Looking for a private snorkeling or scuba adventure? Our boats offer an exclusive experience tailored just for your group. Enjoy SCUBA diving, snorkeling, nighttime manta tours, whale watching, or a scenic coastline tour with only your party. We accommodate any combination of divers and snorkelers.
What’s Included:
Boat, Fuel, Crew, Captain
Dive or Snorkel Gear for Passengers
Customizable Experience
Create a personalized adventure, whether diving, snorkeling, or a combination of both!.
Pricing Details
Hourly rates based on boat size and duration
Prices exclude taxes, fees, and gratuity
Auto gratuity of $20.00 per passenger
Online bookings require a deposit, with details finalized by phone
Enjoy a unique and unforgettable private adventure on the water with us!
Professional snorkel & dive guides, dive lights (for night dives only), tanks, soft weights, a variety of snacks, filtered water, and the best customer service in Hawaii!
Please remember to bring dry clothes and a jacket or sweatshirt for night charters, as the ride home can be chilly.
Cancellation Policy
We have a 2-week cancellation policy for all private charters.
Full payment is required to confirm a private charter
Cancellations made 2 weeks prior to the date of your scheduled private charter will receive a full refund.
Cancellations made within 2 weeks of the date of your scheduled private charter will not receive a refund.
For example, if you book a private manta charter that begins at 5pm on January 15th, you can cancel up until 5pm on January 1st to receive a full refund.
If you cancel after 5pm on January 1st, no refund will be given.
If you book a private morning charter that begins at 8am on January 17th, you can cancel up until 8am on January 3rd to receive a full refund.
If you cancel after 8am on January 3rd, no refund will be given.
Fitness Medical Considerations
SCUBA Diving and snorkeling are physical activities that require you to be able to swim and be in good physical health.
If you consider yourself overweight, or have any medical conditions, please consult with your doctor and complete the Diver Medical Waiver. Your doctor can advise you on the safety of these activities given your health.
If you are not an avid snorkeler, we suggest you first work on those skills before snorkeling at night on our manta charter, or on our more advanced morning whale and reef snorkel charter. Both activities are conducted in the open ocean with no chance to stand up at anytime while in the water and therefore require confident swimming skills.
If you are incapable of completing the charter, or we determine that in your and our best interest you do not go or allowed on the charter, we have the right to refuse services and still make applicable charges for the booking, at our discretion.
English Language
We require that all participants be able to understand and communicate in English for the safety of our other guests and crew. Please be advised that should we feel that we are unable to effectively communicate with a guest, we may not permit the guest to continue on the charter.
About Marine Life & The No Manta Guarantee
Manta rays, dolphins, whales, and other marine life are wild creatures and their presence is affected by surf conditions, seasonal changes and the quantity of food in the water. They are wild animals and we cannot guarantee their presence.
Manta Rays (and all other marine life) are wild animals, and no guarantees can be made for their presence. If no Mantas are seen on a Manta Ray charter, Big Island Divers will offer EITHER a 50% discount to guests for a guaranteed seat on another manta charter, OR a 100% discount on standby availability seats for another one-tank manta charter. Standby availability is not guaranteed and is determined by management the day of the charter.
SCUBA Refreshers
Divers that have not dove within the last 2 years may be required to take a refresher course before coming to dive with us. Please call us for more details.
Refresher sessions are tailored to each diver, therefore they must be scheduled over the phone. You will work privately or in a small group with a certified Divemaster. Maximum of 4 divers per Refresher Course. The cost to schedule a refresher is the charter price + $289 for your private Divemaster. Give us a call to reserve your adventure!
Regardless of dive history or experience, we have a 10 minute time limit on your first descent - if you are unable to comfortably descend. we'll ask you to sit the dive out. Refunds will not be given
All Other Policies
Our Charters can be enjoyed by anyone age 10 and up who feels confident swimming in the open ocean without a flotation device. for guests getting into the water, anyone with previous experience using a mask and snorkel is welcomed to join us. For your safety, full face snorkel masks are not permitted on our vessels.
Snorkeling and ride along participants that are under 18 years of age must be under the direct supervision of their parent or guardian on all charters, at all times.
Any scuba participant under 18 years of age, must be accompanied while on the vessel by their parent or guardian.
Our "minor divers" policy is that any diver 10-11 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and have a private divemaster on the charter (add an additional $289 per charter). Divers age 10-11 are not permitted on Long Range, Advanced, or Black Water charters.
All divers joining the Advanced morning charter and the Blackwater night dive charter must have the ability to climb a floating vertical ladder unassisted while wearing their SCUBA gear. These guidelines are in place for your safety as well as the safety of our crew and the other divers in the group so concessions cannot be made.
Divers 12-17 years of age must be accompanied on the charter by their parent or guardian at all times. Any minor under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. If the minor has to leave the regular dive group for any reason, they must be accompanied by their parent or guardian at all times.
For private charters, we can accommodate guests under the age of 10. Please contact us for more information.
Our Boats
The Honu Iki
Accommodates 14-22 guests, for diving & snorkeling.
Pricing starts at: $600 per hour AM / $900 per hour PM
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Do it! It is magical. We saw so many mantas, and the trip was smooth and very comfortable. Great crew and captain. Thank you Chad, Avi, and Chris!
Posted on Google
Nicholas J
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We dived with Big Island Divers for 4 days and it was great! Really helpful and safe guides (Kaitlyn, Lauren, Fernando, Holly) and such great dive sites. Will definitely dive with them again.
Posted on Google
Drasnal00
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Lauren Kaitlyn and Capn' Rory were all awesome and super helpful. My wife had some anxiety issues but Lauren helped her calm down and continue the dive. Great people.
Posted on Google
Ryan B
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
The night dive with Big Island Divers was absolutely amazing! I was a diver and my wife a snorkeler so it was nice to be on a boat that accommodated both. The staff was very friendly and helpful and always safe. I've seen mantas in the water before but never like this! Thank you to the team for an unforgettable experience!
Posted on Google
Don O
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Here’s a tighter version:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Two dives in, totally hooked — Big Island Divers delivers!
We did a two-tank day dive and a manta ray night dive with Big Island Divers and both were absolutely incredible. Captains Rory and Mika handled the boat and topside support flawlessly, keeping everything running smoothly from start to finish. Divemaster Natalie was attentive and skilled, making both dives feel safe and exciting.
But the star of the show was Hailey — her energy, expertise, and love for the ocean made every moment underwater unforgettable. The manta ray night dive was one of the most magical experiences of our lives, and she made it even better.
If you’re in Kona, don’t think twice. Book Big Island Divers, and ask for Hailey and you’ll also make Hailey’s Mom happy!
Yes, we met her mom on our second dive!
Posted on Google
William B
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
First time experience had the time of a life time.
Posted on Google
Bobbie B
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Our first night manta snorkel with Big Island Divers was 3 years ago, and we saw 3 mantas, which is rather normal. This was our 2nd time to do the night manta snorkel dive with Big Island Divers on 5/11/2026 to celebrate our 48th wedding anniversary (we are 72 years old.) The Captain and Crew were focused on safety at all times, very much appreciated. Mantas are creatures of the sea, so there are no guarantees to see them and no such thing as being in the right spot. They either come or they don't. On this dive, THEY CAME. Chris, our snorkel guy, was just as jazzed as everyone else at the numbers of mantas that appeared and stayed to enjoy the plankton feast. It was an incredible experience. Also, Chris was focused on the safety and comfort of our group, regularly asking if anyone was too cold to stay out or uncomfortable in any way. This is truly a unique Big Island experience. Go see the mantas with Big Island Divers. It will be a memory to treasure.
Posted on Google
Ally C
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
The trip with captain Micha, snorkel guide jack and diving guide Natalie was ONCE IN A LIFE TIME. PHENOMENAL!!
Posted on Google
Kristof
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We were on the manta night dive tour, May 19th. Amazing dive, up to 5 mantas feeding just in front of us.
The crew was very nice and professional: thank you Avi, Fernando and Rory.
Some facts about our tour :
5 divers and 9 snorkelers on board: plenty of room on the boat.
Good briefings, on the manta, before the ride and before the dive.
"No touching the manta" policy very clear and strict.
The dive itself:
You go in the water, kick for 1 minute, and sit around the "campfire" : divers gathered around powerful lights. Enjoy the show (no idea how long, felt long enough). And back to the boat.
Quick thought: this kind of "feeding" dives feels very artificial. However, this experience was breathtaking, and very unlikely without all the set-up.