Full disclosure: I am not a ‘tour person’ - I was (to put it mildly) a bit… skeptical. I tend to favor interacting with the natural world in solo adventures far off of the beaten track, but with a friend in town who was set on trying this, I went in open minded(ish.)
This was an incredibly well executed group event. The group included swimmers, non-swimmers, kids as young as 7, several younger couples - and my buddy and I. All parties (aside from the heavily vomiting woman) appeared to have an absolute blast - and our seasick cohort was treated with the utmost dignity, kindness, and not in any way made to feel embarrassed. The crew assured her that her experience was par for the ocean-y course.
(Word to the wise: if you suspect you may have motion sickness issues, maybe do not eat a heavy meal - and perhaps do some research. I saw several people with what looked like wrist bands for motion sickness, and all were non-pukers.)
In any case - the prep involved great training, before and on the boat, that helped everyone understand exactly what to expect. I’d never worn a wet suit or used a snorkel before, and a little attention to instructions went a long way. They offer some pro tips - take heed.
Training/instruction was informative, patient, and often very funny. Our guides Drew and Sam went above and beyond to make sure everyone was comfortable, safe, and understood the process of suiting up, entering the water, taking position on the cool rigged-out light-bearing board/handrail floating contraptions, participating in the manta show, and later returning to the boat and de-suiting then getting a warm rinse.
I especially appreciated that our guides had an obvious appreciation for the local splendor, were incredibly well informed and offered a ton of manta knowledge, and in general hosted a really enjoyable, safe and efficient evening. From the instructions to the artfully folded wet suits, on and off boarding, and every detail in between - this was an expertly conducted excursion that was - I’m 100% certain - the undisputed high point of most attendees trips to the island.
This crew was beyond professional- they were genuinely warm, fun, and took great care in making sure every passenger aboard the custom built boat had a fantastic time. Drew and Sam’s appreciation for the giant sea beauties was infectious from the moment we checked in.
It would be hard NOT to enjoy this (maybe impossible - unless you are prone to sea sickness AND had a large lunch AND forgot to pre-game your wellness with some preventative meds or devices…)
Even this tour-phobic sceptic is a convert :)
I won’t spoil the magic of the manta experience itself. DO IT, and DO IT with Manta Adventures.
Відповідь від хоста
Aug 2022
Aloha,
Thank you for choosing Manta Adventures and taking the time to review your trip. We appreciate your thorough review and kind words towards the company and crew. It's awesome to hear that we were able to provide a good tour and you liked what we had to offer. We hope to see you again, please don't hesitate to call for your next adventure in Kona.
Mahalo,
Manta Adventures Team