All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

I participated in a tour for my honeymoon. During the day, I saw dolphins at Dolphin High School, then strolled around the town of Kona, and at night, I enrolled directly into Manta University! Since I had rented a car, I joined the group on-site. (The location can be hard to find on the map, so I recommend arriving early.)

There were about three staff members and around 15 customers. The Japanese instructor, Tori, was very cheerful and friendly. There was also an American captain and another American instructor. English-speaking guests were on the same board, heading to the spot while watching the sunset.

Once we arrived at the spot, we held onto a board with blue lights and waited for the manta rays to arrive while snorkeling. At first, they didn't come, and I thought I was getting tired, but then two manta rays appeared right in front of me and started swirling around! We weren't allowed to touch them, but the waves made our bodies sway quite a bit, and I thought I might bump into a manta ray (laughs).

There were also divers at the bottom, shining underwater flashlights to create blue lights. It felt like being in outer space.

I got pretty tired from the swaying, but it was a great experience.

新婚旅行でツアー参加しました。昼間はイルカ高校でイルカを見た後、コナの街でブラブラして、夜はそのままマンタ大学に入学！レンタカー借りていたので、現地合流。（場所は地図では分かりにくいので、早めに行くことをお勧めします）
スタッフは3人、お客さん15名くらいかな。日本人インストラクターのトリさんは非常に明るくてフレンドリーな方。アメリカ人の船長と、もう一名アメリカ人のインストラクターがいます。英語圏のお客さんも同じボードに乗って、夕日を見ながらポイントに向かう。
ポイントに着いたら、ブルー色の照明が積んであるボードに捕まって、スノーケリング状態でマンタの到来を待つ。最初はなかなか来なくて、疲れたなと思ったら、2枚のマンタが目の前に来てぐるぐる回り始めました！手で触ってはいけないのですが、波で体はかなり揺れるので、マンタにぶつかるかと思いました（笑）。
水底にはダイビングの方もいて、水中電灯でブルー色の明かりを照らしていました。宇宙にいるような感覚でした。
揺れで結構疲れましたが、いい体験となりました。

I was able to see manta rays (^_^)v. The tour was conducted in Japanese, and my elderly husband and I participated, feeling安心して参加出来ました (able to participate with peace of mind). Thank you, Tori-chan. At first, I was very anxious, but I’m glad I took the plunge and joined; it was really great. I was very satisfied. The starry sky on the way back was beautiful too.

マンタ見れました(^_^)v
ツアー日本語で案内して頂き、年配夫婦で参加しましたが安心して参加出来ました。
トリちゃんお世話になりました。最初はとても不安でしたが、思い切って参加してとても良かったです。大満足でした。帰りの星空も奇麗でした。

I participated in the night ocean tour while nervously anticipating the big manta rays.

We traveled to the spot by boat. Super fast!! While enjoying the beautiful sunset, our Japanese guide, Tori, explained the precautions and the ecology of the manta rays. Each manta has a name, and Tori said she could tell them apart. Amazing!! Incredible!! Also, if you get seasick, you might feel it on the boat. So, the advice was to look far away instead of nearby!

When we arrived at the manta spot, there were lots of boats!

There was a light directed towards the seabed under a surfboard, and we watched the manta rays come to the light while feeding on plankton. We floated, holding onto the rope attached to the surfboard, using only snorkels without fins, waiting for the mantas.

The night ocean was sparkling with plankton, like jewels, creating a very magical atmosphere. Watching the twinkling plankton made time feel slow, as if I had entered another dimension.

As I was daydreaming, a large manta ray came by. It swam so close that I thought it would bump into me as it did a full turn! At first, I was nervous, but I gradually got used to it and thought, "Come on, manta!"

Before I knew it, time flew by as I was completely absorbed in the experience.

When we got back on the boat, it had turned completely dark, even though it was beautiful with the sunset before we left.

Despite wearing a wetsuit, it was still cold.

This tour was wonderful because our guide, Tori, was very kind and lovely. She remembered my name and called me by it, which made me feel a sense of closeness and made me want to come back! Additionally, I learned more about the Big Island, making it a two-for-one tour.

夜の海ツアー＆大きなマンタにビクビクしながら参加しました。

スポットまではボートで移動。
超スピード！！
横目にキレイなサンセットが見ながら、
日本人ガイドのトリちゃんが注意事項やマンタの生態などについて説明してくれ、
各々マンタには名前が付いていて、
トリちゃんは見分けられると言っていました。
驚き！！
すごい！！
そして、ボートの揺れに酔う人は酔うかも。
と言うことで、近くを見ないで、遠くを見ること！と注意事項。

マンタのスポットに着くとボートがいっぱい！

サーフボード？の下に海底に向けてライトがついていて
その光に寄ってきながらプランクトンを食べるマンタを見ます。
フィンなしでシュノーケルのみでサーフボードについている縄を持ちながら
浮かんでマンタを待ちます。

夜の海中はプランクトンがキラキラと宝石のようでとても幻想的。
キラキラ舞うプランクトンを見ていると
時間軸もゆっくりゆっくり。。
別の異次元にきたように感じました。

ぼんやりしていると、大きなマンタが来ました。
大きな体をくるっと一回転して、私の身体にぶつかる！と思うほど
近くを通っていきました。
最初は、ドキドキしましたが、次第に慣れてきて、
マンタ！きて！！と思いました。

夢中になっていると時間はアッと言う間でした。

ボートにあがると、出発前は夕陽でキレイだったのに
真っ暗になっていました。

そしてウエットスーツを着ているにも関わらず寒かったです。

このツアーはガイドのトリちゃんがとても親切でステキな方です。
名前を憶えてくれ、名前で呼んでもらえることで
親近感を持てて嬉しかったし、また来たい！と思いました。
更に、ハワイ島の情報を教えてもらい、一石二鳥のツアーでした。

I visited the Big Island of Hawaii for the first time, and my main goal was to see manta rays! That's why I joined this tour.

First, there was our Japanese female guide, Torichan (sorry, I forgot her full name...). We drove there by rental car, but the place was so vast that we couldn't find the university and ended up going in circles until she kindly approached us. She had a perfect sun-kissed body, was energetic and kind, and made the tour enjoyable.

The tour started with us changing into wetsuits and listening to a brief explanation and safety instructions. Then we set off on a Zodiac boat. The boat had long benches facing away from each other, but we were thrilled to sit facing forward on the cooler at the front! (Once we left the harbor, we got to ride on the edge of the boat like on a banana boat.) It was exhilarating and quite bumpy. My companion gets seasick, so they took medication beforehand, but the rocking was so intense that it was beyond just feeling sick (laughs)...

Once we arrived at the spot, we took turns entering the night sea, holding onto modified surfboards, and waited for the manta rays while snorkeling horizontally. To keep ourselves horizontal, we placed our feet on noodles to float. They would slip off quickly, but if you shouted, "It slipped off!" the guide would help you put your feet back on. The guide did an amazing job in the pitch-black sea. m(_ _)m

Fortunately, we didn't have to wait long, and the manta rays came right away! It was truly incredible! We were so excited to see three to four manta rays gracefully swimming slowly! (This excitement continued in the car ride back and even after returning to the hotel.) After about 20 minutes, the manta rays swam away, and the tour ended safely.

On the way back, we enjoyed the thrill of speeding across the dark sea. I don't get seasick, but there were about 19 people, both Japanese and foreigners, and some of them felt unwell. Since there's a possibility of getting seasick while moving on the boat or floating in the sea, I recommend being in good health and fully prepared to participate. Otherwise, the amazing experience might be diminished.

Actually, we had to change our original reservation date due to bad weather, and I appreciate the courteous handling of the cancellation notice and reservation change over the phone. We were scheduled to move to Oahu the day after, so it was great that we could seize this last chance.

I'm glad I graduated from university after skipping middle and high school!!

今回初めてハワイ島を訪れました。その最大の目的はマンタを見ること！そのためこのツアーに参加しました。
まずは日本人女性ガイドのとりちゃん（すみません、フルネーム忘れました...）。レンタカーで行ったのですが、場所が広すぎて大学が発見できずグルグルしていると、声をかけて頂きました。完璧な日焼けボディで、元気で優しく、ツアーを楽しませてもらいました。
ツアーは、ウェットスーツに着替えて最初簡単な説明と注意事項等を聞き、ゾディアックボートで出発。ボートには背中合わせで横向きに長椅子があるのですが、私たちは先頭のクーラーボックスに正面向きに座らせてもらい感激！（港を出るとボートの淵にバナナボート風に乗せてもらえます。）スピード感あり結構揺れて楽しめます。連れは船酔いするため事前に薬は飲んではいたものの、揺れが激しすぎて酔うどころではなかったと（苦笑）...
さてポイントに到着後、順番に夜の海に入り改造サーフボードにつかまり、身体水平シュノーケリングでマンタを待ちます。水平を保つためヌードルに足の甲をのせて浮かせます。すぐに外れますが「外れたぁ～！」と叫べば、ガイドさんがまた足をのせてくれます。ガイドさん真っ暗な海上で大仕事です。m(_ _)m
この日はそれほど待つこともなく、すぐにマンタやってきました！ほんと、ヤバいです！この日は３～４枚ほどのマンタの優雅でスローな泳ぎに大興奮！！（この興奮は、帰りの車中はもちろん、ホテルへ戻ってからも続いてました。）２０分程でマンタもどこかへ行ってしまって、無事終了。
帰りも真っ暗な海を疾走するボートを楽しめます。
僕は船酔いしないのですが、この日も日本人＋外国人あわせて１９名ほどいらっしゃいましたが、具合を悪くされた方がいらっしゃいました。ボート移動や海に浮かんでいる時など酔われる可能性あるので、体調は整えて準備万端で参加されることをお勧めします。最高の感動が半減しちゃいますからね。
実は私たちは、当初の予約日が荒天のため翌日に変更してもらいました。その際も現地にてお電話で中止連絡頂や予約変更をご丁寧に対応頂き、感謝しております。翌々日はオアフ島へ移動する予定だったので、ラストチャンスを物にでき良かったです。
中・高とばして大学夜学部を無事卒業できてよかったです！！

I participated in this tour because I wanted to see wild mantas, which you have a high chance of encountering. Since I had rented a car, I opted for a meeting point, but it was a bit difficult to find. The meeting place is at Honokohau Harbor, not Honokohau Marina (you need to take the first right after entering the side road from the highway), and I wandered around the area for a while.

The tour had a mixed team of foreigners and Japanese, and there was a Japanese-speaking guide as well. After departing, we headed to the manta spot on a high-speed boat while enjoying a very beautiful sunset. The 20-minute journey was thrilling at high speed. Although I usually don’t get seasick, I felt a bit queasy.

Once we arrived, we put on our snorkeling gear and floated on the surface, waiting for the mantas to come. It was exhilarating to see the mantas swimming close by, coming to eat the plankton in the water. I had never seen such a sight, with their mouths wide open.

However, the mantas weren't always in sight; in fact, we spent more time waiting while floating on the surface. It seems that this tendency is more pronounced on bright full moon nights.

All in all, it was a very impressive and extraordinary experience that is hard to come by.

一度は見てみたかった野生のマンタに高確率で遭遇できるとのことで、こちらのツアーに参加しました。
レンタカーを借りていたので現地集合にしましたが、集合場所はやや分かりにくいです。ホノコハウマリーナではなくホノコハウハーバー(ハイウェイから脇道に入って一つ目の分岐を右)の最も奥が集合場所で、しばらく付近をさ迷ってしまいました。
ツアーは外国の方と日本人の混成チームで、日本語のガイドの方もいらっしゃいます。
出航後は、非常に美しい夕日を見ながら高速ボートでマンタスポットまで向かいます。20分程の道のりは、ハイスピードでスリル満点。盛り上がりましたが、普段乗り物酔いしない私でもやや船酔いしました。
到着後は、シュノーケルを装置して海面に浮かび、マンタがやって来るのを待ちます。海中のプランクトンを食べにやって来たマンタが至近距離をグルグルと泳ぐ姿は美しく、非常に興奮しました。マンタの口の中まで丸見えで、あのような光景は見たことがありませんでした。
ただ、ずっとマンタが視界にいる訳ではなく、寧ろ海面に浮きながら待機する時間の方が長いです。満月の明るい夜はそのような傾向があるとのことです。
何はともあれ、なかなかできない非日常な体験ができ、非常に印象的でした。

First, when we arrived at the harbor and headed to the meeting point, the staff member, Tori-chan, greeted us very cheerfully and friendly! On that day, there were two couples, my husband and I, and a newlywed couple, along with four Japanese staff members from Honolulu participating.

Despite the small number of people, we got to ride on a large rubber boat! The edge of the rubber boat was designed like a banana boat, allowing us to enjoy activities while watching the beautiful sunset. As soon as we arrived, the sun began to set, and we all enjoyed the stunning sunset together, taking photos.

Once the sun went down and we looked at the sea, there were manta rays right there!! We quickly got ready and headed into the water! The sight of three manta rays dancing was exhilarating. Without having to wait for the manta rays to come to us, they approached us repeatedly, coming so close that we could almost touch them!!

The thirty minutes flew by, and the other tour guests returned to the boat. Tori-chan and the other staff members were very attentive, providing support and encouragement to me since I couldn't swim, allowing me to enjoy watching the manta rays without any anxiety. The only downside was that my camera didn’t work well, and I couldn’t take any photos underwater.

On the way back, we enjoyed a relaxing time under the full moonlight and the night view of Kona. With the banana boat ride, sunset, full moon, and night view, this tour offered many wonderful experiences beyond just the manta rays!!

At the end of the tour, we received a cute graduation certificate from Manta University. What kind of certificate it is will be a surprise for those who participate in the tour. Thank you so much, Tori-chan, the captain, and all the staff from Honolulu. Such a wonderful and emotional experience is rare! If you come to the Big Island, I definitely think you should join this tour.

まず、ハーバーに着いて集合場所に向かうと、スタッフの鳥ちゃんがとても明るくフレンドリーに話し掛けてくれました！当日は私たち夫婦と新婚さん夫婦の二組、そしてホノルルから来た日本人のスタッフさん４人の参加でした。
少ない人数ながら、大きいゴムボートに‼
ゴムボートの端じっこはバナナボートみたいになっていて、綺麗な夕日を見ながら、アクティビティーを満喫できます。
到着したと同時に、夕日が沈み始め、すごくキレイなサンセットをみんなで観賞したり、写真を撮ったり。
夕日が沈み、海を見ると、もうマンタがすぐそこに!!
早々に準備し、いざ海へ!
３枚のマンタが踊る姿に興奮がとまりません。マンタが来てくれるのを待つこともなく、次々に３枚のマンタが何度も何度も触ってしまう距離まで
来てくれました!!
あっという間の３０分間が終わり、他のツアー客もみんなボートへ。
鳥ちゃんや他のスタッフさんが泳げない私への声掛けやフォローを丁寧にしてくれて、少しの不安もなく、マンタが踊る姿を楽しめました。ただ、カメラがうまく機能せず、海の中の写真が全然取れなかったのだけが残念です・・。
帰りは、満月の月明かりとコナの夜景にうっとりしながら、まったりとした時間を過ごす事ができました。
バナナボートにサンセット、満月に夜景と、このツアーではマンタ以外にもいくつもの感動が味わえました!!
また、ツアーの最後にマンタ大学のかわいい卒業証書がもらえます。どんな卒業証書かは、ツアーに参加してのお楽しみに。
鳥ちゃん、船長さん&ホノルルスタッフのみなさん本当にお世話になりました。こんな素敵な感動体験はめったにできません！
ハワイ島に来たなら、是非参加してみるべきツアーだと思います。

We participated in this tour for our honeymoon. We chose a tour that gathered at the meeting point, and although we arrived early at the port by rental car, we got lost because the port was so large (we had received a clear map in advance, but I forgot it at the hotel...) and ended up being over 15 minutes late to meet everyone! I felt really bad for making the tour group wait, but the staff welcomed us with smiles, which made me feel so relieved.

Once everything was ready, we finally set sail! The captain sped the boat up, and when I straddled the edge of the boat, it felt like a thrilling roller coaster ride! (Of course, you can also sit inside the boat). The sunset reflecting on the sparkling sea was incredibly beautiful.

Just as our excitement peaked, we arrived at Manta Point. There were many manta tour boats floating on the water, creating a very magical and beautiful scene. Then, we finally got to go into the water! The seawater was a bit warm, and since they provided us with wetsuits, I didn't feel cold at all.

We took out a small floating boat from the main boat and held onto it. I was a bit worried since I can't swim, but the staff assisted us, so there was no problem at all! We set up our snorkels and waited for the mantas while peering into the water.

And then!!! The long-awaited manta appeared! At first, we saw it swimming just below us, which was exciting enough, but then it turned and spun right in front of us! I was thrilled to see the manta so close that I could see its skeleton and gills! Unfortunately, that was the only time it came so close, but we saw several mantas swimming gracefully.

After getting back on the boat, we sped through the dark sea like a roller coaster again. Unlike the outbound trip, the lights from the land were so beautiful against the dark sea.

I was truly excited until the very end! Next time, I definitely want to join the dolphin tour on the Big Island! The staff were bright and fun, and I was very satisfied! Thank you!

新婚旅行で参加しました。
現地集合をするツアーにしたのですが、レンタカーで集合場所の港には早めについたものの、港が広くて迷ってしまい（ちゃんと分かり易い地図は予め頂いていたのですが、ホテルに忘れてきてしまって・・・）15分以上遅れてやっと合流できました！ツアーの方をみんな待たせてしまっていたので申し訳なさで緊張していたのですが、スタッフの方が笑顔で迎えてくれて、すごくほっとしました。
そして準備が整い、ついに出港！キャプテンが船をビューっと飛ばして、船のふちにまたがれば、まるでジェットコースターみたいにスリル満点！（船の中で座って乗る事ももちろんできます）。サンセットできらめく海がとても綺麗で素敵でした。
テンションが上がりきったところでマンタポイントに到着。
たくさんのマンタツアーのボートが海に浮いていて、とても幻想的で綺麗でうっとり。
そして待ちに待った海の中へ！
海水は少し温かめで、ウェットスーツも貸して頂けたので全く寒くなかったです。
船から小さな浮くボートのようなものをだし、そこにつかまります。私は泳げないので少し心配だったのですが、スタッフの方がアテンドしてくれたので全く問題ないです！
シュノーケルをセットして、水中をのぞきながらマンタを待ちます。
そしてそして！！！念願のマンタが！私達の浮いている下の方を泳いでいるのが最初は見え、それだけでも興奮したのに、次ぎは目の前でくるりと回転してくれたのです！骨格からえらの中まで見れるくらい目の前にいるマンタに大興奮！！残念ながらそこまで近くに来てくれたのはその一回でしたが、何枚かのマンタが優雅に泳いでいるのが見えました。
船に上がって、またジェットコースターのように暗い海を走ります。往路とは違い、暗い海から陸の光がとても綺麗でした。
最後まで本当に大興奮！今度はハワイ島イルカ高校にもぜひ参加したいと思います！
スタッフの方も明るく楽しくて、とても満足です！ありがとうございました！

We would like to thank the staff of veltra for their outstanding services with helping making our dream vacation a reality, we really enjoyed the swim with the Manta Rays - the staff on the boat were perfect, snacks were provided and we saw lots of Manta Rays, the sunset was beautiful.

Thanks Again

We would like to thank the staff of veltra for their outstanding services with helping making our dream vacation a reality, we really enjoyed the Submarine Ride - the staff on the boat were very knowledgeable and we saw lots of cool things at the bottom of the ocean

Thanks Again

We didn't have the best start for our manta ray snorkeling - trouble checking in for our flight the day after stressed us a lot, so we were not really in the mood. But despite me getting pretty seasick, being in the water and experiencing these magnificent and majestic fish feeding was an amazing experince. I so much wanna do it again - but next time without being seasick :) Thanks to the crew and captain for being so nice to me

It was truly a precious experience to see the manta rays dancing right in front of me. The sunset over the ocean as seen from the boat was an unforgettable beauty. On the way back after seeing the manta rays, we rode the boat through the dark, speeding along like on a banana boat, which was exhilarating! There were also reliable Japanese staff present, so I felt safe participating. I give it a perfect score of 100, no, 150 points!!

マンタが目の前でぐるぐるとダンスするという、本当に貴重な体験でした。
ボートから見た海に沈む夕陽、忘れられない美しさです。
マンタを見た後戻るときにも、真っ暗闇をボートにまたがりバナナボート風で突っ走り、爽快！
頼りになる日本人スタッフもいらして、安心して参加できました。
100点、いや、150点！！です！！

Entering the ocean at night and getting close to the manta rays was terrifying, but it was truly breathtaking and exhilarating. I have had the opportunity to encounter dolphins and sea turtles while swimming in the waters of Hawaii several times, but the experience with the manta rays was even more moving and exciting. My husband, who initially had low expectations, was also extremely thrilled.

夜の海に入ることも、マンタに接近することも、恐怖心がありましたが、ほんとに圧巻としか言いようがないほど、興奮しました。ハワイの海で、イルカや海亀に遭遇して一緒に泳ぐ機会が、今まで何度かありましたが、マンタはそれ以上に感動、興奮しました。はじめは期待していなかった主人も大興奮でした。

Very cool experience. There were 12 Mantas swimming around us. The crew were safety conscious and handled a guy that freaked out in the water very professionally. No shame and wanted everyone to have a good time. Hot Chocolate provided with fresh fruit.

On the day I participated, there were many mantas, and I was able to see them up close multiple times. I heard from the instructor that mantas are gentle creatures that are not poisonous and do not sting, but they are quite large and impressive. They swim slowly, allowing for a thorough observation of their mouths.

On the boat out to sea, we were able to see a beautiful sunset on the way there and a starry sky on the way back. Since mantas are wild, there's no guarantee they will appear on any given day, but just the boat ride itself is satisfying. Additionally, the instructor is Japanese, so the explanations are easy to understand and reassuring.

参加した日は、マンタがたくさん出てきてくれて、何度も間近で見ることができました。
インストラクターの方から、マンタは、毒もないし刺したりもしない優しい生物と聞いていましたが、体が大きく迫力満点です。ゆーっくり泳ぐので、口の中までじっくり観察できますよ。
沖に出るボートでは、行きは美しい夕日が見れて、帰りは満天の星空が見れます。マンタは野生なのでその日に出てきてくれるかは確約できないそうですが、行き帰りのボートだけでも満足できます。また、インストラクターが日本人なので、解説もわかりやすく安心です。

This is my third time, and it's always great no matter how many times I participate. It's truly a wonderful time, like being in a dream. This time, I didn't see anything in the first half, so I gave up and went back to the boat, took off my wetsuit, and was drinking cocoa when suddenly it appeared! I hurriedly grabbed my camera, put on my snorkeling gear just as I was, and went back into the sea. I'm so glad I got to see it!

今回で3回目ですが、何回参加してもいいですね。
本当に夢の中にいるような素敵な時間です。
今回は前半全く現れず、諦めて船に戻りウエットスーツを脱いでココアを飲んでいたら現れたではありませんか！
急いでカメラ持ってそのままの恰好でシュノーケルギアだけ付けて海に戻りました。
会えてよかったです～！

I was worried about whether I would encounter a manta ray, but I did! They were so close! It was surprising! I want to tell my friends about it.

マンタに出会えるか心配でしたが、会えるわ！近いわ！びっくりでした！
友達などにも教えてあげたいです。

I was a bit worried before participating because there was a possibility that we might not see anything after coming all the way to the Big Island and paying money, but... we did see them (^_^). It was thrilling to see them up close. However, I did get seasick... I had never experienced motion sickness or seasickness before, but this time I was really affected (*_*). The boat rocked quite a bit before the manta rays appeared at the spot. I ended up giving up halfway, but the guide was very kind and reassuring throughout the trip. Since you get wet and it can be very cold on the way back, I definitely think you should bring something to wear over yourself!! My husband was shivering too (laughs). If you take motion sickness medication and are well-prepared, it’s a very satisfying tour☆

ハワイ島まで来て、お金も払って、
見られない可能性があるということで参加前は少し心配していましたが、、、見られました(^_^)
間近で見られて感激です。
ただ船酔いが…
今まで乗り物酔い、船酔いとしたことがなかったのですががっつり酔ってしまいました(*_*)
ポイントについてからマンタが現れるまでがかなり揺れます。
途中でギブアップしてしまいましたが、ガイドさんが終始優しく対応してくれて安心しました。
体が濡れて帰りはとても寒いので羽織るものを絶対に持っていった方がいいと思います！！
旦那も震えてました(笑)
酔い止め飲んで装備もしっかりしていけばとても満足なツアーですよ☆

The guide, Tori, was bright and kind, a really nice person! I was a bit worried about the night snorkeling since it was my first time, but we just held onto a board with lights and floated, so there was nothing to worry about at all. I was more moved by the manta rays that kept coming right up to us. We were in the water for about 30 minutes, so after getting out, it felt cold, so it's essential to have something to wear. I also think it's a good idea to bring a waterproof camera. You can take photos up close!

ガイドのとりさん明るくて優しい良い方でした!
夜のシュノーケリングは初めてで怖いんじゃないかと少し心配していましたが、
ライト付きの板にみんなでつかまって浮いているだけなので、全く心配なことはありませんでした。それよりも目前まで何度もやってくるマンタに感動しっぱなしでした。
30分ほど水の中にいるので、あがったあとは寒さを感じるので羽織るものは必須です。
あと防水カメラ持っていくといいと思います。間近で撮影できます!

Lots of neat stuff at the bottom, and a very comfy ride.

Eka Canoe provided a great tour. The small group size gave a really good guide/tourist ratio. The fact that the boat sailed from Keauhou Bay meant that we only had a short (about five minutes) ride to the viewpoint. The experience of watching these creatures was fantastic. They are wild animals, so one never knows what to expect. I did not see the "inverted loop" feeding behaviour that is usually shown in promotional videos, but I saw four mantas cruising mid-way between the bottom and the surface. It was a remarkable experience. The crew and guide looked after us well. They were booked up for the remaining evenings that I had on the Big Island or I would have returned for a repeat tour!

I purchased this excursion for my dad for Fathers Day....it was the perfect gift. Frankie was a great captain...lots of info and very personable. He let my son drive the boat...which was a highlight not only for my son...but also my dad....a very proud grandpa! I would highly recommend this trip.

I participated with my two daughters. The guides were very kind, and their explanations were easy to understand, which was great. We got close enough to touch the manta rays. It was an emotional experience!!

娘2人と参加しました。ガイドの方々もとても親切で説明もわかりやすくて良かったです。マンタが触れる距離まで近付いてくれました。感動でした！！

This activity was totally worth it. The guides were very friendly and knowledgeable. The canoe was very cool, too. We saw plenty of manta rays. If you like small groups for night snorkel, then this is your best bet. Hot cocoa was provided after the swim. We had a lot of fun! This is definitely a must-do and I highly recommend Eka Canoe for your reservation!

I've taken three different groups on three different manta swims and this one was the best! I really liked how we were tethered to the boat so that inexperienced snorkelers and people that got cold could easily climb back on the boat while the rest of us could continue to enjoy the mantas. Because we were on the moonlight swim, we were in the harbor by ourselves by the end. All the mantas (four total that night) were ours to observe. It was awesome.

This is really a must-do for your Big Island trip.

At 5 PM, the pickup arrived, and it was quite painful as the Chinese passengers and the driver were talking loudly.
We arrived at the harbor, and it was a mixed tour with both foreigners and Japanese participants. Each group had its own guide.
After changing into wetsuits, we took about 40 minutes to reach the sea where the manta rays were. We sat by the side of the boat and rode like on a banana boat, which was thrilling and a lot of fun. The speed was high, and it bounced quite a bit.
At this point, there was someone who got seasick, so it might be tough for those who are prone to motion sickness. (This person was vomiting throughout the tour.)
Once we reached the manta spot, we watched the sunset sinking into the sea and continued floating in the water.
After a while, a manta ray came by to feed. The light we were using was weaker than that of other boats, so while manta rays did come, the water was murky and visibility was poor.
The strong lights from other boats allowed for clear views down to the seabed, so I think the difference in price is due to the number and strength of the lights.
In the end, about five manta rays came by, but I had expected to see many more, so I felt a bit unlucky.

夕方17時に迎えが来て、中国人とドライバーが大声で話をしながらの行きになったので結構苦痛。。
ハーバーに着いて、外国人と日本人の混合ツアーでした。外国人と日本人それぞれにガイドさんが付く感じです。
ウエットスーツに着替え、40分ほどかけてマンタのいる海へ。ボートの脇に座りながらバナナボートのようにして行くので、めちゃめちゃスリルがあって面白かったです。※スピードも出てかなり跳ねます
この時点で酔っている人がいたので、酔いやすい人にはキツイのかな。。(この人はツアー中ずっと嘔吐してました)
マンタスポットに着いてから、海に沈む夕日を見届けて海へ浮かび続けます。
しばらくすると餌を食べにマンタが１枚やってきました。
こちらで使用している光は他の船より弱く、マンタがやってくることはやってきますが海が濁っていて良く見えません。
他の船の強い光は海底までキレイに見えていたので、値段の違いは光の数と強さだと思いました。
最終的には5回くらいマンタが来てくれましたが、何枚も来てくれるものだと期待してしまっていたので少し運が無かったです。

Actually, this was my second time participating in this tour. During my first experience, a large number of manta rays showed up, creating a truly magical spectacle, and I wanted to see it again. However, this time, surprisingly, there were no manta rays. Since it was my second time, I was still okay, but I felt heartbroken thinking about the two couples who were on their honeymoon and participating for the first time. Of course, the tour company and the staff did their best, so they are not at fault, but I believe that since this is an activity involving nature, participants should keep in mind that it is different from visiting an aquarium.

I was told that I could participate for free in the manta tour the next day or the dolphin tour in the morning, so I chose to join the dolphin tour. That turned out to be a huge success, and unlike the previous dolphin tour that was a complete failure, I had a precious experience where I could "swim together" with a large number of dolphins, which was ☆☆☆☆☆. Activities on the Big Island can sometimes be like this, so I recommend allowing extra time during your stay and trying to schedule activities for the earlier part of your trip as soon as you arrive. Although I couldn't see the manta rays this time, there is no doubt that this tour, along with the helicopter tour, is one that you absolutely must do among all the activities in Hawaii.

実は、このツアーは２回目の参加で１回目の時、大量のマンタがやってきてまさに幻想的なショーのような光景を見て、また、もう一度見たいと思い参加しました。
ただ、今回はまさかの「マンタ来ず」。
私らは二回目だったのでまだ良かったですが、初参加の２組のハネムーナーの方々の気持ちを思うと心が痛みました。
勿論ツアー会社やスタッフの皆さんはちゃんと頑張ってやってもらいましたので、何も悪くないのですがやはり「自然を相手にしているアクティビティ」なので、水族館とは違うと肝に銘じてご参加されるべきと思います。

・翌日のマンタツアー、もしくは翌日の午前中のイルカツアーに無料参加していいですよと言われたので、イルカツアーに参加しました。それは逆に大当たりで以前全くダメだったイルカツアーと違って大量のイルカとまさに「一緒に泳げた」ような貴重な体験が出来てそれは☆☆☆☆☆でした。ハワイ島のアクティビティはこういう事も稀にありますので、滞在期間を余裕目に取る事とアクティビテイは、なるべく到着したら前半の日程でやっておく事をお勧めします。　　今回は見る事が出来ませんでしたがこれは本当にハワイのあらゆるアクティビテイの中でヘリコプターツアーと共に「絶対やるべきツアー」である事に間違いありません。

Crew were great, really entertaining! Pointed out interesting points, and we even saw a black tip reef shark, was amazing!! Mahalo

I was able to see a manta ray up close, and I was truly satisfied. There was a manta ray just about 10 centimeters in front of me!!!! A very beautiful lady who spoke Japanese guided us, which made me feel safe participating. She was also a great swimmer, like a mermaid. The participants were not only Japanese but also from various countries.

There were quite a few people who felt unwell, but I took motion sickness medication beforehand, so I was totally fine (*^◯^*). I'm not good with thrill rides, so the boat ride to see the manta rays was quite scary, but I got used to it after a while and was able to enjoy it.

The sunset and the starry sky viewed from the boat were truly wonderful and became a lifelong memory. I highly recommend it!

ものすごく近くでマンタを見ることができて、本当に大満足です。
目の前10センチくらいのところにマンタがいました！！！！
日本語を話せるとても綺麗なお姉さんが案内をしてくださり、安心して参加できました。泳ぎも上手で、マーメイドのようでした。参加者は日本人ばかりではなく、いろんな国の方がいました。
気分が悪くなっている方も結構いらっしゃいましたが、私は酔い止めを飲んで行ったので、全然平気でした(*^◯^*)
絶叫マシンなどが苦手なので、マンタに会いに行くまでの船がとても怖かったですが、しばらくすると慣れて、楽しむことができました。
船から見る夕日も、星空も、本当に素晴らしく、一生の思い出になりました。
本当にオススメです！

Although the pictures and video that we took were amazingly beautiful and it is probably the best way to see the waterfalls on the island. There should be a disclaimer along with the advertisement of the tour for people with bad backs or next and probably awful younger children and senior citizens. The ride itself as horrible as far as comfortability . The water being so rough around the coast line added with no seat belts or cushioning on the aluminum boat itself made for a horrible ride. There was one point when I was actually in tears because of the pain and shock to my back from the intensity of being thrown back into the seat.

I was able to see several manta rays. Some of them came so close that I thought they might bump into me, which was very impressive. I also enjoyed the little fish, similar to horse mackerel, bumping into me. It was my first time snorkeling, but they taught me carefully, so I felt very secure. Although I saw the manta rays at night, the sunset in the evening was also a highlight. However, I think it's better for those who are prone to motion sickness to take some medication beforehand.

何枚ものマンタを見ることが出来ました。
なかにはぶつかるんじゃ無いかと思うくらい近づいてくるマンタもいて、とても迫力があります。アジの様な小魚がぶつかってきたりと、色々と楽しめました。
シュノーケリングは初めてでしたが、丁寧に教えてくれるのでとても安心です。
マンタを見るのは夜になってからですが、夕方のサンセットも見所です。
但し、酔いやすい人は酔い止めの薬を飲んでおいた方が良いと思います。