Private Dolphin Swim Boat Tour
Wednesday, March 18
Time: 8:00 am--12:00 pm
Check-in at the boat at 7:30 am
Experience the magic of swimming with free dolphins in their natural environment. Join Captains Michael and Melainah, the staff at Sunlight on Water and the dolphins on the beautiful Kona Coast on the Big Island! The Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins are year-round residents, so you can expect to see them whenever you are in Hawaii.
Sunlight on Water has been conducting dolphin swims longer and more successfully than any other Hawaiian dolphin swim eco-tour operator for almost 20 years. They have a 99% success rate in finding the dolphins each day. Equally important is their philosophy of total respect for the dolphins, all marine life and the ocean.
Enjoy the morning on the ocean on their comfortable 40' boat, the Uhane Nui O Nai’a (Great Spirit of the Dolphin). Along the way, the staff will share with you the protocols for swimming with free dolphins. They will also be in the water with you as guides.
Price: $125 which includes 10% gratuity
Note: Private boat tour capacity is 24 people. After that number is reached, we will see if overflow can be accommodated on another boat or a different day. Register soon to guarantee your spot on the boat.
There is nothing that compares to the feeling of being in the ocean with the dolphins! You can see dolphins on TV, can visit them in captivity, and you can even see them from a boat. But swimming with them in their natural ocean habitat is a unique and magical experience that can touch you in ways you might not be able to imagine.
As we are making our way along the Kona Coast, relax and enjoy the feel of the wind and notice how the sun glints off the surface of the ocean, hence the name, Sunlight on Water. Take in the beautiful color of the ocean as she beckons to you… The setting is perfect….
And then you see them–spinner dolphins spiraling in the air to greet you! They love to ride the bow wake of the boat. They are sleek and graceful and exude absolute joy. There is nothing like it.
After receiving instruction about the proper protocols for entering into the dolphins’ world and receiving some insider tips on how to get the most out of your dolphin swim, the moment comes when quietly and gently you ease into the water with these incredible beings and join the dolphin pod. It is completely safe, and a rewarding experience for the entire family.
PROVIDED FOR YOU: all snorkel gear, flotation as needed. Fruit, muffins, water/sodas/juice, dry snacks. Also included are 10-15 complimentary photos of your trip.
WEAR: Bathing suit and cover up clothing.
BRING: Towel, sunscreen (no oils or sprays and preferably "reef safe," please), sunglasses, and shirt/jacket/sweatshirt to keep you comfortable as temperatures change
Any valuables brought on board such as cell phones, cameras, etc are at your own risk. Waterproof bags for your valuables are available for purchase in the office/gift shop.
Michael and Melainah Yee are your guides for a truly extraordinary and unique Hawaiian experience. Together, their great love and respect for the dolphins, whales and all who call the ocean their home, is reflected in the sharing of their extensive knowledge and etiquette for swimming with free dolphins.
Michael and Melainah met in 1998 when she first came to Hawaii to be with the dolphins. In 2002, surrounded by their Ohana (family, friends and loved ones), they were married at sunset by Michael’s father, Kahuna Lanakila Brandt. Their deep personal--some might say magical--connection to the dolphins was reflected when the dolphins arrived just as the ceremony began, spinning and leaping out of the water during the entire ceremony! It’s this uncanny and special connection that accounts for their 99% success rate.
Both Michael and Melainah are USCG licensed captains. “China” Mike has been surfing, diving and has captained boats on the Kona Coast for over 25 years and is one of the most experienced captains on the Big Island. He operated the first charter boat offering dolphin swims in Hawaii. While in his teens, he became a well-known champion surfer in Hawaii and Southern California. He is a complete water-man, and his extensive knowledge of the coastline is unsurpassed. He is as comfortable in the water as most people are on land.
In 1999, Melainah returned to the Big Island for a two month sabbatical from Atlanta. She never left! She is a facilitator who teaches and hosts seminars on attaining self-empowerment and remembering who we truly are. She offers dolphin retreats, retreats on Hawaiian spirituality and retreats about the ancient land of Lemuria.
Together, Michael and Melainah are Kona’s unquestioned leaders when talking about experience with dolphins. They are known internationally and have been featured on several television documentaries discussing the human/dolphin connection.
Recommended Reading
The High Beings of Hawaii—Encounters with Mystical Ancestors by Tanis Helliwell
Tanis Helliwell has been able to see and interact with elementals, angels and master teachers on other planes since childhood. In this book she describes her experiences with the various nature spirits she encounters in Hawaii. She has a chapter named after “The Place of Refuge on The Big Island,” which is about a 12-minute drive from WhaleSpirit, and we will be visiting it.
The next chapter, “Meeting Pele at Vocanoes National Park” describes her interaction with Pele, the volcano goddess. Learning about the myriad of beings that populate Hawaii will help us, when we visit, to be conscious of all the special things that are occurring in other dimensions on these highly spiritual islands.