Night Snorkeling with Mantas in Kona
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Measuring over 4,000 square miles, Hawaii’s Big Island is bigger than all of its other islands combined. That can make determining an itinerary a difficult feat. However, no matter where you stay there is one experience that should make it on every Big Island bucket list. The manta night snorkel in Kona of course! Today I’m sharing why my tour with Manta Adventures was the absolute highlight of my time on the Big Island.
Snorkeling with Giant Manta Rays
The sun had just set, and I began to get excited as the boats in the cove lit up the bay with their fluorescent lights. Our guides lowered the glowing rig into the water and we hopped into the warm sea one by one. After adjusting my mask and breather, I set my face down to the water to see a huge manta surfacing from the deep directly towards me. Its mouth was agape and I got an incredible glimpse of its reflective gills. Just shy of brushing my face and the reflective rig, the manta did a loop and soared back down to the ocean floor. It immediately did one more loop before soaring out of sight into the darkness.
The concept of night swimming with these ocean giants originated by accident. Resorts on Kona’s coast constructed lights to illuminate the coastal water with the intention of enhancing the night dining experience for guests. However, an increased concentration of manta ray activity quickly became apparent. Similar to the effect of light on moths, the light in the water attracts plankton which in turn attracts mantas to feed on the plankton. Soon, snorkeling tours with glow sticks and flashlights were born. The adventure has now evolved into a more structured tour for manta safety.
Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkel
There are several tour options to choose from in Kona. Beyond the fresh fruit snack and decadent cookie post snorkel treat, Manta Adventures is one of the best choices for several reasons. First, their boat, the Maheli-Heli, is specially outfitted for manta night tours! They are one of two boats that have lights built onto the bottom of the boat itself. Several other tour companies actually came to anchor close to the Maheli-Heli because they wanted to take advantage of the extra light. Manta Adventures’ experienced guides are the other deciding factor. Guests hold onto a standup paddleboard rig outfitted with lights at the bottom. The guides then maneuver the rig to get the best view of the mantas as possible, and our guides did not disappoint!
Manta Facts
- Similar to fingerprints, every spot pattern on manta bellies are unique!
- Every manta ray off the Kona coast is named and can be tracked thanks to their belly patterns.
- Mantas give live birth to their pups.
- “Manta” is Portuguese for “blanket.”
Read Next: Snorkeling Molokini Crater
Manta Night Snorkel FAQs
It is helpful to know how to snorkel beforehand. However, Manta Adventures allow some snorkeling time before sunset and I would highly recommend doing that first if you have never been before. During the actual night snorkel, it’s helpful to know how to clear your mask and breather so you don’t miss out on the action below.
I brought a waterproof bag, a warm shirt, my wallet, iPhone, Sony camera and a GoPro. Check out my Hawaii packing list for my specific picks!
Manta rays do have a long whip-like tail but they DO NOT have a stinger! Those belong to their cousin the stingray.
I visited in late November and I never felt cold. Hawaii’s water is swimmable and warm year-round. The lowest that the water temperature gets is 71 degrees. During the snorkel, Manta Adventures provides complimentary wet suits for extra warmth as you won’t be doing a lot of movement. On my trip, it even rained as we got back onto the boat, but we got a warm water rinse as we took the wet suit off so I never got chilly at all.
Manta rays are a protected species and it is a privilege to be able to see them this close! There is no free-swimming, and attempting to touch the mantas is forbidden. You will be escorted back to the boat if you try and touch them.
For even more footage you can preview the full snorkeling experience on my Big Island Instagram highlights! And if you’ve been snorkeling with these incredible creatures, I’d love to know your favorite part of the experience in the comments below.
For this post, I partnered with Manta Adventures for a complimentary experience. However, you can count on me to be a good steward of this opportunity. All thoughts and opinions are completely honest and completely my own.
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