FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

General FAQ • All Tours

- Wetsuits are available for rent for $10/Adult $5/Child
- Photo packages are available for purchase depending on the photographer’s availability for that day
According to NOAA, Marine Mammal Protection Act regulations prohibit feeding, attempting to feed, and harassing marine mammals in the wild. Touching and feeding the dolphins are against the law.
Please reach out to info@hawaiidolphin.com for all photo package inquiries
Absolutely! Experienced guides and crew will be there swimming alongside you. We will take into account that day’s weather, the dolphins’ condition and offer guidance and support accordingly. Your tour guide will also provide a pre-snorkel briefing and answer any questions or concerns you may have.

If you or anyone in your party is interested in experiencing this tour but not interested in snorkeling, we do offer a ‘Ride Along’ ticket at a discounted price.
- Please bring a towel and reef-safe sunscreen
- We highly recommend taking motion sickness medicine if you have limited experience of being out on the water. Here are a few great sea sickness remedies all usually found at the ABC stores
  - Bonine. We recommend this one over Dramamine because we’ve found it to be more effective and has less drowsy effects. It is recommended to take Bonine the night before the tour and an hour before boarding the boat. It is better to take it with food in the stomach.
  - Dramamine. If Bonine is not available, still a great remedy to rid of seasickness. It is also recommended to take it the night before the tour and an hour before boarding the boat. It is better to take it with food in the stomach.
  - Sea Bands. These are two bracelets that have a notch on them that puts pressure on the pressure points on the wrist.
- Tipping is not necessary but extremely appreciated! If you enjoyed your experience with us, we recommend tipping the crew via Venmo or cash on the boat. As a rule of thumb, a 20% tip is the average gratuity in the U.S.
- We also greatly appreciate our customer’s reviews on our Google Business, Yelp, and Trip Advisor. This helps us expand our reach and enable us to share your great experience with others!
Smoking in public places (with a few exceptions) is prohibited by law. You will be sharing the same area with other guests for the duration of the tour. Please respect everyone’s space by not smoking during the tour.
Snorkeling gear such as snorkel, mask, life jacket, and fin are included with your tour. If you have your own snorkeling gear, we don’t mind if you bring it. Guests bringing their own gear are responsible for their own belongings. We are not responsible in the case of theft or damage to your personal gear.
Once your booking is completed, you will be receiving a very detailed confirmation email outlining the following:
- Schedule
- Pick up location and time (if your tour offers transportation)
- The waiver that needs to be signed prior to check in
If you have any further questions, please give our office a call (808)636-8440 and we will be happy to assist.

The following are included:
- Drinks (juice, water, or tea)
- Snorkeling gear (fin, mask, life vest)
- Stand-up paddle board, sea kayak (depends on the tour)
- Lunch or snack (depends on the tour)
Food and drinks are provided on board the boat and not on the shuttle bus.
Prescription snorkel masks available upon request
Temperature-protected wetsuits are not included but are available to rent. A rental fee may apply: $10 (adult), $5 (child).
Touching and feeding is strictly prohibited. Dolphins and manta rays living in the ocean have their own territories. We must keep in mind that as visitors to their home, we must be careful not to disturb their environment.
For photos taken on Oahu tours, please call us at +1 (808) 636-8440.

For photos take on Big Island tours, please visit this website. Click on “Buy Photos” located in the top right menu.
1. After you click on “Buy Photos”, there will be a calendar selection box. Click on it to select your tour date.
2. When photos are available, there will be a list of tours from the date you selected. Find your tour and click the blue “View Album” button to view all the photos from your tour.
3. Select the photos you’d like to buy. Once selected, green check marks should appear over your selected photos.
4. Click on the yellow “Checkout” button to purchase your photos.
5. The next screen will display your selected photos and the total cost. Click on the yellow “Checkout” button to continue your order.
6. Enter your credit card details and click the yellow “Submit Order” button to complete your order transaction.
Our photo sales are outsourced to our photo distributor, Pic Thrive. By purchasing a photo, you acknowledge that your transaction is a contract between you, the customer, and Pic Thrive.

For all questions about your order, please inquire with Pic Thrive Support. Their website offers frequently asked questions and answers as well as a support ticket system for any other questions that are not answered.
The wild dolphins you will see show up at various spots and times and cannot be controlled. They usually appear around 30 minutes to one hour from shore. Be sure to check out our social media for the latest photos and to get a feel of how close you can get to the dolphins.
Experienced guides and crew will be there swimming alongside you. We will take into account that day’s weather, the dolphins’ and manta rays’ condition and offer guidance and support accordingly. Your tour guide will also provide a pre-snorkel briefing and answer any questions or concerns you may have.
Depending on your tour, drinks (water, tea, or juice), snacks, and lunch is provided. You may also prepare and bring your own food. However, please refrain from bringing alcohol. Alcohol is permitted, we kindly ask no glass bottles
For those who are prone to motion sickness, we recommend you to take over-the-counter motion sickness medications before your tour. Please have cash or credit card on hand as we offer wetsuit rentals ($10 rental fee), tour photos and other merchandise. Each guest will be responsible for looking after their own belongings — we don’t recommend bringing any expensive jewelry and/or belongings. Please refer to your tour confirmation email for more information about meeting place and time as well as things to bring with you.
Tipping is not mandatory but if you want to tip for the service you received, we will greatly appreciate it.
Smoking in public places (with a few exceptions) is prohibited by law. You will be sharing the same area with other guests for the duration of the tour. Please respect everyone’s space by not smoking during the tour.
Snorkeling gear such as snorkel, mask, life jacket, and fin are included with your tour. If you have your own snorkeling gear, we don’t mind if you bring it. Guests bringing their own gear are responsible for their own belongings. We are not responsible in the case of theft or damage to your personal gear.
Please bring a hat/cap, sunglasses and a jacket. The boat has toilets and shade from the sun/rain for an enjoyable ride.

Still have questions? Let us know and we’ll get back to you shortly.

Still have questions? Let us know and we’ll get back to you shortly.