Getting a manta ray night snorkeling experience is a must-do if you’re visiting Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island. While you can see them during the day, a nighttime trip offers the chance to view them up close and personal.
Sea Paradise
Seeing a manta ray while snorkeling can be a magical experience. However, it can also be a very nerve-racking one. You must know where to look, and have the appropriate gear. You don’t want to damage the skin coat of these enormous creatures. The Sea Paradise Manta Ray Night Dive is a great way to see them.
During the evening, you can enjoy a scenic sail, followed by an hour of snorkeling. It’s a great way to experience the underwater life of Kona. The lights on the boat help to attract the attention of the creatures.
The manta ray night snorkeling tour is a popular activity in Kona. There are several tour operators that leave from Keauhou Bay.
Garden Eel Cove
Located 8 miles north of the Kona International Airport, Manta Heaven / Garden Eel Cove is one of the most popular sites for night snorkeling. It’s known as a safe and reliable spot for manta rays, but it’s also a good scuba diving site. This is because of its location, depth, topography and protection.
The area has a variety of marine life. The reefs are covered by garden eels and goatfish. They will retreat to burrows if approached quickly.
In addition to the Garden Eel Cove, there are two other locations where manta rays can be spotted. The first is Keahole Point, which is better than Manta Village. The point has a lot of moorings for divers to gather around the mantas. The other is near the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel.
These sites are good for both day and night snorkeling. The night tours bring lights and a floatable light raft. The lights attract plankton, which brings in the manta rays.
Kailua-Kona
Seeing a manta ray in the ocean is a bucket list experience. These creatures are a great filter feeder and are gentle and informative. They don’t have stingers or teeth, so they are a safe animal to swim with. Their wingspans are impressive and can range from 11 feet to over 23 feet. They are known to migrate to specific feeding areas in the water.
The best way to see a manta ray is to go snorkeling at night. Most tour operators will take you to a location where the creatures feed. The tour will give you a chance to snorkel while learning about the ecology of the area. The tour may also include warm soup and bread rolls. The most enjoyable part of the trip is watching the rays in their natural environment.
In addition to the usual snorkeling, you will also learn about the various types of fish in the area. This is a fun experience that you will not soon forget.
Waikoloa
Whether you are new to Hawaii or a seasoned snorkeler, you may be wondering how to go about manta ray night snorkeling. The first thing to know is that the Hawaiian manta ray is a harmless species of fish that does not have a stinger or barb. Rather, it has protective mucous coating its skin.
When it comes to finding a place for night snorkeling with mantas, you’ll want to consider the Keauhou Bay. This area is located on the Kohala Coast near Waikoloa. It has a lot of good places to snorkel with mantas.
In addition to the Kohala Coast, the Kona area is another popular spot for snorkeling with mantas. This area has several tours that offer night snorkeling. These tours use lights to attract mantas.
You’ll see these beautiful creatures up close. They are graceful and have dramatic coloring. They are opportunistic feeders and filter feed on tiny sea life.
Mantas can be seen in all of the Hawaiian Islands. The Pacific Manta Foundation has been working to protect these animals.
