3 Manta Ray Snorkel Tours That Are Safe for Non-Swimmers
Do you consider yourself a non-swimmer but still really want to experience a manta ray snorkel tour on the Big Island?
Well, guess what?! These tours can make that happen!
These tours specifically include:
- Extra physical support (less passengers means better guide to snorkeler ratio)
- Extra emotional support (if you’re like me and hyperventilate every time you snorkel in the ocean)
- Extra floatation devices (like life jackets and window rafts)
- Experienced crew members (trained for all levels of swimmers)
- Ride-along options (if you prefer to stay on the boat)
You can also see manta rays from dry land if you’d rather stay out of the water.
So yes! You can experience the manta rays as a non-swimmer, and here’s how…
Nervous about getting in the water?
Iruka Hawaii Dolphin tours offers a window raft so you can stay out of the water and still see the mantas up close. They even pull the raft back in with you on it!
Night Snorkel Manta Ray Tours For Non-Swimmers
If you want to get in the water but aren’t a confident swimmer, these are the tours for you.
They offer extra floatation, patient crews, and ride along options that make it easy to stay safe and comfortable while still participating in the full manta ray night snorkel experience.
1.Iruka Hawaii Dolphin
✨ Window raft for adults lets you float without swimming
⭐Rating: 5/5 stars |⏳Tour Length: 2 hrs | 🛥️Departure Point: Honokohau Harbor | 👀Ride Along Option: Yes | ✅ CHECK PRICE
Iruka Hawaii Dolphin is incredibly patient and encouraging with non-swimmers so you’ll feel completely safe and supported the whole time.
Life vests are totally fine to wear, and adults can lie on the large window float to watch the manta rays.
You’ll just need to jump into the water and make your way a short distance to the float.
At the end of the tour, the crew will pull the float back to the boat, so there’s hardly any swimming required at all.
The tour boat is an inflatable motor raft that carries up to 30 passengers.
Kids ages 3 and up can snorkel, and infants are welcome to come along as ride-alongs.
What’s included:
- Wetsuit (extra fee)
- Drinks
- Snacks
- BYO alcohol allowed
- Optional safety vest
- Bathroom onboard
- Transportation from Waikoloa hotel (extra fee)
- Manta guarantee
Non-Swimmer Review: “Best show! Watched a lot of Manta rays last night. The crew was awesome. Tamae was incredible in helping me feel comfortable, especially because I was so scared and can’t swim. She was very patient with me and didn’t leave my side until I felt relaxed. I believe it was Mike who carried me back to the boat on his shoulders. It was truly the best experience I’ve ever had.” – Niharika
2. C Big Island Tours
✨ Window raft for kids lets them float face-down without swimming
⭐Rating: 4.5/5 stars |⏳Tour Length: 2 hrs | 🛥️Departure Point: Honokohau Harbor | ✅CHECK PRICE
C Big Island Tours is on a 43ft Zodiac with a maximum of 30 passengers.
They have a window raft for kids to safely sit on top of out of the water.
If you choose Manta Boat #2 there will be extra crew on board to help out.
What’s included:
- Wetsuit
- Drinks
- Snacks
- Flotation if needed
- Manta guarantee
Things to Note:
- Choose Manta Boat #2, aka the Manta Experience, as it is staffed with more crew to help out unconfident swimmers and young kids
Non-Swimmer Review: “My friend and I did Manta Ray Experience ( Manta Boat #2 ) with C Big Island tours as non-swimmers and we both felt extremely secure with our team…” – Gabrielle
3. Ocean Eco Tour
✨They don’t require swimming or snorkeling experience
⭐Rating: 5/5 stars | ⏳Tour Length: 2 hrs | 🛥️Departure Point: Honokohau Harbor | 👀Ride Along Option: Yes | ✅CHECK PRICE
Ocean Eco Tour is a great option for beginners because no free swimming required and no prior snorkeling experience is necessary.
The crew is attentive and supportive, checking in regularly and helping out if you’re not totally comfortable in the water.
If at any point you feel uncomfortable or just want a break, you’re welcome to hop back on the boat.
And if you’d rather not snorkel at all, you can still enjoy watching the manta rays right from the dry boat. There aren’t any ride-along discounts, so just book a regular ticket if you plan to stay on the boat.
You’ll be on an inflatable motor raft with a maximum of only 12 passengers per tour, so you’ll get plenty of personalized attention.
What’s included:
- FREE video from your tour!
- Wet suit
Non-Swimmer Review: “We had such a positive experience with Monet & Brenden on our manta ray tour! Monet was so kind and wonderful to talk to and helped calm my nervous parents down! My dad is not comfortable swimming and she made sure my dad was ok constantly, checking in with him and helping us with anything we needed! She was super patient with my family and super kind the whole way.” – Komal
What to Expect on a Manta Ray Tour (Especially If You’re Nervous)
First things first: don’t worry, you’re not just tossed into the ocean to fend for yourself on a manta ray snorkel tour.
Every tour starts with a thorough safety briefing so you’ll know exactly what’s going to happen and when. The crew will walk you through the steps, answer questions, and make sure you’re feeling as comfortable as possible before anyone even touches the water.
Most tours provide wetsuits to keep you warm and buoyant as well as pool noodles or anklets to keep your feet afloat.
Once it’s time to get in, you’ll swim just a few feet from the boat to a large floatation board with handles. That’s where you’ll stay for the entire snorkel: holding on, floating at the surface in a “Superman pose”, and watching the manta rays glide below.
You’re not paddling around or free-swimming. Just floating.
The water isn’t pitch black, either.
The lights attached to the board shine down into the ocean to attract plankton (aka manta snacks), which in turn brings the mantas right beneath you. So the ocean is partly lit up as you get in.
There’s also ambient light from the boat, surrounding tours, and even the shoreline. And if you book one of the earlier tours at sunset, you’ll still get the magic of the night snorkel experience, but with a little more light in the sky to ease you in.
There are always crew members both in the water and on the boat, keeping an eye on everyone and offering help if needed.
Safety is the #1 priority on every manta ray tour and the crews are incredibly experienced at supporting nervous swimmers. You’re in good hands the entire time, no matter who you go with.
Want to Stay Dry? Watch Manta Rays from These Hotels Instead
If the idea of getting in the ocean at all still feels like a no-go, you can still see manta rays without getting wet.
Two resorts offer front-row seats to the mantas, no boating required.
Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa has a designated manta ray viewing deck right on the shoreline. It overlooks the popular feeding spot where the manta ray tours are but these lights bring the manta rays closer to the shore just below the ocean surface.
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel has a similar setup on the north side of the island, where lights shine in the ocean from a dedicated viewing area. Their Manta Restaurant sits just above it, so you can watch the mantas before or after dinner, or both!
These options are perfect if you’re traveling with little ones, have mobility concerns, or just want to enjoy the experience without getting your hair wet.
💁♀️Pro Tip: you’ll have a better chance of seeing manta rays from these viewing decks at high tide
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More Ride-Along Manta Ray Snorkel Tour Companies
If you don’t want to actually swim with the manta rays, these are more tour companies that offer ride-along options so you can stay in the boat.
These are also good options if you have kids who don’t want to snorkel.
Hang Loose
photo credit: Hang Loose
⭐Rating: 5/5 stars |⏳Tour Length: 2.5 hrs | 🛥️Departure Point: Honokohau Harbor | 👀Ride Along Option: Yes | ✅BOOK IT HERE!
Hang Loose operates a modern catamaran, with a maximum capacity of 48 passengers.
Children ages 5 and up are allowed to snorkel, and infants and older are permitted on board as ride-alongs.
While the company has welcomed guests who aren’t strong swimmers, they do ask that participants know how to swim and snorkel.
That said, they do provide flotation devices to assist in the water.
What’s included:
- Wetsuit top
- Drinks
- Snacks
- Optional safety jacket
- Bathroom onboard
- GoPro (extra fee)
- Manta guarantee
Ride-along Review: “Great experience overall. Good views, crew, and value. I appreciated the boat ride along option since my girlfriend isn’t a strong swimmer, but this could still be something for us to do and she had some good views from the boat too. This is what a tourist adventure trip should be👍” – Ty
Dolphin Discoveries
⭐Rating: 5/5 stars ⏳Tour Length: 2 hrs 🛥️Departure Point: Keauhou Bay 👀Ride Along Option: Yes | ✅BOOK IT HERE!
Dolphin Discoveries uses rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs), with most of the seating located on inflatable pontoons.
Group sizes range from 16-28 passengers.
The minimum age to join is 6 years old, and younger children aren’t allowed—even just as ride-alongs—due to the nature of the vessel.
There are no ride-along discounts (so just book a regular ticket) and parents aren’t allowed to trade off watching kids during the tour.
If you can swim but are uncomfortable, you can rent a snorkel vest and you will only need to swim a few feet from the boat to the float board. The crew will be there to assist you every step of the way.
What’s included:
- Wetsuit top
- Snorkel vest (extra fee)
- Manta guarantee (extra fee)
Things to Note:
- Check-in before the tour is at their office 1.5miles away
- Parents aren’t allowed to trade off watching kids during the tour
Ride-along Review: “We went to manta ray tour with this crew and it was amazing. I am a beginner level swimmer and the crew really helped and motivated me. Our diver lady and the crew was best. We saw a lot of manta rays and amazing views.”
Sea Paradise
⭐Rating: 5/5 stars | ⏳Tour Length: 1.5 hrs | 🛥️Departure Point: Keauhou Bay | 👀Ride Along Option: Yes | ✅BOOK IT HERE!
Sea Paradise takes place on a luxurious 50-foot sailing catamaran and accommodates up to 49 travelers.
Children ages 6 and up are welcome to snorkel, while ride-along spots are only available for ages 4+.
The crew will sometimes help nervous snorkelers get to the raft while they adjust to being in the open ocean, but this tour really isn’t a good fit for anyone who doesn’t already have some swimming and snorkeling experience.
What’s included:
- Wetsuit
- Drinks
- Ginger chews
- Optional life vest
- Bathroom onboard
- Manta guarantee
Ride-along Review: “Great organized night outing to see manta rays even if you don’t want to get into the water but be part of the experience. It’s a cheaper option as a ride along.” – Erica
Read my own full review of the manta ray night snorkel with Sea Paradise >>
Aloha Kona Tours (Private Charter)
⭐Rating: 5/5 stars | ⏳Tour Length: 3 hrs | 🛥️Departure Point: Honokohau Harbor | 👀Ride Along Option: Yes | ✅BOOK IT HERE!
If you’ve got a group of 6ppl or fewer, a luxury private boat charter is definitely the way to go. With Aloha Kona Tours, you’ll get personalized attention for just your group at almost the same cost as taking a group tour.
This crew goes above and beyond with their service—attentive, thoughtful, and truly focused on giving you the best experience possible. They’ll find the ideal manta ray spot, away from the crowds, and make sure everyone on board feels comfortable.
All passengers must be at least 1 year old.
What’s included:
- Wet suit
- Drinks
- Snacks
Nervous Snorkeler Review: “Captain Koichiro and Cameron gave my family an experience we will never forget! Aside from seeing tons of Mantas, they were professional, kind and completely thorough. We had three kids and a nervous mom and they were very helpful. I can’t recommend them enough!!!! If there were more than 5 stars I would give it.” – Caroline
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