All Reviews for Marine Wildlife Encounters

In the ocean illuminated by LED lights, I had the incredible experience of witnessing a mystical manta ray dance up close, which made me forget the long hours and cold I had felt in the water until then. On the way to the manta point, we were unexpectedly surprised to see a mother and baby whale just a few dozen meters away, making for an unforgettable few hours, not to mention the beauty of the sunset.

All these experiences were thanks to Daisuke, our guide who knows the ecology of the waters around the Big Island, including the manta rays and whales, and the trust and cooperation with other tour guides. They know the names of all the mantas living around the Big Island (the one we encountered was named Eli) and can predict the whales' next actions. (By the way, in the U.S., it is prohibited to approach whales within 90 meters, and the same applies to whale watching, so it was truly lucky that they appeared within just a few dozen meters.)

While this is an everyday occurrence for Daisuke and the others, they understand that for us, it was a first-time, rare, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and they work hard to ensure we have an amazing time. Initially, I spotted a manta near the sea floor as soon as I entered the water, but then I couldn't see any for several minutes as we moved around. Thanks to Daisuke's determination to let us see another manta, we were eventually treated to a dreamlike scene. The sight of divers going deep, the LED lights they shone from below, the approximately 100 people floating in the night sea to see the mantas, and the fish swarming around the plankton right in front of us was nothing short of magical.

I thought $140 for a few hours of snorkeling was a bit much, but considering the costs of operating a boat (gasoline prices on the Big Island are 1.5 to 2 times higher than on the mainland) and the need for a boat operator (it was Taku), I believe the tour price is reasonable. For reference, we drove to the location, but the roads can get congested on weekday evenings, so I recommend allowing extra time. Also, it's a good idea to carefully check for signs and landmarks to find the meeting point.

It's best to minimize your belongings and not leave too much in the car, but be prepared for the cold during the 20-minute return to the port after coming out of the water (I was so cold that I couldn't stop shivering for a while). There are no showers after getting out, and changing is done in public restrooms. To capture the magical sights, it's a good idea to prepare a camera like a GoPro, but since you need to hold onto a surfboard with handles while moving in the water, it can be challenging to keep both hands free for photography, so I recommend it only for those who are experienced.

It seems there are few spots around the world where mantas can be easily seen. For us Japanese, the Big Island is one of the most accessible places after Ishigaki Island, so I highly recommend participating in a manta tour while in Hawaii.

LEDで照らされたオーシャンブルーの夜の海で、神秘的なマンタのダンスを手が届くほどのところで見ることができ、それまでの海の中で長く感じられた時間や寒さも吹き飛ぶほどの驚嘆の経験でした。
またマンタのポイントに行く途中で、思いがけずクジラの親子を数十メートル先に見られるという、サプライズもあり、夕陽の美しさも去ることながら、忘れ難い数時間となりました。

これらの経験も全て、ハワイ島の海やマンタ・クジラなどの生態を知り尽くしたDaisukeさんのガイド、他ツアーのガイドの方々との信頼・協力関係のお陰です。彼らはハワイ島周辺に住むマンタの名前(今回遭遇したのはイーライ)を全て知っていますし、クジラが次にどのような行動を取るかも知っています。
(ところで米国ではクジラに90m以内に近付くことが禁止されており、ホエールウォッチングでも同様で、偶然にも数十メートル以内に現れたのは本当にラッキーでした。)

Daisukeさん達にとっては毎日のことですが、我々にとっては初めて・滅多にない・一生に一度のことということをよく心得ていて、より素晴らしい経験をできるように懸命に努力してくださいます。最初は海に入ってすぐに一瞬、マンタを海底近くに見たのですが、その後数十分全く見られず、あちらこちに移動しました。それでも何とかもう一度マンタを見てもらいたい！という一心のDaisukeさんのお陰で、最後には夢のような光景を目にすることができました。また、ダイバー達が深くもぐる様子、彼らが下から照らすLEDの光、マンタを見るために夜の海に浮かんでいる100人程の人々、目の前でプランクトンに群がる魚の数々は幻想的の一言以外の何物でもありませんでした。

数時間のスノーケリングに$140かと思い、モニター特典を利用しましたが、船を出すこと(ハワイ島のガソリン代は米国本土の1.5~2倍です)、船の操縦士(Takuさんでした)も必要なこと等々考えると、納得のいくツアー代だと思います。
参考までに、我々は現地まで車で行きましたが、平日の夕方は道路が込むので、余裕を持って行くことをお勧めします。また集合地点に辿り着くのにも、看板や目印などをよく確認した方がいいです。
荷物はなるべく車に残さない方がいいので最小限にすべきですが、海から上がった後から港に戻るまで20分程の間、寒いこともある(寒くてしばらく震えが止まりませんでした)ので、羽織るタオルなどしっかり準備してください。あがってからシャワーはなく、着替えは公衆トイレとなります。
幻想的な光景をいつまでも残すにはGoProなどカメラを準備すると良いですが、海の中での移動にも終始、取っ手のついたサーフボードに捕まっていなければならず、両手でも捕まり続けることは大変なので、海の中での写真撮影は慣れている方のみお勧めします。

世界中でマンタが容易に見られるスポットは少ないようです。我々日本人にとっては、石垣島についで、ハワイ島が一番アクセスしやすい場所のようですので、ハワイ島ではぜひマンタツアーに参加してみてください。

The plan was to meet on-site, but I ended up arriving late. I was worried that "the boat had already departed and I might not be able to participate..." However, I was warmly welcomed and they quickly explained the tour to me. I truly felt sorry for the delay, and I was grateful for their flexible response.

The tour began, and we boarded the boat to the manta ray spot. The wind felt nice, and the swaying boat was like a theme park ride, which was fun. On the way to the spot, we even saw a whale up close, turning the manta tour into a whale watching experience. The instructor's explanations were also entertaining. We saw a mother and baby whale waving their fins and blowing water, which was already moving before we even met the mantas.

After moving to the manta spot, we waited in the water for the mantas to appear. We floated on large boogie boards, waiting for the mantas to come, attracted by the plankton gathered in the light. Not only mantas, but we also saw plenty of fish, so the waiting time wasn't boring at all. It felt like putting your face in an aquarium tank.

Finally, the mantas appeared, and the instructor pulled us close to them. The mantas swam gracefully, opening their mouths wide and turning while eating plankton, which was truly magical. We were able to see them from just 15 cm away, close enough to think, "We're almost going to bump into them!" The mantas were larger and more elegant than I had imagined, making it feel like a dream.

I wanted to watch them a bit longer, but we had to return to the boat because staying too long would make us cold. On the way back, it really got chilly, and I thought, "The instructor was right." I was shivering with my wet body, but I felt happy to have met the mantas and enjoyed the beautiful starry sky on the way back.

One of the reasons I went to the Big Island was to see mantas, and this tour did not disappoint. I highly recommend it.

現地集合のプランだったのですが、到着が遅れてしまったんです。「ボートは既に出航していて、もう参加できないかも。。。」と不安に思いながら現地に向かったのですが、温かく迎えてくださり、素早くツアーの説明をしてくださいました。本当に申し訳なく、そして、臨機応変の対応がありがたかったです。

ツアーが始まり、ボートに乗ってのマンタスポットへ。風も気持ち良く、揺れるボートは遊園地のアトラクションのようで楽しかったです。スポットへ行く途中に、すごく近くでクジラも見れ、マンタツアーがホエールウォチングと化していました。インストラクターの方のご説明も面白かったです。親子のクジラで、ひれを振ってくれたり、水しぶきを吹いたりしてくれて、マンタに会う前にも十分感動していました。

マンタスポットへ移動後、マンタが現れるのを待って海へ。ビート板の大きい判みたいな物に掴まってプカプカ浮かんで、光に集まったプランクトン目当てのマンタが来るのを待ちました。マンタだけでなく、お魚もいっぱい見れるので、待ち時間も退屈ではなかったです。例えるなら、水族館の水槽に顔をつける感じでしょうか。
いよいよ、マンタが現れ、インストラクターの方が近くまで引っ張って行ってくださいました。ヒラヒラと泳ぐマンタが、大きく口を開けて、一回転しながらプランクトンを食べていて、本当に幻想的でした。「もう少しでぶつかる！」と思うくらいの15cmの距離で見れたんです。想像以上にマンタは大きくて、優雅で、夢の中にいるような時間でした。

もう少し見ていたいくらいでしたが、あまり長い時間いると体が冷えてしまうとのことでボートへ戻り港へ帰ることに。途中、本当に寒くなってきてしまって、「インストラクターさん言う事は間違いないな」と関心しました。濡れた体で震えていましたが、マンタに会えた幸せな気持ちと奇麗な星空で、心は満足な帰路でした。

ハワイ島に行く目的の一つがマンタだったくらい期待していたツアーだったのですが、期待を裏切らない感動を与えてくれるものでした。お勧めします。

On January 8th, I participated with a friend. There were a total of six participants, including four foreigners and the two of us.

We traveled near Kona Airport to go to a spot to see night manta rays by boat. The boat sped quite fast from the harbor to the airport, which felt like an activity in itself and was fun. Along the way, we encountered a whale and were thrilled to see its tail.

When we arrived at the spot, we had to wait until it got completely dark for the plankton to gather, so we entered the water once it was dark. All the participants held onto a board with blue lights and floated to see the manta rays. My friend couldn’t swim, and since it was my first time swimming in the ocean at night, I was anxious, but the staff had two people with us on the boat, which made me feel safe.

Most importantly, the blue lights attracted a lot of plankton, so the manta rays came right up to us, making me forget my anxiety out of excitement. We were briefed beforehand not to touch the manta rays to avoid harming them, but they came so close that it felt impossible not to, and it was incredibly fun.

Since we went in January, it was quite cold when we got out of the water due to the wind, but I was very grateful that they prepared hot cocoa and cup noodles for us.

When it comes to sightseeing on the Big Island, people usually think of dolphin or whale watching, but I think night manta rays in the ocean are also a great option. I definitely want to participate again.

１月8日友人と二人で参加しました。参加者は外国人4人と私達２人の計6人でした。
舟でナイトマンタを見るスポットに行くためコナ空港近くまで行きました。ハーバーから空港に行くまではボートを結構なスピードで飛ばすので、それも一つのアクティビティみたいで楽しかったです。途中でクジラにも会えて、しかも尾びれを見ることができてとても興奮しました。スポットに着いても真っ暗にならないとプランクトンが集まらないためマンタも来ないということで、真っ暗になってから海に入りました。参加者全員でブルーライトの付いたボードにつかまり浮かぶようにしてマンタを見ました。
友人は泳げず、、私も初めて夜の海で泳ぐので不安だったのですが、スタッフはボートに二人着いていてくれたので安心しました。
何より、
ブルーライトにプランクトンがたくさん集まるので
マンタが目の前まで来るので、、興奮で不安な気持ちも忘れました。
事前にマンタを傷つけないようにマンタには触れないでという説明を受けたのですがそんなこと無理というくらい目の前まで来て、すごく楽しかったです。
行ったのが一月だったので、海から上がると風もありかなり寒かったですが、ホットココアとカップラーメンを準備してくれていてとてもありがたかったです。
ハワイ島の観光となるとイルカやクジラウォッチングかなと思いますが、夜の海でナイトマンタもいいかなと思います。是非また参加したいと思います。

I participated on the last day. In the morning, we got on the boat, and there were many people from overseas who were excited, shouting "Yay!!!" when the whales appeared. My experience during the New Year was just the beginning, but from now until around March, humpback whales will be migrating south to Hawaii, so they can be seen quite well. The lookout staff and the captain pointed out, "Over there!" As we moved closer, we saw a mother and calf, along with various other forms, spouting water and showing their tails as they dove... Towards the end, they chased the boat and swam underneath it. Such an experience is hard to come by, but those who are prone to seasickness should be careful.

最終日に参加しました。
午前中にふねにのりましたが、海外からの方が多くクジラが出てくると
のりのりで『イエ〜〜〜〜〜〜イ！！」
私の行った年末年始はまだ序の口のようですがこの後３月くらいまでハワイではザトウくじらが散乱の為に南下してきますからよく見えます。
見張り役の方々とキャプテンがあの辺り！火事を進めて行くと２匹親子で、雄のみなど様々な形態で
潮を吹き尻尾を見せて潜ったり・・・・最後の方は船を追いかけてくぐって行きました。
こんな体験はなかなか出来ませんが、船酔いする方は注意してくださいね

My wife and I seen many whales and they where very entertaining. The crew was very hospitable,it was a great experience,

I was able to see several heads and also got to see dolphins. I would like to participate again. The snacks were delicious too.

何頭も見られて、イルカも見ることができました。
また参加したいと思いました。
お菓子も美味しかったです。

You can't help mother nature -- we only saw one manta ray during our tour and the water was really choppy. The captain and crew were friendly, but had us wait for some other people that didn't show. I also don't feel they connected with us as a group, which was unfortunate.

Absolutely incredible tour that was tailored to those on the boat...not a canned presentation. I highly recommend this tour. The captain and the whale expert (Denver) were exceptional. I never thought that I would learn this much about whales and be so close to them!

I had been very interested in this tour after seeing its popularity and reviews. The price was a bit high, so I hesitated, but when I checked again at the last minute, I found out they were offering a promotion for one person free, so I decided to sign up!

I was worried, "Isn't the sea cold in December?" Even after reading reviews, I wasn't sure, so I thought I would write about my experience this time!

During the day, it was warm enough to sweat under the strong sunlight. I wondered if it would be okay at night, but it was really cold due to the strong winds. The organizer mentioned, "Today the wind is particularly strong."

I read that those who are prone to seasickness should take motion sickness medication, so I took some. I was really anxious, so instead of the recommended two pills, I took three!

■ One hour from the meeting time to departure
■ One hour from departure to the snorkeling spot
There wasn't any specific information about how long we would wait. I would have liked to know what time we were departing. Also, the driver was not Japanese, so all the instructions along the way were in English.

The wind was cold, the boat rocked a lot, and the height differences were extreme. Without the motion sickness medication, I think I would have been 120% seasick!!

Many people were vomiting on the way there...

When we arrived at the site and the boat stopped, it rocked even more, making it difficult to stand.

Initially, I didn't feel much cold in the water. We all held onto a square fence while snorkeling! The manta rays were incredibly friendly, doing backflips just above us! It was amazing to see their mouths wide open! I even experienced the thrill of feeling like I might get sucked in! Their big, round eyes were so cute! I brought an underwater camera, but it was too dark to capture anything... It's a shame I can't upload any photos, but the experience is firmly etched in my memory!

I think we were in the water for quite a long time! However, after a while, it did get cold. One person who was holding onto the same fence started to feel unwell and had to get out.

Based on information from the reception at our accommodation, I heard it could get "really cold," so I brought an ultra-light down jacket.

After getting back on the boat, I changed into a T-shirt and my ultra-light down jacket in the restroom. During that time, my partner also got sick. He said he felt nauseous watching the manta rays spinning around.

It seems that almost all the Japanese participants were affected. The girl next to me was crying and saying, "I want to go home" while vomiting. If you're participating in the winter season, don't forget to bring warm clothing! I also think motion sickness medication is essential!

P.S. If you're lucky, you might encounter dolphins.

I think it would be amazing to participate on a day with good weather! We also want to join again next time when it's warm and there’s no wind!

【参加日⇒2014．12．27】

人気度やクチコミを見て、とても気になっていたツアーでした。
金額が張るので悩んでいたのですが、ぎりぎりにもう一度覗いたら、モニターがやってて1人分無料になるとのことで申し込みを決意しました(^^)

「12月の海って寒くないのか？」と心配していました。クチコミを見ても、よく分からなかったので、私はこの度書こうと思います！

日中は日焼けするほどの日差しで汗ばむ気温です。夜も平気なのかな？と思ったら、風が強く心底寒かったですw
開催者曰く、「今日は特別風が強い」とのことでした。

船酔い等心配な方は酔い止めをと書いてあったので、飲んで行きました。すごく不安だったので、２錠のところを３錠飲みました(*>_<)

■集合時間から出発まで１時間
■出発からシュノーケリングの場所まで１時間
どれくらい待つとかのお知らせは特にありませんでした。何時発なのか、一言欲しかったです。
また、途中の注意事項等も運転手の方が日本人ではないからか英語のみです。

風が冷たく、船もものすごく揺れ、高低差が半端なかったです。
酔い止めがなければ、１２０％酔っていたと思います！！

行きの船から嘔吐している人多数・・・


現地について、船を止めると、もっと船が揺れ、立つのが困難な程でした。

海中は、はじめはさほど寒さを感じません。
四角い柵のようなものをみんなで持ってシュノーケリングをしました！
マンタはすごく人懐こいのか、お腹すれすれに背面ターンしてくれます！
口の中まで丸見えで感動します！吸い込まれるんじゃないかという迫力も体験できました！！
つぶらな瞳がとてもキュートでしたo(^-^)o
水中カメラを持っていったのですが、真っ暗で何も写っていませんでした…何がいけなかったのだろう…写真をアップできないのは残念ですが、脳裏にしっかり焼きついています♪

結構長い時間海にいたと思います！
しかし、やはり長時間入水していると寒くなってきます。
同じ柵に捕まっていた方が具合が悪くなり、上がることになりました。

宿泊先の受付の方の情報で、「本当に寒い」という事を伺ったので、ウルトラライトダウンを持参しました。

船に上がってから、お手洗いで上半身を脱ぎ、Tシャツとウルトラライトダウンに着替えました。
その間に、彼も吐いていました(^_^;)
マンタがくるくる回転するのを見て酔ってしまったそうです。

日本人？はほぼ全滅だったそうです。
隣の女の子も「早く帰りたい」と泣きながら吐いていました。
冬の季節に参加する際は、防寒グッズを忘れずに☆彡
また、酔い止めも必須だと思います！


P.S.運が良いと、イルカに出会えるそうです。

天気の良い時に参加すれば最高だと思います！
私たちも次は風がなく暖かい時期に参加したいとおもいますW

It's a amazing experience!!!
We really recommend!!

I arranged this for my parents who are over 60 years old. They said there was an hour wait from when they were picked up until they boarded. Was that time for a stroll? The explanations underwater were all in English, but it seems my parents, who don't understand English, were still able to enjoy it to some extent.

６０歳オーバーの両親のために手配しました。迎えに来てもらってから乗るまでに１時間の待ち時間があったそうです。散策の時間でしょうか？海中の説明は全て英語で英語がわからない両親でもそれなりに楽しめたそうです。

First, I received a call from the hotel regarding our meeting point. They informed me to refer to the location listed on the Iruka University website (http://www.iruka.com/index.php?itemid=32118) instead of the place shown on the VELTRA map. However, since our rental car had a flat tire, we had to take a taxi at the last minute. The driver seemed to know the general area, and we were safely delivered to our destination. When we got out of the taxi, our guide, Ryoko, was waiting for us, so we didn’t have any trouble meeting up.

On the day we participated, the boat from Manta University (or rather, its parent, Iruka University) was in Oahu, and they had chartered a boat in collaboration with other similar shops. There were three Japanese people, including my spouse and me, and about 15 foreigners. Perhaps because of the large number of participants, we were on a relatively luxurious boat that had a restroom, and we were able to enjoy light snacks like poke, which were prepared on board. We also had warm coffee to help us warm up, so it ended up being quite a lucky experience.

As for the manta rays, as soon as we jumped from the boat, about eight of them swam up from below, which was truly moving. They approached us with their mouths wide open (of course, they didn’t bite us! *laughs*), and it felt like we could see all the way to their ribs. It would have been best if they had stayed there, but the boat owner's family moved to a different spot, thinking it would be better, which didn’t turn out to be the case. At one point, we were just staring into the dark sea with no mantas in sight. Ryoko from Iruka University also seemed unable to change the location due to the joint arrangement with other shops. However, the initial number of mantas we saw was incredible, and later, although the number decreased to one or two, they swam close to us, which was truly moving.

Since it was nighttime, it got quite cold. After getting out of the water, I recommend drying off as quickly as possible and changing into regular clothes if you can. (So, it’s a good idea to bring extra clothes, especially something like a windbreaker!) If you stay in a soaking wet wetsuit while being blown by the night wind, you’ll get cold in no time.

Personally, I never dreamed that I would have the chance to swim with manta rays, so it was a very emotional experience. I think the number of encounters depends on luck, but I can definitely recommend this tour to everyone.

まず、待ち合わせについてホテルに事前にお電話を頂きました。VELTRAの地図に載っている場所ではなくイルカ大学のHPに載っているもの（http://www.iruka.com/index.php?itemid=32118）参考にして下さい、という連絡を頂きました。ただ、私達のレンタカーがパンクしてしまったため、急きょ、タクシーで行くことになり、運転手さんは大体の場所がわかったようで、無事、送り届けてもらえました。タクシーを降りた辺りで、ガイドのリョウコさんが待っていてくださったので、待ち合わせに苦労することはありませんでした。
私達が参加した日はマンタ大学（というか母体のイルカ大学）の船がオアフ島に行っているとのことで他の似たようなショップと合同で船をチャーターされていました。日本人は私達夫婦を含め3人、外国の方が15人位でした。合同で人数も多かったためか、それなりに豪華な船でトイレがあったり、軽食というのもポキなどを船内で調理したものを頂くことができましたし、冷えた体に暖かいコーヒーも頂くことができ、結果的にはラッキーな感じでした。
肝心のマンタですが、船から飛び込むなり、8頭位がウワ～っと下から泳いできてくれて感動しました。口をパカーっと開けてぐいぐい迫ってきて（別にかみつかれたりはもちろんしません・笑）感覚的に口から肋骨あたりまで口の中が見えるような感じでした。そのまま、そこに留まってもらえれば一番良かったのですが、船のオーナー家族が良かれと思う場所に移動してしまい、結果的に「良かれ」というわけにいかず、一時は、マンタも何もいない夜の海をボケーっと覗いているだけ、という時間もありました。イルカ大学のリョウコさんも他のショップと合同ですし、ご自身の采配で場所を変えたりすることはできず、という様子でした。ただ、最初に見た頭数がすごかったのと、その後も数はぐっと減り、１，２頭でしたが、近くを泳いでくれて本当に感動しました。やはり夜なので、結構寒くなります。上がった後はなるべく早く体を拭き、普通の服にできれば着替える方がいいと思います。（なので服は持っていった方がいいです。特にウインドブレーカーのようなもの！）びしょ濡れのウェットスーツを着たまま夜風に吹かれていると、あっという間に体が冷え切ってしまいます。
個人的にはまさか自分がマンタと一緒に泳げる日が来るとは夢にも思わなかったので、とても感動的な体験でした。遭遇数などは運があると思いますが、ぜひ、みなさんにもオススメできるツアーです。

I'm afraid the whales were very shy during our particular trip. We did see two on 4/5 occasions but only briefly from a distance. In these circumstances I think it's best to look upon the trip as a pleasure cruise because we were treated to great views of the Western side of Big Island. The crew deserve a mention...always polite and courteous...they looked after everyone with complimentary soft drinks.

This time, I challenged myself to night snorkeling for the first time! I was worried about panicking in the dark ocean, but those worries were completely unnecessary! After the crew (the captain and two assistants) explained everything in English, a Japanese guide kindly interpreted, which made me feel really safe and secure!

We were able to take lots of photos before departure, and during sunset, we captured some beautiful shots of the sunset! As for the main attraction, the manta rays, we were able to see nearly ten of them! They came close enough to swim right by us, and we even saw them doing flips while feeding! The manta rays, with their large mouths wide open, came within about five centimeters of us, and it was truly an impressive sight.

After snorkeling, snacks (ahi poke, tako poke, Ritz crackers, chocolate, gummies, etc.) and drinks (hot cocoa, coffee, cola, etc.) were served on the boat!

Additionally, on the way back, we even received a graduation certificate from Manta University! I enjoyed every moment from start to finish! I highly recommend this tour!

今回、初めてナイトシュノーケリングに挑戦しました！
暗い夜の海の中ではパニックにならないかと不安でしたが、そんな心配は無用の長物！！
クルー（船のキャプテンとアシスタント2名）の方が英語で説明された後、日本人ガイドさんが丁寧に通訳してくれたのでほんとに安心安全でした！
出港前から写真もたくさん撮れましたし、日没の時間帯には夕焼けショットも！
メインのマンタですが、、
なんと！！10枚近くも見ることができました。
至近距離まで遊泳に来てくれ、餌を食べながらくるりと宙返りする姿も見れました！
大きい口をぱっくり開けて、目の前5センチくらいまで近寄ってくるマンタは、本当にすごい迫力でした。

シュノーケリングの後には、船内でスナック（アヒポキ、たこポキ、
リッツ、チョコレート、グミなど）とドリンク（ホットココア、
コーヒー、コーラなど）が配られました！

また、帰りにはマンタ大学の卒業証書までもらえました！
最初から最後までどっぷり満喫できました！
とってもおすすめのツアーです！

They did a great job with my young kids. Everyone got in the water and had fun. When the 5 year old was ready to get back on the boat, they took her and let the adults stay in the water. Professional and fun.

During my first cruise around the Hawaiian Islands, I had to sadly give up on seeing the wild manta rays in Kona due to a lack of time. This time, as a diver, I stayed at the Sheraton Hotel with an ocean view in Keauhou to see the mantas. The meeting point was conveniently just a five-minute walk from the hotel.

I was torn between diving and snorkeling, but choosing snorkeling turned out to be the right decision. However, since mantas can be scared away, fins were prohibited, and we were instructed to wear a float called a noodle around our feet when entering the water from the boat. This meant I had to hold onto a lighted aluminum bar connected to the boat with my left hand while filming with my right hand. The mantas, swirling and gulping down the plankton attracted by the lights, were truly breathtaking. They came so close that I could almost touch them. It was so moving that I went again two days later! I was thrilled to encounter mantas at such a close distance, something every diver dreams of. Although the photos didn’t turn out well due to the darkness and the mantas moving, the videos were perfect. The staff at Sea Paradise were friendly and made the experience even more enjoyable.

The Sea Paradise office is located near the supermarket in the Keauhou Shopping Center. It opens at 7 AM, so I stopped by after breakfast to hand over my coupon, which meant I didn’t have to call at 4 PM to borrow a wetsuit. Other necessary gear was provided once we boarded the boat.

It was November, but it wasn’t cold at all, and it took only about five minutes from the manta site to the port. I changed and had a meal at the restaurant's restroom at the dock. Next time, I want to go with my daughter.

ハワイ諸島を巡るクルーズで初めてコナに行った時は時間がなく泣く泣く諦めた野生マンタ。ダイバーの今回はマンタを見るためにKeauhouにあるシェラトンホテルのオーシャンビューにステイ。集合場所がホテルの直ぐ側で徒歩5分と便利でした。
ダイビングがいいのかシュノーケリングが良いか迷いましたが、シュノーケリングにして大正解でした。但し、マンタが怖がるのでフィンは使用禁止、ボートから海に入るときには足に引っ掛けるヌードルと呼ばれるフローターを足に付けるように指示されるので、実際には左手でボートに繋がっている照明付きのアルミ製のバーに掴まって右手で動画を撮るといった感じです。照明で集まったプランクトンを回転しながら飲み込んでいくマンタ達は圧巻です。顔スレスレに近づいてきます。あまりに感動的で翌々日にもう１回！ダイバー憧れのマンタにこんな至近距離でお目にかかれるとは感激です。写真は照明があっても暗くマンタは動いているのでなかなか上手に撮れませんでしたが動画はバッチリでした。シーパラダイスのスタッフもフレンドリーで楽しさを倍増させてくれました。シーパラダイスのオフィスはKeauhou ショッピングセンター内のスーパーマーケット付近にあります。朝7時からオープンしてるので朝食を食べた帰りに立ち寄りクーポンを渡したので4時に電話する必要もなくウェットスーツを借りて帰りました。その他必要なギア等はボートに乗ってから渡されます。
11月でしたが全く寒くなく、マンタのサイトから港までほんの5分くらいでした。船着場にあるレストランのトイレで着替えて食事をしました。次回は娘と一緒に行きたいと思っています。

In mid-November, my spouse and I participated in a night snorkeling and manta ray tour. We made our reservation online in Japan before departing, and we joined the tour on the evening of our arrival in Hawaii. Although we were affected by jet lag, we tried hard to adjust to Hawaii's time difference from the very first day. (The guide seemed a bit taken aback, so it might have been a bit too much for us.)

Since we were traveling by rental car, we opted for a local meeting plan, but we mistakenly went to the wrong meeting spot. After some time had passed without us showing up, a Japanese female guide came to look for us and found us. We then headed to the correct meeting place and joined the other participants about five minutes late. After gathering, the guide led us to a rental shop where we could borrow wetsuits and fins for free. After that, we moved to the boat. There were about six Japanese participants and around ten Americans.

We set sail on a small boat just after sunset and traveled for about 45 minutes to an hour to reach the manta point. It seemed to be an unusually windy day, and there were some waves, which made me a bit seasick. But it was another good experience.

By the time we arrived at the point, it was quite dark, and about five or six other tour boats had also arrived. With excitement, we donned our snorkeling masks and fins and entered the water, ready to start. We were in a group of six Japanese participants. Holding onto a pole around a board floating in the water, the guide pulled a rope attached to the board to lead us. It was noted that the waves were unusual for that day. Since it was difficult for the guide to pull us alone, we all kicked our legs to help move to the point. When we arrived and looked into the water, the first thing that came to us was a multitude of fish. And... well, you'll have to see for yourself what else is there!

If I could mention one thing... the manta rays really swim very close to you. Additionally, there was a surprise of, "Wait, they're coming towards us like that!?"

About 40 minutes later, we returned to the boat. The swaying in the water and the rocking of the boat afterward made me feel a bit seasick, but the excitement far outweighed that feeling. As mentioned by others, it gets really cold on the way back, so we dried off and put on our jackets. The warm cocoa we had on the boat was incredibly delicious.

This is truly a tour that you can't experience anywhere else, and it exceeded our expectations!

11月中旬に夫婦でナイトシュノーケル＆マンタツアーに参加しました。出発前に日本国内でネット予約→ハワイ島に到着した日の夕方からの参加でした。体調的に時差の影響がありましたが、無理矢理ハワイの時差に調整しようと当日から頑張ってしまいました。（ガイドさんにも軽く引かれたので、ちょっと無理があったかもですf＾＾）
レンタカーでの移動だったので、現地集合プランで申込みしましたが、集合場所を間違えてしまいました。時間が過ぎても私たちが集合場所に現れなかったので、女性の日本人ガイドさんが私たちを探しに来てくれて、見つけて貰いました。そして集合場所へ。５分ほど遅れて他の参加者の皆さんと合流しました。集合した後はガイドさんに案内され、レンタル屋さんでウエットスーツとフィンを無料で借りれました。その後、船へ移動。参加者は日本人6名、アメリカ人10名くらいでした。
小型の船で夕日が沈んだ直後に出港して、マンタポイントまで45分～1時間くらい進んだと思います。珍しく風が強い日だったようで、波があって少し船酔いしました。これもまた良い経験。。
ポイントに着くころにはだいぶ暗くなっていて、他のツアー船も5、6隻、到着していました。ドキドキしながら、シュノーケルマスクとフィンを装着して海へ入り、いよいよスタート。私たちは日本人だけのグループで６名１グループ。海に浮かべた板の周りの棒につかまり、ガイドさんが板についたひもを引っ張って誘導してくれました。珍しく波があった日とのこと。ガイドさん１人で引っ張るのが難しいので、みんなバタ足で協力してポイントまで移動しました。ポイントに着いて海の中を覗くと、最初に飛び込んで来たのは、たくさんの魚たち。そして、、、あとは、現地で見てのお楽しみですね！
一つだけ書くとすると。。本当に至近距離までマンタが泳いで近づいてきます。それに加えて、「えー、そんな泳ぎ方で近づいてくるの！？」という驚きがありました＞＜

約40分後には船に戻りました。水中で波に揺られ、船に戻ってからの揺れとあいまって船酔いしましたが、それよりも感動の方が各段に大きかったです。
他の方の体験談でもありますが、帰りはすごく寒いので、身体を拭いて上着を着ました。船上でいただいた温かいココアがすごくおいしかったです。

これは本当に他では体験できないツアー、かつ、期待以上です！

On November 22, 2014, I participated in a manta night snorkeling tour. I was able to see many mantas (probably around 10), and the sight of them swimming gracefully in the night sea was breathtaking and very moving. I have some diving experience, but I rarely get to see mantas, and when I do, it's usually just a glimpse from afar. Therefore, I think the combination of the ease of snorkeling and the impressive conditions here is quite rare.

However, there were about 13 participants in total, including the three of us and about 10 others, most of whom were beginners at snorkeling. Unfortunately, there was no explanation on how to prevent the mask from fogging up, nor was there time to apply anti-fog solution or instructions on how to keep hair out of the mask. Additionally, when it came to viewing the mantas, the guide told us to pose like "Superman," but I think more specific instructions, such as relaxing your entire body and keeping your fins at the surface of the water, were necessary. In fact, one person kept their legs bent the whole time, which meant that the mantas only circled around us about twice. Meanwhile, they were constantly circling near others...

There should have been enough time to provide those explanations before we reached the snorkeling point, but the guide's comments, like "I hope we see lots of mantas today!" felt more like something you would say to elementary school students. It would have been appreciated if the explanations were delivered in a more mature tone, considering everyone was an adult.

I also think the procedures for changing clothes and taking showers were poorly organized. They decided who would be positioned where on the light board, but we were not informed about our assigned spots, and in the end, we just entered the water and grabbed onto whatever was available.

I believe more time should be spent on preparation beforehand. Since this is a night activity, there is a possibility of accidents occurring. This is a wonderful tour, and I hope they can improve in these areas.

2014年11月22日にマンタ・ナイトシュノーケリングに参加しました。
マンタにはたくさん会えて（多分10匹くらい）夜の海にたくさんのマンタが翻って泳ぐ様は圧巻で、とても感動できました。ダイビングを何度か経験していますが、なかなかマンタには会えないか会えても遠くからちらっと見える程度だったので、シュノーケルという手軽さでここまでの迫力の条件は中々他ではないのではないかと思いました。
ただ、参加者は私達3人と他10名の計13名ぐらいでしたが、他の人は殆どシュノーケルに対して初心者であったにも関わらず、マスクの曇り止めの説明も曇り止めをする時間もなくマスクに髪が入らないようにという説明もありませんでした。また、マンタを見る時の説明としてガイドの人に「スーパーマンのような格好」と教えられましたが、もう少し具体的に全身の力を抜くとかフィンが海面に来るようにするなどの説明が必要ではなかったかと思いました。現に一人、足を曲げたままでずっといる人が居た為、私達のところでマンタは2回ぐらいしか回ってくれませんでした。隣ではずっと回っていたのに・・・。
そういった説明をする時間はポイントに着くまでに十分あったはずですが、ガイドの女性の「マンタちゃんに今日はい～っぱいいるといいね！」といった小学生に説明するような幼稚な話で終わってしまったことが残念です。全員大人なのでもう少しちゃんとした口調での説明をして頂けると有りがたいです。
また、着替えやシャワーの順番等の手順も悪かったと思いますし、光のボードのどの位置に誰が付くかを決めていましたが、私達はどの場所になるか決めてもらえませんでしたし、結局バラバラと海に入って適当なところにつかまっただけでした。
やはりもう少し事前の準備に時間をかけるべきだと思います。
シュノーケリングとはいえ、夜に行うのですし、事故が起こる可能性もあります。折角すばらしいツアーなので、そこのところを是非改善して頂きたいです。

In November, I went to the Big Island with a female friend. Since it was a bit cheaper, I participated in a night snorkeling and manta ray tour for the first time in my life.

It was a meet-up plan, so I scouted the location the day before, but on the day itself, I almost ended up being very late due to a mistake. The meeting place might be a bit hard to find. I was supposed to turn right at the intersection of Honokohau Harbor, but I passed it. Be careful, as there are similar diving tours and delis in the area.

After gathering, we met with a Japanese female guide and a local male captain. I was nervous about my first night snorkeling, but both of them were kind, so I didn't have to worry. We borrowed wetsuits for free and got ready. There were six Japanese participants and three Americans.

Then we set off for the manta ray tour!

We boarded a large rubber boat and headed towards the manta point for about 20 minutes as the sun set. The sunset was beautiful, and it felt great to speed across the ocean, relieving stress! During the ride, we were hit by strong winds and splashes from the waves (especially from the person in front), and the boat rocked quite a bit, so be cautious.

I was anxious about whether we would really see manta rays and what night snorkeling would be like. However, when we arrived at the point, there were many other tour boats with their lights on. It seems that the lights attract plankton, which in turn attracts the manta rays. There were divers as well, but we wore snorkeling masks and fins, floated on a board with a light, and held onto the railing while looking around with our feet up. If you relax, it doesn't take much energy.

The water was a bit cold, but it felt warmer underwater than outside.

When I submerged my face, it was like entering another world! A paradise of fish! The light illuminated the schools of fish, making them sparkle! I was amazed by the number of fish, but more than that, it was the manta rays! I couldn't believe how many there were! The manta rays swam gracefully right next to us. Watching them feed with their mouths wide open was a sight to behold! I thought, "Wow, are we going to collide?" I was truly moved! It was so exciting!

We didn't have an underwater camera, but those moments should definitely be captured in photos! Seeing so many manta rays up close is something you can only experience in the Big Island. It's not something you see often! I really regret not buying an underwater camera to bring along. I wish I had manta ray photos! I highly recommend bringing one!

After about 30 to 40 minutes in the water, we returned to the boat. The movement of the boat and the waves while watching underwater can make you feel seasick. My friend said she felt a bit unwell. If you're prone to seasickness, it might be a good idea to take some medication beforehand.

On the way back, it gets really cold. Your body is wet, and with the wind, a thick bath towel is essential. It would also be good to have a jacket that can get wet. It’s really cold! But they serve warm cocoa and snacks, which helps warm us up a bit as we return to the port. It was pitch dark around us, but looking up at the sky revealed a stunning starry night! That was also moving! It was a tour that made me want to go again and see it again! Definitely worth seeing!

11月に女友達とハワイ島に行きました。少し安くなっていたので、人生で初めてナイトシュノーケル＆マンタツアーに参加しました。

現地集合プランだったので、前日に下見をしましたが当日結局間違えて危うく大遅刻するはめになりそうでした。
集合場所が少しわかりにくいかもしれません。ホノコハウハーバーの交差点を曲がり、一本目を右折するはずが通り過ぎてしまいました。そうすると、同じようなダイビングツアーやDeliがあるので気をつけてください。

さて、集合した後は女性の日本人ガイドさんと、現地の男性キャプテンと合流。初の夜シュノーケルでドキドキしていましたが、お二人とも優しいので心配することはありませんでした。ウエットスーツを無料で借りて装着。
参加者は日本人6名、アメリカ人3名でした。

いざマンタツアーへ出港！

大きなゴムボートに乗り、夕日が沈む中、マンタポイントまで20分くらい進みます。夕日が沈むのはとてもキレイで、大海原を風を切って走るので気持ち良く、ストレス発散！みたいな感じでした。移動中は、ガンガン風や、波しぶき(特に前の人)を浴びます。しかも波で結構揺れますのでご注意を。

本当にマンタに会えるのか、夜のシュノーケルはどんな感じか不安でした。しかし、ポイントに着くと他のツアー船もいっぱいいて、ライトをつけています。その灯りにプランクトンが集まり、餌を食べにマンタが集まるようになっているそうです。ダイビングの人もいましたが、私達はシュノーケルマスクとフィンを装着し、サーフボードにライトが付いたような板を浮かべ、その周囲の手すりにつかまり、みんなで足を浮かせながら眺めるというものでした。リラックスすれば体力もそんな使うことはありません。
水は少し冷たいですが、外より水の中の方が温かく感じるくらいでした。

ちょっと顔を沈めれば、そこは別世界‼︎魚の楽園です‼︎
魚の群れにライトが当たり、キラキラ光って見えます‼︎
こんなに魚が〜！って思いますが、それよりもやっぱりマンタです‼︎
まさかこんなにいるとは思えないくらいの数がいました‼︎
至近距離をマンタが悠遊と泳いでいます。大口を広げながら餌を食べる姿も必見です‼︎うわーっぶつかっちゃうんじゃないのーって思えるくらい！
本当に感動しました‼︎大興奮です‼︎

私達は水中カメラを持っていなかったのですが、あれは絶対写真におさめるべきです‼︎あんな数のマンタ、至近距離で見れるのは、ハワイ島くらいじゃないでしょうか。なかなか見れるものじゃないと思います!
本当に、何で水中カメラ買って持って行かなかったんだ〜と後悔しています。悔しい〜マンタの写真が欲しかった〜〜〜。
ぜひ、持っていくことをお勧めします！

30.40分くらい入ってみた後は船に戻ります。移動の船の揺れや、水中で波に揺られながらずっと見てるので酔いやすいです。友達も、少し気分が悪くなったと言っていました。酔いやすい方は、酔い止め薬を飲んでおいたほがいいかもしれません。

帰りは、めちゃくちゃ寒いです。身体は濡れてるし、風もあたって厚手のバスタオルは必需品です。濡れてもいい上着もあると、尚良いと思います。本当に寒いです！
でも温かいココアやスナック菓子を出してくれます。それで少し温まりながら港に戻ります。辺りは真っ暗ですが、空を見上げれば満天の星空が見えます‼︎あれにも感動しました‼︎
もう一度行きたい！見たい！と思えるツアーでした‼︎
絶対見る価値あり‼︎

This was truly a unique experience that should be done once. It is kind of creepy being out in the open ocean at night, but that is the exciting part and of course the Manta Rays will not disappoint. After about 25 minutes in the water you've seen enough, but definitely a thrilling 25 minutes.

Saw lots of beautiful fish! Great crew! Not quite as much fun as scuba, but SOOO much easier than getting wet! Everyone should see the underwater part of Hawaii!

I took a taxi to the Careho Shopping Center, borrowed a sweat suit at the office, and put it on over the swimsuit I was wearing. Then, I got back into the waiting taxi and headed to Careho Bay, where the boat was docked. There were only my partner and me, the only Japanese people there. I felt anxious, but looking at the people around me, I realized it would be fine.

Once we got out to sea, we all took the noodles, which are floating devices, and gradually lowered them from under our arms down to our ankles while putting on our snorkels, waiting for the manta rays to come close to the lights. It felt like being a diver inside an aquarium. The manta rays came so close to my face and body; it was incredibly impressive. That sensation was moving and thrilling, and it's definitely worth experiencing at least once!

　ケアホウショッピングセンターへタクシーで乗り付け、スエットスーツを事務所で借り、着ていった水着の上に着込み、待ってもらってたタクシーで船が停泊しているケアホウ湾へ。
日本人は私とカップルだけ。　不安だったけど、周りの人達を見ていると、どうにかなるもの。船で沖出て、海面に浮かべた梯子状になったロープにみんなでヌードルと呼ぶ浮きを、脇の下から、徐々に足首までおろしシュノーケルをつけ、ライトに寄ってくるマンタを待ちます。まるで、水族館の水槽な中のダイバーになった気分でした。顔や体すれすれに近寄ってくるマンタ、迫力満点です。あの感覚は感動的、スリリング、ぜひ一度は経験する価値は十分あります！

i liked all the atracctions and people live arond island. and hotel and foods

I had participated in a tour on Oahu before, and surprisingly, I had a lot of fun, so I assumed that on the nature-rich Big Island, I would see plenty of fish. However, it was disappointing. But I think first-timers will enjoy it. The submarine is about a 5-minute ride from the pier, which is more convenient than Oahu.

以前オアフ島で参加したことが有りその時は意外にも楽しかったので、自然豊かなハワイ島ならさぞかし沢山の魚が見られるものと思い込んでいたら、期待外れ。
でも、初めての方は楽しめると思います。
桟橋から潜水艦までは5分位と、この点はオアフ島よりも便利です。

this is my second manta snokel.
3 yrs ago, I did it at hulakai.
Even though at that time, I had no manta encounter,
I think there is no difference between sea paradase and fairwind.
Steps of sea paradase seems to be more informative. I though.

all the staff were friendly and great. The submarine ride was great and educational.

We participated in the manta night snorkeling with our family of three, including our 8-year-old daughter. As a result, we had five mantas come very close to us, and our daughter was extremely satisfied.

As parents who dive, we felt it took quite a while to encounter mantas while diving, but if they come so close (within 10 cm), I definitely recommend participating at least once.

By the way, I called to reconfirm at 4 PM on the day of the event, but no one answered. I thought, as someone mentioned in a post, that it might be okay not to reconfirm. However, when we arrived at Sea Paradise at 7 PM as stated in the confirmation, we were told it was too late because the gathering was at 6:30 PM, which was quite alarming. After explaining that the confirmation said 7 PM and that I had called but no one picked up, they called a colleague on the boat, and somehow we were allowed to board despite being late.

I recommend making the reconfirmation call, and since the confirmation stated a 7 PM gathering, I would like VERTRA to double-check with Sea Paradise.

As mentioned in other posts, you will drift on the surface holding onto the bar for about an hour, so after the snorkeling, my daughter was completely chilled. I recommend bringing warm clothes for changing after the snorkeling.

8歳の娘と家族3人でマンタ ナイトシュノーケルに参加。結果としては断続的に5枚のマンタがすぐそばまで接近で、娘も大満足でした。
ダイバーの両親としては、ダイビングでマンタに会うまで結構時間かかったのになあ、と思う気持ちもありましたが、あんなに手軽にマンタがそぐそばまで（１０ｃｍと離れてない）くるなら一度は参加をお勧めします。
ところで今回当日4時にReconfirmの電話をするも、誰も出ないので、どなたかの投稿にあったようにReconifrmしなくても大丈夫かな、と思いConfirmationに記載の通り夜7時にシーパラダイスに到着したら、集合は6時半でToo Lateだといわれ肝を冷やしました。Confirmationに7時とあったこと、電話したのに誰も電話を取らなかったことなど話したところ、船の同僚に電話を入れてくれ、何とか遅れて乗せてもらいました。
Reconfirmの電話はしたほうがいいのと、Confirmationに7時集合とあったので、VERTRAさんはシーパラダイスと再確認をお願いしたいと思います。
見なさいの投稿にもありますが、小一時間バーにつかまって水面を漂いますので、終了後は娘は体が冷え切ってました。シュノーケル終了後の着替えは温かいものをお勧めします。

I feel that the water's transparency is low. However, the children seemed satisfied as they were able to ride in a submarine and see fish and a sunken ship. I thought it might be short, but it seemed to be enough for the kids.

海の透明度が低い気がします。
でも子どもも潜水艦に乗って、魚や沈没船を見れて満足してそうでした。短いかなと思いましたが、子どもには十分そうでした。

This was an amazing experience, the rays swam around gathering up the plankton and came within milimeters of us. The staff were very friendly.

Amazing, awesome, spectacular!!!! Something not to be missed, am experience we highly recommend for everyone