(All Reviews) Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkel (Top 10 Best Things to Do Big Island), Big Island tours & activities, fun things to do in Big Island | HawaiiActivities.com

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All Reviews for Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkel in Big Island

Overall Rating

4.68 4.68 / 5

Reviews

403 reviews

Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka

a must!

Reviewed by: Kara, 2024/04/01

great evening swimming with these giant gorgeous creatures, we got lucky with the abundance who came around to play!

Comments from activity operators

Aloha Kara! Thank you so much for joining our Manta snorkel tour! We are happy to hear that you had a great time swimming with the manta rays. We hope to see you again soon. Mahalo

Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Activity Date: 2024/01/10
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Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka

Exhilarating Night Adventure Watching Manta Ray Under Your Feet

Reviewed by: LarryC, 2024/02/28

Are ready to try an adventure that is unique? Water activities are great but what about doing something at night, in the water and mysteriously fun? You must do this! A night time viewing of majestic Manta Rey fish! Oh boy, so fun. The day came, I drove down to the facility early (good thing I did, I got lost) and introduced myself to the host. Maybe her name was Iruka, but a very friendly girl greeted me and accommodated any questions I had. She offered a wetsuit fins and mask/snorkel combo however, I bought and brought my own (because I know what it means for things not to fit right). We took off on time with about 13-15 people out into the abyss. Light was shimmering off the water as the sun was setting down. Very beautiful to see it on a boat. We took a short ride to the spot where other boats were anchored and the crew pulled out a square like raft. It had special lights in the middle to draw fish and Manta Ray. The special lights draw the plankton towards the light and the fish eat it right away.

Everyone slowly dropped ourselves over the side and crew members helped us swim to the floating raft. We had to hold a small rope handle and given floating noodles to place under our feet to make everyone horizontal. This is to keep our feet from kicking underneath the raft and scaring the fish. This also kept everyone relaxed, well until we started seeing strange fish.

So much fun! The ride back was scary fun. Traveling through the dark without any lights but the moon illuminating on the water in front of us Wow! This is something you'll never forget. Highly Recommended.

Video https://youtu.be/t4VJHokd3DI

Comments from activity operators

Aloha Larry!
Thank you so much for joining our manta ray tour on the big island of Hawai'i! We are happy to hear that you had a great time with our awesome crew and in the water with the manta rays! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! Your videos and pictures are amazing to see. Come back soon, mahalo

Rating:
Attended as: Solo Travelers
Activity Date: 2024/02/13
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Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka

Awesome once-in-a-lifetime experience

Reviewed by: Veronica, 2024/02/25

My family did the sunset cruise and it was amazing! We got to watch the sunset in the water and got to see dolphins and look for whales before heading to the snorkeling spot. I have kids ages 12 and 9. While my 9 year old struggled a bit with the snorkel, my 12 year old had no problems at all. The crew was super fun and engaging, dancing to music and generally infecting the crowd with their great attitude. Snacks and drinks were provided as well as hot chocolate afterward. They also took videos for us and were happy to airdrop them to anyone that wanted them. I would definitely recommend this experience and this company!

Comments from activity operators

Aloha Veronica!
Thank you for joining our manta ray tour and for sharing your amazing experience. We are thrilled to hear that you and your family had a great time on our boat and snorkeling with the manta rays. We hope you come back soon for more fun, mahalo

Rating:
Attended as: Families with Young Children
Activity Date: 2024/02/02
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Big Island Manta Ray Night Snorkel Tour Adventure on a Hawaiian Sailing Canoe

fun!

Reviewed by: blake, 2024/02/02

fun!fun!fun!fun!fun!fun!fun!fun!fun!fun!fun!fun!fun!fun!

Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Activity Date: 2023/02/15
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Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka

pretty good experience

Reviewed by: joe pang , 2024/01/18

wonderful and first experience of my life. i 'll want to there again soon, this is my dream.

Comments from activity operators

Aloha Joe! Thank you so much for joining our Manta Ray tour. We are so happy that you had a great time and that is was a dream come true. We hope to see you again soon. Mahalo

Rating:
Attended as: Families with Young Children
Activity Date: 2023/12/20
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Kona Sunset & Moonlight Wild Manta Ray Snorkel Tour - Wahine Charters

Great Fun!

Reviewed by: Rich(Lawrence KS), 2023/12/06

I was not sure what to expect but I was very pleased with this experience. The crew was very pleasant, patient and knowledgable. They were very patient with some older guests and made sure they were safe and comfortable.
We ended up meeting several other boats so we had a lot of plankton for the Manta. Those beautiful fish did not disappoint! Although touching the manta is prohibited, they come close enough to touch! Bring your underwater camera for some great pictures and video memories!

Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Activity Date: 2023/12/04
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Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka

AWESOME EXPERIENCE!!!!

Reviewed by: Mary H, 2023/10/31

We attended on Monday October 16. The 4 guys did such a fantastic job making it fun for all of us. It was a unique and exciting experience. I can not say enough good things about it. I highly recommend it and would even go so far as to say it is a MUST DO on the Big Island!!

Comments from activity operators

Aloha Mary! We are so happy that you enjoyed our Manta Ray tour. Thank you so much for joining us. We hope to see you again soon. Mahalo!

Rating:
Attended as: Families
Activity Date: 2023/10/16
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Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka

Amazing guides, lots of mantas and fish, beautiful scenery, and fun learning experience.

Reviewed by: E & C Flores-Montoya, 2023/10/27

My husband and I booked this tour for our honeymoon on the island. It was truly amazing to see the many fish and mantas in their natural habitat! I was that person who forgot their motion sickness meds. If you get motion sick/sea sick definitely take them so you can enjoy the whole experience without feeling queasy. If you come from colder climates you may not need wet suits. My husband and I didnt get them as we come from a cold climate and did fine temperature wise. The captain and his crew, Diego, were very knowledgeable and friendly. They also helped out a bunch when I wasn't feeling well. Would recommend this tour to anyone!

  • Not my best image but I don't want to give away all the fun!

Comments from activity operators

Aloha! Thank you so much for joining our Manta Ray tour and for choosing Iruka! It makes us so happy to hear that our guests are loving their experience. We hope to see you again soon. Mahalo!

Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Activity Date: 2023/10/25
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Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka

An absolutely unforgettable time!

Reviewed by: Kristen, 2023/10/21

We are SO glad we booked this tour with Iruka; we had an absolutely incredible time with tour guides Trevor, Diego and Tamaya (so sorry if I'm misspelling your names or missing anyone) who were so knowledgable and accommodating. It was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to the Big Island; a bunch of the rays got so close to us, we felt super safe and loved the hot chocolate afterwards!

Comments from activity operators

Aloha Kristen! Thank you so much for joining our Manta Ray tour and for sharing about your experience. We are so glad that you enjoyed your time with us. Please come back soon! Mahalo

Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Activity Date: 2023/10/12
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Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka

awesome!

Reviewed by: Stefanie Säuberlich, 2023/10/10

We always felt safe. The support was great. We were there with our 2 sons (4 and 11 years old). Everything worked great and everyone was very attentive. We were able to enjoy it completely as a family. Seeing the manta rays was an unforgettable experience.
Highly recommended!

Comments from activity operators

Aloha Stefanie! Thank you so much for choosing Iruka and for sharing about your exciting experience. We are so happy that you enjoyed your time on our Manta Ray tour. We hope to see you again in the future! Mahalo

Rating:
Attended as: Families with Young Children
Activity Date: 2023/10/08
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Deluxe Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkeling Cruise from Keauhou Bay - Hula Kai

Definitely add this to you itinerary if you haven’t yet!

Reviewed by: Jules, 2023/10/01

The crew was great, the manta turn out was amazing, and the boat ride is short (which is ideal for when you’re cold and ready to get warm again haha). We got lucky that it was a small group so there were plenty of options to sit and have a lovely view of the sunset while heading out. 10/10 would do again.

Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Activity Date: 2023/09/29
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Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkel Tour - Small-Group Adventure from Keauhou Bay

A Wondrous Experience

Reviewed by: Kathy M., 2023/09/23

We 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.

Rating:
Attended as: Friends
Activity Date: 2023/09/07
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Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka

10/10, would recommend. Manta rays are a must see!

Reviewed by: Maggy, 2023/09/18

This was such a breathtaking experience! Trevor and Diego were excellent captain and crew, with a great sense of humor too. They ensured I felt safe which was huge because I had never snorkeled before. I would recommend this company to anyone who asks, they provide everything you need including prescription goggles which was an amazing surprise. Diego also gave us manta ray facts as we were snorkeling and we loved it. The night began with a sunset boat ride, leading into the manta ray snorkel, and then a quick boat ride back to the harbor with snacks and hot cocoa. I will never forget this experience.

  • Manta rays come right up to you and flip around to eat. So so cool.

Comments from activity operators

Aloha Maggy! We are so happy that you had fun on our Manta Ray tour. Thank you so much for joining us. We hope to see you again soon. Mahalo!

Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Activity Date: 2023/09/15
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Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka

Great Evening

Reviewed by: Kara, 2023/09/18

We were happy we got to see some mantas, it was so fun to have a night experience!

Comments from activity operators

Aloha Kara! Thank you for choosing Iruka and for sharing your positive feedback. We are so glad that you enjoyed your time on our tour. We hope to see you again in the future! Mahalo

Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Activity Date: 2023/08/04
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Kona Sunset & Moonlight Wild Manta Ray Snorkel Tour - Wahine Charters

Amazing snorkeling

Reviewed by: Mandy, 2023/09/16

We had a blast and seeing the manta rays was amazing. We also saw a bristle worm, which was cool too. The team was fabulous and knowledgeable. We will do again next time we swing into Kona. We recommend this excursion 100%. You won’t be sorry. If you get seasick, take the anti nausea medicine first. It can be a bit harder on your stomach in the dark.

Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Activity Date: 2023/08/23
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Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka

Epic Experience!

Reviewed by: Alex, 2023/09/02

The boat crew went out of their way to make sure each and every one of us was taken care of and having a good time. The mantas were surreal. This is something everyone needs to experience!

Comments from activity operators

Aloha Alex! Thank you so much for joining our tour and for sharing about your experience. We are so glad that you enjoyed your time with us. Please come back soon! Mahalo

Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Activity Date: 2023/08/31
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Deluxe Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkeling Cruise from Keauhou Bay - Hula Kai

So Cool

Reviewed by: Diana P., 2023/08/26

It was a once in a lifetime experience. The manta rays came right up to us and almost brushed up on us. It was so beautiful as well as seeing all the glowing plankton and other fish. the staff on the boat were friendly and informative. at the end they gave us hot chocolate and soup to warm us up. definitely recommend this company.

Rating:
Attended as: Families with Young Children
Activity Date: 2023/08/18
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Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka

Fun evening

Reviewed by: Kara, 2023/08/13

We got lucky and got a few mantas so the night was worth it!

Comments from activity operators

Aloha Kara! We are so happy you were able to experience the magic of snorkeling with Manta Rays! Thank you for joining our tour, we hope you come back soon. Mahalo

Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Activity Date: 2023/06/21
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Kona Sunset & Moonlight Wild Manta Ray Snorkel Tour - Wahine Charters

Wahine was awesome!

Reviewed by: New2Hawaii, 2023/08/11

Best crew ever! They were kind and helpful and overall awesome! Would definitely use again

Rating:
Attended as: Families with Young Children
Activity Date: 2023/08/09
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Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka

Great experience

Reviewed by: Sreedhar, 2023/08/05

- crew was very helpful
- had a good evening boat ride with sunset view
- crew explained the instructions clearly
- great experience watching manta rays up close
- crew helped my kids getting into and out of water

Comments from activity operators

Aloha Sreedhar! Thank you for choosing Iruka and for sharing your positive feedback. We are so glad that you enjoyed your time on our tour. We hope to see you again in the future! Mahalo

Rating:
Attended as: Families with Young Children
Activity Date: 2023/07/10
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Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka

10/10 would do it again!

Reviewed by: Diane, 2023/07/30

This was a great experience for my family I clouding kids as young as 8. Bryce, Joe, Diego, and Tamae were so kind to the guests and very knowledgeable about the manta rays. We got a bonus of seeing a dolphin on our way to the snorkel site as well as a beautiful sunset. Mahalo!

Comments from activity operators

Aloha Diane! We are so happy that you had fun on our Manta Ray tour and were lucky enough to see dolphins! Thank you so much for joining us. We hope to see you again soon. Mahalo!

Rating:
Attended as: Families
Activity Date: 2023/07/23
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Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka

Memorable Experience

Reviewed by: Belinda, 2023/07/18

Arriving shortly before 6:30 p.m., we were greeted with welcoming smiles and thank-yous for choosing them.

During the 30-minute boat ride to the manta ray sighting, the crew offered us snacks and beverages. Captain ?Louie? showed us a beautiful sunset while waiting to "anchor" until another boat saw a manta ray (we liked it that he wanted to give us the best chance of seeing manta rays). I was feeling a little seasick by then. Once the boat stopped, the crew gave us helpful instructions.

As we jumped into the water, the staff provided help to any who needed guidance to the lighted raft. Not being the best swimmer, I was one who Tamae kindly guided.

Minutes after setup, we saw our first of 6-7 manta rays for the evening. The manta rays were amazing, even though they chose to stay close to the bottom of the ocean that evening!

During the experience, the raft kept bumping my head and shifting my mask (another in my party had the same experience, so the crew should try to avoid giving the corner spot of the raft to anyone), so I had to hold onto the raft rope with one hand and prevent the raft from bumping my head with the other. The combination of the boat ride and the raft bumping caused my motion sickness to literally erupt. Diego and Tamae compassionately led me toward the boat. Diego comforted me, saying not to worry, at least one person each trip became ill. Because I started feeling better, I was able to return to the raft for the last 10 minutes.

Climbing up the ladder into the boat wasn't the easiest thing to do, but both the captain and crew were there to help.

The ride back was breezy but not too cold with a towel wrapped around our shoulders. I'm also glad there was a small bucket for me to use with my motion sickness.

The entire crew was fantastic, helping us all to experience watching the manta rays! Tamae also offered free actual video footage of our adventure.

Thanks for our memorable experience!

Comments from activity operators

Aloha Belinda! Thank you so much for choosing Iruka and for sharing your positive feedback. We are so glad that you enjoyed your time on our Manta Ray tour and with our amazing crew. We apologize for any discomfort you felt from the sea sickness. We are so happy to hear that you still were able to have a good time. We hope to see you again in the future! Mahalo

Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Activity Date: 2023/06/22
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Kona Sunset & Moonlight Wild Manta Ray Snorkel Tour - Wahine Charters

Wahine Charters! Woohoo

Reviewed by: CJ , 2023/07/10

We had the best time with the Wahine Charters crew. They were very kind and welcoming! 10/10 recommend!

Rating:
Attended as: Friends
Activity Date: 2023/07/08
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Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka

Great Evening

Reviewed by: Kara, 2023/07/01

Really good water conditions, we got to see a good amount of the rays and the experience was breathtaking!

Comments from activity operators

Aloha Kara! We are thrilled to hear of your amazing experience on our manta ray tour. We hope you come again soon! Mahalo

Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Activity Date: 2023/05/06
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Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka

Fantastic

Reviewed by: Happy snorkeler, 2023/06/26

The tour was wonderful , the crew engaging, helpful, humorous, and knowledgeable , the equipment was fine, thoughtful snacks/drinks provided, and of course then there were the rays.it was a dreamlike experience.

Comments from activity operators

Aloha! We are so happy to hear that you had such an amazing time on our Manta Ray tour. We love to hear about our guest's positive experiences. We hope to see you again soon. Mahalo

Rating:
Attended as: Friends
Activity Date: 2023/06/23
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Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka

Best family excursion!

Reviewed by: Molly L, 2023/06/25

MUST DO-Our family comes to Hawaii every summer and this is by far the most magical experience we've ever had on an excursion!!! There were four manta rays swimming around us-truly awe inspiring! Our kids are 16, 14, and 10...ALL LOVED IT and said it was the highlight of our trip! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Comments from activity operators

Aloha Molly! Thank you for joining our tour and leaving such positive feedback! We are so glad that your family enjoyed your time with the manta rays. We hope to see you again in the future! Mahalo

Rating:
Attended as: Families
Activity Date: 2023/06/23
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Big Island Moonlight Manta Ray Snorkel Tour & Sunset Cruise from Kona

We saw a lots of Manta Ray!

Reviewed by: Chris Mak, 2023/06/04

People in bite me were very friendly and fun!
Highly recommend to join their tour!

Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Activity Date: 2023/05/13
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Deluxe Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkeling Cruise from Keauhou Bay - Hula Kai

Manta Rays! In YOUR FACE!

Reviewed by: P Burke, 2023/05/15

This is a great outfit to take you to see Manta Rays. The boat is a medium size so the group size is much smaller than the big boats. Crew are very professional and knowledgeable in the Manta Ray habits and behaviors. The boat ride to the site is short (<15 min) then it's into the water.

On our trip a single manta showed up after about 5 minutes in the water. As the sky darkened the plankton seemed to multiply and the show really began. The single ray made several passes within inches of our masks. Then another showed up and it was like a graceful dance being performed right beneath you. Another two rays showed up and things really got interesting. What fun watching that ballet!

Afterward, hot soup and warm drinks helped fuel the conversation with the other participants. A most delightful and memorable experience.

P. Burke

  • Sunset departure on the Hula 'Kai

Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Activity Date: 2023/05/10
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Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka

Saw lots of incredible Manta Rays!

Reviewed by: Brian Van Wie, 2023/04/29

Diego, Trevor, and Tamae were incredible! They were fun and upbeat and super helpful. We got in the water and we say more than a half dozen different manta rays swimming around right beneath us! It was an experience we’ll never forget!

Comments from activity operators

Aloha Brian! We thank you for choosing Iruka and leaving such kind feedback! We hope to see you again in the future. Mahalo

Rating:
Attended as: Couples
Activity Date: 2023/04/27
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Hawaii Manta Ray Sunset & Night Time Snorkel Experience from Kona - Iruka

SO MANY MANTAS

Reviewed by: Big Bertha, 2023/04/23

This trip was great. Outstanding crew constantly catering to our every need and ensuring the best experience. Captain Trevor, first mate Diego and Joe and everyone else were so accommodating to all. Would love to come back and visit the mantas again!

Comments from activity operators

Aloha! We are so happy to hear that you had such a fantastic time on our Manta Ray tour. We thank you for choosing Iruka and leaving such positive feedback. Come back soon! Mahalo

Rating:
Attended as: Friends
Activity Date: 2023/04/21
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