Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkel: Small Group & Private Charter

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Free cancellationLikely to sell out

1/13

Duration1h 30m

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Swim with 16-Foot Manta Rays at Night in Kona's Feeding Grounds

You board a small boat in Kona at dusk, snorkel with manta rays under lights that attract their food, and watch them barrel-roll past you in the dark. The guide positions your group in the most active areas and stays with you the whole time. Snorkeling equipment, refreshments, and snacks are included; the whole experience runs one evening trip.

1h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Night snorkel with manta rays

Arrive at Kona harbor
Board small group snorkel boat
Receive safety and interaction briefing
Snorkel with manta rays using light board
Enjoy non-alcoholic refreshments and snacks
Return to harbor by boat

The Experience

The boat leaves the harbor at dusk, and within an hour you're in the water holding a light board as manta rays glide past your face in the dark. The light attracts the plankton they eat, and the rays come with it — wingspans stretching 16 feet, moving in what looks like a choreographed roll. Your swim guide stays with your group the whole time, towing you toward the most active areas instead of keeping everyone tethered to the boat like the bigger operations do. With only 12 passengers maximum, there's room to move, to follow the action, to actually see what's happening instead of watching from a distance.

Kona is one of the only places on earth where you can count on seeing manta rays at night — the consistency here is around 90 percent. The rays return to the same feeding spot each evening, which is why the guides know where to position you. They have no teeth, no stingers, nothing to fear; hundreds of people do this every night. Your guide walks you through how to interact safely and respectfully, and then you're in the water, light board in hand, watching something most people only see in documentaries. The rays move close enough that you feel the water shift as they pass.

If you want the experience entirely to yourself, you can book all 12 seats for a private charter. Either way, the boat carries snorkeling gear, non-alcoholic refreshments, and snacks for after. Bring a towel and a cover-up for the ride back — the ocean cools you down fast once the sun's gone.

What’s included

Your tour includes snorkeling equipment, non-alcoholic refreshments, and snacks.
A swim guide stays with your group throughout, positioning you in the most active manta ray areas and teaching you how to interact safely with the rays.
If you book all 12 seats, the entire boat becomes your private charter.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Coral Reef Snorkel Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see manta rays without the crowd — the small group size means your guide can actually move you toward the action instead of anchoring everyone to one spot, which is what makes the difference between watching from far away and having the rays pass inches from your face.