Manta Mania - Manta Ray Night Snorkel - Small-Group Experience In Kona, Hawaii
4.8
300 Ratings
Kailua-Kona
Experience the thrill of snorkeling with manta rays in Kona, Hawaii. Our small-group tours offer a more intimate and engaging encounter with these majestic creatures. Book now!
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • 74 Kealakehe Pkwy - You’ll feel like you’re in the middle of a marine documentary during your up-close encounter with Kona’s majestic manta rays. Watch from mere inches away as these gentle giants have a feeding frenzy on phytoplankton and zooplankton that’s attracted to our lightboard.

Hawaii Island is the only place in the world that offers nighttime manta ray encounters with more than 90% consistency. Kona’s Manta rays perform a seemingly choreographed nocturnal ballet, conducting barrel rolls at the water’s surface as they return to the same spot each night for dinner. This bucket list item is a must-do for every visitor to Hawaii’s Big Island.

Kona’s wild manta rays have wingspans that can reach 16 ft., which is huge! Don’t worry, they don’t have any teeth, stingers, or barbs, and hundreds of people safely interact with the manta rays every night. Your swim guide will educate you on safely and humanely interacting with the wild manta rays, and you will be escorted to the most active areas of the manta viewing site.

All tours include non-alcoholic refreshments, snacks, and a special treat. Please bring a towel and a coverup to keep warm on the boat ride back to the harbor.

What's Included
  • Snorkeling equipment provided
What's Not Included
  • Please bring your own towel.
Additional Information

We cater to a limited group of just 12 members, ensuring a more personalized manta ray snorkeling adventure compared to the crowded boats operating in Kona.

Our small party size not only promises a more exclusive experience but also increases the probability of spotting manta rays. Our swim guide will lead your group to the most bustling parts of the snorkel site using a light board, enabling a top-notch manta ray viewing. Bigger groups on larger boats are often restricted to the type vicinity of their boat, unable to follow the manta rays as closely as we do. By targeting the liveliest parts of the site, we increase your chances of seeing more manta rays.

Booking all 12 spots on any of our trips means you’ll have an entire private charter to yourself.

Don’t miss this unique chance to swim alongside manta rays in an exclusive, small-group setting. Prepare to create unforgettable memories!

  • Must be able to swim without the assistance of a floatation device.
  • Maximum weight of 280 pounds per traveler.
  • Not recommended for travelers with neck problems
Location
Coral Reef Snorkel Adventures
Kealakehe Parkway
Please arrive 15 minutes early, and meet us at the Honokohau Small Boat Harbor, located on Kealakehe Pkwy in Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Follow directions to the Boat Launch ramp area near the restrooms and pavilion. We'll meet you at the pavilion and check you in before escorting you to the vessel.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(300 Ratings)
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1 star
Traceland
Mar 29, 2024
I will not forget this day - Stop reading and book this excursion! The Manta Ray adventure is life changing. Hope that you get Capitan Jeff and Jacob (Jake) plus as an added bonus there is Kia the puppy dog. Jacob will take care of you and he is so informative. While you are with the Manta Rays Jacob talks to you in a calming voice and this combined with the Rays you just transport into another dimension. Wetsuit is included which is much appreciated.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Explorer709606
Mar 22, 2024
Amazing! - So worth it! Incredible experience. Sarah swam us out and made sure we got to see mantas and she was full of interesting manta knowledge. We did the sunset tour and it was gorgeous. Sarah, Jeff, and Eric are a great team. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
510toddn
Mar 21, 2024
Must do adventure while in Kona! - The experience is a must do when in Kona. Jeff and Jacob were excellent Captain and guide. We were there for only a short time before the Manta Rays came to say hello. Such beautiful, graceful, and docile creatures to behold in their environment. I would recommend this for anyone traveling to Kona. Mahalo!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
D2364wlelizabethm
Mar 8, 2024
5 stars for the Night Manta Rays (8pm tour) - My husband and I took this tour the first Saturday in March with Kelly, Eddie, and Carla and 5 stars does not even come close to the true review of the tour. THIS WAS FANTASTIC. The crew was so helpful (to the point that Kelly gave us other Big Island recommendations that made our vacation even better), and you can tell they love all marine life. The pictures attached don't do the experience justice... The feeling you get when the first ray appears from the depths of the ocean is indescribable. This is a must-do when you're visiting the Big Island!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Theresa
Feb 28, 2024
Once in a lifetime must do adventure! - What an amazing experience! The sea, the stars, the Manta Rays! Jeff and Jake were wonderful hosts, super friendly, knowledgeable and interactive. We had a small group, only four of us. We saw some of the other tours nearby with 30-50 people in big boats. If that’s your thing, I’m sure it’s great. We much preferred being in a small group and having a personalized tour. I’ll never forget the time with the Mantas, beautiful gentle giants. And literally inches away. We will be back anytime we come to the Island!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Explorer54820525974
Feb 23, 2024
Sunset Manta Tour - Did a private sunset tour with guides Jacob, Jeff and Alex. They shared lots of knowledge about the kona, whales, and mantas. Provided everyone with 2mm wetsuits. All equipment and the boat were in great shape. Saw several whales along the way to the manta viewing spot. They use a foam board with lights on the bottom to attract plankton, which in turn bring out the mantas. Location is just offshore, estimate 15-20' depth, so not choppy. You wear foam floats on your feet, so no fins needed, and just hold onto ropes on the foam board while viewing the mantas. About 30min of viewing. We had 5-8 mantas constantly, so never jist waiting around. Mantas do flips within inches of you eating plankton. We will do this again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Happiness40409096470
Feb 22, 2024
Night Manta Ray Tour - Best ocean adventure I have ever experienced! We did the 8:00 pm night manta ray tour with Jacob, Carla and Jeff as our tour guides. They were very knowledgeable and made sure we saw plenty of manta rays! There were at least 10 possibly more where they took us and we were a small group of 6 people which made it even better. Thank you so much for this wonderful piece of tranquility.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Glorgriesinger
Feb 13, 2024
A must do adventure!!! - This was the highlight of our visit to the Big Island. WOW! Our guises were fabulous and focused on safety for us and for the Manta Rays. It was a wonderful experience. We saw so many manta rays that were within inches of us. Just amazing. Thanks to Jeff, Jacob and Alex for being marvelous host, guides and caretakers of nature.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
P3464hwtanyaw
Feb 11, 2024
Amazing Experience - Absolutely amazing experience!! Highly recommend this company. The crew was welcoming, knowledgeable, and friendly. They provided a safe, relaxed and humorous environment. We saw 15-20 mantas which is rare and I give credit to the knowledgeable staff for having this fantastic experience. Highly recommend!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Patrick_f
Mar 3, 2024
Great guide, terrible management - Really disappointed that I paid for a small group tour which was advertised and verbally confirmed that the maximum number of people was 6, only to have a boat load of twelve people with a bunch of obnoxious children on the boat. Not at all what I paid a premium price for. Our tour guide was fantastic, very knowledgeable. The manta viewing was nice, we saw quite a few.
Review provided by Viator
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