Kona Manta Ray Sunset/Night Snorkel or 1-Tank Dive

Experience the breathtaking gentle giants of Kona's coast! According to National Geographic, snorkeling/diving with manta rays are one of the top ten dive sights in the world! Manta rays are considered gentle creatures and harmless to humans – they are filter feeds that have no teeth/bite and have no stingers.

After being outfitted with your gear, we will take you to a spot where the mantas gather to feed in the evening. Equipped with large, custom-built, floating spotlights pointing into the water to attract plankton, snorkelers will float flat on the water by holding onto the sides of these floating lights and use noodles to hold up their feet. For CERTIFIED divers, you'll be kneeling on the sand underneath the lights for a whole new perspective of these giants.

The mantas are then attracted to the gathering of plankton and will pass by under or over you as they feed on the microscopic organisms. You'll watch these elegant creatures perform somersaults and spins as they open their enormous mouths to filter the plankton. Our knowledgeable guides will be able to answer any questions you have before, during, or after the snorkel/dive!

We offer two options: the sunset manta snorkel/dive or late-night moonlight snorkel/dive! The sunset option will allow you to watch the horizon glow as the sun sinks into the water, while the moonlight is a unique offering by only a handful of companies and takes you out over the dark water as the moon peaks!

Duration of Adventure

2.5 hours
Sunset: 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Moonlight: 8:30pm to 11:00pm
Boat ride takes about 20 to 25 minutes and you will be in the water anywhere from 40 to 50 minutes.

Location / Where to Meet

Address: 74-380 Kealakehe Parkway, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

All tours check in at the Honokohau small boat harbor, where there is parking available.

Ages & Requirements

6+ years old to snorkel
No minimum age to dive, just need to be certified
Adults must accompany any minor under 18. If a minor is certified as a scuba diver, the adult must accompany them on the boat but can snorkel while the minor dives.

Must be able to comfortably swim a short distance and float in the ocean
Must be able to climb in and out of the boat using an extended step ladder
Must be scuba certified to dive
For DIVERS, the same restrictions apply as when you got your certification, please consult a doctor ahead of the scheduled dive if you have any concerns.
For DIVERS, there will be a medical questionnaire that must be filled out ahead of the dive. If you answer yes to certain questions, you may be asked to obtain a signed doctor's note clearing you for the activity. The questionnaire often used can also be searched as the PADI/DAN Medical Scuba Statement/questionnaire.

What's Included

Snorkel gear (mask, snorkel, floatation noodle, wetsuits) - Prescription masks up to 3x available
Wetsuits available up to XXL
Professional Snorkel Guides to bring you to the manta rays
Professional scuba guide
Boat ride to the spot
Bottled drinking water
Island Chocolates

Not Included

Gratuity - Never expected but if you have a great experience, please consider gifting 10-25% to your guides and captain!
Scuba equipment (BCDs, Regulators, wetsuit, weights, etc.) rental is an extra fee
Nitrox is available for enriched-air certified divers for an extra fee
If you need a stronger prescription mask than +3
Certifications - This is solely 1 dive for an already certified diver.

What to Bring / Wear

Swimsuit
Towel
Extra layers of clothing - sweatshirts and warm hats
Dry bag
Snacks & Water
Certification cards (plus nitrox certification card if applicable)
Required paperwork - Signed medical form if required, waivers, etc.
Waterproof & Pressure Proof Camera (e.g. GoPros NEED the special DIVE case) - The company is not responsible for any damaged or lost items.
Seasickness medications - If you are prone to sea sickness, it is recommended to take sea sickness medication at least 30 minutes to 1 hour before the scheduled boat time. It is too late to take the medication if you are already sea sick on the boat.
Please remove any jewelry, watches, or anything that can get caught by the equipment or damaged by the water and pressure.

Wildlife Guidelines

You are NOT allowed to touch the manta rays at all. We have different bacteria and viruses than these gentle giants and by touching them, you could be harming them! If they happen to bump you, which is not common, they present no harm to you, just stay still, and let them pass.

FAQs

Are there any health, weight, or experience restrictions?

For SNORKELERS: You must be able to comfortably swim for a short distance and float in the ocean. You must also be able to climb in and out of the boat. If you need a prescription mask stronger than 3x, you must rent one from another shop ahead of the scheduled snorkel time.

For DIVERS: You must be certified to do this dive. Most likely by this point in your certification, you've already been cleared to dive but if you've answered "YES" to any of the questions on the Medical Questionnaire, you will need to provide a physician's signed PADI Medical Statement and Guidelines for Recreational Scuba Divers Physical Examination prior to diving. If you have not consulted with a physician and have a signed document at the time of the dive, you will not be able to dive and the cost will not be refunded.

In both situations, you must be able to climb an extended step ladder back into the boat. Wetsuits and BCDs go up to XXL.

Are the manta rays dangerous?

Manta rays are not dangerous to humans. They have no teeth or ability to bite and though the name is misleading; they do not have any stingers or any way to sting you.

Can I see the mantas if I stay on the boat?

If you choose to stay on the boat, you will have to pay the entire snorkeler fee and whether you can see the mantas will depend on how many people and lights are out there. Also, at times, the guides in the water will move the group to an area with high activity and may be a bit further than you can see well. Truly, the best way to see the mantas is in the water.

Can I fly after diving? **ANY elevation above 1000 FT (305m) is DANGEROUS

Flying directly after scuba diving is incredibly dangerous and could result in a life-threatening illness called the Bends/Decompression Sickness. The Divers Alert Network (DAN) guidelines for flying after diving include:

A single no-decompression dive, a minimum preflight surface or any driving to above 1000ft (305m) interval of 12 hours suggested.
Multiple dives per day or multiple days of diving, a minimum preflight surface or any driving to above 1000ft (305m) interval of 18 hours is suggested.
Dives requiring decompression stops are recommended to have longer than 18 hours.

Please discuss with your dive guide ahead of time what is suggested!

DO NOT DRIVE BACK TO HILO OR SOUTH OF CAPTAIN COOK after diving! The roads enter unsafe elevations after diving, so please treat driving to other parts of the island as you would a pre-flight surface interval.

Can I bring a camera?

You are welcome to bring a camera as a snorkeler but you must keep the camera floating with you on the surface, you cannot touch or get too close to the mantas with your camera, you must be able to swim comfortable with your camera, and you must still be able to hold on to the floating lights while filming.

You are welcome to bring a camera as a diver, but it is your responsibility to ensure it is in a DIVE safe case. Pressure increases when you descend and although it doesn't feel all that different to you, it will affect your camera. To be safe, a case certified to 60 feet or 18 meters is a good idea!

GoPros, for example, have a specific, clear dive housing that is rated to bring them to depth. The case must be more than just waterproof, also depth and pressure proof. The company is not responsible for any damaged or lost equipment.

What about sharks?

Sharks hunt at dusk and dawn and therefore rarely, if ever, seen on tours. They are simply wild animals that also share the ocean, but most often people rarely see them. The most common sharks to spot are small reef sharks that prefer to immediately leave the presence of people and boats and tend to be harmless towards people.

Scuba Diving Adventures