Reviewed by: Big family with kids
The whole family really enjoyed the boat ride, the hosts on the boat were excellent and we saw a lot of fish, turtles etc. they were wonderful at engaging with the kids and answering all our questions.
The customer service of the people we met at the hut left something to be desired. Aloof and not very interested in engaging. Which is fine, but they are the first people you meet when you get there—so—it made me kinda nervous, but the actual ride was fine!
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Packages: | Waikoloa Glass Bottom Boat Cruise |
Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Posted on: | 2017/12/23 |
Activity Date: | 2017/12/02 |
Reviewed by: Mayra
The water is so clear we could see many different types of fish in the water. The captain was great at helping us spot turtles swimming on the side of the boat and would stop for us to see them. It was a lot of fun.
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Packages: | Waikoloa Glass Bottom Boat Cruise |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/12/21 |
Activity Date: | 2017/12/18 |
Reviewed by: Nobu
波は高かったのですが何回もクジラが見られて最高でした。また船のクルーの人も説明(英語)をずっとしていたり、ドリンクサービスもこまめに聞いてくれて、楽しいひとときを過ごせました。
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Packages: | 9:30発/ カワイハエ港 |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/12/18 |
Activity Date: | 2017/12/15 |
Reviewed by: RMred
The ride was too bumpy as there were many waves. We were able to spot only 1 manta ray. Too expensive for 45 min bumpy ride and the whole experience.
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/12/16 |
Activity Date: | 2017/11/24 |
Reviewed by: Lorena
Our 10am whale watching cruise was cancelled but we were accommodated on an other cruise for 10:30am. This one included snorkeling. So it was a big win for us. We did get to see a few whales and dolphins. The crew was amazing. They were friendly and informative. They took the time to chat with us. They gave us some background on the whales and clear instructions before getting in the water for snorkeling. They were very attentive and ready to help everyone during the snorkeling. This was an awesome tour. I would definitely book this tour again and recommend it.
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Packages: | [09:30 AM] Whale Watch Cruise from Kawaihae Harbor |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/12/12 |
Activity Date: | 2017/12/06 |
Reviewed by: LJKouri
Guides were great. Hard to see through glass, though.
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Packages: | Waikoloa Glass Bottom Boat Cruise |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/12/02 |
Activity Date: | 2017/11/09 |
Reviewed by: Ella
Steven and Shawn were amazing captain and guide. Provided us with an amazing tour and really great snorkeling spots around the area! The tour time is perfect to catch sunset and then it gets dark so the water lights up beautifully in the dark. The waves in the ocean are a bit rough so going on an empty stomach is adviseable. We saw 5 manta rays on our expedition. Definitely an attraction to do on the Big Island!! And Kona Ocean Experience is a great company that hosts this amazing experience!!
Mahalo for submitting a review of your Sunset Cruise & Night Manta Swim with Kona Ocean Experience! We appreciate hearing that you felt our KOEX crew of dive guide, Steven and Captain Sian, as well as the tour they provided were "amazing"! And pleased that you would recommend our company to others looking to experience a manta ray tour with our company. Mahalo nui!
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Packages: | Sunset Cruise with Appetizers & Night Manta Ray Snorkel [90 mins] |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/11/30 |
Activity Date: | 2017/11/26 |
Reviewed by: Paseba
Diese Tour fand mit ca. 18 Personen auf einem modernen Katamaran statt. Man befindet sich ca. 45min im Wasser, wobei man neue Neoprenanzüge trägt. Der Trip wurde professionell durchgeführt, es fanden sich neben den Teilnehmern stets 2-3 Sicherheitsschwimmer im Wasser. Wir sahen 5-6 majestische Mantarochen - selten was eindrucksvolleres erlebt. Ich empfehle Mittel gegen Seekrankheit, denn die Tour findet auf offenener See (Wellengang) und bei Dunkelheit statt. Kann diese Tour auf jeden Fall empfehlen.
Thank you for taking the time to review your manta tour. We are happy to hear you enjoyed the experience. Hope to serve you again in the future.
Aloha!
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/11/26 |
Activity Date: | 2017/11/05 |
Reviewed by: Scott Reimer
My girlfriend broke her ankle trying to go snorkeling so going again was out for us. The next best thing or better even was this tour; Kat, our guide, answered every one of our questions and it was super fun! We saw all kinds of critters and fish and it felt like you were under the waves yourself! Clear and colorful! I’d do it again, and the price was the most reasonable of all the activities we’ve tried so far on the Big Island ;)
Aloha Scott, Glad you had a great time and thank you for such a nice review. Sorry to hear about your girlfriend, hope she is better now...ankles take time healing though!
Mahalo,
jeannie
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Packages: | Kona Glass Bottom Boat Cruise from Kailua-Kona Pier |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/11/20 |
Activity Date: | 2017/11/17 |
Reviewed by: アロハ
雄大に泳ぐクジラに出会えて、とても感動しました!船の大きさも、人数も多すぎず、少なすぎず、ちょうど良いと思いました。ぜひまた参加したいと思います。
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Packages: | 午後出発 飲み放題&ビュッフェ付きサンセットプラン <カワイハエ・ベイ出航> |
Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
Posted on: | 2017/11/09 |
Activity Date: | 2017/03/02 |
Reviewed by: Erica
We had a great time, and really enjoyed the entire experience. We we lucky and had manta rays barrel rolling right up to us for most of the time we were in the water. The captain and staff were friendly and knowledgeable. And the snacks were a nice treat after getting out of the water. Hope to do it again!
Thank you for taking the time to review your manta tour. We are happy to hear you had a good time.
Mahalo Nui Loa!
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/11/01 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/02 |
Reviewed by: Elizabeth from AR
This was an amazing trip. We had a smooth ride out to the Sheraton and saw a beautiful sunset.
Then we got our snorkels and masks and got in the water. We all grabbed the handrail on the kick board and gotntowed out to abgood spot. We ended up joining up with other groups to form a "buffet line". Th manta rays came through eating plankton doing barrel rolls so close I thought they were going to brush our faces with their wing tips!
I highly recommend this tour group. They're super friendly and are very good at what they do.
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Packages: | Sunset Cruise & Evening Manta Snorkel Tour [2.5 hours] |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/11/01 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/29 |
Reviewed by: Linda R
It was an interesting experience. We enjoyed it but a couple people did get sick on the long boat ride. Lots of mantas rays showed up and swam with us.
Aloha, We appreciate you taking the time to write a review. Unfortunately sea sickness does happen to random guests. We keep ginger chews on the boat for this reason. Mahalo for joining us and hope to see you again your next visit to the Big Island. Aloha
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Packages: | Moonlight Cruise & Evening Manta Snorkel Tour [2 hours] |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2017/10/28 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/08 |
Reviewed by: dusty
their lights were dim compared to other companies, and they went in much earlier than the other boats.
Thank you for reviewing your tour with us. The lights we use are quite powerful, we do place a special blue filter over them to attract more of the microscopic plankton which the mantas' appear to prefer over the larger zooplankton, that may be why they appeared to be dim by comparison.
Mahalo
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
Posted on: | 2017/10/25 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/22 |
Reviewed by: Amber Bialy
My husband and I were both nervous, I get seasick and he has a fear of deeper water and has never snorkeled. Captain Morgan was amazing and the crew was super reassuring. They gave me ginger candy when I got on. I only felt a little queasy, it wasn't as bad as I thought. Short ride and they got us in the water and we had a full display of barrel rolls by 2 mantas! My husband had an amazing time and he enjoyed it more than he thought he would. He would do it again! You stay in the water for a reasonable amount of time, I got out a tad early but we went back shortly after. Tea, soda and fresh pineapple was offered. A MUST do and I couldn't ask for a better crew. Bring your own goggles and snorkel if you have them, some masks leaked a little. Worth it even if you get seasick (lots of ginger and dramamine!)
Pick a day with no wind as Well! We had a great experience.
Thank you for taking the time to review your manta tour. Happy to hear both you and your husband enjoyed the experience. Thank you for joining us and hope to serve you again soon in the near future.
A Hui Hou!
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/10/24 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/21 |
Reviewed by: Steve
Crew was very nice and captain had a great story, but we were ones that had little luck with manta's. We did see one or two, but it took a full hour in water, where some of my party began to get sick and missed it. The most disappointing part was absolutely no cruise. Do not expect a cruise. We coasted for 5 min and went out where I could snorkel on my own. I really thought we would sail for a bit and get snacks instead of one piece of pineapple. Understand you are hanging onto a ladder the whole time. I get it for safety reasons, but not what I expected. There is no real snorkeling where your swimming around. No boat lights other then ladder. I felt we were using other boats lights, where we were the last ones to ever see anything, unless we got lucky. Our ladder had lights. I thought this was also a 3 to 4 hour tour. It took 5 or 10 min. To get where we were going, then hour in water, then go home. No drinks on this, and hit and miss with hot chocolate. I highly recommended actually sailing first and open the sails like they said would happen and choosing this boat in the first place. My party was disappointed. My kids were troopers and stayed out with me and saw the one manta, before turning back where the rest of the people holding onto the ladder didn't see it. At least give us a cruise first with this cool boat.
Thank you for taking the time to review your manta tour. We are happy to hear you enjoyed the staff and also sorry to hear you did not fully enjoy the trip. We, unfortunately, do not always get the opportunity to sail prior to the manta tour. As stated on the website, factors such as mooring availability water conditions and weather play a great part in what happens on each individual tour. If I could have it my way, every night we would have just enough wind cruise out to sea while watching a glorious sunset (No rain). Return back to the manta site to find our mooring available, at this point the wind would calm and the sea would be flat and upon entering the water all of Kona's manta rays would gather under our raft for the entire hour. Everyone would be happy, but alas this does not happen as often as I wish it would.
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Packages: | Sunset Sail & Manta Ray Snorkel - Special Group Rate for 6+ Passengers |
Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Posted on: | 2017/10/22 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/18 |
Reviewed by: James Henderson
Great experience!!!! Tour guide was very knowledgeable, experienced, super friendly, and accommodating! Loved this!
We are happy you enjoyed the tour. Hope you will join us again!
Mahalo,
Jeannie
Kailua Bay Charter
The Glass Bottom Boat
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Packages: | Kona Glass Bottom Boat Cruise from Kailua-Kona Pier |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/10/21 |
Activity Date: | 2017/10/18 |
Reviewed by: Good
Very exciting to see the dolphins on our outing as well as the tropical fish below. The guide was very knowledgeable and provided lots of info on what we were seeing! Excellent outing.
Thank you so much for your nice review. Glad you enjoyed the tour.
Mahalo!
Jeannie
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Packages: | Kona Glass Bottom Boat Cruise from Kailua-Kona Pier |
Attended as: | Friends |
Posted on: | 2017/10/02 |
Activity Date: | 2017/09/25 |
Reviewed by: Brian
We had a great time with Chanda and the captain. They honored our reservation even though we were the only two.
We saw 3-4 huge female manta rays that came up and brushed up against us. Not counting all the schools of fish! And hot cocoa when we were done was icing on the cake.
Looking forward to the next time!
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Packages: | Standard Package |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/09/23 |
Activity Date: | 2017/09/19 |
Reviewed by: Nicole
Just me with my two grown sons, amazing experience! Got great footage on our go-pro. Very glad I took 2 bonine beforehand, no motion sickness for me. My other son only took 1 bonine and had to cut out 10 mins early but enjoyed the view from the boat. Crew friendly & helpful:)
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Packages: | Evening Manta Snorkeling Adventure |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2017/09/17 |
Activity Date: | 2017/08/27 |
Reviewed by: ねずみ男
さいごです〜
今回、Hawaii island だけだったんですが、とても ゆっくり 出来ました。
潜水艦のツアーに参加してとても良い経験させていただきましたよ!
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Packages: | ワイコロア地区送迎 |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/09/17 |
Activity Date: | 2017/09/14 |
Reviewed by: Kkuh1
This was an amazing experience. Our captain and the diver were really great. While we were "waiting" for the mantas to arrive, our diver went to the ocean floor to pick up some sea urchins and sea cucumbers to show us. He put them back of course, but it made the trip even more interesting. Them the mantas arrived and put on an amazing show!
We're so pleased to know that you had an amazing experience while out on your manta tour, and glad that our crew was able to show you other interesting sea creatures, too! We hope you will have the opportunity to join us aboard again sometime in the future. Aloha!
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Packages: | Sunset Cruise with Appetizers & Night Manta Ray Snorkel [90 mins] |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/09/16 |
Activity Date: | 2017/09/13 |
Reviewed by: モアナ
家族連れでは初体験でした。
個人的には3度目でしたが簡単に長所と短所を書いておきます。
まず長所
1、マリーナからポイントまでが非常に近くに全行程の所要時間が短くて済む。
2、船が大きくて快適。
3、船酔いしやすい子が同船してましたがポイントまでが近いので比較的楽だと思います。
で短所
1、英語の説明しかないが困る事は無いと思う。
2、道中が短いのでコナの街の景色を眺める事が出来ない。
タイミングにもよると思いますがLEDのライトが強く比較的沢山来てくれたと思います。
次回からもここにしようと思います。
Mahalo for taking the time to review your manta tour. We are happy to hear you enjoyed it.
Aloha!
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Packages: | サンセットプラン |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2017/08/23 |
Activity Date: | 2017/08/12 |
Reviewed by: Lisa Leon
This was the best idea we had to add to our Hawaiian vacation. I felt very lucky that my family of 3 had a private tour via the ocean from a native. Chris was AWESOME. Super nice. Shared a lot of Hawaiian culture with us. That alone was great but it was even better to get our lesson on sea while looking back at the island. Totally totally worth it. I've already told all our friends to do this. Thank you Chris.
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Packages: | 45-min Hawaiian Canoe Surf Adventure |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2017/08/13 |
Activity Date: | 2017/08/08 |
Reviewed by: Nat
We liked that our guide taught us how to "encourage" the mantas by singing to them. We had a blast :)
We're so pleased that you had a "blast" while on your manta tour, and that our KOEX dive guide, Steven, was able to show you how to enhance your experience with these amazing sea creatures. Hope you will have a chance to come join us again for another adventure aboard in the future. Aloha!
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Packages: | Sunset Cruise with Appetizers & Night Manta Ray Snorkel [90 mins] |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/08/02 |
Activity Date: | 2017/07/30 |
Reviewed by: S.S.
This is definitely a must-have experience and believe me, you won't regret. You don't have to know how to swim, by the way.
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Packages: | Standard Package |
Attended as: | Couples |
Posted on: | 2017/07/31 |
Activity Date: | 2017/07/26 |
Reviewed by: Jessica
The people at sea paradise were truly outstanding. They were professional, fun, and extremely accommodating. Let me preface this review by saying that I suffer from extreme motion sickness and had I not been heavily medicated then this would've been a truly awful experience, of course this was no fault of the crew, the waters are just that rough. The crew Heather and Troy and the captain did their absolute best to make me feel better, while entertaining my six year old daughter. We saw tons of mantas and they barrel roll right under you almost touching you. Truly a remarkable experience. Once we decided we had enough the crew got us back to the shore as quickly as possible as they could tell I was in distress. I highly recommend this experience, just be aware that you will need every form of motion sickness prevention if that's a concern. I couldn't be more pleased with the crew of sea paradise.
Aloha and Mahalo for taking the time to review your experience. We are happy you had a great time and you took the precautions you needed for your motion sickness. The waters in Kona are generally flat and the calmest of the islands, however once in awhile we do get a swell. Happy the mantas put on their beautiful performance to keep you at ease. A Hoi Hou and Aloha!
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Posted on: | 2017/07/29 |
Activity Date: | 2017/07/26 |
Reviewed by: Vparikh
Our teenage children went on this excursion. They had the best time. The captain and the crew member were very helpful and made them feel very comfortable.
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Packages: | Standard Package |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2017/07/26 |
Activity Date: | 2017/07/22 |
Reviewed by: Tony
I had a great time the guides very very knowledgeable and helpful. It was amazing how close the Manta Ray came to use as we were on the surface hanging to a raft. If I go back this is one thing I will differently do again.
Thank you for taking the time to review your tour with us. Happy to know you enjoyed it.
A Hui Hou!
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Packages: | Manta Ray Night Snorkeling [Early Evening Tour] |
Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
Posted on: | 2017/07/22 |
Activity Date: | 2017/06/29 |
Reviewed by: Dorotka
It was an amazing experience ! Like an underwater ballet with a bit of adrenaline because even you know that rays are completely harmless and gentle you are still swimming in the middle of the ocean at night .There were at least 25 of them that night passing sometimes within an inch of our biddies, it felt like gentle caressing. I think it was my favorite activity and we did practically everything there is to be done on the Island (from extreme to leisure ) Definitely recomend it
Aloha- We love to hear about our guests fantastic experiences! Glad you had a wonderful time and were able to see and enjoy the Mantas on our tour!! Maholo!!
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Packages: | Moonlight Cruise & Evening Manta Snorkel Tour [2 hours] |
Attended as: | Families |
Posted on: | 2017/07/18 |
Activity Date: | 2017/07/10 |
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Reply from activity provider
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We appreciate you taking your time to review your manta snorkel and are sorry to hear you did not enjoy the tour. It is true, some nights are better than others; ocean conditions, weather and the amount of rays seen on any given night is out of our control. What we can control we aim to do our best with the conditions we are presented with.
Aloha
Sea Paradise