Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkel Tour - Small-Group Adventure from Keauhou Bay
Overall Rating
5.00
A Wondrous Experience
Reviewed by: Kathy M., 2023/09/23We couldn't have asked for a better trip. I especially appreciated the small group size - eight people - which meant that we were able to watch the mantas without getting in each other's way. My sister and I were at the end of the line, opposite each other. This meant that as the manta rays turned over and swam upside down just under the light board - only a few inches away from us - we could look right down their throats. I was amazed at how clean and empty their large mouths were. It was fascinating to see their gills from the inside as well as the outside.
It was wonderful to watch the mantas swim. They move so smoothly they hardly seem to be propelling themselves. The patterns on their backs fluoresce in the light, so they're easy to see.
We watched by lining up on either side of a board, holding on to it and floating stretched out away from it, with flotation devices like pool noodles under our ankles. This keeps our bodies away from the mantas, which is for their protection, not ours. (The mantas are harmless. No teeth, no sting. They eat plankton, not people!)
Two tips:
1. The staff had us put the pool noodles under our ankles, but in that location, it's easy to lose the noodle. Try putting it just below your knees instead. It's much easier to keep in place that way, and if your knees are at the surface, the rest of your legs will be also.
2. If you do lose your noodle, don't panic or kick. Keep your head down, relax, stay as flat as you can, and allow the water to support your body. Staff members will retrieve the noodle and slip it under your legs again. Kicking disturbs the mantas, and the stress is bad for them.
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Activity Date: | 2023/09/07 |
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A wonderful way to see the rays!
Reviewed by: Phil, 2023/02/28We had an amazing time as the crew was incredibly prepared and accommodating. They were able to fit all of us on board and bring us out without a problem. The guides were very knowledgeable and were helpful in getting in and out of the water. They work together with the other tours in the same space to attract as many rays as possible. We ended up seeing 10 or more rays with a near constant show. We had my 65-year-old mom and dad, my 40-year old self and wife, and our eight and 10-year-old with us, and it was never a problem. A great activity if your kids can stay up a little later and recover the next day.
It's a short boat ride out, but the darkness set off a little of my motion sickness, So if you're prone to that be sure to take some medication ahead of time. I also had a little issue being in the waves and going up and down in the darkness. One of the other participants got fully sick away from the boat but the crew handled it very professionally.
I would absolutely recommend them!
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2023/01/30 |
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Do it!! You won’t regret it
Reviewed by: Lindsay, 2022/10/27Very friendly staff and fun facts about manta rays throughout the snorkel trip. We got to see 4 different mantas throughout our trip and they come up so close to you it’s amazing. 10/10 would recommend.
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Activity Date: | 2022/10/24 |
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Amazing Manta experience! Once in a lifetime!
Reviewed by: Pam UK, 2022/06/29Hands down the most amazing experience ever! The guides were knowledgeable, supportive and made you feel safe. The whole experience was just magical! Thanks so much!
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2022/06/27 |
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Amazing
Reviewed by: Williams, 2022/06/19We had a great time. Seth and Colleen were wonderful. Kay was extremely helpful. The Manta's were beautiful and amazing.
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2022/06/17 |
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A magical experience!
Reviewed by: Siobhan, 2022/06/15This experience is 100% worth it and is a must do if you are visiting the Big Island. The Manta Rays are magical and come so close to you that they sometimes even touch you. It is a once in a lifetime memory that you will never forget. Sometimes the image of them doing their barrel roll pops into my head during work and I am taken back to a moment that didn't even seem real. It was so special. While I would recommend this tour to someone who has snorkeled before, we had a member in our group who was a first timer and they did great and had a wonderful experience. Don't let anything hold you back and just book it. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and all about keeping you safe and comfortable. You will not regret it!!
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Activity Date: | 2022/05/16 |
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It was awesome!!
Reviewed by: Catherine Campbell, 2022/06/14The night manta ray snorkel was sooooo cool!! We saw many manta rays and the guides were very helpful with information.
This was one of the highlights of our trip to Kona!
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2022/06/12 |
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Awesome experience: see quite a lot manta ray
Reviewed by: Rui, 2022/05/23Scheduled with 7:30 manta ray tour, checked in at 7:30, crew provided snorkeling equipment and wetsuit, our boat (have around 16 people) leave around 8 and after 5 mins we arrived the view point. And finally we spend around 40-45 mins in super man mode.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2022/05/21 |
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Best adventure of our lives!
Reviewed by: The Foster's, 2022/05/02We were a little skeptic about where we met, but we were assured by the guy checking us in. We got to the landing station and were told step by step what was going to happen. We got to the snorkel site, we had to jump in from the side of boat which took my facemask off. After regrouping and getting it back on we swam to the float. Wow, what an experience! So many mantas swimming right under us giving us a great show. I had one rub on my arm. It was nonstop mantas for 45 minutes! We all loved it! The highlight of our trip! Thank you all!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2022/04/21 |
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Amazing, unique experience.
Reviewed by: Sesame family, 2022/04/11The Manta Discovery tour was overall, super cool and a definite must-do if you’re planning to visit Hawaii’s big island. Depending on the day, the number of mantas will differ, so don’t expect to see ten of them when you go. If there are rays around, they will do flips and aren’t afraid to swim right up to you, which is an AMAZING experience. The mantas are really friendly, and make the activity almost magical. The crews are very informative and friendly.
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Activity Date: | 2022/04/09 |
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Big Bertha!
Reviewed by: Oscareen, 2022/04/07Better than expected! We saw Big Bertha, and 4 other Rays. They were putting on such a show for us, barrel rolling and feeding right in our faces. Was an incredible and unforgettable experience.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2022/03/29 |
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Absolutely amazing!
Reviewed by: Keller Family, 2022/04/06Would you like to make amazing memories in Kona? Our family had such an unforgettable experience with Dolphin Discoveries swimming with several enormous manta rays! Wow! Just wow! We planned our trip to Kona because we wanted to experience snorkeling with Manta Rays, so we had high expectations and hopes! We selected Dolphin Discoveries from reviews online and because it was the best deal around. All of the companies were in the same location - but we really enjoyed the experience with Shelly and crew! Eagerly attentive to all of the guests, they made sure everyone was getting the most out of their experience! In true Aloha fashion, they even helped out another company nearby while we were on the water! Book with Dolphin Discoveries and you will be so glad you did!!
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2022/04/03 |
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Third time is a charm
Reviewed by: Dennis and Linda, 2022/02/16We had attempted two times previously 9 years ago to see the Mantas and were unsuccessful. We warned our group this time that we may be bad luck. Our experience was over the top, well over 10 Mantas and Justin and Connor were great at sharing their knowledge of these fascinating creatures. We would definitely recommend to anyone wondering about this novel opportunity.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2022/02/13 |
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Lots of Mantas
Reviewed by: Awesome day!, 2022/02/11We had a great trip! We had non stop manta ray action! Apparently we were very lucky. I left my phone on the boat because the current was a little rough. It was an awesome experience, would do again!! They were literally belly to belly with me. It was a really cool experience!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2022/02/09 |
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Truly Majestic
Reviewed by: Susan, 2022/02/10It was awesome! As soon as we got in the water we had Manta rays doing barrel rolls around us. Captain Kai, Justin and Jaz made the experience alot of fun. They know their Manta rays. An experience I recommend. Lady's I did this solo, don't hesitate. The night I went was well worth the money. Aloha!
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Activity Date: | 2022/02/08 |
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Great experience!
Reviewed by: Patricia , 2022/02/07Justin was so knowledgeable about the manta rays - we learned many interesting things. The equipment provided was very good quality and most comfortable. The most unforgettable part of the experience was seeing so many beautiful manta rays! And they came so close that we were touched by them as they swam.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2022/02/04 |
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Coolest experience of my life!
Reviewed by: Coolest experience, 2022/02/04This was the coolest experience of my life, and that is not an exaggeration at all. Plus that is saying a lot as we are world wide travelers and have done epic things. Every person living on the Big Island or traveling to the Big Island should do this! If you are considering it and wondering if it will be kinda cool or maybe sorta lame (like I thought it might be) let me assure you it is beyond cool!
We literally had to have close to a dozen manta rays swimming around us, most would swim within inches of us. Some VERY large ones also! No need to fear they have no teeth or stingers and are harmless (unless you are plankton). These creatures are truly magnificent!
The crew onboard was wonderful and knowledgeable. When we were done there was hot tea and a snack which was an added bonus.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2022/02/02 |
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Great manta ray viewing with awesome crew!
Reviewed by: Matt D, 2022/01/22Super competent captain and crew who were helpful with gear, getting on/off the boat, assisting those who were uncomfortable once in the water. The manta viewing was amazing, close up and continuous. Our guide provided background information on the mantas. Several other species of smaller fish were present also. Definitely recommend this activity!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2021/12/31 |
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Life Changing with The Best Crew Ever!
Reviewed by: Marlene209c, 2022/01/06It's true, discovering the Manta's is a must do on Kona and the best place is Keauhou Bay with the "Dolphin Discovery" crew. I chose this company based on their reviews and it was the best decision I made! Our family numbered 6 among an intimate group of 12, plus the crew. Everyone of the crew from the "in-water" guides (Justin & Chaz) to the Capt. and shore staff were AMAZING. Super helpful, patient, approachable, knowledgeable and everything a group could ask for and more! Equipment is top notch and the hot, lavender/chamomile tea & cookies after the swim/snorkeling is the perfect touch!! Thank you very, very much for making this one of the most memorable experiences we had in Kona!!
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2022/01/03 |
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Manta Adventures
Reviewed by: Kevin&Lorrie, 2021/11/23Tour was professionally done, we saw to many Mantas to count...was such a beautiful experience:). Hot tea and good discussion afterwards was great! Thank you so much!!
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Activity Date: | 2021/11/20 |
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Awesome
Reviewed by: fyr, 2021/11/22We saw so many mantas!!!! It was amazing and awesome!!!! The hot tea was nice as well. Thank you!
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Activity Date: | 2021/11/20 |
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Manta Ray Night Snorkel
Reviewed by: K Fox, 2021/11/18This Manta Ray Night Snorkel was near the top of my husbands life list! It was very well organized and the guides were very informative. We saw at least 5-7 Rays. Many came up quite close to check us out. We would definitely do this again, but next time we will bring the camera! I felt very safe the whole time and for me, 45 minutes was just the right amount of time.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2021/11/16 |
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Simply magical, but easy to get cold
Reviewed by: John, 2021/09/15Really enjoyed this experience, the manta rays even touched me!
You can bring your own GoPro but it might be hard to film and hold on at the same time. You're not swimming, you're horizontally floating with a pool noodle at your ankles and your hands gripping a light bar that attracts plankton upon which the mantas feast.
It can get cold when you're in the water, so don't be afraid to bring dive boots, gloves, and your own wetsuit. You'll get a shorty top only and I was pretty chilly, even for a New Englander!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2021/09/13 |
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unforgettable experience
Reviewed by: Ivy, 2021/09/13It was a lifetime experience to see so many manta rays. The captain and crews tried to give everyone the best experience. Unfortunately the waves for that evening was so high that made the boat ride an unpleasant trip.
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2021/08/22 |
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Great Experience
Reviewed by: Jenn from WA, 2021/07/21This was an extraordinary experience. I loved every minute watching the majestic mantas doing their thing. The staff was incredibly nice, safe, knowledgeable and accommodating. I would ten out of ten recommend this!
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2021/07/19 |
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Must do!
Reviewed by: Kate , 2021/07/16Highly recommend this! The guides were knowledgeable and we saw lots of rays! Booked the 6:30pm trip but went out about 7pm which was perfect timing for sunset.
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2021/07/13 |
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Great time
Reviewed by: Amalia, 2021/07/02My family had a great outing to the manta rays. The crew made us feel safe and made sure we had a great time. My 12 and 8 year old loved the experience as well. Would definitely recommend this crew.
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2021/06/30 |
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Amazing experience
Reviewed by: Alex U., 2021/06/30If you are ever on Big Island and looking for unforgettable experience, you have to snorkel with manta rays. They are massive, but completely harmless, and will swim up to and under you. Just have your camera ready and enjoy the show. Dolphin Discoveries took care of all the details and made everyone feel comfortable in the water. I will definitely consider them for other tours!
Mahalo Alex for your awesome review! We are so happy that you had a great time out on our manta ray snorkel! We do hope that we can see you again soon!
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2021/06/28 |
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The manta ray snorkel was AWESOME!
Reviewed by: Jaxsmom, 2021/06/18The guys at Dolphin Discoveries made it so much fun. Simply float and enjoy the mantas swimming super close to you. This should be on everyone's bucket list.
Mahalo nui for the 5 star recommendation! We are stoked to hear that you had a great time with our crew and the mantas ;) We do hope that we can see you again next time!
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2021/06/16 |
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Ok he beat excursion ever!
Reviewed by: Dee, 2021/06/03This is once in a life time experience, nobody should miss it!!! Swimming inches away from Manta Rays was unbelievable!
Mahalo for the 5 star recommendation! Our manta rays are so impressive and we love what we get to do every night! Mahalo for choosing us! We do hope we can see you next time!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2021/06/01 |
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Mahalo for the shout out to your crew and the 5 star review! We are thrilled to hear that you had an amazing night. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you again next time!