So we are a family of 4, with two toddlers. And thus after a lot of recommendation from a friend we decided to do the ride-along option.
On the boat kids were very supportive so down there I decided to jump in. Captain Bill was very accommodating here, he agreed and said I can pay the difference later. However I missed some instructions and started regular free style swimming (with some splashing) in the water, sudden instructions to not splash water and doing snorkeling for the first time + water getting in the snorkel, made me half panic and I came on the boat. My wife did encourage me once, however captain Bill was, if you want to do it, then do it, otherwise I don't care. I completely understand that this was totally my fault, and I will regret missing this once in a lifetime experience for a long time , however had captain Bill been a bit encouraging I would have had definitely done it.
Now, when we were on the boat as an observers, it was not so easy as on that day water was rough. Manta did come once close to the boat, however by that time we were so tired that we couldn't even go out to see her. I would definitely not recommend observer to any one. This can be once in a lifetime experience, wait for the conditions when you can snorkel and jump in.
So this company takes 4 hours vs many others which do it in 2.5. For observers that extra 1.5 hrs is definitely pretty bad.
Otherwise things were great. Drew and Karen were great. Captain Bill had made cookies for all on the boat which was great (but we were so tired we didn't even want to eat one there)