The thrill of seeing a three-metre-wide creature swoop past you in the dark ocean is one of life’s great pleasures. However, night snorkeling with mantas off the Kona coast isn’t for everyone.
Manta rays native to Hawaiian waters belong to the Mobula alfredi species, the second largest species in the world with wingspans that can reach 18 feet. A manta ray night dive is an underwater ballet performance like no other!
Watch the Mantas Feed
The thrill of swimming with manta ray snorkeling kona is the highlight of many people’s visits to Hawaii. But not many visitors can say they have had the privilege to do so at night, when these docile ocean giants glide gracefully through the water as they feed on plankton.
This incredible sight is one of the reasons that the Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkel is such a popular tour and activity. These gentle giants, related to but distinct from sting rays, can grow to be 16 feet wide from wing tip to wing tip and feed on tiny free-floating organisms known as plankton. This process is fascinating to watch, as the rays approach large patches of plankton with their mouths open, funneling the plankton in through the openings in their broad bodies. Then a unique set of gill rakers sift through the plankton to leave behind a nutrition-rich meal.
Mantas are creatures of habit and they have specific places where they go to feed, known as feeding stations. These feeding stations are located off the Kona coast and attract the mantas by shining bright lights into the seawater, like a giant plankton buffet. Scuba divers carry a light they can shine up towards the surface while snorkelers hold on to a float with a light that shines down into the water.
At the same time, these tour operators also stress respect for the manta rays and emphasize their safety. The operators have created industry standards that they expect their guests to follow, ensuring that all interactions between humans and mantas are both safe and sustainable. These guidelines are not legally binding, but they provide a good framework for what is expected of tour providers and their customers when interacting with these majestic giants.
If for any reason the manta rays are not out to feed during your tour, Sea Quest will offer you an opportunity to come back out on another night at no additional cost to you or give you credit for an afternoon Captain Cook Exclusive snorkel tour (additional fees may apply). This is a great policy to have in place, as it ensures that you can still experience this magical event that so many visitors rave about!
Experience the Light Show
The water off Kona is teeming with plankton at night, drawing in mantas from far and wide to feed. These gentle giants glide gracefully through the water, scooping up mouthfuls of this tiny food source with their wide open mouths. These spectacular filter feeders can be up to 16 feet wing-to-wing, and their awe-inducing size is an incredible sight to behold. They can also perform spectacular acrobatics as they move through the water, soaring and diving with grace and power.
To help you enjoy the spectacle of these mesmerizing marine creatures, your guide holds a powerful underwater light. This lights attracts the mantas and also illuminates the surrounding water, creating an underwater ballet performance of lights and bubbles. The mesmerizing display is reminiscent of a scene from the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and the experience is unlike anything else you’ll ever encounter.
There’s no guarantee that you’ll see mantas on any given night snorkeling tour, but the experienced crew of Sea Quest will do their best to ensure that every participant gets to enjoy this extraordinary experience. They will help you get comfortable in the water, and their expertise about local conditions makes it possible for even first-time snorkelers to have a spectacular encounter. All snorkeling gear is included on the tour, so you just need to bring your swimwear and a towel.
Compared to other snorkeling opportunities on the Big Island, manta rays are much more accessible and easy to see. No scuba certification is needed, and you’ll be right in the water with the mantas rather than above them on the surface of the water. This gives you a more intimate and immersive experience.
You’ll also have more time to spend on the bottom of the ocean, where you can explore the underwater ecosystem and observe the wildlife that inhabits it. This includes coral reefs and other marine life, as well as manta rays. This is an experience that every visitor to the Big Island should add to their bucket list. It’s one of the most mesmerizing experiences in Hawaii, and it can create lasting memories for you and your family or friends.
Enjoy the Sightings
As you swim into an illuminated underwater arena, a mesmerizing aquatic ballet takes place in front of your eyes. Giant manta rays, identifiable by the spot patterns on their bellies, come close to feed off the plankton swarming around them. Their movement is fluid and graceful, with them somersaulting and swirling their way across the water’s surface.
This mesmerizing encounter happens at the Manta Ray Village in Keauhou Bay, near the Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa (formerly Sheraton Kona Resort). These giants have become famous for their nightly gathering here to feast on the plankton attracted by the bright dive lights used by snorkelers. This spectacle is one of nature’s wonders, and the best part is you don’t need a scuba certification to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
A variety of manta ray species can be seen on this tour, including the Manta alfredi, which is the second largest species in the world. The average manta ray around here has a wingspan of 10-12 feet.
Manta rays are considered gentle giants and pose no threat to humans. They are symbiotic with sharks, and both animals benefit from their interactions. Sharks kill large numbers of fish, and then the surviving small fish are cleaned by the manta rays. These symbiotic relationships have been studied for over 50 years.
When swimming with manta rays, remember that these animals have a layer of slime that protects them from bacteria. You should keep a safe distance, and never touch them because this can remove the protective slime coating. You can also harm the manta rays by kicking or getting too close.
When you choose a Manta Ray Night Adventure, look for companies that follow Hawaii Ocean Watch’s “Industry Standards.” These guidelines ensure that the mantas will be kept healthy and happy. The standards include avoiding hull lights, allowing divers to enter and exit the water safely, and prioritizing safety for participants. Also, they must have medical first responders and equipment on the boat and in the water to handle any medical emergencies that may occur. Choosing a company that follows these guidelines is one of the most important factors in having a successful tour.
Thrilling Experience
You can find manta rays in other parts of the world, but Hawai’i’s ocean waters are particularly ideal for viewing these majestic marine creatures at night. As darkness falls, they emerge to scavenge on plankton brought in by ocean currents, and their graceful somersaults are mesmerizing.
Mantas can grow to wingspans of more than 16 feet, but they’re surprisingly gentle with humans. They have no aggressive behavior, and they’re even known to nudge snorkelers with their fins as they dance underwater. Their enchanting movements, combined with the darkness of the sea and a star-lit sky, create an unforgettable experience that’s sure to take your breath away.
During this two-hour tour, you’ll set sail from Honokohau Harbor to a spot where mantas gather in their natural habitat. After a quick safety overview, you’ll dive into the warm Hawaiian waters, where your vessel’s lights illuminate the underwater environment. Once you’re in the water, you’ll hang on to the edge of the boat, float, and watch the stunning performance.
A professional crew will help you get comfortable and use the gear provided for your encounter with this mesmerizing creature. You don’t need a scuba certification for this excursion, but you must be able to swim well enough to stay above the surface without assistance. Additionally, participants should have no health conditions that would affect their ability to safely jump into the open ocean at night.
The experts at Sea Quest are committed to ensuring you have the best possible encounter with these majestic creatures. They know the ocean conditions and manta ray behavior, which helps them maximize the chances of an amazing sighting. In addition, they adhere to the basic rules of swimming with manta rays that were developed to promote passive interaction and avoid disturbing these majestic creatures.
While you can’t guarantee that you’ll see a manta ray on this or any other snorkeling tour, your guides have the experience and expertise to offer high-quality tours that exceed expectations. If they’re unable to locate mantas, you can still enjoy your time in the water and the many other marine creatures that live in the area.
