So if you do try to go manta ray snorkeling on Oahu or Maui, prepare to be disappointed. Unlike the Big Island, there are no specified feeding areas where you can reliably find manta rays night after night (more on the Big Island feeding areas below). On Oahu and Kauai, you’ll find even fewer chance encounters. On Maui, you might have the chance to see a manta ray while snorkeling Molokini or Olowalu, though this is very rare. Technically, you can see manta rays on any Hawaiian island, though if you are diving on Oahu or Maui, seeing a manta ray comes down to luck. Can you snorkel with manta rays on Oahu or Maui? The Big Island tour operators publish a success rate for sightings of over 80%, so if you want the best odds of finding a manta ray, head to the Big Island. There are numerous tour operators that will take you into the water at night and spend some time with these gentle giants. If you’re looking to dive or snorkel with manta rays, the best place to do so is on the Big Island. Best places to snorkel and dive with manta rays in Hawaii These tour operators operate to the highest environmental standards while still providing you with an amazing experience. These are our favorite manta ray night snorkeling (and diving) tours on the Big Island. Many Big Island tour operators offer a manta guarantee, something you won’t find on the other islands. While there are manta rays on the other islands, sightings aren’t as good or reliable, so if you’re hoping to see manta rays while in Hawaii, head to the Big Island. The best place to see manta rays in Hawaii is on the Big Island, specifically on the Kona coast. Is there a Manta Ray night snorkel near the Kona Sheraton?.What is the best time of year to see manta rays in Hawaii?.What happens if you don't see a manta ray on your snorkel tour?.What's it like to go on a Manta Ray night snorkel tour?.Best Big Island Manta Ray Night Snorkeling and Diving Tours.Best time of day to see Manta Rays in Kona?.Best spots to snorkel or dive with manta rays on the Big Island?.Can you snorkel with manta rays on Oahu or Maui?.Best places to snorkel and dive with manta rays in Hawaii.Where can you see manta rays in Hawaii?.As soon as everyone was aboard (they did a roll call to be sure), we headed back to the harbor. When we got back on, the guides had fresh towels and hot chocolates for us. I was pretty cold at this point - my wetsuit is only a 2.5 thickness and too big for me, and we weren’t moving around at all. I could have stayed in the water forever, but it was time to get back on the boat. We were in the water for almost an hour, just watching their acrobatic dance. Mantas are incredibly smart - they recognize themselves in mirrors, which not even dogs can do! Some have even learned that humans can help them and will go up to diver to get fishing hooks removed. While those oceanic mantas are even bigger than the Hawaiian ones and it was one of the coolest things I have ever done, this snorkel was just as cool. In Indonesia, we saw oceanic mantas while diving. They corkscrew through the water, feeding on the plankton. As soon as we were in the water and situated, the mantas showed up. It’s a lot of just holding on and floating, you only kick when your guide directs you to move somewhere. There is also a ton of cute merchandise and gear and the shop, and if you show up before noon, there's a discount! I had thought that the snorkel was near the downtown of Kailua-Kona, but it was actually a 20 minute boat ride from the marina - and you end up right by the airport.įinally, it was our turn to jump in! How it works is that Big Island Divers have a surfboard with a light on the bottom and a PVC pipe rack around the outside, which the snorkelers held on to. We checked in at the dive shop ahead of the excursion - we were a little confused by this, but you just need to check in ahead of time to get sized for your wetsuit and get directions to the boat. We had brought our own snorkel gear that we used, but the cost of the excursion includes mask, snorkel, and fins and you can rent a wetsuit for $10. They were a reasonable price (only $105), just down the street from our vacation rental, and had great reviews. I did a little research, and I ended up booking the same company, Big Island Divers. We'd planned on doing a night SCUBA dive with mantas, and I stumbled on this post by Simply Taralynn about a night snorkel with manta rays, and I knew that we had to do it. We had hoped to do a SCUBA dive while in Hawaii, but I had a sinus infection that made diving impossible, so I got to work looking for something to do instead.
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