Living Ocean Tours – Snorkeling, Lookouts and more

Finally it’s time to summarize the last two days of our January trip – five months later … Oops! 😅 Because I am not a travel planner (more than that in a short time), and we pack so much to almost four weeks we left. I have to go back, trace my steps back, and unite everything. I want to make sure I don’t miss any details. Almost every day, we managed to squeeze more than one amazing place. And we also did not slow down in the end – with snorkeling (we went with a living sea tour and they were brilliant), a visit to Nuʻuuuu Pali Lookout, dinner at the iconic Duke, and stopped surprising at Hanauma Bay.

Apparently, I was exactly like that person from a funny Instagram roll – you know, the person who just appeared because other people did all the organization. If we have a script, it will go like:

“Hi, I am my cousin J. I arranged the flight, ordered accommodation, sorting car rental, planning traveling, ordering snorkeling adventures, securing our film tours, mapping the increase, and finding out the amazing places that we will visit – every day.”

“Hi, I’m Ruth.”

So today, I covered our snorkeling trip, dinner at Duke’s, Nuʻuuuu Pali Lookout, and a surprise visit to Hanauma Bay. Let’s go!

Snorkeling with a living ocean tour

This is only the second time I’ve been snorkeling. The first is in my honeymoon, where I live safely near the beach on the island of Lord Howe, with both legs planted firmly in the sand.

Before this trip, I will never be really out of snorkeling in the Open ocean. So yes, I’m a little scared. But because we ordered it before leaving Sydney, I had time to prepare mentally. I listened to many guided audio that helped me go through fear and enjoy that experience. Instead of worrying about you know, things like drowning, lost in the ocean, or eaten by sharks.

Why Living Ocean Tours is Victory

Living Ocean tour is completely fantastic! The crew are friendly, friendly, and clearly excited about marine life. The boat was clean and well maintained, with a small room on the ship. There is also a lot of space to relax, and good shade at the sun too much. All equipment is in top condition, and they even provide snacks and drinks!

Everything is placed and ready to leave when we go up – clean, labeled snorkel equipment, and the crew helps everyone installed. Nothing makes my heart sing more than when I see this arrangement perfectly organized – haha!

Our Deluxe Snorkeling and Wildlife

We did it Deluxe Waikiki Snorkeling and Wildlife CruiseWho took us out of the Kewwalo basin, sailed along Waikiki Beach to Diamond Head.

We stopped at amazing coral reefs (nicknamed Turtle Canyon), where we spent more than an hour in the water. It was an extraordinary experience to see schools with colorful fish and lively corals. We also saw the Hawaii green sea turtles.

And because we were there during the winter, we were lucky enough to see the hunched whale!

One of the crew members even raised octopus to us to look closely.

Extra wise that makes a big difference

Living Ocean Tours also does all the wise things that make a big difference. Like providing anti-fog spray for glasses and offering all lines of floating devices. I stick to the bright yellow banana float wrapped around my arm as if my life depends on him. Because it’s really really and really doing it!

For super adventurous souls, there is a very fast and pleasant slide – my cousin who continues to tell everything later. And pink mats (lily pads) to relax.

The living ocean tour also runs a cruise ship observing the whale and the sun screen is setting I will choose it again in an instant. I can’t recommend them enough to recommend them!

Duke’s

I am quite sure we all drove height after getting off the ships – Spectacular days! And that isn’t over yet. We walked along Waikiki and ended in Duke’s, which was really crowded with so many people.

We drink and share some chips and guacamole while we are waiting for our table.

Shortly, we were called and sat outside, enjoying this band playing a pleasant cover song in the background.

The sun began to set, so I went to the beach, right on the edge of the restaurant, to take everything. It is one of the soft and golden sunset that you see in a film – unless it’s real, and we are in it.

I stayed until the building along the coast began to fall.

The Tiki torch burned, and I walked back to the table for the dessert.

Our last day

We started our last day at Nuʻuuuu Pali Lookout on a very windy, cold and foggy day. From there, we saw a beautiful view, especially in terms of the wind (east) – therefore strong winds! As well as fertile valleys, cliffs, and Kaneohe Bay regions.

Throughout Oahu, we saw cats and chickens only roaming – very interesting and not like anything I had ever seen here. Often, poor cats only have one eye – maybe chicken is responsible … who knows? They were there to welcome us at the Nuʻuuuu Pali lookout. Ha!

Hanauma Bay

Hanauma Bay is on our list Possible a place to visit. We have heard that it’s amazing for snorkeling, but because we have ordered a tour with Living Ocean Tours, we don’t think we really will succeed there. This is a protected nature reserve and only allows a number of limited visitors every day, ticketed, so you usually need to order long before.

Still, we think we will leave and that opportunity – just to guard. We don’t expect to run and get a ticket … but we do! So we jumped on the tram and walked to the bay, feeling very lucky!

Cousin E and I decided to sit on the beach while the other cousins ​​went snorkeling. I had the most amazing time the day before, so I was very happy to sit and relax on the beach. The view is beautiful, and so clouds lifted, we were treated to a spectacular blue sky.

Snorkel rental tips – Don’t be late!

Cousins ​​-Sepupu finished snorkeling after a few hours and returned to the kiosk to restore their rental equipment, just like the lid for that day.

Part of the recruitment process involves handing over a few IDs, which you only get after you return the equipment. Cousins ​​-Sepupu has submitted their passports, so I’m not sure what we will do if they are not successful right when the shutters dropped. We flew home the next day on the initial flight – Yes!

That is a pretty big detail that we really miss!

Head-up if you visit: Snorkel Rental Kiosk in Hanauma Bay is usually closed 3 pmalthough preservation itself does not close up 4 pm We assume that the kiosk will remain open for – but no! Visitors are encouraged to start packing at 3:30 to leave the nature reserve, and if you get to the kiosk after 3 pm, there is no way to restore your equipment or collect your ID until the next day. So make sure you give yourself a lot of time!

That’s a wrap!

And that is a wrap in our cousin Connect 2025 Adventure! We flew out of Honolulu Monday morning.

And because of the miracle of the time zone jump, we landed in Sydney on Tuesday night.

I was happy to be at home for about two minutes before the blues post-blast hit hard. I miss the joy of getting up to a new adventure almost every morning for almost four weeks, and more than everything, I miss my cousin. Our two families are used to hanging out together every day!

The whole trip is really extraordinary, and I like every second. We all do it! And if you wonder how it feels to travel as a bigger crew, the post will soon be present. This is a clue: we will do everything again tomorrow because of that Very pleasant!

Thank you for joining our cousin Connect 2025 Adventure! Want to revive the whole trip? This is my other recap: