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The Big Island of Hawaii is one of the best places in the world to see manta rays! They frequent the waters just off the Kona coast at night to feed on plankton. Although they may look a little scary they are gentle giants of the sea!
We chose to do a night snorkel with Sea Quest Hawaii to see the manta rays and had the experience of a lifetime! We booked two adult tickets for the 7:15 pm excursion and paid $254.20 in total ($127.10 per person). Included in the price of the ticket is the use of a shortie wetsuit or a wetsuit top, use of snorkel equipment, flotation devices, and warm drinks and cookies after the trip.
The overall experience with Sea Quest was amazing! The staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the manta rays; they were able to pick out manta rays by their markings, and tell us their ages and names! We had such a good experience we have gone with them twice!
Our Experience Snorkeling With Manta Rays:
We got to the Sea Quest building about 30 minutes early and checked in at the front desk. We recommend getting there early to find parking! There is limited parking in the area, and multiple tours going out. You may have to park on the street (we did) and walk to the Sea Quest building. Once parked, there is a bunch of outdoor seating to enjoy while you check in and wait for the rest of the group to arrive.
Once more people started showing up, the staff began handing out wetsuits. The water was not cold for us and we did fine with just the wetsuit top! If you run cold normally, I would recommend going for the shortie wetsuit! They had a variety of sizes, and everyone was able to find one that fit!
When we were ready to go we walked out to the boat, which was in the small harbor right outside the check-in spot. It was a short boat ride to the spot where we would be snorkeling, about 10-15 minutes. When we got to the spot where we would be snorkeling, some of the staff got into the water to set up the light raft and prepared to help us in.
While they were setting up the remaining staff passed out snorkeling gear and pool noodles to float with. After everything in the water was set up, we began dismounting the boat one at a time. To get into the water we had to jump or slide in from the side of the boat. Once you were in the water you were guided to the light raft where staff was waiting close by to assist you.
When we got to the light raft we were instructed to put the noodle under our ankles and put our hands on the light raft. The staff was there the entire time to help us get our feet and hands set. With the noodles under our ankles and hands on the raft, we were floating close to the surface of the water and had a clear view of what was underneath us. The light raft illuminated the water around us and made it easy for us to see all around!
Once everyone got settled, we waited, our faces in the water, giddy with anticipation of what we might see! A few fish began to swim under us and soon we saw our first manta ray in the distance! They got closer and closer until soon the manta rays were swimming right under our noses! They were so close to us, swimming elegantly back and forth eating plankton. They would swim down deep and come back to the surface. The crew was there to answer any questions about the Manta Rays we had. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience to watch them and be so close while they swam and ate!
I did make the mistake of trying to bring my Canon 5D Mark IV camera in its waterproof housing with me. It was too bulky and the lens stuck out too far to get any shots! The lens would have hit the manta rays, and I did not want to risk injuring them. We learned before getting in the water it can be dangerous for the manta rays to be touched, as they have sensitive outer membranes! So if you plan on trying to take photos or videos while snorkeling, I would recommend taking a small camera like a GoPro or using your phone in a waterproof case. We used a ProShot Touch, which you can find here on Amazon (not affiliated, we just like it).
When going out on a manta night snorkel, do expect to have at least five other groups in close vicinity, as multiple companies launch from the same area. This did not impact the quality of our snorkel though, and if anything, it helped illuminate the water more, and allowed us to see more manta rays! The groups stay spread out enough where it’s not cramped, so it is not an issue.
Once it was time to come back, the staff brought us back one at a time to the boat to make sure we got on safely. We boarded the boat via a ladder and had no problems getting on board. Once everyone was back on the boat we started the short journey back to the dock. After disembarking, we were greeted with tasty hot chocolate and bags of cookies. It was nice to have a warm drink and sweet treat while we dried off.
What to bring:
Towels
Swimsuits
Change of clothes
Gratuity for staff
Small waterproof camera/phone case
Summary:
We have gone out with Sea Quest twice now, and each time we had an amazing experience! We paid $254.20 in total for two adult tickets or $127.10 per person.
The staff is kind, helpful, and knowledgeable about the manta rays. They can even distinguish who's who by their markings! Both times we have gone out with Sea Quest Hawaii we have seen multiple manta rays, and they put on the show of a lifetime as you can see below! Do you think a night snorkel with manta rays is worth your wallet, or have you ever snorkeled with manta rays? Let us know below!
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