Photo: Brocken Inaglory, CC BY-SA 3.0After sunset, a boat from Kona drops you at a patch of ocean lit from below. Giant manta rays glide in to feed on the plankton your lights attract, some spanning well over 10 ft, rolling within inches of the surface. It is one of the few Hawaii animal encounters that works all year.
Lights bring plankton, and plankton brings reef manta rays. You hang flat on the surface while the mantas barrel-roll and loop through the glow, often passing close beneath you. Everything happens in the light, so you watch the show from above. Sessions usually run 30 minutes to an hour in the water. Moray eels and eagle rays can also show up at the sites, but the mantas are the whole point.
The first manta viewing spot on the island, found when hotel lights over the water drew plankton. It is a short ride from Keauhou harbor off South Kona, and the area can be busy with several boats.
North of the airport, near Makako Bay, with a long record of reliable manta sightings. One operator says it is more sheltered from south swell and takes guests only here.
A floating frame with lights shining down. You hold the handles, float horizontal and let the mantas come to you.
Gentle filter feeders with wingspans that often reach 10 to 12 ft. Off Kona, lights draw plankton at night and the mantas glide up to feed just below snorkelers.
Guardian rule: Float at the surface, keep your legs up and never touch a manta. Touching removes the protective mucus on its skin.
Mobula alfredi
A dark ray covered in white spots with a long whip tail. In Hawaii it cruises over sand channels and often flies past in small groups.
Guardian rule: Give it room and never block its path.
Aetobatus ocellatus
Eels that peer out of reef holes, opening and closing their mouths to breathe. They are shy unless provoked, so keep hands out of holes.
Muraenidae
Live sea temperature, waves and wind for the next 7 days, with our snorkel rating for each day.
Calm Choppy Rough. Wave heights are offshore model values.
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Forecast: Open-Meteo. Tides: NOAA station 1617433. Model data, not a lifeguard report. Always check posted warnings.
Hand-picked tours that run here, ranked for small groups, a proper reef briefing and respect for wildlife.
by Dolphin Discoveries
Small-group rigid inflatable boat trip to the Manta Village feeding area, about 45 to 60 minutes in the water, with a naturalist safety briefing.
Pre-entry briefing covers no touching and non-nano zinc sunscreen; the operator says it uses a small-group format.
We may earn a commission when you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which tours we pick. How we choose tours.
Mantas are around all year, so there is no bad month. May to October tends to be calmer, with fewer cancellations. Winter (Oct to Apr) can bring swell and rougher boat rides, mostly January to March.
Tours leave near sunset or around 8 p.m. Sighting odds are about the same on any departure.
Big winter swell days, when trips from exposed Keauhou Bay are more likely to cancel.
| Row | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snorkel conditions | Good | Good | Good | Good | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Good |
| Reef manta ray | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best |
| Water °F | 79 | 79 | 79 | 80 | 80 | 81 | 81 | 82 | 82 | 82 | 81 | 80 |
Go with a permitted operator. The snorkel is in open water in the dark, a boat ride from shore, and gear such as a life preserver and wetsuit is supplied. You float on a board and do not need to swim strongly, but you should be comfortable in deep water.
Swim level: Calm water, weak swimmers ok with a float
Boat tours leave from Keauhou Bay for Manta Village and from Honokohau Harbor or nearby for Garden Eel Cove. Check your operator's meeting point when you book.
You enter from the boat at the site and hold a light board at the surface. Do not dive down.
About 10 to 30 minutes each way. Boats leave from Keauhou Bay, Honokohau Small Boat Harbor.
Tour only. Operators set the price; one Keauhou operator lists from $99.99 per person (checked Oct 2026).
Official fees and hoursChecked 2026-10-22. Fees change, so confirm before you go.
Look for a small boat (some operators cap groups at 12 to 17), a briefing before you enter, light boards or flotation with handles, glow lights so guides can see snorkelers, and a no-touch policy. Operators on the Manta Green list or with Hawaii Ecotourism Association certification are worth prioritizing; confirm on the operator's site. Ask what happens if no manta appears.
Rules come from permitted operators and Hawaii law, and they exist to protect the mantas.
Never touch, pet, chase or ride a manta. Their protective mucous coat can rub off and invite infection.
Float flat on the surface holding the light board or a noodle, legs straight behind you. Do not dive down or kick toward the animals.
Stay in the designated viewing area and avoid splashing, which can scare the mantas away.
Wear a rash guard. If you use sunscreen earlier in the day, use non-nano zinc oxide, and remember Hawaii bans oxybenzone and octinoxate sunscreen sales.
How snorkelers protect reefs · Hawaii reef-safe sunscreen rules
These local groups restore coral, rescue wildlife and keep the water clean. Volunteer a morning, donate, or just follow their work.
Research and conservation of Kona manta rays
A Kailua-Kona nonprofit that studies manta rays and keeps the Kona Manta ID Catalog. It has supported tour participant guidelines and operator standards, and its website takes donations.
Visit mantapacific.org →
A boat takes you to a site after sunset. Lights on a floating board attract plankton, and manta rays come to feed. You float flat on the surface holding the board while the mantas flip and glide below you. Time in the water is usually 30 to 60 minutes.
Not guaranteed, but sightings are common. Operators quote success rates above 80 percent, and many offer a free return trip if no manta shows. Check each company's guarantee terms before you book.
About 78 to 81 F, according to Hawaii Magazine, but the water feels cooler after sunset and while floating. Most operators supply a wetsuit, and a 3 mm suit is a common recommendation.
Take your usual seasickness remedy about two hours before departure. Rides are short, but winter swell can make the boat bumpy. Summer, roughly May to September, is usually calmer.
Both are reliable. Manta Village at Keauhou Bay is closer to South Kona and can be busier. Garden Eel Cove by the airport is described as more sheltered from south swell. Choose by departure harbor and boat size.
No. Touching can remove their protective mucous coat. Keep your body flat, legs still, and let them swim past you.
What we pack for every snorkel trip. Each link searches the category on Amazon so you can compare brands and prices.
Non-nano zinc oxide only. No oxybenzone or octinoxate, which Hawaii bans.
Shop on Amazon →The best sun protection is fabric. Less sunscreen in the water, less sunburn on your back.
Shop on Amazon →A low-volume mask that fits beats any rental. Short travel fins pack easily.
Shop on Amazon →An inflatable vest lets you rest without standing on the reef. Lifeguards love them.
Shop on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Disclosure.
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We check fees, rules and access against official sources first, then local operators and recent visitor reports. Conditions change, so always follow posted signs and lifeguards. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
