Set Adrift on Sustainable Bliss

"Best of the West," Check-in @ boat 8am - return to harbor 12+pm, Six passenger limit $195

Waianae Small Boat Harbor, aboard the Alaka'i

The elite intimacy of our deeper, most sensitive year-round whale, dolphin, and turtle snorkel tour available in Hawaii, because you care - and if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right.

Guests may particpate in:

• Elite Whale, Dolphin, Guided Snorkel Cruise
• 6 people max per cruise (inquire if your group is larger)
• 99.9% marine mammal sighting rate
• Expert Educated Crew of marine wildlife biologists.
• Dolphin Encounters - 17 toothed species in Hawaiian waters
• Swimming with Wild Dolphins (when both safe and sane to do so - for both dolphins and you). Includes pre-encounter briefings on dolphin behavior and "wet-iquette (how to swim with wild dolphins)".
• Year-round whale watching - hydrophone broadcast over built-in stereo system
• Guided Snorkel with sea turtles and,
• Tropical reef fish, many endemic to Hawaii
• Great for both novice and advanced snorkelers; snorkel gear and flotation devices provided
• Give back: help sight and identify species, record numbers present, contribute your photos to research ID catalogs
• Roam freely around the boat, get close enough to (almost) touch dolphins riding the bow (you might get "spit" on!), sea the view from the covered upper-level flybridge, lounge in the airy shaded cabin between activities, or warm in the sun of the roomy aftdeck. Ample dry storage areas and a private bathroom with plenty of room to change clothes.
• Fresh water shower onboard
• Narration on cultural sites and living aloha. Please inquire if interested - we have knowledge and passion about both the marine ecosystems, and the onshore communities we operate in. As eager as we are to share, we equally respect your need for quiet and time with yout loved ones.

Read a review of Wild Side's Best of the West by John Fischer, About.com


Give back! Data gathered underway may go to Cascadia Research Collective, Wild Dolphin Foundation, REEF and/or the Coral Reef Monitoring Project.

Important Tour Information

• Six passengers max, at least three to "set sail" (inquire if your group is larger than six)
• Check-in time 8:00 am - return 12:00+
• Ages 12 and up welcome
• $195 per person
• Includes Lunch - Local when possible, with Aloha Always
• Assortment of granola bars, and drinks always available and included in price: water, soda, iced cappuccino, juice, etc.
• Reservations for holiday peaks, winter and summer seasons are reccomended to be made at least two weeks ahead of time. Though we will take 'last minute' ones if we have space, your chances are much better to bock ahead of time.

. While the nearshore dolphin and whale encounters and turtle reef snorkeling are still included, the Best of the West (see independent reviews here), adds in the exclusive offshore journeys to experience the various other year-round dolphin and whale species that inhabit Hawaii’s waters. Wild Side adheres to the IWC's General Principles for Whalewatching to minimise the risks of adverse impacts of whalewatching on whales and dolphns.

Onboard this tour, you not only have less passengers to compete with, you usually have no other boats. The DEPARTuRE TIMES ARE SPECIFICALLY PLANNED to slip you in between other tours - those that pile up in the snorkeling and wildlife areas in the early morning, and then again in the late morning.

While promising an exceptionally stable, unintrusive, vessel; the Alaka'i has the flexibility (3 1/2 + hours) - with no following charter rush to get back to dock, has speed to leave impacted areas behind and get to where magic happens. With so much to do and wildlife to see, we often hear the desire to stay out even longer and go even further. Therefore, we now offer full and multi-day (live-aboard!) cruises on our Untamed Expeditions

With all cruises, a portion of proceeds and/or boat space is dedicated to the Wild Dolphin Foundation.

Notice: Wild Side (complete terms and agreements) reserves the right to seasonally modify departure and arrival times, with notice. Due to our popularity and limited group sizes, cancellations with less than 10 days notice and "No Shows" are subject to full charge. Prices quoted do not include state tax, harbor fees, or fuel surcharge.

Although our sighting rates are at 95+% we cannot guarantee sightings, interaction with wild dolphins, whales, snorkeling, nor ideal weather conditions. We reserve the right to not facilitate in-water OR shipboard encounters which we feel may compromise the well-being of our guests or ocean wildlife. All passengers are required to wear locator/flotation devices. We do not offer transportation to the boat harbors.

Reservation Office hours: 8-4 (Hawaii Standard TIme)