Manta Ray Night Snorkel in Kona
Description
Experience the Magic: Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkel Embark on an unforgettable adventure with a thrilling night snorkel with majestic manta rays off the Kona coast. As the sun dips below the horizon, we'll cruise along the coastline, enjoying a breathtaking sunset. At our destination, you'll be equipped with all the necessary gear, including a wetsuit, snorkel, mask, and fins. Then, guided by our experienced crew, you'll gently descend into the warm waters. Witness the magic as these gentle giants gracefully glide through the illuminated waters, their bioluminescent plankton creating a mesmerizing spectacle. Our experienced guides will ensure your safety and provide fascinating insights into the behavior of these incredible creatures.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund.
- All participants are required to fill out and sign an in water snorkel waiver.
Reviews(800)
Cory, CJ, and Karen were fantastic guides. We felt safe and cared for. Karen and CJ were very fun, engaging, kind, and patient. When they weren’t making sure we had an amazing experience they were working their tails off cleaning equipment. The music play list was great! The boat was clean. We saw about 10 manta rays. What an experience! They were beautiful, graceful, enormous creatures that swam within arms reach; sometimes right in front of our faces! But DON’T touch the mantas! Karen was very knowledgeable and engaging.
This was amazing! The Crew were friendly and knowledgeable. The crew went above their duty to help us find the mantas. They taught us evening we needed to know to have a wonderful experience! Thank you, I'd do it again in a heat beat!
Do not hesitate, book the trip. This trip was hands down my favorite tour I have ever done, and I have lived in Hawaii for a while now. Snorkeling before the sun set, enjoying the views and nice weather, then swimming with the absolutely most majestic creatures of the sea was the most perfect end! I can’t put into words how amazing this trip was. Cj, Karen and Cody were phenomenal crew members, and so personable. If you want to see Mantas, they are the ones to book it with. 🫶🏼
Be prepared for the trip to get canceled due to waves and current changes. Safety for all was a factor and the main contributing factor
Thank you for your review. To be honest, we're not entirely sure how to respond to a one-star review that acknowledges the trip was canceled due to safety concerns. On the day of your scheduled tour, Hawaii Civil Defense had issued both a High Surf Warning and a High Wind Advisory. These are conditions that are completely beyond our control. As a USCG-inspected vessel, we have a responsibility to prioritize the safety of our guests and crew above all else. While cancellations are disappointing for everyone involved, including our staff and our business, which depend on these trips, we will never put people at risk simply to avoid canceling a tour. Most guests appreciate knowing that when dangerous ocean conditions exist, we make the difficult decision to cancel rather than gamble with their safety. In fact, we hope future guests reading this review will see it as confirmation that we take our responsibility seriously. Nobody likes a canceled vacation activity, but just as a golf course might close during a hurricane or a ski resort during avalanche conditions, ocean tours sometimes must be canceled when nature doesn't cooperate. We sincerely regret the inconvenience and disappointment and wish you the best in your future travels. With aloha, Manta Adventures Hawaii
The crew Libby and Karen were great. The adventure was wonderful and way longer than other trips. That said I had called the “owner” because we were running late and he was rude and obnoxious. I had called a second time when we arrived to verify what slip and he was very rude again. I would highly recommend the trip, even more if they had a different owner or manager.
The boat was overcrowded, or at least we thought so. The snacks they provided was one pineapple cut up for the whole boat. Water was provided for drinks. Had to wait on the boat for about 45 minutes, once we reach our site, before we got in the water. The whole trip felt more like hurry up and get this over with so we can go back to the marnia and be done for the night.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're glad to hear that you were able to see manta rays and enjoy that portion of the experience. We did want to clarify a few points for future readers. On the evening of your tour, there were 24 guests aboard a vessel that is certified by the United States Coast Guard to carry up to 36 passengers. While we are legally permitted to carry 36 guests, we voluntarily cap our tours at 24 guests to provide a more comfortable experience. Regarding the snacks, we do provide fresh-cut pineapple and bottled water. The pineapple is intended as a light refreshment to help get the saltwater taste out of your mouth between snorkeling sessions rather than serving as a meal. As a commercial vessel, we also provide water, but offering alcoholic beverages is not a practical or legal option for our operation. We're particularly saddened to hear that the trip felt rushed, as one of the things that sets our tour apart is that it is actually longer than many other manta experiences in Kona. We depart before sunset and offer guests the opportunity to snorkel during daylight hours, allowing everyone to test their equipment and become comfortable in the water before the manta portion of the evening. Guests then enjoy the sunset from the boat before returning to the water after dark to experience the mantas. The wait time before entering the water is intentional, as the manta experience does not begin until after sunset. Most guests appreciate the additional time on the water and the chance to enjoy both snorkeling and the sunset as part of the overall experience, so we're disappointed that it didn't meet your expectations. We do appreciate your feedback and wish you all the best during the rest of your travels. With aloha, Manta Adventures Hawaii
The day of our trip we found the boat was very crowded. The snacks they provided was one pineapple cut up for the whole boat. Probably 40 or so people. We got to the snorkel site and had to wait about 45 minutes before we got in the water. Yes we saw Manta Ray's and enjoyed that. But the whole trip felt more like lets hurry up and get this done than and enjoyable late afternoon/evening on the water.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're glad to hear that you were able to see manta rays and enjoy that portion of the experience. We did want to clarify a few points for future readers. On the evening of your tour, there were 24 guests aboard a vessel that is certified by the United States Coast Guard to carry up to 36 passengers. While we are legally permitted to carry 36 guests, we voluntarily cap our tours at 24 guests to provide a more comfortable experience. Regarding the snacks, we do provide fresh-cut pineapple and bottled water. The pineapple is intended as a light refreshment to help get the saltwater taste out of your mouth between snorkeling sessions rather than serving as a meal. As a commercial vessel, we also provide water, but offering alcoholic beverages is not a practical or legal option for our operation. We're particularly saddened to hear that the trip felt rushed, as one of the things that sets our tour apart is that it is actually longer than many other manta experiences in Kona. We depart before sunset and offer guests the opportunity to snorkel during daylight hours, allowing everyone to test their equipment and become comfortable in the water before the manta portion of the evening. Guests then enjoy the sunset from the boat before returning to the water after dark to experience the mantas. The wait time before entering the water is intentional, as the manta experience does not begin until after sunset. Most guests appreciate the additional time on the water and the chance to enjoy both snorkeling and the sunset as part of the overall experience, so we're disappointed that it didn't meet your expectations. We do appreciate your feedback and wish you all the best during the rest of your travels. With aloha, Manta Adventures Hawaii
Awesome tour! We saw many manta rays and Karen and Captain Dan were awesome as well! They took care of everyone very well!
We absolutely loved our experience with Manta Adventures. The staff, Captain Corey, with First mates Karen and CJ, had everything covered from the time we checked in, until the time we stepped off the boat. They were thorough and explained everything we needed to know clearly. Our safety was their first and foremost concern and they covered every aspect about that. Once on board, we headed out of the marina, only to be escorted by a pod of spinner dolphins, right on cue. What a show they put on. It was a little windy that day so our ride was a little rough, no problem though. Once we arrived at the site, we snorkeled for about a half hour of so, then we all got out and enjoyed sliced pineapple. First mate CJ is an artist when it comes to slicing and presenting pineapple. Nice job buddy! The sun was starting to set so the staff got the viewing boards in the water and helped everyone get their wet suits and snorkel gear on. When it was showtime, one by one, we worked our way down the ladder and swam to the viewing boards. Once the lights were turned on, the mantas knew it was feeding and showtime. Once we had our masks in the water, we immediately had mantas so close to our faces, it seemed like they were going to rub on us, which did happen a couple times, It’s called a kiss. You are not allowed to reach out and touch them, but if they touch you, it’s special. Our ride back to the marina was much smoother, with a lot of chatter about our experiences. Karen and CJ, did a great job entertaining the group with their stories and experiences. A most wonderful and memorable experience for us and we most certainly would recommend this tour to anyone wanting to do a nighttime manta snorkel tour. Great job Corey, CJ and Karen!
A truly incredible evening that is one-of-a-kind and a must do. Yesterday, our family did the “Manta Adventures” Night Snorkeling with the Mantas Rays. The Mantas were out in full force. I counted 10 at one time gliding and spinning in front of us. Book with this group as they are safe, knowledgeable, and do things to keep the environment safe. Captain Libby and First Mate Karen made the evening even more enjoyable. They know their s**t . If you get them you should consider yourself extremely lucky.
