We did the Ocean Encounters sunset manta ray snorkel and it was BEYOND awesome! If you’re traveling to the Big Island, you MUST put this at the very top of your list of things to do.
When we arrived at the meeting place, we were given wetsuit tops and masks/snorkels, then boarded the boat. The boat ride was lovely and they provided water and snacks. The crew/guides were knowledgeable, friendly and fun/funny. As soon as the sun set and the sky darkened, we went into the water, floating horizontally on top of the water while holding onto a handle on the side of a surfboard fitted with a bright light that shines straight down into the water. The light attracts the plankton, which in turn attracts the manta rays. After a few minutes in the water, we could see the tiny plankton getting more and more dense, then suddenly a HUGE manta ray came up from the depths and scooped up the plankton in its HUGE mouth. Then came more and more mantas…we were thrilled! They came right up beneath us and did loop-de-loops in the water…almost touching us…it was seriously one of the most wonderful, magical things I’ve ever experienced. I think we were probably in the water with the mantas for about 45 minutes or so.
NOTE: If you call Ocean Encounters over the telephone to make reservations rather than booking online, you won’t have to pay the service fee, so you’ll save a few dollars.
One last thing…I noticed that very few people on our boat tipped the guides at the end of the excursion. Maybe they aren’t aware that tipping guides is a nice thing to do? Anyway, if you had a great time, please show your appreciation and give your guides a gratuity!