4.9★ from 6,000+ reviews on TripAdvisor
MANTA RAY NIGHT SNORKEL IN KONA
Wildlife, Night, Snorkel
Nowhere else on Earth does this happen like it does here—Kona’s legendary night snorkel puts you face to face with giant manta rays, swirling just inches away in glowing underwater light.
$135
Big Island
Kona
"Awesome crew — I really enjoyed every minute of the adventure! This manta ray night snorkel had been on my bucket list and it completely exceeded expectations."
Verified Review
Slip into the ocean after dark and watch as the water comes alive with manta rays, gliding in slow-motion loops beneath you in beams of light. This Kona night snorkel is one of Hawai‘i’s most surreal experiences—equal parts adrenaline and awe. Floating above the reef, you’ll witness these gentle giants swoop in to feed, drawn by the glow and plankton, in a natural spectacle that’s only possible in a few places on Earth—and nowhere as reliably as here.
GUEST REQUIREMENTS
For ages 7 and up, group size limited to 27 guests.
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Must know how to swim & have previous snorkel experience.
WHAT TO BRING
Wear your swim suite
CANCELLATION POLICY
Changes or cancellations must be made 48 hours prior.
WHAT GUESTS ARE SAYING
4.9★ from 6,000+ reviews on TripAdvisor
Travelers consistently describe this manta ray experience as “a must-do” and “absolutely incredible.” Many highlight the friendly, attentive crew, the comfort of warm wetsuits, and the ease of floating in place as giant manta rays glide and barrel roll just inches away. Guests love how personal and safe the tour feels, with guides sharing fascinating facts about these graceful creatures and Hawaii’s unique marine ecosystem. Overall, reviewers call it an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounter that often becomes the highlight of their Big Island trip.
Go home and tell your family and friends that you did something they’ll never believe- you participated in a feeding frenzy in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean in the darkness of night with creatures as large as 16ft across and weighing 1000lbs. The Travel Channel named this tour one of the 10 things you must do in your lifetime, and they would be correct. An amazing and unique experience that is may only be done at 3 places on the entire planet.
Sea Quest’s check-in and point of departure are just minutes from the Island’s most successful and consistent manta ray viewing location. These graceful and glorious giants soar beneath you as you leisurely and safely view them from above, just feet from the boat and the mouth of Keauhou Bay. A nocturnal ballet you won’t soon forget.
What if we don’t see any mantas?
It is an extremely rare occurrence, but if we do not see ANY manta rays on our Night Manta Experience, you are welcome to come back out with us again during the same vacation, based on availability, totally free of charge. Make sure you call us right away so that we may reschedule you!
What's included:
- Snorkel With Manta Rays… At Night!
- Hot Chocolate and Cookies
- Wetsuits & Flotation Devices Provided
- Snorkel Gear (Including Rx Masks) Included
- Duration: 1 Hour and 15 Minutes
Note that previous experience snorkeling will be helpful for this tour.
Are Manta Rays Dangerous to Snorkel With?
The shortest and best answer is, no! Unlike their cousin, the Sting Ray, Manta Rays are gentle giants with no spear-tipped tails, or any threatening body part for that matter. The only thing that we emphasize to ensure the safety of our guests as well as our crew, is that you have prior swimming and snorkeling experience. While we won’t be doing a lot of active swimming once in the water– the basics of knowing how to breathe and maintain a calm while the mantas swim around us are important for their safety and ours.
If you have any hesitations about your ability to snorkel on our manta ray trip or even any hesitations around snorkeling at night in general; be sure to check out one of our other, daytime snorkel excursions. These are still a ton of fun and there’s a chance you will be able to see one of the Big Island rays during your time in the water, on these tours, as well!
What is Manta Ray Village, Hawaii?
All of our snorkel tours depart from “Manta Ray Village”. Given its name through the sheer amount of manta rays that live and inhabit Keauhou Bay, there is no question that this is the best place to embark on a night time snorkel tour!
Over the years, the population of the mantas who inhabit the bay’s waters have fluctuated with the popularity of the destinations around Keauhou. Once the Sheraton established their residence, the lights around the bay shone bright attracting increased phytoplankton, which in turn, attracted their predator, the Manta Rays.
When you book with us you are guaranteed the experience of a lifetime swimming with these seemingly prehistoric creatures in the warm waters of Manta Ray Village. While Keauhou Bay is a popular spot to embark on these types of night snorkel tours, we make sure to focus on our group of guests and give them an extremely intimate encounter with the marine creatures.Sea Quest Hawaii has been offering personalized snorkeling and small-boat adventures along the South Kona coast since 1988. Known for their top-tier guides, Coast Guard–certified captains, and small-group approach, they specialize in taking guests to sea caves, lava tubes, and Hawaii’s famous manta ray feeding grounds at night. Decades of experience and a commitment to sustainable, respectful ocean adventures make Sea Quest a trusted choice for exploring Kona’s marine wonders.
Guests should arrive 30 minutes before departure at Sea Quest’s storefront adjacent to Keauhou Bay, located at 78‑7138 Kaleiopapa St, Kailua‑Kona. Look for their white, single‑story building and wetsuit van—parking is available nearby on Kamehameha III Road.
All changes to and/or cancellations of a reservation must be made 48 hours before the tour start time.
Contact us by phone to cancel or inquire about a cancellation. No-shows and cancelations within 48 hours to the tour will be charged the full price. Guests wanting to reschedule within 48 hours will incur a rebook fee of 75% of the regular tour price.
Customers will receive a full refund in the case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.
Manta Guarantee Policy:
On the rare occasion where zero manta rays are sighted on your tour, Sea Quest invites you to come back out once more on another night at no additional cost to you, or on a confirmed Captain Cook Exclusive afternoon snorkel tour at no additional charge. Based on availability. Non-transferable. No refunds given. Guarantee valid one time.
FOLIO TRAVELOGUE
Face-to-Face with Manta Rays in the Dark
You slip into the water at night and suddenly the world narrows—black ocean above, black ocean below. Then the lights switch on. Not floodlights or flashlights, but a strange, glowing halo cast by your floating platform, and in the murk, shadows start to move. Big ones.
First one manta ray, then two, then half a dozen—each the size of a dining table, sweeping upward with their mouths wide open, turning at the last second inches from your face. They’re not shy. They’re not dangerous. They’re just… here, dancing loops beneath you in a silent choreography perfected over millennia. Their bellies flash white as they barrel roll, scooping plankton drawn to the lights. You hover above, weightless, gripping the float, heart hammering somewhere between fear and euphoria.
“One of the weirdest, coolest, most unreal things I’ve ever done.”
The guides gave you a heads-up: this only happens in a few places on Earth. But nothing quite prepares you for it actually working. For nature showing up on cue. For the sense that you’ve dropped into something ancient and vast and completely indifferent to your plans, your job, your phone notifications back on shore. It’s only an hour, but it stretches out in memory—strange and dreamy, like a myth someone told you once and you’re only now remembering.
