Widely recognized as one of the top underwater adventures in the world, swimming with majestic manta rays in the night waters off of Kona is a thrilling and beautiful experience. Attracted to the abundance of plankton in the area, these large creatures (some up to 15 feet wide) gracefully glide in and out of darkness, turning cartwheels as they feed, creating what has been called “the manta ray ballet.” These are harmless creatures, lacking the stingers of its stingray cousins or sharp teeth.
Conveniently located just minutes from the "Manta Ray Village" site and next door to the Sheraton, you will depart from Keauhou Harbor on a spacious trimaran. After viewing the sunset and hearing an informative briefing by the crew, you will enter the water at dark, holding on to a specially designed manta ray flotation device virtually the entire time. You'll float while using the provided snorkeling equipment to keep your eyes ready for when these gentle giants swoop in to feed on the microscopic plankton that the flotation lights attract. After approximately 45 minutes, you'll come back onboard for some light snacks and hot cocoa, and giddy from having the underwater experience of a lifetime!
The sunset version is the main tour, and another late night tour is only added if/when the sunset tour sells out, which might not happen until a day or two before, if at all. While there is no sunset on the late night tour, there are usually fewer boats at that time competing for manta rays. The only other difference is that it is $5 cheaper per person.
