September, its still and turquoise water offers perfect conditions to spot dolphins that come into the bay. Snorkelling off the left side of the beach will lead you to some nice coral and fish among the rocks, while from the center and right side of the beach it’s more open and gets about 30 feet deep in parts. This is primarily where you will see dolphins during their resting period but make sure to keep the 50 yard distance to avoid fines.
In general, this is an amazing place to snorkel on a sunny day with a huge white sand beach to lounge on in between snorkel sessions and, hopefully, if you hang out long enough, the dolphins will pass through. There is a small parking lot that fills up quickly, and bathroom and shower facilities are available; lifeguards are on duty from 9am to 5:30pm.
Makua Beach
Towards the tip of the west coast sits Makua Beach, a large white sand beach with gorgeous scenery of the surrounding mountains and a popular area for getting dolphin sightings. This is another beach where the snorkeling is only viable in the summer months when the waves and currents are calmer. But when suitable, the snorkeling is amazing with the rocky terrain below and the translucent water giving ideal visibility.
It’s another case of needing luck on your side to achieve dolphin interactions at Makua Beach, but on a bright, clear day, it is always worth a punt. The large beach makes it feel peaceful and secluded, which is exactly the kind of beach we like to hang out at for hours with multiple trips into the ocean. There is a dirt parking lot just off the highway, there’s no lifeguard, and there are no amenities such as showers or bathrooms.