Have the opportunity to admire wild manta rays in their natural habitat on this evening cruise. Set sail after dark, when the manta rays come out to feed on plankton, and use a custom-made lightboard that attracts the rays. Float through the warm waters for up to 40 minutes, use your snorkel to watch as the rays swim and feed, and learn more about the majestic creatures from your guide.

Small boat lets you get closer without disturbing the manta rays
Certified in-water guides focus on a safe and non-intrusive experience
Warm up with included hot drinks and snacks on the boat
Intimate small-group experience with a maximum of six people

What's Included

Use of Snorkeling Equiptment and Wetsuit
Snacks
Certified In-Water Guide and Lifeguard

Gratuities

Departure & Return

Departure Point

78-7138 Kaleiopapa St
78-7138 Kaleiopapa St, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
Please arrive on time for the start of your tour. Address is 78-7138 Kaleiopapa Street. Look for our white van near the boat launches down from the Outrigger Hotel. Parking is free along the side of the road. AVOID parking in the long skinny narrow stalls designated for vehicles w/boat trailers.

Return Details

This activity will end right where it started.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
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
Our Manta Policy: Manta Rays are wild animals and Hawaii Island and Ocean Tours cannot guarantee their presence. If a manta ray is not seen on your night out with us you may try again on a different night, or on your next visit. Guests who purchased tickets at our full online booking price may come back out again for free. Tickets purchased through a 3rd party (such as TripAdvisor/Viator/Expedia...etc) or at a discounted rate may join again for an additional $30 per person. Please keep in mind that seats may be extremely limited during certain times of the year. We usually are very successful in finding mantas for you; however if they decide to take the night off the costs involved with setting up the charter will not allow us to offer you a refund. We appreciate your business and understanding of this policy.
Not recommended for those who have recently undergone surgery or who may have mobility/physical restrictions.
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

about cancellations.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

Q:What is the policy on sanitization during Keauhou Manta Ray Night Snorkel in Kailua-Kona, HI?

A:The policies on sanitization are:

Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized

Q:What is the social distancing policy during Keauhou Manta Ray Night Snorkel in Kailua-Kona, HI?

A:The policy on social distancing is:

Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons

Q:What measures are being taken to ensure staff health & safety during Keauhou Manta Ray Night Snorkel in Kailua-Kona, HI?

A:The policies on staff health & safety are:

Guides required to regularly wash hands
Regular temperature checks for staff

Traveler Photos

Traveler Tips

There a few of these tours and I would highly recommend this one as it is very small groups and makes the experience so much better.

We went at 11pm and it was so worth it.

It was a once in a lifetime experience and I recommend this with a full heart

Reviews

5.0

780 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 780 reviews

Worth every penny

Marti_C, Aug 2022

Staff was great, very knowledgeable and friendly. The hot chocolate at the end of the tour was amazing.

A lot of rays

Irina_T, Aug 2022

We saw a lot of manta rays very close to us. It was a memorable experience. Our guide was attentive and informative.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thanks for joining us Irina. It's great to hear that you enjoyed the tour and our in-water guide Kelly. Mahalo for the review and we hope to see everyone again. Aloha.

Great experience watching Manta Ray

Yan_L, Aug 2022

Small group and had great equipment and a nice wetsuit. Our group had a great experience watching Manta Ray.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thanks for joining us Yan. We are excited to hear that you enjoyed the tour and our small group sizes. Mahalo for the review and we hope to see everyone back out again. Aloha.

We will book through this company again! So Perfect!

paigeculler, Aug 2022

Very helpful and kind staff! The Manta Rays are always majestic and amazing!!! 6 people at a time so perfect intimate experience and staff was more than willing to answer/all questions! Will do again!

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thank you Paige. It's great to read that you enjoyed the tour and our friendly staff. We appreciate the opportunity we have to share this with others and hope to see everyone back out again. Mahalo for the review and Aloha.

Don't miss this activity.

Anthony_G, Aug 2022

This is truly an outstanding activity. We thought swimming with manatee was fun but having a huge manta ray come right up at the board was amazing. Our 3 adult children and one spouse were with us and they couldn't stop talking about it. The guide gave us plenty of time in the water and we saw numerous manta rays. Everyone with the company was friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend this to anyone traveling to Hawaii.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thank you Anthony. We're thrilled to hear that your group loved the tour and were able to see Kona's friendly mantas up close and personal. Mahalo for the recommendation and for taking the time to leave us a review. We hope to see everyone back out again. Aloha.

LIFE CHANGING! DO IT!

Julie_C, Aug 2022

Such a great experience! The guides/boat driver were friendly and efficient! Don’t think about it, just book it !

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thank you Julie. It was great getting to share a night out snorkeling with you. Mahalo for the review and we hope to see you again. Aloha.

1 traveler found this review helpful

INCREDIBLY AMAZING!!

Luz_B, Aug 2022

One of the most BEAUTIFUL, EXHILARATING, BREATHTAKING experiences you can ever have. Just to witness these massive giants swim gracefully was pure euphoria!!! Do not hesitate , JUST BOOK IT 🔥

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thanks for joining us Luz. We're happy to hear that you loved the mantas just as much as we do. They are magnificent creatures and we are humbled to have the opportunity to share them with others. Mahalo for the review and we hope to see you both again. Aloha

1 traveler found this review helpful

Must do at Kona-most beautiful creature

Xinfei_H, Aug 2022

Once in a lifetime experience. Must do when you are at Kona. This is a small group tour, 6 people or so per trip. The tour operator is very experienced and took very good care of us. While on the sea, they gave us introduction/information on Manta Ray, very beautiful creature. We got to see 5 rays in total, 2 of them came by really close, we can feel their belly brush off our body. Not only we saw so many rays, we also saw school of fishes. Strongly recommend this tour and tour operator.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thanks for sharing Zinfei, It's great to read that you enjoyed the tour and were able to go belly to belly with the best mantas on the planet. We appreciate the opportunity to share this unique adventure with others and are delighted to hear that this was such good experience for you. Mahalo for taking the time to leave us a review and we hope to see everyone again. Aloha.

1 traveler found this review helpful

Great manta encounter.

Bob_R, Aug 2022

Viewing these incredible animals up close. Opportunity for non-divers to experience something divers have been for years.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thanks for snorkeling with us Bob. It was a pleasure having the opportunity to share Kona's friendly mantas with you. Mahalo for the review and we hope to see you both back out again. Aloha.

1 traveler found this review helpful

Best tour ever!

yanhong_z, Aug 2022

Beautiful sunset and amazing manta ray! She touched my hand twice! Wonderful team that taking care of everyone really well!

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thank you Yanhong. We are excited to hear that you enjoyed the tour and even got a little extra manta love while out snorkeling too. Mahalo for the review and we hope to see everyone again. Aloha.

Awesome

Sarah_D, Aug 2022

The manta rays swim right up to you. It's so awesome. My youngest was a little scared at first, but she got over it really quick when the manta rays started swimming under her.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thank you Sarah. It was a pleasure sharing this experience out with you and your family. Mahalo for taking the time to leave us a review and we hope to see you all back out again. Aloha.

Majestic Manta Rays!!

shyrel_w, Aug 2022

Beautiful and Amazing!! Saw quite a few and they get real close!! Captain Daniel, our guide were very knowledgeable and outgoing. Highly recommend!!

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thank you for sharing Shyrel. It's awesome to hear that you enjoyed the tour. Mahalo for the high recommendation and we hope to see you both back out again. Aloha.

A must do on the big Island!!!

Stefanie_D, Aug 2022

It was a very great unique and amazing thing to do! I didn't realize that they will come that close, sometimes they can even touch you a little bit . So beautiful creatures in the wild - there is nothing better!!! Our three guides were very nice and it was great that our group was small with only six people the whole time. I felt safe and taken good care of the entire activity. There were of course many other groups in the water but there was enough to see/plenty of room for everyone.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thanks for sharing Stefanie. It's great to read that you loved the tour and time spent snorkeling with Kona's magnificent mantas. We have an excellent crew who love what they do and enjoy sharing this unique adventure with others. Mahalo for taking the time to leave us a review and we hope to see you both again. Aloha.

Life-changing experience!

Kevin_O, Aug 2022

Unforgettable experience. We stayed in Kona for this very activity. The mantas are so pure and get really close to you as they feed. One even grazed me slightly. The crew was awesome from check-in to getting into the water. Easy, simple, and genuinely kind. Would definitely recommend as we look forward to going again in the future!

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thanks for joining us Kevin. It was a pleasure having you both out with us. I'm pleased to hear that this was such a memorable experience for you. Mahalo for the solid recommendation and we definitely will look forward to seeing the two of you again. Aloha.

Awesome experience. Tour...

Camille_G, Aug 2022

Awesome experience. Tour guides were very knowledgeable and responsible. It was a once in a lifetime experience.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thank you Camille. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and that we were able to share this fun adventure with you. Mahalo for the review and we hope to see you again. Aloha.

Mantas rock!

Deborah_H, Jul 2022

Viewing the mantas was so awesome. The water was calm and Zack (our guide) knew tons of facts to share with our group.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thank you Deborah. We're happy to hear that you enjoyed the tour and interesting manta information provided by Zack. Mahalo for leaving a review and we hope to see everyone back out again. Aloha.

Huge dilution

Michael_R, Jul 2022

My friend from work told me that the open water directly off the airport is the best for sightings. I asked the company and they said they go to the best place. We ended up in the shallow spot and only one manta ray. Unfortunately my initial experience was watching a YouTube video where Many manta rays are approaching. The video showed a large illuminated platform being used with intense light. Our experience was a surfboard. This outfit has invested the minimum to do their business unfortunately.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Aloha Michael, Thank you for sharing. I'm sorry the mantas were not as active on your night out with us. Each night is different and sometimes more mantas are seen at one site versus the other. Being wild animals, they have a mind of their own and come and go as they please. The tour in which you booked was for the southern site known as Keauhou. This site is very consistent and usually has between 1-5 mantas (and sometimes more) that frequently show up. The mantas at Keauhou are super friendly and are known to come up very close to snorkelers. The Keauhou site is also conveniently located close to shore and offers a quick 5-minute boat ride out to the site. If I recall correctly your son was prone to seasickness and that is why the Keauhou site was recommended to you over our other tour which departs from Honokohau harbor. Operators departing from Honokohau harbor can visit the northern site near the Kona Airport, but this normally requires a 20 to 30-minute boat ride to get to. The northern site (known as Garden Eel Cove) is known for having the record number of mantas seen in one given night, but it is also notorious to be hot and cold or go through periods of dry spells where no mantas are seen. The northern site is primarily used by companies taking out scuba divers and the mantas have a tendency to stay down deeper near the divers so the encounters may not be as close for snorkelers. Each company has their own light set up. The majority of us operators use a modified paddleboard/surfboard with lights in the center and handles along the outside edges. This works well for us being that we only take out 6 guests per tour and like to keep our groups small and personal. Other companies using a bigger and more complex setup usually have 18 or more passengers that all get in the water together. Because of the large light setup they are limited to only being able to stay in a certain spot as it is difficult to maneuver a platform with numerous guests hanging onto. The setup in which we use allows us to be more mobile so that we can take guests into shallower or deeper water depending on where the mantas are feeding. We invest in snorkel gear, wetsuits and complimentary refreshments which are all included as part of the tour. Other companies may require you to rent your own equipment, not provide wetsuits or not offer any type of drinks or snacks during their tours. I hope this response provides you and for those reading a better conclusion of our tours and the different manta sites one can go to. Mahalo for your time and we hope to see you both back out again. Sincerely, Ashlie

What an amazing...

Sowmya_B, Jul 2022

What an amazing experience! Definitely worth your time and money- cannot recommend our tour operators more.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thank you Sowmya. We are excited to hear that you enjoyed the tour. Mahalo for the recommendation and we hope to see you both again. Aloha.

Lifetime experience. Crew...

Amit_B, Jul 2022

Lifetime experience. Crew who supported us during tour was awesome. Must do activity on big island!!

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thanks for snorkeling with us Amit. It's great to hear that you enjoyed the tour. Mahalo for the review and we hope to see everyone again. Aloha.

Just Do it!!!!!

Monica_C, Jul 2022

Such an amazing experience. Great company to work with!! I highly recommend this. I saw so many many Manta Rays up close. It was a highlight of my vacation! I felt very safe the whole time. Not scary at all.

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Thanks for snorkeling with us Monica. It's great to hear that you were able to enjoy Kona's gentle giants up close and personal. Mahalo for the high recommendation and we hope to see you again. Aloha.

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Product code: 207056P1

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Keauhou Manta Ray Night Snorkel in Kailua-Kona, HI

From $93.00

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Overview

What's Included

Departure & Return

Departure Point

Return Details

What To Expect

Additional Info

Cancellation Policy

Frequently Asked Questions

Traveler Photos

Traveler Tips

Questions?

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