Manta Ray Night Snorkel in Kona

There are many manta tour companies in Kona. Some have the lowest price, others have big boats with lots of people. We have neither of those things. Kona Snorkel Trips offers the highest quality manta ray snorkel experience available on the Big Island. Just read our thousands of 5 star google reviews and you will see why we are the best.

Reasons Why People Love Kona Snorkel Trips

Excellent, personalized service

Small group sizes

Higher likelihood of seeing mantas

Attention to Safety

If you’re still not convinced we have the best manta ray night snorkel Kona has check out our over 5000 google reviews from satisfied guests.

Can you swim 50 yards without additional floatation?

Non-swimmers or riders are not permitted on this tour

Children (under 18) must be at least five years of age and demonstrate strong swimming ability and be accompanied by an adult at all times

Everyone in the party must be able to converse in English for safety instructions, no exceptions

Expectant mothers are not permitted due to the adventurous nature of the boat ride – our vessel is not for everyone!

Those that experience reoccurring back or neck pain cannot participate in this tour

Those with any problems with their shoulders cannot join this tour. You are lying prone in the water with your arms outstretched for 30-40 minutes. Those with reoccurring dislocation issues are not permitted to participate in this activity

There is no weight restriction but guests must be able to physically and safely maneuver on and off the vessel without assistance.

Those with injuries that limit their mobility cannot participate in this tour

This can be a stress-inducing activity and is not recommended for those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or those who have severe asthma.

The itinerary for both trips is the same, just the timing is different. On the earlier trip, we check in during daylight hours, catch the sunset from the boat and enter the water after dark. There are often more boats out during this time frame.

On the later trip, we check in at night and zoom off into the darkness to our manta snorkel location. There are fewer boats that do a second trip. You’ll get home late – especially during the summer months.

During both experiences we are snorkeling in the dark, however, the ocean is lit by lighting equipment on the snorkel boards. The mantas aren’t particularly more prevalent on one trip or the other – they’re wild animals so they show up on their own time.

This is the most popular tour on the island which is why we offer two tour times so that we can accommodate all the guests that want to attend.

Since you’ll be taken to where the most action was on the last trip it might mean you travel 20 minutes north to Garden Eel Cove or 40 minutes south to the Outrigger hotel.

You will be wearing a mask, snorkel, wetsuit, and floatation belt. There is a modified surfboard that has rope “handles” going around the perimeter of the board. You’ll lightly hold onto the rope handle superman style (arms outstretched over your head). This is why it’s important not to have any shoulder issues! In the middle of the board, holes were cut out and high-powered lights were inserted that attract the plankton – which is what the mantas love to eat! There are 9-10 guests per board. Your guide will “tow” you around to the best spots to view the mantas.

30-40 minutes – This is the perfect amount of time for you before you begin getting chilled.

Don’t worry, they’re completely harmless. Unlike stingrays, manta rays do not have stingers or barbs on their tails and have no teeth. Instead, they suck in plankton with their wide, vacuum-like mouths.

Kona is home to over 200 named mantas, distinguishable by their beautiful black and white marks. The manta rays come year-round, but their numbers on any given day depend on how much plankton is in the water. These gentle giants lurk just beneath the warm, clear waters and can boast a wingspan up to 16 feet wide. They are some of the largest fish in the ocean.

FREE MANTA GUARANTEE

Please note that the Manta Rays are wild animals and their presence is not guaranteed. If you do not see a manta on your night out, you can go again on another night on a space-available standby basis. Keep in mind that standby spaces may be extremely limited, especially during the busiest times of the year. This offer never expires, but is non-transferable and has no refund or cash value. We are typically very successful in finding mantas for you; however, if they are not around, the costs involved with setting up the charter and getting all our guests to the location will not allow us to offer you a refund.

The manta ray night snorkel is Kona’s most popular water activity with hundreds of visitors viewing mantas at one of Kona’s two manta ray viewing sites. When the show is good people will get highly emotional and you’ll hear yelling and crying through people’s snorkels, and all around having an amazing experience, they will never forget. It is certainly a bucket list adventure and is rated one of the top snorkels in the world, for good reason! This is an item that should go at the top of your Big Island bucket list.

Night time is the best time to view mantas because they are feeding on the plankton attracted to our lights. This is the best opportunity to view them up close. During the day it is possible to see mantas cruising the reef moving steadily along near the bottom and sometimes stopping in at a cleaning station where small fish pick the parasites off of their skin. While scientists do not have a lot of data it is possible mantas retreat to deeper depths during the day to avoid predators.

It’s better to be PROACTIVE instead of REACTIVE when you’re headed out on the ocean. If you’ve experienced seasickness before then take proactive measures to prevent it again. If you don’t know if you get seasick take proactive measures to help never experience it. Even if the ocean is dead calm you may still get seasick – we cannot tell you how YOUR body will react to the motion of the ocean.