Is Manta Ray Snorkeling Actually Worth Doing in Kona?

Top Manta Ray Snorkel Tours in Kona 

There are many night snorkeling tours to choose from in Kona and they depart from different harbors.

Why a Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkel is Worth Doing

As I said, the only place to snorkel with manta rays in the US is in Kona, Hawaii and it’s such a one-of-a-kind experience.

The tour boats go to areas well known for manta ray congregating. Snorkelers will hang onto floating boards that have blue lights attached that shine down into the water. 

The blue lights attract the plankton, which in turn attracts the manta rays. Because they feed on plankton, they won’t hurt you as they don’t have teeth.

But these fish are huge. Manta rays can reach up to 12-18 feet wide and weigh up to 3,000 pounds! 

They barrel roll beneath the lights as they feed, making it seem like an aquatic dance. And they come so close to you, don’t be surprised if you get bumped!

It really is an incredible experience and worth every penny!

💁‍♀️ Tab’s Trip Tip: If you don’t want to snorkel, you can visit the manta ray viewing deck at the Outrigger Kona Resort. Lights shine in the ocean to attract the manta rays close to shore. 

My First Manta Ray Snorkeling Tour Experience

Most encounters are similar, but this was my first manta ray snorkel experience:

I took the first tour of the evening with My Kona Adventures at 6:00pm, right before sundown. 

I met the boat at the dock in Keauhou Bay. They gave us full wetsuits to put on and then we boarded the vessel. 

The boat ride was only about 5 minutes since it was just outside the bay in front of the Outrigger Kona Resort. 

We strapped on blue foam floaties to our ankles for when we got into the water. 

To avoid getting in the way of the feeding path of the manta rays, you are encouraged to lay as flat on your stomach as possible on the water’s surface, like a Superman pose. The ankle floaties helped with that.

🤿 Book a Manta Ray Tour with My Kona Adventures Here!

We were also warned not to reach out and touch the rays as you would wipe away the mucus on their skin that helps ward off infections. 

Getting in the water was easy. Our tour guide got in the ocean first to help us out of the boat and then held the floating board in place for us to grab a hold of.

The guide thought it might have been a little early to start seeing the rays since it wasn’t completely dark out yet, but we were lucky enough to see a young one almost as soon as we got into the water. 

🤿 Book a Manta Ray Tour with My Kona Adventures Here!

We didn’t have to wait long before the sun went down. As the water became darker, the floating board’s blue lights got brighter, reflecting off of the millions of plankton.

Then the adult manta rays appeared! 

Because they kind of came out of nowhere and were so huge, I screamed through my snorkel mask in surprise (and slight fear!).

And I wasn’t the only one. I could hear the screams of other snorkelers from surrounding tour groups as well.

They were coming at us with enormous open mouths and I could look all the way down their gullet. I imagined that this was the last view Jonah had before being swallowed by a giant fish. 

Thankfully, they stopped within INCHES of my face before somersaulting backwards on their way back down.

What Should I Bring on a Manta Ray Snorkel?

You won’t need to take much on the manta ray snorkel tour. Tours provide the snorkel gear and most provide a wetsuit. 

What you should bring on the boat: 

• Swimsuit – This goes without saying 😛
• Waterproof camera – If you want to record memories of this super unique activity, then you’ll want a waterproof phone/camera or GoPro safely strapped to your body (I saw foolish people using their phones without so much as a wrist strap!)
• Seasickness Preventative – If you are like me and prone to seasickness, Dramamine is your friend! Or you could use wrist cuffs or patches.

What you should have waiting in the car:

• Towel – If you are wearing a wetsuit, you won’t need a towel until you get to the car. 
• Dry clothes – If you have a long drive back to your hotel or are heading to a late dinner, you’ll want something dry to change into.
• Water – Some tours provide bottled water but you’ll probably appreciate having some H2O waiting for you in the car after swimming in the salty ocean. 

That’s really about all you’ll need!

You Might Also Be Interested in These Other Nighttime Activities on the Big Island! ➡️