Late Night Majestic Manta Ray Tour

Manta Ray Snorkel Tour in Kona, Hawaii — Late Night Big Island Experience

The Kona coast is one of the only places in the world where you can reliably snorkel with manta rays after dark. These aren’t small fish darting away from the light — manta rays in Kona have wingspans that regularly exceed ten feet and have been documented and studied here for decades by organizations like the Manta Pacific Research Foundation, which has individually identified and tracked over 300 resident mantas in these waters. They’re not seasonal visitors passing through; they live here, they’re habituated to human presence, and they put on a genuine show.

We’re one of only a handful of operators in Kona offering a late-night manta ray snorkel — a departure after dark that puts you in the water under the moonlight with the Hualalai mountain range visible on the horizon. Whether you’re spending a week on the Big Island, making a day trip from Waimea or the Kohala Coast, or a local who has somehow never done this, the late-night manta tour is the one people talk about long after they’ve left Hawaii.

How the Experience Works

Manta rays are filter feeders — they don’t bite, don’t sting, and show no aggression toward swimmers. They come in close because of plankton, not because of you, which makes for a genuinely relaxed and safe experience even for first-timers. Our crew deploys underwater lights from the boat, which attract plankton to the surface. The plankton draws the manta rays in, and they begin feeding in slow, wide loops just below the waterline. You float at the surface on a snorkel board and watch — and on a good night, a manta will pass within arm’s reach.

Our crew briefs every guest on board before entering the water: what to expect, how to position yourself, and what the mantas are doing when they loop and roll. Headlamps are provided for every guest, and all snorkel gear is on board. You don’t need certification, you don’t need experience — if you can float comfortably in the water, you’re ready for this tour.

Why Kona Is the Best Place in the World for This

Manta ray encounters happen in a handful of locations globally, but Kona’s combination of water clarity, consistent resident manta populations, and calm evening seas makes it exceptional. The mantas that visit the Kona coast return to the same feeding sites reliably, night after night — which is why this tour runs year-round with consistently high sighting rates, not just in peak season.

On clear nights, the scene is visually unlike anything else on the Big Island. The moonlight across the water, the underwater lights glowing below you, the outline of Hualalai against the night sky — and below the surface, the slow, gravity-defying loops of animals that can weigh over a ton. No photograph fully prepares you for it.

Two Ways to Experience It

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Sunset Manta Snorkel

Depart just before sunset and transition into darkness as the manta rays begin to arrive. This option gives you the full arc of the evening — golden hour on the water, the horizon fading through orange and purple, and then the manta encounter as night settles in. A great choice for guests who want a broader evening experience on the Kona coast.

Late Night Manta Snorkel

Depart after dark for a full moonlit manta ray experience. We’re one of only a small number of operators in Kona that offer this late departure. It’s the version that most guests describe as the highlight of their entire trip to Hawaii. For guests who want to combine experiences, our whale watch adventure makes a natural daytime pairing — you can do both in the same day on the Big Island.

Who This Tour Is For

Everyone. We regularly have guests in their seventies snorkeling for the first time, kids as young as five, and experienced divers who prefer the simplicity of floating at the surface for this encounter. The manta rays do the work; you just show up and watch. Our crew stays close throughout the water portion to make sure every guest is comfortable, and no one has ever wished they’d skipped it.

This tour works for families, couples, solo travelers, and groups of all kinds. For guests who want a fully private manta experience, private manta ray charters are available — ideal for special occasions, proposals, or groups who want the encounter entirely to themselves.

Tour Details

• Check-in: Honokohau Small Boat Harbor, Kailua-Kona
• All snorkel gear and headlamps provided
• Suitable for all ages and swimming levels
• Runs year-round
• Adult: $210 | Child: $210
• Private charter available

Book Your Kona Manta Ray Tour

Manta ray tours run year-round in Kona, and the late-night departure books up fast — especially during peak Big Island travel season. If there’s a specific night you want, book it early. Call us at (808) 930-9861 or email [email protected] to reserve your spot on the water.