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The Original Kona Manta Ray Snorkel
Float above divers and bubbles while giant manta rays swim gracefully below you. A must-do activity while visiting the Big Island!
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$129* per person
Book Now A note on tips! Terms & Cancellation Policy*Not inclusive of tax or gear. Peak pricing subject to change.
MANTA NIGHT SNORKEL CHARTER
Hawaii Manta Snorkel
Experience close encounters with these beautiful wild animals while snorkeling around a lighted raft. Our in-water guides help find mantas feeding at the surface after dark and ensure the safety and comfort of our guests. Our earlier launch time includes sunset and is the most popular manta snorkel. You won't enter the water until it's dark so don't let the early check-in time fool you! Our "late manta" is also a night adventure that usually means fewer people in the water. You have the same chance of seeing mantas on either charter!
Prerequisites
Each guest on the boat must be at least 10 years old and be able to confidently swim in the open ocean without the assistance of a flotation device. It may sound counterintuitive, but we don’t allow flotation devices to be used while you’re in the water. All guests entering the water must have previous snorkel experience. These guidelines are in place for your safety as well as the safety of our crew and the other snorkelers in the group so concessions cannot be made. For safety reasons, all guests joining any of our vessels must be able to understand and communicate in English.
Included
Masks, fins, snorkel, and wetsuit. Snorkelers are encouraged to bring any personal snorkel gear they wish to use. For safety reasons, full-face snorkel masks are not permitted on any of our charters.
We also provide filtered water and a variety of snacks.
Please Bring
- Any additional snacks or non-alcoholic beverages you’d like.
- Dry towels and something cozy to wear on the ride home.
- Exposure protective clothing, and only non-aerosol reef-safe sunscreen. Please read this short article. If your local stores don’t carry it, don’t worry! We have a variety of reef-safe sunscreen available for purchase in our shop.
- Guests who are prone to motion sickness are encouraged to use an anti-emetic such as Bonine or Dramamine before boarding the boat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Guest safety is our top priority. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our captains routinely disinfect all touch surfaces on our boats. Hand sanitizer is available. Our dive groups are kept small & our charter capacities are in line with current Hawaii County rule. If you have any questions or concerns, please give our shop a call!
We don't allow life jackets on our manta charters. While this seems counterintuitive for a night-time snorkeling activity in the open ocean, we don’t allow life jackets for your safety & the safety of the manta rays. Snorkelers hold onto a floating raft during the entire manta snorkel. All snorkelers must keep their bodies flat at the surface so legs & fins do not kick mantas feeding close below. Life jackets keep snorkelers in an upright body position so that legs & fins accidentally kick mantas, potentially causing injury & scaring the animals away. We use wetsuits which make the entire body float, including your legs. If you are concerned about your ability to swim or snorkel without a life jacket we advise renting a wetsuit & practicing snorkeling during the daytime. Please contact us with any questions!
Nope! Snorkelers stay flat on the surface, and divers hug the bottom. We leave the middle of the water column to the manta rays. Freediving with these large animals is prohibited as it interferes with feeding and is potentially harmful to the manta rays.
Mantas do not have stingers or barbs. They cannot bite you and they are not poisonous. They are generally harmless creatures who use speed and agility as their primary defense mechanisms. That said, mantas are very large fish (sometimes weighing over 1000 pounds!) and can swim quite fast, so we encourage giving mantas as much space and respect as possible. We absolutely do not allow any touching, chasing, or harassing of the manta rays or any other sea life.
For the safety and enjoyment of all participants we do not allow any non-certified guests to dive SCUBA for the manta ray night dive. No tour operator in the Kona area allows non-certified individuals to dive with mantas, unless they are breaking dive agency standards. Non-certified guests are welcome to enjoy our manta ray night snorkel experience or to try a discover SCUBA dive on our two tank local morning charter.
Both SCUBA divers and snorkelers will spend about 45 minutes in the water.
Manta rays are a protected species in Hawaii and we absolutely do not allow any touching, chasing, or harassing of the manta rays.
Dolphins and whales are guarded under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and we only allow passive interaction. This means no chasing, harassing, touching, riding, etc.
When in the ocean, it's always best to look but not touch.
All Trips Include
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
All reservations cancelled with at least 48 hours notice will not be charged.
Reservations cancelled with less than 48 hours notice will be charged the full cost of the charter, unless Big Island Divers is able to fill the seat(s) on the boat.
Lastly, all Charters require a minimum of 3 participants to go. While charters are rarely cancelled due to a lack of participants, Big Island Divers will make every effort to reschedule customers to another day or with another company.
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 #1 goal is to show you the mantas.
Manta rays are wild animals, and their presence isn't guaranteed. If you don't see mantas on your adventure, we'll take you back out for free*.
*Based on standby availability, or pay 50% for a guaranteed seat.
Check manta sighting calendarManta Sighting Calendar
For more information about any given evening, click on the event for details. Manta sightings follow no specific pattern. The best way to see them is to get out there! You can find out more on our frequently asked questions page or by calling us at 808-329-6068.
Safety
All Big Island Divers’ crew are trained & practiced in Emergency First Response, AED, and emergency oxygen provision. Our captains are United States Coast Guard certified. All guides are lifeguard certified. All vessels are Coast Guard inspected & equipped with AEDs, emergency oxygen kits, EPIRBs, life jackets, throw rings & first aid kits.
Carbon Offset
We make every effort to run our fleet as efficiently as possible, and pay to offset our carbon emissions. When you book your charter you may contribute to our offset fund- help us protect our precious ocean ecosystem. Learn more about our carbon offset.
Good Practices
We do not allow touching or harassing wildlife on any of our charters. We do not use hull lights on our vessels to avoid harming manta rays. We adhere to community-established manta tour operator guidelines. We utilize the west Hawaii mooring system to avoid anchoring on the coral reef.
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Gear Rental And More
How should I tip my crew?
Tipping is common in the recreational dive industry. Gratuities in appreciation for excellent service are greatly appreciated. The general recommended amount is 20% of your charter fee.
Sport Diver: What To Tip Your Dive Guidegopro hero5
Enjoy more control and stabilized footage with the new GoPro Hero 9. 32GB SD card and float handle included. $59/day
More Infoneed gear?
Wetsuit - $15