You’ll want to make sure you have a rental car since you’ll be driving between the Dive Shop and Honokohau Marina (for my tour). From there, I was given directions to the harbor where I was to meet the boat in about 45 minutes. However, all of the tours depart from the Kona area, so you’ll need to be staying on that side of the island (or plan for a really late night).ĭuring my tour, I was asked to check in at the dive shop located in Kailua-Kona. Each tour provides a slightly different experience and location to meet up depending on where they harbor their boat. There are various boats that will offer a Manta Ray night snorkel tour. What to Know about the Manta Ray Night Snorkel Tour Before You Go: Arrival The combination boats allow families with both needs to go together. They also offer a Big Island Manta Ray dive option for visitors who are dive certified. They do allow ride-alongs, but parents are not able to trade-off to take turns snorkeling.
The minimum age to snorkel is 6 years old. Check-in is located directly at the boat slip.
Both boats leave between 4-6 pm depending on the time of year (later in the summer, earlier in the winter).
Manta Ray Dives of Hawaii offers two boats with a snorkel-only boat and a snorkel/dive boat option. And we had to wait a while before we got into the water. This meant the snorkelers were asked to move to the back of the boat. It was crowded on the boat and the scuba divers were a priority with getting into the water. I ended up booking with Big Island Divers on a “snorkel only” boat tour.Īlthough, when I showed up for the tour, they had added 8 scuba divers to the boat because a boat tour was canceled the previous day. I booked a last-minute tour during winter break, so I was limited by where I could find a seat. Why We Chose This Manta Ray Snorkel Tour on the Big Island However, this location is only accessible by boat and you’ll need special equipment (dive lights). The snorkeling or diving will take place at Garden Eel Cove or “Manta Heaven” which is located in Makako Bay (near the airport). The Manta Rays gracefully swim with their mouths wide open, letting the plankton fill their bellies.Īt times, they will do somersaults to continually feed while brushing up against your body as you float. Ao the boats and divers use large bright lights to attract the Manta Rays to the dive/snorkel location. Thus, Manta Rays cannot harm visitors who want to enjoy their beauty. Although Manta Rays and Stingrays are related, Manta Rays DO NOT have a tail “stinger” or barb-like tail like the stingrays. Manta Rays are different from stingrays, which often confuses visitors and deters them from enjoying this activity. Want to skip all the planning and just access my detailed Big Island Itinerary complete with daily schedules, kid-friendly activities, and travel hacks? Click the button below.Ĭheck out this Hawaii Manta Ray! Photo credit: Chelsea Kelly-Sipe Keep scrolling to read my honest review of the Big Island Manta Ray night tour and my tips and tricks for an epic adventure! With around 300+ local Manta Rays that stay in the area year-round, you are almost guaranteed to have an amazing night in the water with these beautiful creatures.Ī Hawaii Manta Ray night snorkel is one of the top recommended tours to take when visiting the Big Island and I highly agree! It is also one of seven places in the world where you can experience this type of activity. Snorkeling with Manta Rays on the Big Island is one of the MUST SEE activities while visiting the Big Island. From dolphins to sea turtles, there’s always something new to discover while exploring the islands. Hawaii is home to some of the most beautiful and unique animals in the world. Want to see some amazing creatures while on vacation? This Big Island Manta Ray snorkel tour review contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
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Are you wanting to swim with Manta Rays on the Big Island of Hawaii? Keep scrolling for an honest review of Big Island Manta Ray snorkel tour and how to secure reservations.