Getting up close and personal with manta rays under the stars is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many. But before you book your tour, it’s important to check a few things off the list.
The first is to understand what makes snorkeling with manta rays at night so unique. Then you can find the perfect tour for your trip!
1. Check the Weather
In the waters around the kona snorkeling tours coast, you’ll see mantas with wingspans up to 18 feet. This unique tour lets you witness these graceful creatures at their most active in the dark of night, when they gather to feed on plankton accumulated by LED lights on the bottom. Many tour participants report this to be one of the most magical experiences of their lives.
The earliest manta ray night dives begin before sunset, so you can enjoy a front-row seat to one of Hawaii’s glorious Hawai’ian sunsets on the way to the snorkel site. Once you’re suited up and ready to go, your guide will turn off the boat engines and guide you into the water. You’ll be able to get into your rhythm as you glide through the dark ocean, letting the glow of the underwater lights illuminate your path.
Your tour will typically spend about 30 to 45 minutes in the water as you watch manta rays dance gracefully around the light pillars. You’ll often be able to see as many as a dozen of these beautiful creatures, and you can expect to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience with them.
The water temperatures on the Big Island are warm even at night, and you’ll be provided with a wet suit and life jacket to protect you from the cold. Most tour operators will also supply you with all the necessary snorkeling equipment like fins, masks, and snorkels. It’s important to avoid rubbing the manta rays as you swim around them, since they have a protective coating on their skin that can be compromised by human contact. You should also refrain from touching or feeding the manta rays as well.
2. Check Your Snorkeling Skills
The Big Island is teeming with marine life, but none are more awe-inspiring than the manta rays. These gentle giants of the ocean converge in the deep waters off of Kona’s coast to feed, making them the perfect subject for a magical snorkeling experience. Despite their size, they are incredibly graceful and approachable in the water, with their wings gliding just inches from snorkelers as they perform their acrobatic ballet. But before you set your sights on a manta ray night dive, it’s important to know if you have the necessary skills to participate in this adventure.
During a manta ray night dive, you’ll be suspended in the water on a modified surfboard with rope “handles” going around the perimeter of the board. You’ll hang on to these handles Superman-style, and in the middle of the board are holes that hold LED lights that attract plankton (which is what the mantas love to eat). With 9-10 guests per board, you can expect a 30-40 minute experience in the water, giving you plenty of time to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime encounter with these amazing creatures.
Although you don’t need a full snorkeling gear, it’s still important to be comfortable swimming in open water and have basic snorkeling skills before you embark on this adventure. If you aren’t sure if you have the skills to take on this activity, consider participating in a morning or afternoon snorkel first to gain confidence and develop your skills.
Manta rays are sensitive to human disturbance, so it’s crucial that you and any travel companions remain mindful in their presence. The Manta Trust has created an exemplary short film you can watch before your trip to learn more about how to respect these extraordinary creatures and their habitat.
3. Check Your Equipment
One of the most memorable experiences a scuba diver can have is to witness the graceful and serene dance of Manta Rays in their natural habitat, under the starry Hawaiian sky. A manta ray night snorkel in Kona is often considered the adventure of a lifetime, and many previous travelers have raved about the surreal feeling of being surrounded by these gentle giants as they float and feed beneath your feet.
Before you embark on your Manta Ray night dive in Kona, make sure you have all of the proper equipment. You will need a full set of scuba or snorkel gear including wetsuits or rash guards for warmth, and a bright dive light to help attract the mantas while you explore their underwater world. You should also bring a waterproof camera or dive case to capture these incredible moments of nature’s beauty.
Once you are suited up, it is time to board your boat and head out to the site of your adventure. Your tour operator will provide all of the necessary safety gear for you, and you will typically be escorted by professional guides as they take you to the snorkel location. Once you are there, you will enter the water and assume a position in the circle of the other divers, all with their own brightly-colored dive lights to attract the mantas. It is important to keep in mind that these creatures are wild animals, and it is imperative not to come into physical contact with them as their gills and body are covered with bacteria that can easily compromise your health.
After 30-45 minutes in the water, your guide will lead you back to the boat and you can relive this once-in-a-lifetime experience as you ride the stunning sunset back to shore. The Manta Ray Night Dive in Kona is an unforgettable experience that you will want to tell all of your friends and family about when you get home.
4. Check the Schedule
A manta ray night dive is an unforgettable experience, and one that is very different from a normal snorkel or scuba dive. For those that are new to diving, this is a great way to get to know these majestic creatures in a safe environment while learning the ropes and gaining confidence.
You’ll start off the night with a briefing from your guide as you set off along tranquil waters, transforming instantly into another world beneath the billions of stars that shine over Kona at night. The marine life is often found within inches of snorkelers and divers, but careful guidelines are followed so as not to disturb these gentle giants in their natural habitat.
After the briefing, you’ll head down to the water, where strobe lights will illuminate the sea floor, attracting plankton for the mantas to feed on. After 30-45 minutes in the water, depending on the sea conditions and manta ray feeding behavior, you’ll head back to the boat and enjoy a front-row seat for a beautiful Kona sunset as you cruise back to the harbor.
The best time to see mantas in Keauhou Bay is at night, so you can be sure that you’ll have a unique experience on your manta ray night dive in Kona. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you won’t want to miss!
If you’re looking to get away from the crowds, try a late night manta ray tour with Kona Style. They depart at 8:30pm, after most of the day boats have left for their manta ray encounters. This will give you a much more secluded experience while saving you some money! Plus, they’ll treat you to hot cocoa and cookies on the ride back to the dock!
5. Check the Conditions
During the day, you may see mantas in the ocean around Garden Eel Cove. But once the sun sets, this area becomes a feeding zone for these gentle giants of the sea. As you snorkel, you will be mesmerized by the graceful dance they perform as they feed on the microscopic phytoplankton in the dark waters of the Big Island.
In order to enjoy this experience, it is important that you book your tour early during your vacation. This will give you a chance to check recent sightings, weather forecasts, and to cancel your tour with enough notice if conditions aren’t ideal. The best time to go is in the winter, when mantas tend to be most abundant.
Once you arrive at the tour site, your guide will give a safety briefing. Then, you will suit up and head out into the water. You will enter the water just before sunset, so you can enjoy a front-row seat to one of the Big Island’s breathtaking sunsets. Once darkness falls, you will dive toward a floating light board that attracts plankton and draws the mantas in for a close-up view.
While you are in the water, your guide will point out various marine life and answer any questions that you might have. You will spend 30-45 minutes in the water, depending on sea conditions and manta ray feeding behavior.
When you are ready to return to shore, your guide will lead you back to the boat. You will then enjoy a warm beverage and snacks before making the short trip back to the harbor. If you have any motion sickness concerns, it is a good idea to take your seasickness medication before heading out on the water.