Dolphin Quest

Hubby and I were not expecting much, but given the opportunity to do so, we had to jump at it.
We booked the 30 minute experience and we can gladly say that we truly did spend 30 minutes interacting with them and the perfect amount of time. We fed them, held them, swam with them and watched them do tricks. The trainer was very friendly and never once asked us to tip, which was very rare for the experiences we had in Hawaii. This is worth doing if you have the money to spend. You will not regret it.
Ps. We booked for a Monday morning and there were only 6 of us. :)

What a great experience! Kelly was our trainer and she was awesome! Highly recommend this to anyone who loves dolphins!!!

AWESOME-that’s all I can say. Simply AWESOME! I went in October and since there were only 3 of us we spent well over an hour with the Dolphins! It was pure magic! Thank You!

Don’t Miss It!
Wiakoloa Dolphin Quest DELIVERS! Don’t miss this exciting experience – every minute with the Dolphins is worth it! You get to learn and use hand signals for dolphin twirling, splashing, waving and jumping – Wow! The Dolphins come right up to you – like INCHES from your face… and you get the opportunity to hug, pet or kiss them if you want. Feeling the dolphin’s heart beating while hugging was nothing short of miraculous – WHERE ELSE can you do this?!! Feed them fish, listen to them under water using echolocation to find a ring you threw – AMAZING!!! Do it! You won’t be disappointed.

Overall a very positive experience. Our daughter under age of 10 received excellent attention by her trainer in and around the water and animals, that was 5 stars and well worth the money.
The facility was very nice.
The reason for not giving 5 stars is all the way over priced photos etc. I think you guys can do better to reduce the price flogging on photos.

I recently visited this attraction with my wife our two kids, 7 and 10. They were naturally a little nervous as would any human would be as they ventured into the foreign environment of a wild animal– as was I, admittedly. The trainers were very knowledgable and did their best to make everyone feel comfortable. The experience as a whole was an OK one– though uncomfortable most of the time. We will probably never have the opportunity to pet a dolphin again and I’m glad we did. However the presentation felt «hurried» and was definitely geared toward a «tourist attraction». Most of the experience, I felt like was a simply a way to get us to «pose» for pictures with the Dolphins so we could buy the overpriced photos after the tour. The presence of the photographer was readily apparent and I felt like I needed to «pose» for each picture instead of enjoying and experiencing the encounter with the Dolphins. I felt the pressure of doing the «right motions» as to not confuse the dolphin, and didn’t want to do the wrong thing and have the animal react poorly. It seems they are smart enough to interpret stupid tourist’s signals though it didn’t take the pressure off of you, since you had about 5 seconds to figure it out while this giant creature was swimming towards you. I understand that this is a business and I don’t feel bad about paying for the experience, since I hope the Dolphins benefit from the price of our admission. Overall I felt like the trainers were genuine and were simply doing their job’s amongst the machine of capitalism. We all gained some excellent memories and I enjoyed my time with the animals. I couldn’t help feeling bad for the Dolphins who were performing «tricks» for the paying customers which seemed to cheapen the experience and made me feel like a guilty patron at a cock fight, but that’s just my personal feeling on captive wild animals. However I don’t know how a program like this would exist otherwise. I appreciate the opportunity and I think my children had fun although the the look in their eyes was nervousness through the whole thing. For people who knowingly pay for this type of experience, I think they will find it rewarding. In retrospect, not sure I would do it again since I would much rather see them swimming in the open ocean next to the kayak than performing parlor tricks in a relatively tiny pool. That’s just me folks– take it as you will.

I am not going to lie … do you swim with the Dolphins, no. But you do interact with them and that is amazing. People must remember these are trained animals. And their trainers will always decide what is best for them. So don’t expect to hang with them like your best friends. Will I recommend it for people. YES YES YES!!! It will give you an amazing 30 minutes or so with magnificent creatures you should learn about. People who have added a blow by blow description of their unhappiness have missed the point. 30 minutes with these wonderful creatures will always be an amazing adventure vs. no time at all. It is your choice. No one makes you sign up, so do what works for you. But if you do it, solely based on interacting with a terrific creature, you will never ever regret it!

Dolphin Quest was an incredible experience. Remember this is a «dolphin encounter» not a dolphin swim. People write bad reviews on this place thinking they are going in to swim with these Dolphins because they DON’T READ ahead of time what to expect for the encounter. This was FABULOUS! You get to FEED, TOUCH, PLAY, SWIM next to, KISS, HUG and totally interact with these Dolphins who are expertly cared for and very happy. Evan was our trainer and she was awesome! She let others in our group who were not participating know where to stand to get the best photos. Tyler, their photographer, took great shots as well and they did not make you feel like you needed to purchase a thing. They are there to educate you and make sure you get what you want out of your experience. Even my 75 year old mother who could not swim out into the deep area did not feel excluded, as Evan had my mom stay with her in the shallow area and give commands, feed the Dolphins and rub their bellies. I absolutely recommend this to anyone!!! My 13 year old LOVED it too!

This was the highlight of our trip! My 10 y.o. daughter and I enjoyed the trainer and the interaction with the dolphins. It was fun to see her enjoying the experience, learning the hand signals, seeing them do tricks underwater, and touching the dolphins. I understand that this close encounter was designed to have us apprecitate the intelligence of the dolphins in their habitat, however I was surprised at the small enclosure they had. It definitely could have been larger for the number of dolphins they had there. They are captives which is the downside, on the other hand, I doubt that we would have this opportunity any other way and we were glad to see that some of the proceeds go to marine conservation and research projects.

Amazing experience for our 13 and 11 year old boys. They interacted and swam with the Dolphins for 45 minutes followed by 45 minutes of snorkeling with a guide in the lagoon with Seadoo Scooters. Our kids said being in the «deep end» with the Dolphins and having them swim under and around them was «so cool». Our 13 year old son said he wants a job like this and loves the fact they they saved a number of Dolphins that were injured in the wild. I understand some people have opinions about captive animals but this program really does help these Dolphins.
We’re so glad our kids got to experience this and would highly recommend it to anyone with or without kids.

Our 8 year old daughter loved this experience. She told us it was everything she had hoped it would be.
At first, we were a little skeptical because there was a lot of classroom time. There were 5 kids total in her group which allowed for a full half hour of dolphin contact. We stood on the balcony by the shore of the small lake and were able to get great photo ops.
My husband and I had time for a drink and appetizer at the nearby pavilion while she was in the classroom. The staff were all friendly. We would have paid similar fees for any of the other dolphin encounters in Florida where we live and also would have had to pay for one adult to accompany her, so it was worth it to us!

My family had such an amaxing experience! I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to get up close and personal with dolphins. We had Stephanie as our instructor. She was fanatstic! Very knowledgeable and full of personality. She helped make what was an incredible experince even better! Thanks Steph!

It was a nice treat to do this activity. For a party of 4 it was over $ 1K but if you have AAA, you get a 10% discount so at least you saved some money. However that money went to pictures… So there is no winning here but we still enjoyed the activity. My 7 year old son was excited to learn about dolphins and he was even more excited to pet them. My 5 year old daughter was a little scared and I thank the trainer to keep her as ease with the gentle animal. I would totally recommend this activity to people visiting the island. The proceeds of this program goes to dolphin research.

I really enjoyed the interaction we received with my 3 year old daughter. She hasn’t stopped talking about Nimbus and looks at her picture with him all the time. She loved it! Greg and staff were wonderful and very knowledgeable about the Dolphins as well as the black tip sharks they have.
I read several reviews, many negative, but I couldn’t have been more pleased. Thank you Dolphin Quest for giving my daughter a lifetime memory.

I know this review is super long but please read if you’re planning or thinking about this attraction.
Save your money or at least don’t book this tour without witnessing another group on this tour first.
Had I really paid attention to other Unilocal reviews I would have picked up the negative reviews came from adults going without small children. They too felt cheated and deceived. The positive reviews appeared to come from families with small children, where they don’t have a lot of interactive marine life safe alternatives. You ain’t taking a 5 year old snorkeling with wild dolphins or night diving with Manta Rays.
So we booked this «Deluxe Encounter» tour solely based on their various advertising. I had envisioned actually swimming with live dolphins, for 45 minutes, based on the price and their website. Were we wrong. You’d think swimming with dolphins actually involved some swimming. Nope.
Check out this misleading deceitful half truth BS directly from their web page «Feel the thrill of a lifetime as you touch, swim with and even kiss a dolphin! Let loose, laugh and have loads of fun swimming with dolphins in our tropical paradise settings in Hawaii, Oahu and Bermuda. «
Let me give you the run down so you can use your $ 184.00 more wisely.
They tell you to get there 30 minutes early but that time is consumed with sitting in an open office adjacent to the dolphin lagoon. Just a legal form to fill out then a long wait.
I guess the clock starts ticking as they fit you with a life vest and mask. There goes 10 minutes of «swim time».
Then you stand on shore, get a mostly useless lecture on the wonderful life of the dolphins in captivity, there goes another 10 minutes of «swim time».
Then from the shore again you get to watch the dolphins swim real fast, jump up and do a flip, that anyone at the resort walking by can witness for free, there goes another 5 minutes of your 45 minute swim.
Then comes the approximate 20 minutes of «actual swim time».
What a bunch crap. You’re in a group of 6 in waist deep water the whole time, you got to wonder why the life vests, maybe an insurance company requirement?
Back to the «swim» which is more of they call your name and it’s your turn to pet a dolphin for about 5 to 10 seconds so they can snap pictures and take video of you petting the dolphin so they can sell them back to you at $ 20 a pop.
Don’t count on having your buddies taking these pictures themselves from shore because they, the cameramen, will position themselves between you with the dolphin and your friend that you asked to «take your camera and get a couple shots of you with your camera».
Then they drag out the picture taking of the other people in your group getting their 10 seconds. There are lengthy gaps and lots of small talk by the trainer between each petting so their photographers can set up and angle the shots.
Then comes the big climax, they call your name again to get your picture by their photographers, now hugging and or kissing the dolphin. Enjoy this time because this is the «swim», you just don’t know it yet.
You may get 15 seconds with the dolphin you may get a solid minute. That time is determined by the photographers trying to get the «money shot». Again as a means to sell the pictures and video of you with the dolphin that your friend was too obstructed from getting on shore.
This process of taking pictures burns another 10 minutes, feel privileged if you actually made contact with the dolphin for more than 45 seconds total over the course of your petting and hugging/​kissing time.
So what to do with the last 10 minutes of your $ 184.00 «Deluxe Encounter» tour?
Remember that mask that you wasted valuable «swim time» getting fitted for. Still in waist deep water you squat down and attempt to get your face below the waterline which by the way is a complete struggle because of the meaningless life vest you are wearing is forcing you above the water line.
They have the dolphin swim by real fast a dozen or so times and you get to see it swim under the water through the prospective of a mask. YIPPY!
Your tour is now over just shy of 45 minutes and for $ 184.00 a person and they will remind you to check out your pictures of yourself petting and hugging a dolphin, for sale in the gift shop.
Buyer beware this is one expensive photo op to pet, hug and kiss dolphins. THERE IS NO SWIMMING WITH THE DOLPINS. That is a flat out lie. Look at the pictures posted by other Unilocal reviewers, they are all petting and hugging, of dolphins.
I know this is how capitalism works but Dolphin Quest be aware this is how Unilocal works. We expose the misleading advertising and tell about our actual experiences and empower other consumers to make educated decisions.
I’m going to end this review with this. I felt more upset for the caged dolphins doing what they had to do to do get a fish then the 45 minutes of my life, I’ll never get back and the $ 184.00 wasted.

What a complete disappointment. I did NOT have to pay for this and I was still completely disappointed. We were scheduled for a VIP experience; we were early so they put us in an earlier group (maybe that was the problem) anyway… there 4 of us and then at the last minute a mother and infant (less than 2) was added to the group. This was really a disaster because the child could not follow directions and kept touching the dolphins face which is a no-​no so some of the activities were cut short. There was very little education about the dolphins… I had to ask questions to get any info. Honestly it is a glorified photo shoot so you can buy their digital photos for 2/​$ 55. (I even got my pictures for free and it was a huge disappointment) It’s clear the entire arrangement is done so they can take a picture to sell you, not really about your experience with a dolphin.
I would have been livid had I paid even a discounted amount for this «experience». It wasn’t worth the time even being free. So sad as I was really looking forward to this. Your money would be better spent doing an dolphin viewing boat tour where you could at least enjoy the total experience for — ½ the cost.

I hope Dolphin Quest shuts down, because it’s operating in the stone age.
I would think that being in Hawaii, where they value the land and animals, that the island would NOT put up with a resort keeping all the dolphins, flamingos, and any other wild animals in such small confinement, or in captivity at all. I saw 3 dolphins trapped in a small pool that was not even big enough for them to circle around! DIRTY pools, to say the least. You really can’t help but feel sorry for the animals.
There are so many children at the Hilton, that the hotel should set an example to our next generation, to do the right thing, and be pioneers to a growing awareness and empathy that modern people have for captive animals. Please watch The Cove or Blackfish! My children will NEVER pay to be entertained by animals, especially captive cetaceans. The best place to see them is in the WILD, with their family pods.
Get with the program, Dolphin Quest!
Found this article that links Dolphin Quest to the Taiji dolphin slaughters:

This was a truly amazing and unique experience. One I am sure to never forget.
Our guide gave us so much great information regarding the dolphins and their habitat on the big island.
We did NOT take ‘a ride’ on these beautiful creatures. Only had a few short opportunities to pet them and give and receive the best kisses! (See photo)
Recommend this to anyone, from anywhere, and any age!
This is a once in a lifetime chance that most people will not get to experience. Make sure you are one of the humans that gets to do this!!!
Great for groups or with a date or friend. You will have one of the best experiences of your life if you are fortunate enough to do it!
:)
Aloha!

My 8 year old had the most amazing time if her life! The staff were wonderful! Laura helped us sign up the day before and was so pleasant (what a small world that we have friends in common). None the less we lucked out with a group of 2 (total) and the education instructor (I’m bummed that I didn’t get her name) she was so good with the kids and kept their attention. She even had me learning things! Carla the trainer in the water was enthusiastic and fun! My daughter had an amazing time! Definitely will do this again if the kids want to!

My hubby and I decided to do the dolphin encounter on 9÷14÷12, during our stay at the Hilton Waikoloa Village. It was pretty neat experience, as how often in life can you get up this close to dolphins? My hubby opted to purchase the video and photos too. What was annoying was the fact that the trainer (whose name I believe was Cole) kept calling me by the wrong name. He kept calling me «Anne,» when my name is Amy. So throughout the whole video, you keep hearing him call me «Anne.» Soooo annoying! Don’t get me wrong, he was a nice guy, but when you shell out a good sum of money to capture a once in a lifetime moment, you want to be called the right name.
Verdict: Cool experience, but with a hefty price tag! And please for the love of God, get people’s names right!