USA » Hawaii » Big Island of Hawaii

Big Island Manta Ray Night Snorkel & Kailua-Kona Lights

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.83 (473 reviews) 92% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/21

Duration2h

GroupUp to 30

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

You'll Hold the Raft While Mantas Barrel Roll Beneath You

You'll float on a raft in the dark while giant manta rays feed on plankton beneath underwater lights, sometimes gliding within inches of you. The boat provides snorkel gear, hot cocoa on the return, and a crew that keeps you safe and steady. If mantas don't show, you're invited back free. Hotel pickup is available for a small fee if you're staying in the Waikoloa or Mauna Lani resorts.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cruise toward manta ray site
Watch for dolphins and whales
Swim to floating light raft
Hold onto raft during snorkel
Observe manta rays feeding
Return to boat after snorkel
Enjoy hot cocoa and snack
Cruise back under the stars

The Experience

I didn't expect to be nervous about floating in the dark. But as the boat cuts toward the manta ray site off Kailua-Kona, you realize you're about to enter water at night, tethered to a raft with nothing but a light below and ocean all around. The crew briefs you on the way — confident swimmers and beginners get separate briefings, and they mean it. You'll either be comfortable in open ocean at night or you'll stay in the boat. No middle ground, which is honest.

Once the boat stops, you swim to the large floating raft and hold on. The raft's underwater lights don't attract the mantas themselves — they attract plankton, which is what the mantas come to eat. And they do come. Reef mantas glide underneath you, sometimes swoop sideways, sometimes barrel roll. They pass within inches of the raft. Your guide is right there, watching you and them both, making sure you stay steady. If the water gets to you, you can return to the boat and watch from there instead. The whole snorkel lasts as long as the mantas stay feeding, which varies. Some nights they're thick; some nights they're sparse. If you don't see any, you get invited back free.

The cruise out takes time — you might spot dolphins or, if you're there between November and March, humpback whales on the way. The return trip happens under stars, and the boat hands out hot cocoa and light snacks while you warm up and decompress. It's a small thing, but after an hour in the water at night, it lands different.

Pickup is available from select hotels in the Waikoloa and Mauna Lani areas for a small fee — call ahead to arrange it. If you drive, arrive 30 minutes early. Bring your own drinks after the swim if you want (no glass bottles). If motion sickness is a concern, take medication an hour before you leave the harbor.

What’s included

Your day includes snorkel equipment, the boat ride to and from the manta ray site, time floating on the raft while the mantas feed, hot cocoa and light snacks on the return cruise, and a crew that stays with you throughout. Hotel pickup is available for a small fee from select Waikoloa and Mauna Lani area hotels if you arrange it in advance.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Iruka Hawaii Dolphin

Is this one for you?Right for anyone who wants to see giant manta rays in their natural habitat without the logistics of finding the site yourself or timing the boat departure — the operator handles the boat, the raft, the lights, and the crew, so you just show up and float.