Keauhou Manta Ray Night Snorkel: An Intimate Encounter with Gentle Giants in Kailua-Kona
4.8
1,774 Ratings
Kailua-Kona
Experience an intimate encounter with gentle giants on the Keauhou Manta Ray Night Snorkel in Kailua-Kona. Avoid the crowds and long boat rides for a unique and unforgettable experience!
Duration: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • 78-7138 Kaleiopapa St - 13 Guest Max!
    3 minute boat ride to the manta rays from our harbor!

Most other boats carry about 20 to 60 people & have a 30 minute boat ride to & from the manta site. Avoid all the extra people & long boat ride; join us!

20 minutes is allocated to prepare guests before going out on the boat.
Snorkel time is approximately 30 minutes, not exact. Time with a Manta Rays in water is unknown, we can’t control wildlife. The number of Manta Rays we will see is different every day.

experienced In-water swim guide, Captain & Lifeguard are stationed at the viewing site, with light board, underwater dive lights, & Manta Rays anticipating your arrival.

You will float on the surface of the water, snorkeling, while holding on to our custom light board. The light board attracts plankton, and in turn the manta rays enjoy swimming close by in order to scoop up the concentrated accumulation of food in the lights below you.

All guests must have basic swimming skills to enter the water.

Delays due happen.
Which could be minutes late to an hour late in RARE occasions
This is just the nature of this specific type of tour with any operator. due to Weather, Boat Traffic at dock, manta ray activity

What's Included
  • Water adventures
  • Expert in-water guide and lifeguard services
  • Complimentary use of snorkeling equipment and wetsuit
What's Not Included
  • Wetsuit & Lifejacket are optional. NOT required to do the tour
  • Gratuity for the crew if you’d like to tip
Additional Information

Limited to just 13 guests and a mere 3-minute boat ride, our experience is truly unique! Other boats typically carry 20 to 60 passengers and require a 30-minute boat ride from another harbor to reach the mantas. Skip the large groups and lengthy boat journeys. Join us instead!

Swimming and snorkeling skills are a prerequisite. You should be able to swim a short way to our snorkel board and be capable of independently ascending a boat ladder at the side. Your understanding of English is crucial for following instructions and safety guidelines.

The opportunity to snorkel with Kona manta rays is not to be missed. The sight of these tranquil giants swimming gracefully before your eyes is something you’ll always remember.

The package includes a Captain, lifeguard and lifeguard service.

Please note that there can be delays. Circumstances may cause us to be a few minutes or even an hour late OCCASSIONALLY. This is a characteristic of this type of tour and is the same for any operator. Delays can be due to Weather, Boat Traffic at dock, or manta ray activity.

Run by a family, this business believes in teaching the significance of preserving our land, sea, fauna, and our relationship with one another.

  • Basic swimming skills are required
  • Previous snorkeling experience is required
  • Guests must be able to independently climb up a boat ladder
  • Guest must be able to converse in English to understand verbal instructions and safety briefings
  • Your safety is our priority! If you or anyone in your group would like a lifejacket please contact our reservation line.
  • Please call to confirm availability before purchasing
  • Not recommended for those who have recently undergone surgery or who may have mobility/physical restrictions.
Location
78-7138 Kaleiopapa St
Kaleiopapa Street
The TIME you book is CHECK IN TIME arrive at wetsuit van. Address is 78-7138 Kaleiopapa Street. Look for "Hawaii Island Ocean Tours & Kona Snorkel Tours" White Van by the Outrigger Hotel entrance. Park Free along road, NO parking in the long narrow stalls designated for vehicles w/boat trailers.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(1774 Ratings)
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Gemma_n
Jun 24, 2024
Totally unique and incredible experience - Amazing experience! Captain Mark, Jake and the rest of the crew were amazing and the interaction with the mantas was next level! Absolute must do activity if you are in Kona (and snorkeling in the dark isn’t as scary as you think it is).
Review provided by Viator
Gena_t
Jun 23, 2024
Great excursion! - Friendly staff, knowledgeable guides, and had lots of fun! It was a beautiful experience. The mantas were amazing!
Review provided by Viator
Adele_r
Jun 22, 2024
awesome experience - an awesome experience! great crew! i just wished the vest & mask at least are included with the amount we paid for the tour
Review provided by Viator
Joshua_w
Jun 21, 2024
Exciting snorkel with mantas - Exciting activity. Beautiful mantas approach and get very close. Tour operator was well-organized and have the tours going like clockwork. Bins were helpfully provided to store your belongings while on the boat and in the water.
Review provided by Viator
I9217tejenniferb
Jun 21, 2024
They care for the animals and the passengers! - Obviously, being near manta rays gliding and flipping through the water was mesmerizing and magical, definitely DO IT! I need to add that this staff is fantastic! They are careful and respectful of the rays and other sea life. They are willing to relocate the board (even while we all held on) to give us all the best opportunity at setting many rays. We had an unusual event that needs a shout out: one of my sons cut his foot earlier in the day, but his flip flops were aggravating it, causing it to bleed. When the staff saw the cut, they wouldn't let him in the boat. (They were all concerned that he could contract a staff infection from the water.) While we waited for the rest of our family to do the swim, 2 staff members at the van shared experiences and ideas. My son and I came back 2 days later, with his cut taken care of and were able to get in the water with rays. They were a little challenging to get a hold of by phone to reschedule, but everything worked out great!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kristi_b
Jun 20, 2024
Amazing Manta ray night snorkle - It was such a memorable experience! I will ALWAYS do this excursion when I go to the Big Island! The crew was very experienced and knowledgeable too!
Review provided by Viator
Lillian_a
Jun 19, 2024
Had a great time saw lots of mantas the guides were excellent - Watching the manta rays feeding up close and personal was beyond amazing Our guides were excellent and very helpful to those who needed it
Review provided by Viator
B6702rdjimm
Jun 19, 2024
What are you waiting for? Book this excursion!! - We had an amazing encounter with 6 manta rays! The crew were professional, knowledgeable and fun! This was by far the highlight of our trip to the Big Island of Hawaii. Stop reading my review and book this trip already!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jennifer_m
Jun 19, 2024
Amazing with a couple suggestions - Amazing experience 10/10 recommend-one note though- 13-15 was too many for the board. I got knocked HARD by the people around me. 10 would’ve fit around the board - but a packed group made it a bit challenging. Quality experience over cramming a bunch in a group.
Review provided by Viator
Xinruy2021
Jun 17, 2024
Bad luck with 6:20pm time - The experience is really disappointing because it nearly doubled the price from three years ago, yet the creature was not seen. (Someone said they saw one quickly swim by at the edge of sight but I hardly saw anything) I know there’s chance to see, and we cannot predict wild animals. But I don’t think it is a good strategy to over promise and charge 6:20 the same price as other times when you know the chances of 6:20 is lower. I called them to ask about the possibility and they relied “we won’t schedule it if we don’t think the chance is high”. But how does “high chance” turns into seeing nothing? I think the experience is also frustrating because the training was not there for the customers. There were more than one people that kept screaming, making noises, disturbing from the beginning till the end yet no crew member stopped this inappropriate behaviors. Manta rays will be scared away upon hearing such noises and screams. This is something basic that the crew should educate people beforehand, but they didn’t. It also asked for $5 for renting wetsuit and $5 for life jackets unless you can show proof that your booking includes them both. I think this just adds extra burden to customers as normally activities like these always offer them for free. It didn’t mention in the reservation about extra fees either. All of it happened when you were already at the spot, which seemed very arbitrary. I don’t know what would be charged next, mask?
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 13 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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