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Manta Magic - Night Manta Ray Snorkel At Manta Village, Kona, Hawaii

Manta Magic - Night Manta Ray Snorkel At Manta Village, Kona, Hawaii

Overview

Avoid the crowds of the other "cattle boats" in Kona, and enjoy a small-group manta ray snorkeling experience with a maximum of 12 passengers.

This tour departs from Keahou Harbor in South Kona and enjoys a short 5-minute boat ride to our snorkeling site, Manta Village.

Your Captain and snorkel guide will educate you on Kona's famous manta rays and will discuss our safe and humane approach to engaging with the gentle giants.

After entering the water, you'll hold onto our lightboard, with your feet propped up by floatation devices, as the manta rays perform a graceful ballet beneath you. The manta rays filter feed on plankton that naturally gathers at the surface just before sunset, then accumulates underneath our lights. This is an opportunity to enjoy an evening on the water and watch in amazement as the manta rays glide around and dance for you.

We are proud to be a Green Listed company, and we take an environmentally cautious approach to our interactions with the manta rays.

City: Big Island of Hawaii

Wed 25 Sep

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $125.00

Make a reservation

Wed 25 Sep

Starting at $125.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Professional guide

Wetsuit (optional)

Use of Snorkelling equipment

Local taxes

Beverages

Additional Info

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Must be able to swim without the assistance of a floatation device.
A ticket is required for all passengers, regardless of age or whether they are entering the water.
Maximum weight of 280 pounds per traveler.
Not recommended for travelers with neck problems.
Snorkel equipment is sanitized between uses.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (858)

kristeneo

Jan 2019

We did the night time manta ray snorkel with Dillon and Dusty. (hopefully names are correct) Had a great time. Didn't see a ton of animals but the ones we did see were amazing! They have all equipment needed to go on the tour, but you can also bring your own. My family didn't use wet suits, but they were also available for you to use if you wanted. Might be a good idea if you get cold while in the water. The water was a bit rough, so it took us longer to get to the dive area than they had hoped, but we still made it in time for the beautiful sunset and a thorough safety briefing/animal information talk. The crew made you feel like you were one of the gang and the small group of guests (12 total) made for a more personalized experience. There were even two guests on the tour who were not good swimmers and the crew helped them feel comfortable and able to get in the water and stayed close to them just in case. Both were certified ocean lifeguards, which made me feel a bit more at ease. Getting in the ocean when it is dark is not the easiest thing for many (myself included) But the guys made sure you were doing okay and were always attentive to their guests. The small group allows for the lighted platform to be moved around from place to place without having to move the boat. Dillon took the group to where the animals were feeding, the larger group tours have to keep the platforms connected to their boats. A definite bonus, we didn't wait for the animals to come to us... we went to them. Ride back was still rough and a bit chilly, but we wrapped up in our towels and it was comfortable. They also had a drink and snack for those who wanted. Not sure if other tours offer photos, but the pics taken during the tour are included with no extra charge... a nice thing to offer. Dillon and Dusty were a great team and made our trip out a fun time. Would love to do the tour with them again!

hanzer2005

Jan 2019

My family of five did the Manta Experience on New Year's Day. We had a blast. Dusty was a great Captain and Chad was a fantastic guide. The trip out was smooth and Dusty and Chad know their Mantas. Hawaii Oceanic knows how to do it! We did the 4:30pm tour. We geared up quickly and professionally. Take the provided wetsuit. The water is comfortable, but my family agreed we were all happy we had them. We went to the southern viewing area, and after a quick and smooth ride, we were able to get into the water before sunset. That really let everyone get comfortable in the water. The Mantas showed up before it was even dark. Watching these amazing animals as they "flew" through the water was incredible. We had a great time watching the mantas swim in and out of the floating lights made for an exciting time. Having the manta black flip 6 inches from our faces was one of the highlights of our vacation. Even my teens agreed that this was a great experience and worth every minute.

BFPengi

Jan 2019

Honestly, I was freaking terrified to do this. I was extremely out of my comfort zone. I'm not a strong swimmer and I'm terrified of the ocean and all its creatures. I was also taking my 10-year-old daughter who is a beginner swimmer so there was a little bit of mama bear fear going on too. This was my 10-year-old's first snorkeling trip. She was still getting used to using the snorkel and felt a little timid about the ocean. I was actually really worried she might not get off the boat. On the ride there we were given a whole bunch of info on the Mantas. Their knowledge, confidence and humor put us at ease. Most importantly, they told us everything we needed to know about Manta behavior, what to expect and how everything was going to go down. When we got to the location they had done such a good job at putting my 10-year-old at ease that she hopped right in after my husband without hesitation. Right as she hopped in the water a Manta Ray swam right up to our light board. My 17-year-old daughter and I hopped in right after and were immediately greeted by the Mantra swimming right under us. I am so grateful that they explained in great detail how Manta Rays might do these amazing barrel rolls where they open their giant mouths and start doing somersaults to catch all the plankton and to not freak out if a Manta swims straight at your face with its mouth wide open. That Manta swam so close to my face with her giant open mouth that she practically gave me eskimo kisses and if they hadn't said anything, I would have been filled with such terror that I would have seized up and died right then and there. Instead, it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! She continued to do barrel rolls right under us, coming in so close that I tried to levitate out of the water because I didn't want to remove her protective coating. Such a wonderful experience and a great way to end our visit to the big island. I recommend this experience especially with this company 100%. There were 2 other boats out there and I preferred the vibe of our crew by far. It felt smaller, more intimate and overall extremely positive. They really seem to care about the ocean, the animals, our safety and providing us with a great experience.