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Manta Ray Tour: Sunset Snorkeling Adventure
5.0
171 Ratings
Kailua-Kona
Experience the thrill of swimming with majestic Manta Rays on a sunset tour in Kailua-Kona. Join us for a top 10 activity of a lifetime!
Experience the thrill of swimming with majestic Manta Rays on a sunset tour in Kailua-Kona. Join us for a top 10 activity of a lifetime!
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Garden Eel Cove / Manta Heaven - Embark on a voyage that transforms the night into a realm of enchantment with our Nightly Manta Ray snorkel experience. Rated as one of the top aquatic adventures in the world, it is truly a “bucket-list” once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our Nightly Manta Ray snorkel is a portal to a realm rarely witnessed by human…
- Garden Eel Cove / Manta Heaven - Embark on a voyage that transforms the night into a realm of enchantment with our Nightly Manta Ray snorkel experience. Rated as one of the top aquatic adventures in the world, it is truly a “bucket-list” once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our Nightly Manta Ray snorkel is a portal to a realm rarely witnessed by human eyes. With custom-made high-intensity LED light boards, we invite you into the nocturnal playground of these gentle giants. Imagine floating weightlessly as the Manta Rays glide elegantly through the darkness, inches away from your awe-struck gaze. With wingspans of up to 16 feet and weighing up to 1,600 pounds, it’s truly awe-inspiring, but safe as mantas have no teeth, stingers, or barbs. They are filter-feeders and are here strictly to gorge themselves upon microscopic plankton attracted to the lights.
Before the adventure begins, you’ll receive a safety and Manta Ray briefing, ensuring you’re prepared for this otherworldly encounter.
What's Included
- Hot Cocoa
- Hot Tea
- Bottled water
- Snacks
- Use of snorkeling equipment
- Wetsuit
- GoPro13 Videos and Photos
- Hot Cocoa
- Hot Tea
- Bottled water
- Snacks
- Use of snorkeling equipment
- Wetsuit
- GoPro13 Videos and Photos
Additional Information
Embark on an unforgettable sunset manta ray snorkel tour, consistently rated as one of the top lifetime adventures in Hawaiʻi. This tour focuses on small groups, ensuring no more than 10 guests are in the water at a time, unlike many operators who accommodate 25–50 passengers. This approach provides a more serene and intimate experience with these…
Embark on an unforgettable sunset manta ray snorkel tour, consistently rated as one of the top lifetime adventures in Hawaiʻi. This tour focuses on small groups, ensuring no more than 10 guests are in the water at a time, unlike many operators who accommodate 25–50 passengers. This approach provides a more serene and intimate experience with these magnificent creatures.
Guests can check in directly at the in-water boat slip (G-8) for quick and easy boarding. Following a comprehensive safety briefing, enjoy a smooth 10–15 minute journey to a premier manta snorkel location, where you will spend 40–45 minutes in the water with attentive and experienced swim guides.
Reboarding is made easy with a wide ladder, and the return trip offers comfortable seating. Each tour is staffed with 2 crew members to ensure personalized attention. A minimum of 4 guests is required; if this number is not met, a reschedule will be arranged.
There are no hidden fees. The tour includes snorkel gear, wetsuits, cold water, hot cocoa and tea, snacks, GoPro 13 photos and videos, as well as all taxes and fees.
Location
Hawaii Marine Life Charters
Kealakehe Parkway
Check-in area are located at Honokohau Harbor slip G-8. We are reached from both north and south of Kailua-Kona via Queen Kaahumanu Highway (Hwy 19). TAKE YOUR THIRD RIGHT AT BROWN RESTROOMS WITH RED ROOF, LOOK FOR OUR WHITE VAN AND ORANGE SLIP SIGN ON YOUR RIGHT. (PLEASE ARRIVE 15 MINUTES EARLY).
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(171 Ratings)
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Travel120756
Mar 19, 2026
Life list check off - This trip was a once in a lifetime! After fitting with a wet suit (which worked really well to keep us bouyant and warm), we headed out in the 10 passenger speedboat to find the rays. There had been some unusual rains and they wisely canceled the original trip date until the visibility (and rough seas) subsided.
After about 15 minutes cruising in the setting sun, we arrived at the viewing location. Some manta Ray information was shared, but pretty sparse. The viewing spot was only about 100 feet off shore and there were maybe 10 other boats congregated there.
The process is pretty easy, get in the water, grab on to the raft, lay flat and look down. They pulled our raft around thru floodlights and there were many smaller fish. After maybe 15 minutes we spotted a manta Ray cruising maybe 5 feet below us, and then several more cruised by. They were maybe 8 to 10 feet wide. One even cruised less than a foot beneath us, quite the thrill!
We were ready to return to the boat after seeing probably 4 or 5 of these big beauties. Once on the boat, hot chocolate and a snack was provided, which was nice to get the salt water taste out of your mouth.
The trip up back in the dark was a bit cold and splashy, but was over quickly enough. They share some GoPro pics at the dock that can be downloaded, which is really nice.
So glad we did it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jennifer_m
Mar 15, 2026
Great boat, great guides, book confidently! - I've been on 2 manta tours, and I'd say this one was much better than the first, for my personal tastes. Loved the small boat with no more than 12 passengers, and the seating was comfortable but the boat speedy for a much quicker ride in and back than the larger boats. Our guides were very knowledgeable and Riley did such an amazing job dragging the 10 of us who were on the tour around on the surfboard to try and get us in optimal position to see as much action as possible! We got up close with not sure how many mantas, but definitely a good showing, even though the mantas seemed to be behaving a little differently than usual from what I heard the guides saying. They are wild sea creatures so there are never any guarantees, but I am confident this group gives you as good of a chance as any of having a great experience! The cherry on top was the GoPro video they AirDrop to you immediately following the tour so you can share your experience with family and friends and have a really amazing video to remember!
Review provided by Viator
Z9851maemmar
Mar 14, 2026
Must do experience - This was the best experience ever! I have flown all over the world to see manta rays and this was the closest and most comfortable I have seen them. Mitch and Bobby were fun, informative and knew a lot about the rays. They made the experience feel fun and safe. I would recommend to everyone visiting the big island!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kirk
Mar 11, 2026
Swimming with Mantas - We recently did the nighttime manta ray swim excursion and it was the highlight of our trip to the big island! Captain Mitch and first mate Bobby did an outstanding job making sure we had a great time and saw lots of mantas! They also did a great job of making sure everyone was comfortable and safe during our adventure. We really liked the small group size of the tour (9 people) compared to some of the larger groups we saw. We highly recommend Hawaii Marine Life Charters if you are looking for a fun, safe manta ray tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jennifermj9808tu
Mar 10, 2026
Terrific small group tour & experienced guides! - This was my 2nd tour to see the mantas with two different tour groups, and I’d definitely book with this group again! Small but comfortable boat speeds you out and back, and experienced guides give you the best chance of having a great manta experience. I enjoyed it much more than the larger boat tours and Brian & Riley were both wonderful. We were lucky enough to have several close encounters with the mantas who were out this evening. Thank you, Brian & Riley!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lorag816
Mar 8, 2026
Excellent Manta Ray Tour with Hawaii Marine Life Charters! - We had a fantastic experience doing the night manta ray tour with Hawaii Marine Life Charters. We appreciated our small group of 9 people plus Brian who owns the operation and his assistant who took us out in the water. We were outfitted with a 3/4 wet suit that kept us warm, as well as new snorkels and masks. (We saw other manta ray tours go out in groups of 20+ people and they just had on scuba shirts.) Once we arrived at the right spot, the manta rays showed up in abundance. We were thrilled with how close they came to us, knowing we were safe and sound, and the sight of them rolling over and over again was other-wordly! After a good long viewing, we got back in the boat and received hot chocolate and snacks which is just what we needed! We highly recommend this tour and are sure you will have an amazing personal experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brian_s
Mar 8, 2026
This is a must do!! - So much fun and what an experience! Mitch and Riley took care of us and made sure we saw a lot of manta rays.
Review provided by Viator
Lisa_b
Mar 7, 2026
Best experience in the... - Best experience in the entire Hawaiian islands. Wonderful captain and crew. Saw a whale right outside of the harbor, an amazing sunset, and so many mantas counted 5 at one time. Once in a lifetime experience.
Review provided by Viator
T730yadavidm
Mar 2, 2026
Best experience - Brian and Bobby are the best. Amazing experience and we saw so many rays. Highly recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
V7199vcmonah
Mar 1, 2026
Manta-cular, Am-Ray-zing Experience! - Absolutely exhilarating! Brian and Riley had everything ready to go and just wow! Best experience and worth every second! We had 2 6 year olds with us. One went in and did awesome. Brian and Riley ensured their safety and enjoyment! Really appreciated the smaller more intimate group and the personal touch! Thank you so much!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
