Our fourth tour with mantas (1 scuba and 3 snorkeling) with three different operators. Snorkeling was much better than scuba for manta viewing.
Hang Loose has it going on! Their boat (the Kona) is set up well and quite comfortable. They provide snacks, drinks, and a warm shower as you exit the water. They know and relate the history of the manta rays better than other operators. They understand the timing of the manta ray feeding such that you're on top of manta rays before the boat even drops anchor until the crew starts the engines to head back home. Had to stop taking a photo multiple times because about the time you're ready to depress the shutter, your whole world turns white as a manta comes out of nowhere and is one foot away from your face mask. A full hour in the water where you actually stop taking pictures unless there's two or three mantas at a time doing their loops underneath you......there's soooo many manta rays coming soooo close it's hard to relate the experience to those who haven't tried it.