Big Island
It 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!
Justin 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.
This 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.
Super 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!
The manta rays were inches from us, and all four in our group had an exceptional time. The guides were knowledgeable and really added to the experience. Highly recommend.
Such a welcoming crew and staff at Sea Quest. They worked through changes easily and made sure everyone was comfortable. Not only was the snorkeling great with tons of fish and coral but you also get several stops along the ride to look at lava tubes, caves, and larger wildlife. Very knowledgable crew and great spot to visit for both beginner and advanced swimmers/snorkelers.
The captain and the assistant are very nice and knowledgeable. We saw a few amazing sea caves and lava tubes on the way to the snorkeling stops. Saw beautiful fishes at both stops and the 2nd stop (Captain Cook's Monument) is best and our GoPro caught awesome videos of those beautiful fishes.
It'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!!
Crew, equipment, boat, customers and experience were all AWESOME
Tour 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!!
We saw so many mantas!!!! It was amazing and awesome!!!! The hot tea was nice as well. Thank you!
This 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.
The boat and crew were great! The snorkeling equipment was first class. We didn't see that much wildlife at the two stops. A lot of small fish. The second stop was better. Didn't notice in the sign-up that the BBQ was vegan. That is nice for folks who like it but it would have been good to offer non-vegan food as well. We paid extra for the food on the cruise and I would have liked some regular food. Overall, the bar and drinks offered were very good and served with a smile. My wife thought the boat and seating were the best. The crew were very informative and happy to share their knowledge and culture with the guests. Would do it again!
Really 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!
It 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.
I participated with my partner. Our guide, Noni, was kind, very friendly, and we had a fun kayaking and snorkeling experience. Jumping from the cliff was also enjoyable. We took a lot of photos. It truly became a wonderful memory. I definitely want to participate again next time. I recommend getting a good night's sleep the day before. It might be a bit hard for kayaking beginners, but I didn't have any muscle soreness the next day.
パートナーと2人で参加しました。ガイドのノニさんが親切かつとてもフレンドリーで楽しいカヤック&シュノーケル体験が出来ました。崖上からのジャンプも楽しかったです。写真もたくさん撮って頂きました。本当良い思い出になりました。次回もぜひ参加したいです。参加前の日はしっかり睡眠を取ることをお勧めします。カヤック初心者には少しハードかもですが、次の日の筋肉痛とかはありませんでした。
So much fun. The location was beautiful, the crew was friendly and the service was great...oh and the plant based menu was delicious. Seeing dolphins made the day. I learned that orcas pass through Hawaiian waters and as a result the dolphins were swimming in and we were lucky enough to see them. Would have been fun to have paddleboards. We all loved it! Thank you.
Thank you for taking the time to let us know about your experience! We hope to see you again in the future. Leah
Nice ride in the ocean at night, beautiful skyline and warm ocean.
Rays pass by few inches from you, possibly enjoying themself as well.
It was an amazing snorkeling adventure. My husband and I have never gone snorkeling the crew was amazing. They were helpful and very funny. I suggest doing this. You get to see many different types of animals and sights
Tour guides were great, nice, and informative. Sadly did not see any manta rays on our cruise. They said this was highly unusual but still disappointing to not see any. They offered for us to go back on a future tour, but we were leaving the island and they do not offer any refunds.
The whole experience was well done. Captain Danielle and her crew mate were knowledgeable, kind and helpful. We saw tons of mantas doing endless barrel rolls inches from our masks!!! The boat ride is brief and we spent plenty of time in the water on the light-board. FYI- You need to be able to climb up a 3-rung boat ladder to get out of the water, it went fine with our tour but I could imagine that might be tough for some. Well worth the time and money!!
The manta rays were incredible to swim with and the crew did an excellent job. You are taken care of the moment you get on to the boat until the moment you get back. This adventure takes you out with light boards to see the manta rays come swim around you. It was well done.
Brendan and Morgan were lovely, great story tellers and funny jokes. Overall 11/10 cannot recommend enough
The crew was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional, and seeing the mantas up close was an amazing experience. We would so this again, no question!
This 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!
Over all great experience. The boat and crew were great, we seen several mantas even though it was kinda rainy. Went with family and older children. 16 and 19 y/o daughters they loved it.
Highly 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.
My 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.
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!
If 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!
Awesome crew, it's actually an advantage to go on a smaller boat with fewer people, highly recommended.