Big Island Manta Ray Night Snorkel Tour
Take a swim in the moonlight with manta rays!
There is nothing more magical than swimming with manta rays in the moonlight. Gear up for an evening of snorkeling with these graceful ocean creatures off the Kona coast. Board the boat at the Honokohau Marina near Kailua-Kona. As you motor to the snorkeling destination, learn everything there is to know about manta rays from the knowledgeable guides. Once there, the strobe lights from the boat will illuminate the water, attracting plankton for the rays to feed on. Jump in the water beside these gentle rays as they glide through the ocean. Swim up-close to several of these amazing marine creatures. You’ve never had a snorkeling experience like this!
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
Children and Adults Welcome!
Ride-Alongs Welcome!
Have an unforgettable experience exclusively available on the Big Island: Go for an unforgettable evening swim with manta rays! Let the stars above illuminate the sea as these gentle ocean creatures glide through the saltwater atmosphere. 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 2 hours to swim beside these unusual-looking 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, explain their habits, their 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 attract 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 is guaranteed to 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. Simply pack a towel, a change of clothes, and a camera – the snorkel gear and fins are included!
Manta Ray Night Snorkel On Ocean Encounters From Honokohau Harbor
AdultsAges 12 years and older | $115.00 |
ChildrenAges 3 and 11 years | $95.00 |
Ride Alongs | $75.00 |
InfantsUnder 2 years | $50.00 |
Available Daily – tours at 6 pm or 9 pm*
*Please email or contact us about the 9 pm availability as this tour is based upon the phases of the moon.
Manta Ray Night Snorkel Tour
4:45 PM to 8:00 PM
2.5-hour boat tour
4:45 PM – 5:30 PM | Arrive & Check-In at Honokohau Marina near Kailua-Kona |
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM | Info & Briefing as You Motor to Snorkel Destination |
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM | Snorkel with Manta Rays |
7:30 PM – 8:00 PM | Motor Back to Honokohau Marina |
8:00 PM | Arrive Back at Honokohau Marina |
>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.
7:45 PM – 8:30 PM | Arrive & Check-In at Honokohau Marina near Kailua-Kona |
8:30 PM – 9:00 PM | Info & Briefing as You Motor to Snorkel Destination |
9:00 PM – 10:30 PM | Snorkel with Manta Rays |
10:30 PM – 11:00 PM | Motor Back to Honokohau Marina |
11:00 PM | Arrive Back at Honokohau Marina |
Any request for a refund 72 hours or more prior to the start of the tour or activity is honored with a full refund.
No refunds are issued for any cancellations inside the 72-hour period, prior to the start of your tour. There is no refund for no-shows. There is no charge for date change or tour change based on tour availability outside of the 72-hour cancellation period.
Manta rays are one of the most popular animals in the waters around the Hawaiian Islands. While manta rays can grow to be quite large, they are harmless to humans and are often very curious about us. Our expert guides will talk with you about the mantas, their significance to the Islands, and some knowledge about their behavior. Some of your group may have concerns about getting in the water with these huge creatures and our guides will put them at ease. Mantas are truly gentle giants and snorkeling with them is an experience you will never forget.
Manta rays are gentle giants of the sea, and snorkeling with them is an unforgettable experience. These harmless creatures can grow up to a 16-foot wingspan, and they need to eat 10 percent of their body weight each day. The plankton they feed on are attracted by our lights, so we can often see them up close. During your Manta snorkel tour, you’ll be able to swim next to these majestic creatures as they somersault through the water. And when you’re ready to head back to the boat, you’ll be treated to drinks and snacks while enjoying the beautiful starlit sky.
There is no better place to see the stars than on the Big Island. This is a dark-sky friendly community, and lighting regulations in Hawaii County are designed to keep the night sky clear and the stars visible. In addition to preserving the rare natural beauty of the island, dark-sky friendly lighting allows astronomers at observatories to see astronomical bodies like stars and planets. You can even see the Galactic Center of the Milky Way! On our moonlit cruise back to the harbor, you will experience the stars like never before.