We saw at least 10 mantas around us! Simon and his crew made this experience an unforgettable one! Despite the 30(ish):3 ratio, everything ran seamlessly. Safety is obviously a priority for them. They also made sure ocean life was protected so that is a huge plus for me. Simon made sure we got as much time as everyone was able to tolerate in the cold waters. The warm shower rinse off was much appreciated afterwards! No shoes on the boat so foot wear doesnāt matter, they will lay everyoneās shoes out at the dock after the tour for easy pick-up. Itās the small things!
Here is some info that may help others thinking about booking the trip: my husband and I are non-swimmers who are relatively comfortable in the water. We can float, but have trouble with the actual swimming part lol. We explained this to Simon and were given a snorkel vest. It doesnāt exactly assist with floating that much since you need to be on your stomach, but I guess it can help in case of emergency. 3 groups were sent out: strong swimmers to swim to the floatation board furthest from the boat, swimmers who are less comfortable, and non-swimmers/families with young children. The crew helped bring us out to the closest board with the assistance of noodles and kept an eye on us to make sure we were doing okay. For those who are concerned about being out in open waters, donāt let that deter from this once-in-a-lifetime experience as they take every precaution.
Another thing worth mentioning, I get extreme motion sickness. I canāt read or text on my phone in cars without getting sick. I canāt tolerate even the ferris wheel at times. The boat ride didnāt bother me because 1) I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the pole located at the aisle the entire time I was on the boat. 2) I took Dramamine as directed on their website, once in the morning and once before the tour. Simon told us all that Dramamine, the patch, or band will not work though lol. I think the first thing I did helped me tremendously.