Dolphin Quest, Waikoloa

We did both the Wee Tots experience and the Encounter Deluxe. Both were fantastic. The trainers were great. We got to interact with 2-3 dolphins in each experience. They taught about dolphins, let us do some of the signals, and allowed for a lot of interactions. The loss of one star is because of the cost of photos. They take tons of great photos, but charge $155 for the digital package. I feel like that is very expensive, especially after paying almost $300 per person on the deluxe encounter. Also, the Wee Tots encounter is half the time, but they still charge the full amount for pictures. Other than that, it was a great experience.

First off, be forewarned, it’s expensive. For three people and pictures it was close to $800. But, as a father, I’d pay anything to see my kiddos and wife smile the way they did. The education was great, the experience was once in a life time, and appreciation for these mammals has grown deeply within the family. My one con is this: I tried to grab pics with my telephoto lens while my family participated, but the Dolphin Quest photographer was either blocking the shot, the trainer had my family face away from the green knoll so I couldn’t get great a shot. I believe it’s all staged, but I also understand it’s a business.