Hawaii's marine life watching guidelines, Show Hawaii's whales, dolphins, turtles, and reefs aloha, (near Kolina lagoons)

Leave only Bubbles

Fact: Because the spinner dolphin swims with the yellowfin tuna, they have been slaughtered by the hundreds of thousands in the purse-seine tuna fisheries, which has produced the controversy that led to the enactment of national and international laws for dolphin safe tuna.

Fact: The Hawaiian Monk Seal is the only truly tropical seal in the world. Small populations today are found only in Hawaii and the Mediterranean. The Caribbean monk seal is presumed to be extinct since the 1950's.

There are fewer than 1400 monk seals remaining in Hawaii.

Fact: The world's coral reefs are being greatly impacted by environmental degradation and human misuse. Coral bleaching, overfishing, abusive fishing techniques, anchor damage, algae blooms, global warming, and fish feeding are some of the problems affecting the natural balance of our reef systems today.

Fact: Hawaii's most common sea turtle, the green, is suffering from a disease called fibropapillomatosis. This herpes family virus causes the growth of white to blackish, cauliflower-like tumors. These grow on the soft tissues of the turtle’s body, internally and externally, and inhibit foraging, breathing, mobility, and digestion.

Show Hawaiian Marine Life Aloha

This desire to care for our natural environment and wildlife is instinctual, and that desire becomes stronger the closer we are to that environment, be it physically or emotionally. Every year, over 5 million people will venture into Hawaii’s near shore waters.

Please do not attempt to touch, ride, hug, kiss, feed or pet Hawaii's marine wildlife.

How to Respect Hawaii's Marine Life, video

Although we can't guarantee the "mood" or sightngs of particular marine life, we can guarantee that by practicing the guidelines below you will ensure the best wildlife encounters possible during your stay in Hawaii.

• Rapid changes in swimming direction or speed.
• Escape tactics such as prolonged diving, underwater course changes, or rapid swimming away from your location at the surface.
• An adult attempting to shield calf with body or by movements.
• Sudden stop in important breeding, nursing, feeding or resting activities upon your arrival.
• Review swim encounter guidelines

Sea Turtles

• Sea Turtles require air to live. If you see them rising to surface, give them room to replenish their air supply. Ensure that your presence does not disturb them.
• Cautiously move away if you observe any of the following behaviors: Sudden awakening from a sleep-like state on the seafloor. Movement away from or increase in swim speed upon disturbance.

• No peas please! Feeding fish frozen peas or any other food can cause illness or death and disrupt natural fish populations.
• Do not attempt to touch fish or any marine life.
• In shallow water, avoid stepping on or touching coral heads by floating above the coral.
• Watch "Hawaii Reef Etiquette" for a head start on showing our oceans Aloha.

• Hawaiian monk seals are one of the most endangered marine mammal species in the world.
• Ensure that your presence does not disturb them; observe them from at least 50 yards away .
• In the ocean, monk seals may show inquisitive behavior. Do not attempt to approach these seals or "play" with them. The seals may misread your actions and cause serious injury. Cautiously swim back to your boat and watch them from a safe vantage point.

1. Avoid touching or taking any marine organism or their habitat, living or not, (rocks, turtles, dolphins, whales, fish, or invertebrates, etc.).
2. Be aware of our body and equipment so as to avoid contact with the reef or other marine life.
3. Not approach any marine life within arm’s reach for any reason.
4. Not approach turtles within 3 body lengths and will avoid impeding a turtle’s path to the surface for breathing.
5. Protect ourselves and marine life and their habitat by not FEEDING them to; make animals less agressive, protect marine life from injesting harmful foods, protect the balance of the marine ecosystem, and let the fish do their job.
6. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before entering the water.
7. Use biodegradable defog.

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Wild Side Specialty Tours, LLC
Tours with Integrity - on the island of Oahu:
Waianae Boat Harbor, A-5 (20 min. from Ko olina Resorts)
Oahu Hawii 96792
TEL (808) 306-7273
FAX (808) 668-4075
email: reservations@sailhawaii.com