A Manta Rays + Diving + Snorkeling experience by Torpedo Tours. Back to all Big Island tours.
Tour Summary: The famous manta ray night dive/snorkel in Kona is one of the most memorable dives around the planet. 100% Hawaiian Bucket List!
Large photoDuring the dive you are surrounded by Manta Rays, as seen here on a picture taken during a previous night dive. Image credit: Torpedo Tours.
- Large photo
During the snorkel you will float in the water holding on to a flotation device, while the Manta Rays feed below you. Image credit: Torpedo Tours.
Tour Highlights:
- Snorkeling with Manta Rays at night in Kona Hawaii is a truly magical experience
- Many people list this as a once-in-a-lifetime, bucket list experience!
- Torpedo Tours is a Green Listed Activity Provider and verified by the Manta Ray Advocates of Hawaii.
- Small group trip limited to no more than 18 guests
- Departs from the Honokohau Harbor
Important: Bring towels and a dry change of clothes or sweater to keep yourself warm after the dive on the way back to the harbor. Please also note that the crew also consists of a dog (Maka, see pictures above).
Tour Information:
| Price: | Adult |
|---|---|
| (excluding taxes & fees) | $129 |
Tour Provider: Torpedo Tours
Activity: Manta Rays + Diving + Snorkeling
Tour start time: 6pm
Duration: 3 hours
Departure from: Honokohau Harbor
Pick-up available? No
Included: Snorkel Gear (for the night snorkel) is included.. Important: Dive Gear for the night dive is *not* included but can be rented at a cost of $40 for buoyancy compensator, regulator, wetsuit, mask, and fins.
Cancellations: This policy applies to any cancellation of a private charter, or reduction in the number of passengers you booked on a shared charter. There is no refund for any reservation made within 48 hours of the activity. Additionally, if you cancel 2 weeks (14 days) prior to your trip date, there will be no charge. If you cancel between 8 and 13 days prior to your trip date, 50 percent of the charter price may be charged if we are unable to rebook your space. Any cancellation 7 days or less before the scheduled charter, or if you do not present yourself on the day of the charter, will be charged 100 percent of your reserved space for that charter. We reserve the right to cancel a charter due to mechanical failure or unsafe weather conditions. When we cancel a trip, you are refunded in full. If you have questions or concerns call 808-938-0405
Read more: about manta rays in our Big Island manta rays guide.
During the manta ray night snorkel you will spend your time in the water holding onto a floating board looking down, while the divers divers gather together and sit on the bottom looking up. Bright lights shines down into the water attracting plankton. The Mantas, who feed on plankton, cruise between the divers and snorkelers doing continuous flips and scooping up mouthfuls of plankton at their nightly buffet.
It is not possible to do “free snorkeling” during the tour because your snorkel and fins can hurt the manta rays. Touching them can remove their protective skin coating and the mantas will likely leave if touched.
Manta ray tours normally start at the harbor from which the boat departs. This boat will take you to one of the manta ray feeding zones. Before boarding or during your trip to the feeding grounds the crew will teach you how to behave while in the water and explain you a thing or two about the manta rays.
Age Restrictions for the Manta Ray Snorkel and Dive
The age restriction on the manta ray tour is 4 y/old for snorkeling, and 12y/old for diving. Infants are allowed on board with their family as long as a parent stays on the boat with them at all times.
What is the difference between the Manta Ray Dive and the Manta Ray Snorkel?
The two main differences between choosing a dive or a snorkel to see the Manta Rays is the price and the location.
- Price: Compared to the snorkel the dive is more expensive (typically $30, plus optional dive gear rental at typically $40 consisting of B.C., regulator, wetsuit, mask, and fins, if you don’t bring your own)
- Location: During the manta ray dive you will sit on the ocean floor and look up to see the manta rays feed, while you watch this spectacle from above if you choose the snorkel.
Finally, to partake in the manta ray dive you need to be a certified diver.
What is the Manta Ray dive like? (video)
The following video shows the the perspective of the divers on a Manta Ray dive organized by Torpedo Tours:
The Manta Ray Night Dive/Snorkel is a very popular activity for understandable reasons. This popularity has driven a large and unchecked growth in providers that offer these tours. Finding a balance between what is good (sustainable) for the Manta Ray population and earning an income unfortunately has put a lot of pressure on the Manta Rays, and all self-regulation efforts tried by the industry since have failed. Because of this, Hawaii Ocean Watch (HOW) created the Manta Ray Green List to protect the Manta Rays in Hawaii.
The Manta Ray Green List aims to reward safe and sustainable programs of passive interaction between people and marine life so that the creatures can be enjoyed, but not harmed, by humans. Torpedo Tours is one of only four (!) preferred activity providers on this green list. This means they hold themselves to the high ecological standards set by the HOW, and commit themselves:
- to keep people and marine life safe
- to conduct sustainable operations and
- to create marine-life friendly encounters.
Note: the Green List was discontinued in 2023, but Torpedo Tours remains true to its principles.
We are affiliate partners with Torpedo Tours and any booking on this page you make is made directly with Torpedo Tours. We receive a percentage from the activity provider for each successful booking made through our website but this happens without any additional charge to you. (read more on the use of those links on our website here).
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