Manta Ray Adventure: Kona's Best Snorkeling

Experience the thrill of a small group night snorkel with manta rays in Kailua-Kona. Expert crew, stunning underwater views, and a commitment to conservation make this a must-do activity.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights

Experience snorkeling with the renowned Manta Rays alongside the Big Island’s most seasoned captains and tour guides.
Please verify your check-in time directly with the tour provider. Contact the tour provider to ensure your reservation has been accurately received. Check-in time should be no more than 40 minutes and no less than 15 minutes before the…

What's Included
  • Certified In-water Guide/Lifeguard
  • Use of snorkeling equipment
  • Shorty Wetsuit
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Private transportation
  • Prescription Snorkel Mask
Additional Information

Attention to detail, safety, and our expert team make this excursion unique. During this tour, participants can choose to visit either the northern manta site near Kona Airport or explore further south to Keauhou, depending on where the best manta sightings have been reported. Our licensed captains and dedicated guides are committed to ensuring the best…

Location
Snorkel Big Island
Kealakehe Parkway
Honokohau Small Boat Harbor. Coming from Hwy 19, turn West toward the ocean on Kealakehe Pkwy. Take the 1st right turn to enter the North side of the harbor. Follow the road around to a large dirt parking lot. Park near Public Restroom Pavillion.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.8
(441 Ratings)
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1 star
Chris_t
Jun 8, 2025
You should go! - Well worth the time and expense. Wonderful experience, professional and attentive crew, we felt safe and well cared for at all times. The Manta ray came right up to us, within inches! The biggest issue were tourists who can't float, thrashing about and spooking the marine life. The crew got them back in the boat and the rest of us had an awesome time.
Review provided by Viator
Kimberly_f
Jun 2, 2025
It was amazing to see the... - It was amazing to see the Manta Ray eating right under us and the sunset was beautiful on the ride to the cove. Eli was a great host and worked really hard to get the Ray to come over to us. It would have been a better experience if the other participants would have followed the instructions. We were told to use the noodle to keep our feet parallel with the water and do not kick them or the Rays would not come over to us. We had a dad and son that both kept treading water and the Rays avoided us until the end of our time in the water and those 2 participants finally kept their feet up.
Review provided by Viator
Sarah_c
May 21, 2025
Worth every penny - Wow! What an absolutely magical experience. I was overcome with joy and gratitude seeing these majestic beasts swim their dance. Our guides and captain were excellent and well experienced. While it was a mildly scary experience, I felt safe with these men as my guides. I would not only recommend this experience to any traveler, but I would also totally do it again. One last thing, tip your crew! I was baffled at the lack of tipping after we got off the boat. Please show your appreciation to these guys in the best way possible, with cold hard cash.
Review provided by Viator
Joe_g
May 11, 2025
Snorkel with Manta Rays. - The best experience of my life and I have done a lot. A must to do. Worth every cent. Loved it!!!! If you love sea life than watching the rays swim right up to you and are ballerinas of the sea.
Review provided by Viator
Carmen_l
May 5, 2025
Amazing Experience - This was such an amazing experience with these magnificent creatures. You can’t find this encounter anywhere else!
Review provided by Viator
Neha_g
Apr 29, 2025
Amazing!! Not to be missed!! - Most amazing and magical tour!! Not to be missed. Steve and Johnny took us a bit away from the coast but the waters there had so many Manta rays. Would highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Melissa_m
Apr 26, 2025
Very fun experience! - We had a great time. Saw several Manta Rays up close (very close)! The crew was pleasant, patient, and efficient!
Review provided by Viator
Esther_b
May 20, 2025
No Mantas🙂‍↕️ - Just know that there are two ports that launch these tours and if you are in South Kona don’t take this tour. It’s 30 minutes away and there’s a launch ramp much closer. We stayed at 78 6852 A’lii and the Kaleopapa port was way closer. Second factor, mantas not guaranteed 😞. We did not see a single one. Third, if you can rent a waistband floating from your resort, you should because the noodle system to keep your feet floating is not easy for everyone. My husband had a safety floater and was fine. The other big guy with us struggled with the noodle. Maybe rent goggles from your resort too. Theirs are one size fits all and that doesn’t always work. Our guide in the water Eli was very helpful even though the tour was a bust. Yes, you can reschedule but if you book through Viator or other third party, you have to pay an extra $60 to do it again. So these are helpful hints. Nice guys all around.
Review provided by Viator
Soo_l
May 7, 2025
Short and Sweet! - We left at 6:30p and returned to the dock by 8:15p. The fast ride to and from was 35-40 minutes each way. The positive was seeing 5-6 beautiful manta rays, wearing a full wetsuit, the welcoming crew and friendly boatmates (I was solo and needed help with the wetsuit zipper)! The steaming hot chocolate was also pretty nice. It was the beginning of May, so the waves were calm enough and the water was not too cold. It was a lovely night with the moon peeping out of the clouds. There were about a half dozen bobbing boats with pretty lights brightly shining when we arrived. All the whooping and hollering from other boards let us know manta rays might be coming our way, adding to our hopeful anticipation. There was an incident that probably shortened our water time. One of the circuits started smoking. Our water guide threw out a few expletives, put it out and not too long after, we had to leave. I would like to make a suggestion: Please note that people needing to change into dry clothes or to keep their bags from getting soaked, use a waterproof closed tote. My bag wasn't waterproof and I had to sit in my swim clothes on a damp towel in the car going back. I expected to be in the water at least 40 minutes, but it was more like 20-25. Maybe that was the normal time as this trip was pretty affordable compared to others and I was so happy to see many mantas. We also had full wetsuits compared to another more expensive trip that only provided a shorty wetsuit. I would like to mention something about the marina that has nothing to do with the trip, except that I couldn't change, even if I wanted to, as the light in the women's restroom was out and it was pitch dark inside. Women were going into the men's, shielding the side of their faces, apologizing to men inside as they headed to the stall. The restrooms were locked by 8:30p and MANY people drove or walked over to be disappointed.
Review provided by Viator
Sam_w
Apr 26, 2025
Bad experience! RACIST!! - What a nice night doing some excursion at night especially here in kona! We are u looking forward to travel me and my group. I been in some mantaray bay excursion before and iam really eager to show my friends. What a nice adventure it was! Unfortunately my friend had a very memorable experience by the captain. He called him ‘’GET THAT FAT FILIPINO ON THE WATER ’’ calling a FILIPINO FAT was RACIST! And un unacceptable I think the most RACIST thing i’ve ever heard. sadly one of my friend full over out on the water without explanation to him.. we did some mandataray! Would I recommend this boat again NO!!! No more aloha!!!
Review provided by Viator
From $108
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).