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An intimate experience with a maximum of 12 guests and your guide.
We provide snorkel gear and a wetsuit. Just bring your suit and towel.
We see manta rays about 92% of the time. We expect to see manta rays every night, but they are wild animals and we don’t see them in rare instances. In the rare instances when we don’t see manta rays, we offer a free trip on any other available tour. Our manta ray snorkel tours typically sell out many days in advance, so we always recommend booking this tour early in your stay on The Big Island.
Yes!
The earliest tour of the night departs before sunset. This means we typically see the sunset on the ride to the manta ray site, and it also means we may enter the water when there’s still a bit of daylight. We recommend this tour for anyone who loves sunsets or is apprehensive about entering the water at night.
The later tours operate in the dark of the night, and we recommend this tour for guests that are seeking the most thrilling option. In addition to being fully dark, the later tours tend to be less crowded as fewer boats are at the manta ray site.
Yes! Everyone who enters the water needs to be able to comfortably swim a minimum of 25 yards in the ocean without a life jacket.
Yes. Our “light board” is a surf board that’s been customized with high-powered lights that attract the plankton manta rays eat. The light board has handles that you will hold onto with your hands. In addition, we also provide foam noodles to assist with floatation for your lower half.
While we always have life jackets on board, we strongly advise NOT to wear a life jacket on this tour. Importantly, life jackets are designed to keep us floating upright with our heads out of the water and our feet dangling down. For this tour, our guests need to be able to float horizontally to avoid kicking the manta rays and endangering them / scaring the manta rays away from our group.
You should be wearing your swim suit when you arrive to the tour, and we recommend brining a towel and light jacket for the boat ride.
The boat ride is 20-30 minutes, depending on the manta site we visit and the ocean conditions.
Manta rays are gentle giants that do not pose a serious threat to humans. Unlike stingrays, for example, they do not have any barbs or stingers.
Please wear your swim suit to the harbor, and bring a towel and a light coverup or jacket. We will provide all the gear that’s required for the tour (light board, snorkel, mask, wetsuit).
We require a minimum of 6 guests to run all tours. Therefore, if we do not reach our minimum, we will offer to rebook you to a different tour or issue a full refund. Alternatively, you can purchase additional tickets to reach the minimum of 6 guests, which will ensure the trip can run.
This tour is appropriate for swimmers between the ages of 7 and 70.
You can cancel this tour for a full refund up to 24 hours before the tour time.
If we cancel for any reason (weather or otherwise), you will be offered a full refund or to be rebooked to a different date and time.
We’re proud members of the Manta Ray Advocates green list for manta ray tour operators.
Manta rays, often referred to as “gentle giants,” can reach wingspans of up to 17 feet yet remain harmless filter-feeders. They thrive on plankton attracted to bright lights in the water, creating a naturally choreographed underwater ballet that unfolds right before your eyes. As you float on the surface, you’ll witness these majestic creatures gliding within inches of you—a close encounter few places on Earth can offer.
Kailua-Kona is celebrated as one of the world’s top snorkeling destinations, especially after dark. Thanks to the region’s clear waters and abundant marine life, you’ll have a front-row seat to the manta rays’ graceful acrobatics. It’s a truly must-do activity for any adventurous traveler seeking an authentic Hawaiian experience.
Your journey begins the moment you meet the professional captain and crew at the harbor. They bring extensive local knowledge, years of marine life expertise, and a commitment to safety. From the moment you board the comfortable RHIB boat, you’ll be guided through every step of this exhilarating adventure.
After a short boat ride to the snorkel site, you’ll slip into the water under the Hawaiian stars. The high-powered light board illuminates the ocean, drawing plankton—and, in turn, hungry manta rays—to the surface. You’ll float peacefully as these mesmerizing creatures perform an underwater dance, looping and swooping in the glow.
This experience is both thrilling and humbling, offering a glimpse into the ocean’s magnificent biodiversity. Many travelers consider the manta ray night snorkel a highlight of their Hawaiian vacation, cementing its reputation as the top activity on the Big Island.
Immerse yourself in one of the world’s most captivating wildlife encounters—a must for anyone compiling a list of the planet’s greatest bucket-list experiences. This deal includes the entire package: boat ride, guide services, snorkeling gear, and an unforgettable encounter with Hawaii’s majestic manta rays.
Reserve your spot on Coral Reef Adventures’ Manta Ray Night Snorkel Tour today and discover firsthand why so many travelers call this the highlight of their trip to the Big Island. After your snorkel, you’ll carry the memory of swimming alongside these gentle giants long after you’ve returned home. It’s a story you’ll be sharing for years to come—so come aboard and let us help you create a Hawaiian memory that will last a lifetime!
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