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Adults$115.00 + tax & fees
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Children$95.00 + tax & fees
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Ride alongs$75.00 + tax & fees
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Infants (Infant, Baby, Toddler)$50.00 + tax & feesAge 2 yrs and under
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Private Charters$4,000.00 + tax & fees
Big Island Manta Ray Night Snorkel Tour
3 Hours
All Ages
74-425 Kealakehe Pkwy, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
About this tour
Join us for an unforgettable evening adventure on the Kona coast! With guaranteed manta ray sightings or a free return trip, your experience is sure to be magical. As we depart from Honokohau Harbor, our crew will share fascinating facts about manta rays and guide you through the essentials of your trip. As night falls, the ocean transforms with glowing green lights, attracting manta rays that glide gracefully beneath you, performing acrobatic flips as they feast on plankton.
Included in the price: snorkel gear, wet suit, flotation devices, drinks, snacks, and hot chocolate. Don’t forget to bring a towel, dry clothes, and your camera for this amazing night!
- Beautiful Moonlight Tour
- Two Evening Tour Times Operating Daily
- Snacks and Hot Beverages Provided
- Snorkeling Equipment Included (Mask, Snorkel, and Fins)
- Knowledgeable Guides Share Fun Manta Ray Facts
- Comfortable Cabin And Boat
- 40-45 Minutes in the Water
- Ride-Alongs For Infants And Young Children Allowed
This is one of the coolest adventures you will ever have: go for an unforgettable evening swim with Manta Rays! Let the stars above illuminate the sea as these gentle ocean creatures glide through the water. Your swim with rays is guaranteed to be an evening of marine magic. The tour provides the mask, snorkel, and fins, so after gearing up, you will have about 40-45 minutes in the water to marvel at these majestic creatures.
Moonlight snorkeling tours take place off the Kona coast. Board the boat at the Honokohau Marina near Kailua-Kona. After a safety briefing, friendly guides provide an educational overview of the Manta Rays and explain their habits, biology, and anything else you want to know about these diamond-shaped skates as you motor to the snorkeling destination. Once there, the strobe lights from the boat will illuminate the water, attracting plankton, which attracts the rays to feed. Get in the water, and you will be breathtakingly close to these gentle giants, unlike any other snorkeling experience you’ve had!
This 2-hour 30-minute boat and snorkel tour will be the highlight of your Hawaiʻi vacation! Tours run from the harbor near Kailua-Kona every night and offer two launch-time choices for your convenience. Pack a towel, a change of clothes, and a camera – the snorkel gear and fins are included!
- Included: Mask, fins, snorkel, wet suit, flotation devices, dry
- You should bring: Towel, Jacket/Sweatshirt/Dry Clothes since you’re on a boat at night sometimes it’s chilly when you’re wet.
4:45 PM to 8:00 PM
2.5-hour boat tour
Moonlight Manta Ray Night Snorkel Tour
7:45 PM to 11:00 PM
2.5-hour boat tour
Please email or contact us about availability as this tour is based upon the phases of the moon.
Tour's Location
Frequently asked questions
What does OE1, OE2 & OE3 mean for manta ray night snorkel when booking?
Those are the different boats that will go out each night. They range between OE1 at 29 guests, OE2 at 19 guests & OE3 at 20 guests. Typically all bookings will use our OE1 boat and then spill over to the others based upon availability. You will receive the same quality service no matter which boat you choose in the system.
Are you doing a moon phase tour with the full moon? Do you offer private tours with the full moon in the early morning hours?
Although there are things that impact marine life during full moon and new moon phases that may draw additional marine life closer to shore, we typically do not see a difference during those times to warrant specific tours. The best hours remain when our tours go out due to patterns and behaviors followed by the local marine population. We do offer private charters when boats are available. Please contact a team member about your group size.
What Do I Bring?
We will have water and sodas as well as some dry snacks for you but you are free to bring anything else you want to eat and drink. Bring your bathing suit and a towel and if you have your own personal snorkel equipment or flotation feel free to bring those things with you if you prefer. Children under 36 inches tall and infants need to bring their own life jacket. Don’t forget to bring your Camera!
What Is The Difference Between The Earlier Night Snorkel Tour And The Moonlight Tour?
When it comes to the itinerary of the tour and seeing manta rays, these tours are the same. The later tour moonlight tour is less desirable for children due to the later hours. The moonlight tour takes place in complete darkness from start to finish whereas the evening tour takes place as the sun is setting.
What If We Do Not See Any Manta Rays?
It is very rare that we do not see manta rays however, if that is the case, you are able to book another tour during your vacation free of charge. It is subject to availability.
Are we able to feed the manta rays?
No. The manta rays come near the boat because they are following the plankton that is illuminated by the lights on the boat. They are feeding themselves and keeping the life cycle balanced.
Will I get bitten or stung by a manta ray?
No. These are gentle creatures who do not go after humans.
We are interested in manta ray snorkel, however, does it require to have swimming skills?
Basic swimming skills are useful but not required as you will have various floating devices available to keep at the surface. Laying face down with a snorkel and mask, you donʻt have to move at all as manta rays come to you, eating the plankton that gather in the bright floating lights you hold.
Do you have to wear a wet suit?
No, you don’t have to wear a wetsuit but the water is cool and you will be floating on the surface as the manta rays will come to you if you are still. The wet suit will help keep your body at the surface and warm giving you the best chance to get close to a manta ray.
Do you have wetsuits for plus sized women?
We have wet suits for sizes up to 350 lbs. They are unisex and a one size fits all cut.
Can we wear life jackets in the water if we aren’t great swimmers?
A lifejacket's purpose is to keep your head out of the water so it would not be good for use on this tour. The other gear your boat's crew provides will help you stay afloat and comfortable while enjoying the experience.
