Under the Sea Hawaii

This tour was the high point of our trip to Hawaii. It started before sunrise with seeing bioluminescent creatures for the first time. As the sun came up Mike, a native Hawaiian and one of our guides, blew his pua then did the sunrise chant. What a great way to greet the day.
We saw dozens of humpback whales. The mama and calf was an «Awww» moment. We watched one whale through the glass bottom and I was able to transition from inside to outside in time to see him breech. It was an image that will reside in my mental photo album for the rest of my life.
We saw whales, a couple of turtles, a herd of spinner dolphins, two bottlenose dolphins, a boatload of reef fish, and one shark. The views along the coast were spectacular with Mike describing what we were seeing from the viewpoint of one who grew up there.
The seeing was great and the boat was purpose made for this but what made the trip truly special was the people. Barb, Mike and Noelle were outstanding. All three were knowledgeable, witty And just plain fun to be with. I think of them as friends. We hugged our goodbyes with expectations of doing this again.
You can find a beach anywhere in the world but a tour like this is unique and a «must do» for any trip
to Hawaii.

I chartered this boat for my wife and son. This trip is a must do. Barb and her crew treated us like family. The glass bottom boat is wonderful for those who want the experience of snorkeling without getting in the water. Barb knows all the great spots for the Dolphins, turtles, and amazing coral reefs. My wife and son enjoyed the glass bottom for exploring while I had the opportunity to jump in the ocean and snorkel. The crew takes care of every detail and has food and drinks ready for you throughout the trip. We will be back and this will be the first thing we do when we get to the island. Thank you Barb and crew for making this an incredible experience.

We chartered a boat from Barb with another family. Total of 4 adults & 4 kids. Barb & her staff were helpful, friendly & knowledgeable. They were patient with the kids getting off/​on the boat especially. We saw whales breaching, swam with spinner Dolphins and turtles. Kids liked the glass bottom boat too. We liked the Hawaiian song by Aliyah when the sun came up, Scotty-​fish & Aliyah cleaning the bottom of the glass bottom boat, Scotty’s sister who patiently educated the kids.
One thing not liked by our entire group was the speed/​bumpiness of the ride back to the marina. Kids were too light to be in the front of the boat.
But overall, we enjoyed the adventure with Barb & her crew. Mahalo Under the Sea!

My friend and I did the Sunset Cruise. It was beautiful. Barb and her crew were very attentive and amazing. They answered all of our questions and shared their knowledge of the reef at night. We had yummy pupus with eco friendly reusable plates, napkins, and water bottles. Barb even put some of her fresh herbs from her garden in the chicken salad. How special is that. My favorite part was at the end. When it was dark we got to see the bioluminescence. It was like being in another galaxy and we looked through the glass bottom boat. Simply amazing. Mahalo to Barb and her entire crew.

Under the Sea Hawaii is an experience you don’t want to miss! Such a magical journey in the Hawaiian waters with an opportunity to learn about Hawaiian culture, history, marine life, and so much more! Barbara Whitman and her crew are top notch and their enthusiasm for Hawaii and it’s ocean inhabitants is contagious! You will find yourself simultaneously lost in wonder, awe and excitement while on this one-​of-​a-​kind ocean adventure on the most beautiful and cool glass bottom boat! Perfect for the young and old and everyone in between and for those that want to jump into the water and snorkel or those who want to stay dry and enjoy the views from the boat and through the glass bottom. I highly recommend Under the Sea Hawaii!

I had a really great time on this tour, it was so unique and definitely unlike any other boat tour in Hawaii. We left around sunset and had a beautiful view of the coast while eating some pupus. The glass bottom was so cool, I’ve never seen anything like it. I loved getting to see the fish while staying dry, but if you want a close up look, they do provide snorkel gear. The ride was very smooth, I had to be careful not to look down into the glass bottom for too long because I started to get a bit dizzy, but there is an upper part of the boat to get some fresh air if needed. I loved the boat at night, I felt like I was in a space ship as they lit up the coral underneath so we could see some fish. The coolest part was when they turned off all the lights and you could see the bioluminescence which felt like we were flying through space. It was definitely worth it!

This tour is truly one of a kind! Most snorkel tours in Hawaii are interested in booking large groups of people to corral onto the same boat, herd them into the water, and then quickly transport you back to the drop off site to pick up more customers. Under the Sea Hawaii is different. Their tours are focused around Hawaiian culture, marine education, and science learning. If you want a tour that teaches you about the reef, the critters, and the significance behind Hawaiian culture and the ocean, this is the tour for you! Instead of the typical snorkel tour guide, you’ll be instructed by real Marine Biologists. Not only is this an ecotourism company, but their boat is very unique. It’s not the normal glass bottom boat. Their boat is shaped like a fish bowl, allowing you magnified reef views, and hydro-​foiled design for a cleaner, smoother ride. I normally get sea sick on boats, but was surprised to find out that I did not feel any hint of nausea while on this boat. This tour is a must do, and not just once, but more than once! I went on the Waking Ocean tour (early morning), but they also offer other tours that focus around different aspects of the ocean environment, like the reef at night.