Widely recognized as one of the top underwater adventures in the world, swimming with majestic manta rays in the night waters off of Kona is a thrilling and beautiful experience. Attracted to the abundance of plankton in the area, these large creatures (some up to 15 feet wide) gracefully glide in and out of darkness, turning cartwheels as they feed, creating what has been called “the manta ray ballet.” These are harmless creatures, lacking the stingers of its stingray cousins or sharp teeth.
Conveniently located just minutes from the "Manta Ray Village" site and next door to the Outrigger Kona Resort (formerly Sheraton), you will depart from Keauhou Harbor on a spacious trimaran. After hearing an informative briefing by the crew, you will enter the water, holding on to a specially designed manta ray flotation device virtually the entire time. You'll float while using the provided snorkeling equipment to keep your eyes ready for when these gentle giants swoop in to feed on the microscopic plankton that the flotation lights attract, sometimes just inches from your face. After approximately 45 minutes, you'll come back onboard for some light snacks and hot cocoa & tea, and giddy from having the underwater experience of a lifetime!
The Evening version (starts 6/6:30 pm, depending on time of year) is offered first on a date, and when that is sold out (or close to), then the Night version (starts 8:30/9 pm) is also available to book. Therefore, if booking well in advance, you'll likely only see the Evening version, whereas if you are booking closer to the date, you may only generally see the Night version. They are essentially the same tour experience, with the small difference being the Evening one is associated with sunset, whereas the Night one does not have sunset but tends to be less crowded (both on this boat, and in terms of the number of boats in the area). You can see the exact departure time during checkout, with check-in 30 minutes prior.
WHY WE RECOMMEND THIS TOUR OVER OTHERS
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5 out of 5 stars
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On the rare occasion that no manta rays are seen (they are seen on 92%+ of nights), guests may try again another night at no charge provided it is within 7 days and there is available space. Advance reservations are required. For this reason, and also in case of a weather cancellation, it is recommended to book a date early in your trip. The guarantee does not apply to Ride Alongs. No refunds are provided if no manta rays are seen.
Yes, please mention at check-in, and you can also leave a note at online checkout.
Yes, and most people wear them (included), but they are optional. Shorties are used that are easy to put on, and there are all sizes from extra small child to adults 5XL. More specifically, women sizes go up to 22 (220-230 lbs), after which the men's sizes would work for women. Men's sizes go up to 5XL, which has worked for people over 300 lbs.
Water temperature ranges from 74 degrees (winter) to 81 degrees (summer).
No