The Kona Night Manta Snorkel Tour offers a unique opportunity to witness the graceful movements of manta rays in their natural habitat. Departing from Kailua-Kona, this tour provides high-quality snorkeling gear, wetsuits, and refreshments while utilizing LED light boards to attract plankton and create an unforgettable experience. With a maximum group size of 26, guests can enjoy close encounters with these majestic creatures and a serene stargazing experience during the return cruise. What makes this tour truly exceptional is the chance to connect with the natural world in a way that few ever get to experience.
Key Points
- The Kona Night Manta Snorkel Tour offers a unique opportunity to snorkel with manta rays under the stars off the Big Island’s coast.
- The tour includes high-quality wetsuits, snorkeling gear, and LED light boards that attract plankton, which in turn draw the manta rays.
- Participants can expect a maximum group size of 26 and a moderate fitness level requirement for the night snorkeling activity.
- The tour provides refreshments, such as soft drinks and bottled water, and concludes with a stargazing experience during the return cruise.
- Health and safety considerations include limited accessibility, restrictions for certain medical conditions, and a focus on participant comfort and safety by the crew.
Tour Overview
The Kona Night Manta Snorkel Tour is a popular experience on the Big Island of Hawaii.
It has a 96% traveler recommendation rate based on 24 reviews, with a 4.8 rating. The tour costs $149 per person and departs from Kona.
Guests receive wetsuits and snorkeling gear, and enjoy viewing manta rays up close using LED light boards that attract plankton. The tour also includes stargazing during the return cruise.
Participants should arrive 30 minutes early and meet the crew 20 minutes before departure. The tour isn’t wheelchair accessible and has moderate physical fitness requirements.
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Kona Night Manta Snorkel Experience
Departing from Kona, the night snorkel tour takes guests to manta ray hotspots on the Big Island. Donning wetsuits and snorkel gear, guests enjoy the tranquil ocean beneath the starry night sky. The crew’s LED light boards attract plankton, drawing the majestic manta rays close for awe-inspiring viewing. Guests can marvel at the graceful creatures gliding through the water, an unforgettable experience. The tour provides equipment, cold drinks, and opportunities to stargaze on the return cruise. With moderate fitness required, the Kona Night Manta Snorkel Tour is a must-do adventure in Hawaii.
| Equipment Provided | Suitability |
|---|---|
| Wetsuit tops (XS-XXL) | Not wheelchair accessible |
| Snorkeling gear | Not recommended for back issues, pregnancy, or serious medical conditions |
| Cold drinks (soft drinks, water) | Moderate physical fitness required |
| LED light boards | Maximum group size: 26 travelers |
Gear and Amenities
The tour provides an array of essential equipment and amenities to ensure guests’ comfort and safety during the Kona Night Manta Snorkel experience.
Wetsuits in sizes ranging from XS to XXL are provided, along with high-quality snorkeling gear. Guests can enjoy refreshing soft drinks and bottled water throughout the tour.
The tour also uses LED light boards to attract plankton, which in turn draws the magnificent manta rays close for an up-close encounter.
During the return cruise, guests can marvel at the starry night sky, capping off an unforgettable underwater adventure.
Manta Ray Encounter
As guests depart the meeting point, they embark on an unforgettable journey to witness the captivating manta rays that thrive in the waters off the Big Island’s Kona coast.
Once out on the water, LED light boards are deployed, attracting plankton that the manta rays feed on.
Snorkelers eagerly watch as these majestic creatures glide gracefully through the illuminated water, their wing-like movements mesmerizing.
The opportunity to observe these gentle giants up close is a truly awe-inspiring experience, leaving guests with lasting memories of their encounter with the enigmatic manta rays.
Stargazing Opportunity
After the manta ray encounter, guests have the opportunity to stargaze during the return cruise.
The tour’s nighttime schedule provides ideal conditions for stargazing, allowing visitors to admire the night sky above the Pacific Ocean. The dark, coastal setting offers minimal light pollution, enhancing the visibility of constellations, planets, and other celestial wonders.
Guests can take in the serene beauty of the starry sky as the boat gently cruises back to the meeting point. This additional experience caps off the manta ray adventure, providing a memorable and awe-inspiring end to the tour.
Meeting and Pickup Details
Guests meet at 247 Kealakehe Pkwy, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA, the company’s designated meeting point.
Travelers should arrive 30 minutes prior to tour departure. Once there, guests meet at the company sign 20 minutes before the tour starts.
The tour ends at the same meeting point. This meeting location offers a convenient and centralized spot for the Kona Night Manta Snorkel Tour.
Arriving early allows ample time for check-in and ensures guests don’t miss the departure. Following these pickup instructions guarantees a smooth start and end to this unforgettable manta ray snorkeling adventure.
Health and Safety Considerations
The Kona Night Manta Snorkel Tour isn’t wheelchair accessible, though service animals are allowed.
The tour isn’t recommended for travelers with back problems, pregnant travelers, or those with serious medical conditions. Moderate physical fitness is required, as the activity involves snorkeling at night.
The maximum group size is 26 travelers.
Key health and safety considerations include:
- Suitability restrictions for certain travelers
- Requirement of moderate physical fitness
- Guided group size limit
- Availability of service animals
The crew prioritizes participant safety and comfort throughout the snorkeling experience.
Guest Reviews and Cancellation Policy
Overwhelmingly positive traveler reviews highlight the Kona Night Manta Snorkel Tour‘s exceptional quality.
Guests consistently praise the crew’s kindness and informative nature, as well as the overall safety and comfort during the snorkeling experience. Many describe their encounters with the majestic manta rays as "incredible" and "life-changing."
The tour also offers a flexible cancellation policy, allowing free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of the experience. This, combined with the option to reserve now and pay later, makes the tour an appealing and accessible choice for adventurous travelers to Hawaii’s Big Island.
Sum Up
The Kona Night Manta Snorkel Tour offers an unparalleled opportunity to witness the majestic manta rays and stargaze under the night sky. With high-quality gear, refreshments, and a small group size, this tour provides an intimate and memorable experience for anyone seeking to connect with the natural wonders of Hawaii’s marine environment.
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