Manta Ray Night Snorkel & Coastal Boat Ride

While we see manta rays about 92% of the time and expect sightings nightly, they are wild animals and encounters can’t be guaranteed. In the rare event we don’t see any manta rays, we offer you a free return trip on any available tour. Our manta ray snorkel tours often sell out days in advance, so we recommend booking early in your stay on the Big Island to allow flexibility for a possible second trip.

Manta rays frequently glide just inches beneath you as they feed, but touching them is strictly prohibited to protect the animals and ensure a respectful interaction.

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.

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).

The boat ride is 20-30 minutes, depending on the manta site we visit and the ocean conditions.

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.

You can snorkel with a beard or mustache but it can prevent a tight seal between the mask and your face, which may cause water to leak in. It is often recommended to shave at least your mustache before diving. If you’d prefer not to shave your mustache, please bring petroleum jelly or chapstick with you. If you coat your mustache in that chapstick or jelly, it may be able to seal and prevent water from getting in.

Not at all. Manta rays are some of the most peaceful creatures you’ll ever encounter in the ocean. They don't have stingers, barbs, or teeth, and they feed exclusively on microscopic plankton. Even though they have wide mouths for filter feeding, they pose no threat to humans. They can’t bite or sting, and they're entirely uninterested in people—just graceful giants gliding through the water.

You can’t wear glasses with a snorkel mask, but contacts are totally fine and often the best option for seeing clearly underwater. If you have a prescription mask, feel free to bring it—rental shops typically don’t carry them. Fun fact: everything appears about 25% larger and closer underwater, which helps visibility a bit even without correction, but for the sharpest view, contacts or a custom mask will give you the best results.

The later it gets, the darker it is—and that’s usually when manta sightings are at their best. The darkest tours of the night tend to attract the most plankton to our floating lights, which in turn draws in more manta rays. These late-night trips are also typically less crowded, making for a more peaceful experience.That said, manta rays are often seen on all tours starting at sunset and beyond. If you're a beginner, bringing kids, or feeling nervous about being in the ocean after dark, the earlier sunset tours are a great option. There's still enough twilight to help you feel comfortable, while still offering a great chance to see mantas up close.

Yes, you can bring your own mask and snorkel, but please leave your fins at home. You are not allowed to wear fins at all. They can easily hit the manta rays and you'll be floating calmly at the surface without swimming around. Fins aren’t needed and are actually discouraged for everyone’s safety.

After entering the water, you will have a short swim to the floating light platform with an in-water guide watching over you. Once at the platform you will hold on to the sides and place a floating noodle by your ankles to keep your feet up/keep you horizontal. There is no swimming, just floating after this.

No—touching is a big no-no. Manta rays have a protective mucus layer on their skin that keeps them healthy, and human contact can damage that layer, introducing harmful bacteria or causing infections. They’re wild animals, and our goal is to observe them respectfully without interfering. Let them glide peacefully around you—they may come incredibly close, but resist the urge to reach out.

Yes, as long as it’s in a fully waterproof housing and can be kept close to your body. Leave selfie sticks and long poles on the boat—they can pose a hazard to the mantas since the rays don’t have great visibility directly in front of them. You also need to be able to float calmly and hold onto the light board at all times, so if the camera affects your ability to stay still, your guide may ask you to leave it behind for the safety of the animals.

Shark encounters are extremely rare during these tours. Most sharks are active hunters at dawn and dusk, and they generally avoid the commotion of snorkelers and lights. If you do happen to see one, it’s likely a small reef shark, which are shy, non-aggressive, and typically swim away as soon as they detect people nearby. They’re part of the ecosystem but pose no danger during a night snorkel.

TripOutside recommends knowing how to swim before snorkeling, but participation is ultimately up to you and the tour operator's discretion.

• Check ocean conditions and only snorkel at lifeguarded beaches. The chance of rescue is much higher with trained lifeguards present.
• Never snorkel alone. Always bring a buddy. Beginners should consider booking a guided tour.
• Rest after flying. Flying can dehydrate and exhaust you—give your body at least a day to acclimate before snorkeling.
• Test your gear on land or in a pool first. Make sure your mask fits snugly, you can breathe through the snorkel, and you know how to clear water if needed.
• Practice with fins. You should be able to scissor kick while swimming. Avoid doggie paddling—it won’t get you far.
• Don’t wear fins on land. Walk into the water, get past the waves, then put your fins on. Remove them before exiting.
• Take it slow. Breathe calmly, relax, and avoid overexertion to keep your heart rate low.
• Know your limits. If you’re feeling tired, anxious, or unsure about conditions, skip the snorkel session. Panic in the water is dangerous.
• Stay aware of currents and tides. Even experienced swimmers can get pulled out. Know how to identify rip currents and how to escape them (swim parallel to shore).