This was a once in a lifetime, unforgettable experience. I’m VERY happy our family booked with Hawaii Oceanic for a few reasons. The staff was fantastic, professional, and personable. Justin was in the water with us the whole time and told us all about the mantas and their behavior while positioning and repositioning our board in the ideal locations. He frequently checked in on all of us to make sure we were doing ok. There was also a captain on the boat and another staff member keeping an eye on everyone and helping people get in/out of the water. I felt very safe and was very happy we were on this boat. There were many other boats out there- and some were literally packed with people like sardines. I really don’t know how they kept tabs on all of those people or how they even get alerted if someone wanted to get out of the water.
The experience was incredible, but please keep in mind that this might be a panic-inducing for some people. I found it very disorienting to be in the dark, in dark water, looking down for 45 minutes into blue nothingness with twinkling plankton. (One woman in our group actually went back in the boat within the first 3 minutes.) Even though you’re a 5 minute boat ride off shore it’s very rocky when you’re in the swells in the water and you’re bobbing up and down constantly. If there is any chance whatsoever you might get motion sickness, do yourself a favor and take a Bonine beforehand. (I sure wish I did!)
We did the sunset/twilight tour and it was great. It was still dusky when we entered the water, but totally dark when we got out. The mantas didn’t care that we were the first group of the night- there were tons of them and they put in a great show!!!
The mantas were absolutely incredible and I am so happy we went with Hawaii Oceanic. They are professional, organized, knowledgeable, and run a great operation.