Swim with giant manta rays in their nighttime habitat during this 2.5-hour activity in Kona. Travel out into the seas offshore to watch the colorful Kona sunset, then jump in to swim with the docile rays as they feed on microscopic plankton. Follow your guides around the manta habitat and watch as the animals are attracted to the bright lights, creating a "manta rave" of lights, bubbles and mantas. All snorkel equipment, including flotation devices and wet suits, is included. Manta sightings are guaranteed, or you will be given a voucher for another tour.

Learn about the biology and behavior of these gentle, graceful giants
Wet suite, snorkel gear, and flotation devices provided
Watch the Kona sunset from the deck of the boat
Guaranteed manta sighting or you'll get a voucher for an additional tour

What's Included

Bottled water and Juice
Snacks
Professional guide
Flotation device
Snorkel equipment including wet suits

Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Bite Me Sport Fishing
74-425 Kealakehe Pkwy #1, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
Please join us at Bite Me Sportfishing Logo and Charter Shop 30 minutes prior to departure for check-in. For swimmers, please wear your bathing suits and bring towels and sunblock for day trips.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Make your way to the tour offices on Honokohau Harbor in Kona, where you'll check in and get fitted for gear. Hop on your tour boat and head out to sea; your spacious vessel is equipped with a top observation deck, a large cabin, and an onboard bathroom.

Reach your destination in time to watch the colorful Kona sunset from the boat's top deck, then start getting ready for your manta ray encounter. Slip into your wetsuit, don your snorkel, and jump in. Buoy yourself with a flotation device; your guides will set up lights to see the mantas clearly.

Spend about 45 minutes snorkeling using a customized light board with one of the brightest lights in the water, showcasing the graceful ballet of the giant mantas as they careen through the water in search of food. You'll be in 30 to 35 feet (9 to 10 meters) of water, within sight of the shoreline, and supervised by your experienced guide to ensure your comfort and safety. Manta rays have no barbs or teeth, a wing span of 4 to 12 feet (1 to 4 meters) and weigh between 400 and 1200 lbs (180 and 545 kg). Interactions with the manta rays take place in a passive, respectful manner.

Manta sightings are guaranteed, or you will be given a voucher for another tour.

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 2 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Children under the age of 5 must provide their own life vests
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund.

Collapsible-wheelchair accessible—if assistance is required, passenger must provide their own assistant.
Please note the departure time throughout the year adjusts to the sunsetting sky. Jan 1- March 31 departure time is 5:30PM and 8:30pm April 1- September 31 departure time is 6PM and 9pm, October 1- December 31 departure time is 5PM and 8pm. You will be placed where there is availability. Please call 24 hours prior to confirm departure time.
Infant seats available
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Amy_A

This was my family's all-time favorite excursion. The up-close interaction with the manta rays was absolutely amazing!! This staff was very friendly and extremely helpful! I can't say enough about this wonderful experience. If you have the chance to do this experience, DO IT!!

Reviews

4.5

905 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 905 reviews

Great !

Alexandra_M, Apr 2024

Great experience ! They were good with my kiddos too! 10/10 ! I would deff recommend this experience !

Must do!

Nathalie_D, Apr 2024

The staff are amazing from start to finish. A pod of dolphins jumped in our wake on the way out. Saw an amazing sunset. Mantas are amazing. The staff went above and beyond to have us see them. The juice and snacks provided on the way back were much appreciated.

Would defin recommend

Elisa_K, Apr 2024

Had a great time! Wonderful Staff, great experience! We saw at least 6 different ones while 1 of them followed us for awhile.

Trip of emotions! There is all forms of excitement.

Noe_M, Apr 2024

Dark and vast sea at first but as you arrive at the site and start joining the Manta-rays you see how amazing it is. Dolphins join our snorkeling trip. It was so much fun for the family and kids even enjoyed it.

An unbelievable Manta Ray experience!

Joseph_R, Apr 2024

An absolute blast! You are literally inches away from these magnificent creatures. This is a true bucket list event! The crew was awesome!

Amazing Experience on the Big Island

Stephanie_L, Apr 2024

Amazing experience with a best-in-class crew! We went on the 6pm swim with manta rays. The sun was starting to set and we had a beautiful ride out to our snorkeling spot. We’re not experienced snorkelers, but the crew was able to walk us through what to do easily. We had a great experience and saw a lot of manta rays - that came right up to us!

14 Manta Rays and Awesome Crew!

Krutin_K, Apr 2024

Snacks included chips and some soda and water. We saw 14 manta rays! Crew were super fun, helpful, and attentive. Water was a bit cold so a sweater and change of swimming trunks was key!

April_H, Apr 2024

This was our most favorite activity we did on this trip. The staff was super nice and were so excited and knowledgeable and made the whole experience even more fun. 17 manta rays swimming and barrel rolling right up under our bodies. It was perfect. I am sad I can’t remember the names of our captain and guides. They were awesome! The viewing was unbelievable and we will never forget it. Thank you!

The best staff!

Leslie_R, Apr 2024

Taking these ladies to do something they would never do and they had a great time. They are not good swimmers, they have mobility problems and one has COPD breathing problems. If you think you can’t do it or are too old this staff was amazing with helping them get the best experience! Thank you all!!

Amazing experience!

Dianna_K, Apr 2024

I had an amazing time, the guys were very helpful and kind. The water was amazingly warm. (I’m from Washington State, warm means something different to me😜) I will absolutely do this again!

Awesome snorkel event

Robert_G, Apr 2024

This excursion was awesome from start to finish. Really friendly staff. They provided a good overview of the manta rays and brought us to a spot where we eventually saw 8 rays. We signed up for the 6pm event.

Viator messed up

Linda_D, Apr 2024

The information provided by Viator about trip was absolutely incorrect. Very angry about the mess up. Thank heaven the company providing the adventure came through. Guess I will use trip advisor in the future

Great experience with the right crew. Bite Me provided that.

Jerry_C, Apr 2024

Make sure you review your booking to make sure you are a in water participant and not just a ride along. The website was a little confusing but we were able to rectify it at check in. The night was perfect and the crew was beyond amazing! Where we initially set anchor, there weren't many Manta Rays, but we adjusted while in water and had the show of a lifetime!

Beautiful experience!...

Emely_T, Apr 2024

Beautiful experience! Lovely crew all very happy and attentive to everyone on the boat ! We had a great show many manta rays came up to us. Just the right amount of time snorkeling with them as well!

Amazing Experience with the Manta Rays!

Heath_M, Apr 2024

Our guides were amazing and we had the best time! We saw so many manta rays! Such a fun experience! Highly recommend!

Amazing Experience!

Ted_C, Apr 2024

The captain & crew were very knowledgeable and professional. Safety was of their upmost importance, both for their members on board & the Manta Rays. The rays showed up quickly once the lights were turned on and in numbers! They were literally swimming within inches of you and all around. They are amazing creatures and this tour gives you a whole new perspective of what awesome really is!! We HIGHLY recommend this tour!!

A fun evening

Suzanne_S, Apr 2024

The crew was very helpful and safety conscious We enjoyed the evening and would definitely do it again

Bucket list adventure!

Amy_D, Apr 2024

This experience was outstanding! The guides are friendly & informative. The boat ride was great although if you get seasick, make sure to prepare.

Maybe think twice....

Mary_a, Apr 2024

We saw two manta rays float by, for a total of five seconds of manta ray... Well on the water in the freezing cold, feeling like our arms were going to drop off (and my husband and I are gym rats), for 45 minutes. On the boat ride back, two of our kids and 5 other passengers were vomiting over the rail from sea-sickness. The boat was not well cared for either. The crew was GREAT.

Must do!

Kelvin_R, Apr 2024

The crew was was friendly and informative. The experience was quite surreal. Top things to do in big island

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