Kona Night Manta Ray Snorkel | Small Group Experience

Absolutely wonderful experience with Monet & Brendan who run Ocean Eco Tours. If you’re looking for a small group manta tour run by genuinely friendly people this is it. Monet provided lots of interesting facts for us throughout the trip and explained everything ahead of us getting in the water with the mantas. This really was a perfect and breathtaking experience.

This was by far one of the most magical experiences I’ve ever had. Monet & Bren were absolutely incredible. From the moment we got onto the boat we felt safe and in great hands. They both went out of their way to make sure we had the best experience not only seeing Manta Rays at night but overall amazing vibes. We got very lucky and saw a breathtaking sunset on our way to the bay, captain Bren even got us a few sand shark sightings, too!! Once in the water, Monet carried our board all over the place until we found some rays and we were lucky enough to have them feed right under us. It was everything I had hoped for and MORE, if I were you, I wouldn’t book with anyone but these two!!!

What an incredible experience! Monet and Brenden were fantastic guides and made the entire evening memorable from start to finish. The sunset ride out was beautiful, and it was such a unique experience getting into the water as the sky went dark. One of the things we loved most was being in a smaller group. The boat was able to get to areas that larger tours couldn't access, which made the experience feel even more special. We saw so many manta rays, and Monet and Brenden did an amazing job spotting them and making sure we were in the right place at the right time. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we would recommend it to anyone visiting the area. A special bonus was that Monet took GoPro videos for us, giving us a wonderful way to relive the experience long after the trip was over.

Smaller groups like this one is perfect! Saw 5-8 manta rays at once a few times even. Definitely a great bucket list to try

We did the night manta ray snorkel tour with Monet and Brad, and it was amazing! From the beautiful sunset to seeing a huge manta ray the moment we got in the water, the whole experience was unforgettable. We even got lucky and saw a monk seal swimming right next to us before heading back to the boat! I really loved that the tour was small and personal. Monet was incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about manta rays and what she does. Thank you both for such an incredible experience—I would recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kona!

This most definitely was the best experience of our trip. Mind you it was three weeks long. The guide was so sweet, understanding and helpful. She gave us information about the Manta Ray on the ride there and back. The timing was perfect since the boat ride there was during sunset and we also got to swim with the rays during the peak of the sunset. We saw many different kinds of rays in the water and plenty of fish. The swim was the perfect length and even saw the starry night sky during the way back to shore. We highly recommend this for your trip in big island, so worth it!

This is one of the coolest things we have ever done. Being that close to the Manta Rays in the wild was truly amazing. They are magnificent as they glide through the water so close to you. Monet got us to the perfect spot. We are so happy we chose to go with Ocean Eco Tours. It was a bonus to head out at sunset. You do not want to miss this!

Very exciting and nothing to be afraid of. 6:30 was a great time because you got to see a sunset. 🌅 We did get a little cold but the wet suit top helped in and out of the water.

Great experience from start to finish! Monet kept everyone informed and organized but with a very calm relaxed manner. This was my first time doing this and I took my 11 year old son. I think their limit of 12 participants is the right number for this type of tour. The Manta Rays showed up this night and really put on an amazing show! My son described the experience as magical. I also liked that we left the harbor while it was still light and were able to get a nice view of the island and the sunset on the ride out. Oh and Monet takes underwater video and makes it available after the tour. So that is nice (even though video can’t really capture the feeling of one of these huge graceful creatures gliding inches from your face in the water!) There were quite a few options for a manta ray night tour and I’m glad we chose this one :)

We had a wonderful experience snorkeling with the Manta rays. Our guide, Monet, was very knowledgeable and patient with everyone. We were clearly instructed what to do and what to expect. Once we arrived to the snorkel site, there were lots of other boats and snorkelers there, but this actually made the experience even more fun. Apparently, we got lucky and got numerous amazing up close views of the manta rays, but it seems like you will get to see them most times. They came up so close we could see inside their mouths and even their gills. When I say it was amazing, I mean AMAZING! These are beautiful creatures. Gentle giants. Please listen when the guides tell you do not touch or kick them, it is so important. Overall, 9.5/10 experience. I only say that because I got cold on the ride back. Bring a big towel! The sunset ride on the way out was a bonus. 😉

This company was great! They are a smaller company so were very attentive and it was a smaller group of customers, which made it really special! Friendly and personable, and the mantas were stunning!!

That was one of the most amazing moments of my life. The mantas were flipping for us like it was a show. Unforgettable experience. We also got to see some baby whales on the way. What an experience.

What an incredible experience for our family to see the manta rays up close. Monet & Brandon were great and made us feel very comfortable from the beginning. It was a small group and we never felt crowded or rushed. Monet stays in the water with you the whole time and the videos were amazing! Highly recommend Eco Ocean Tours and definitely try to do the offshore safari with them. That was the highlight of our whole trip!!

An Outstanding Experience for Our Family. I can’t recommend Eco Ocean Tours highly enough! We booked a tour with our three kids, and the entire experience exceeded our expectations. From the moment we arrived, Monet and Brenden were incredibly friendly and welcoming. They immediately put both us and the kids at ease, which made all the difference. What really stood out was their knowledge - they were passionate about marine life and shared fascinating information throughout the trip in a way that was engaging for both adults and children. The team was genuinely caring about the ocean environment and the wildlife we encountered, which gave us confidence that we were supporting a responsible operation. They were also wonderfully accommodating with our family’s needs, showing patience and flexibility that made the day smooth and enjoyable even with three energetic kids in tow. We enjoyed the manta ray dive so much that my daughter and I jumped at the chance to book their last two available seats on the sea safari tour the next morning - and we were rewarded with an incredible whale shark encounter! The only disappointment was that there weren’t more seats available so we could have brought my sons along too. That speaks volumes about how special these experiences are. If you’re looking for a tour operator that combines professionalism with genuine warmth, especially if you’re traveling with children, Eco Ocean Tours is the perfect choice. We left with amazing memories and a deeper appreciation for the ocean. Thank you to Monet and Brenden!

Thanks Monet and Brandon for being friendly and cooperative making our dive enjoyable. Brandon was amazing with piloting the zodiac making the ride to the dive site pleasant. Monet was amazing with the support and photography and explaining about mantas. There were only 12 people on the zodiac. We saw around 3 mantas in our 30 minutes in the water. We are not good swimmers but are comfortable with snorkeling in water using the life vest. However, they don’t provide life vest but rather waist floatation noodle which is more than enough for a comfortable and safe dive. PS: There were other tour operators at the same site who had noodles that looked not as good as the ones we had and also there were 30+ people on board. Highly recommend going with this couple’s tour company.

Great captain and guide. Small group, clean boat, very knowledgeable, worked hard to get the most sightings we could

Did the night manta ray tour and it was an absolute highlight of my trip! Monet and Brendan were great guides who made you feel very welcome. They were down to earth, knowledgeable and had a very respectful approach to their tour. They sent the videos before I even got back to my accomodation and the quality of those videos were unreal. My only regret was not booking the offshore safari tour, but I’ll just have to save it for next time. Mahalo for having me, until next time!

Did the night manta ray tour and it was an absolute highlight of my trip! Monet and Brendan were great guides who made you feel very welcome. They were down to earth, knowledgeable and had a very respectful approach to their tour. They sent the videos before I even got back to my accomodation and the quality of those videos were unreal. My only regret was not booking the offshore safari tour, but I’ll just have to save it for next time. Mahalo for having me, until next time!

The Night Manta Ray Snorkel was an incredible introduction to this company. The harbor is easy to find and only about 10 minutes away from our hotel in Kailua-Kona. Easy and free parking is always a plus too. Monet and Brenden are professional, knowledgeable, and all-around great people to spend time with. As soon as we got in the water, we had a quick safety briefing and watched a beautiful sunset. Even caught the green flash. It quickly got dark as we made our way to the dive spot where Monet educated us about the manta rays and how to enjoy them without disturbing them. Before we even got in the water, 2 huge manta rays were already swimming under the lights. They made sure everybody was comfortable in the water and even provided wetsuits to keep us warm and floaties to rest our feet on. Once we were in the water, we saw so many mantas!!! Monet even knew their names and had some fun facts about them and their different personalities and stories. They swam so close to us and we spent about 30 mins enjoying them before heading back to the harbor. We had such an amazing experience with the crew on this excursion, we decided we would book for the Offshore Ocean Safari for the following morning. We cannot recommend Ocean Eco Tours enough. They are professional, responsible, knowledgeable, and so kind. We were sure to leave a nice tip as well, as you will never have a crew like this anywhere else. Thank you Monet and Brenden!!

Was great!! Small group of fellow travellers. Nice guides. Saw a few mantas. Snorkeling was relatively easy (did it once before).

10/10 cant recommend them enough! Especially if youre a beginner snorkler or swimmer. Ive always wanted to do this, but was worried i wouldnt be able to due to lack of swimming experience.. I was able to contact Monet before the trip and talk to her about my experience level. She made me feel so comfortable the entire trip. Its a small group so its very personalized. They took us on the raft and we moved around until we found the rays. We saw 3 different mantas and they swam right up to us multiple times. Monet also sent us all of the videos she took from her camera, which I appreciated so much. It was an unforgettable experience!!

We had an absolutely amazing experience with Ocean Eco Tours on our Manta Ray night snorkeling trip! As complete beginners to snorkeling (and with no swimming experience), we were a bit nervous, but the crew went above and beyond to make us feel safe and comfortable. We were a group of five, including a child, and the team was so thoughtful — they even offered to let us switch in and out so one of us could stay on the boat to watch the kid while the others enjoyed the water. The instructions were clear, the equipment was great, and the crew was friendly, patient, and genuinely cared about our comfort and enjoyment. Seeing the manta rays up close was magical, and the whole experience felt well-organized and professional from start to finish. Highly recommend Ocean Eco Tours to anyone — even if you’ve never snorkeled before!

We had an unfortunate incident that caused us to miss our initial reservation. Monet worked with us to reschedule and even offered a refund. Thankfully we were able to reschedule. The boat ride was a bit rocky, but that seems typical for Hawaii. We really had no idea what was to come when we got into the water. Viewing the manta rays exceeded our expectations! Several times they were so close they actually brushed against us. It's amazing how the mantas seem to almost fly, then flip upside down as they come up to feed right below us. Monet captures these awesome moments on video so we can see just how special it was over and over. The personalized attention from this small company was exactly why we chose them and we highly recommend them.

Amazing manta snorkel with Ocean Eco Tours. Watched a beautiful sunset from the boat and then got to swim with so many giant manta rays! We will be back! Mahalo Monet and Brenden for working hard to show us a great time!

Such a great tour! The small of people on the boat made it so easy for us to all be really close to the manta’s. Saw spinner dolphins in the sunset. The captain just slowly cruised as they played around our boat on our way out to the manta spot. Great tour guides — overall best experience we’ve had on this trip!!

We are a family of four, including two 12 year olds with limited snorkeling experience. This experience is differentiated from other similar ones in that you’re part of a small group on a smaller boat with a lovely couple guiding the way. Brandon is your captain and Monet your interpretive guide on the boat and in the water. She was great with our kids and discussed shared interests. They accommodated our late arrival which was not something a larger tour would have even considered. We had a choppy ride to and from the site, but this was not under their control. The experience itself was incredible. At first we didn’t see many manta rays, but Patience Grasshopper! By the end of the 35-45 minutes in the water I had stopped counting at 24. The “grand finale” was a group of five who rolled repeatedly under the longboard we were holding onto; one of them did eight barrel rolls in a row- truly a mesmerizing species. In case it’s not clear- you are not “swimming with manta rays” in terms of being free in the water and touching them etc. This is because doing so would harm the colony. But they are literally inches (sometimes millimeters!) from you at times. You will not be disappointed! Also, you should know that Brandon and Monet just took over this business < 1 year ago, so the negative reviews from 5-10-15 years ago have no bearing on your experience! Recommend.

It was an Awesome experience! The last 15 to 20 minutes we were surrounded by Manta Rays doing Belly rolls!! It was amazing, they would look you right in the face and swim right towards you and then do a belly roll right in front of you!! Worth every minute! I would highly recommend this experience! The Captain and his partner were awesome! Full of knowledge and kindness! Thank you for a fantastic experience

The Manta Ray Tour with Ocean Eco Tours, was a great experience. The large wild creatures come right up to you, sometimes rolling, often touching you. At one time we had four or five of them, appearing to put on a show. So glad we did it. Monet and Brennen were very nice and professional. I recommend these folks for Manta Ray tours. They also do other tours, Whale watching shark diving Etc. Rick

This dive was truly the highlight of the trip! We were welcomed with big smiles and hellos that helped ease any nerves that were had. The mantas were SO close. It was insane. I can’t wait to go out with ocean eco tours again! 47/10 recommend!

The manta ray snorkel was by far one of the coolest things I’ve done and was thrilled they took footage for us to have! Ocean eco tours were very friendly and accommodating. I can’t wait to take my family and book with them again.

This was truly unforgettable. The manta rays were mesmerizing, and getting so close to them was surreal. Monet and Brenden were fantastic guides—super knowledgeable and made everything feel safe and fun. A must-do on the Big Island!

We booked a private Manta Ray dive for a bachelorette party, and it was one of the best parts of our trip. The sunset boat ride out was absolutely beautiful, and the vibes were high. Our group had a mix of experience levels, but the crew made everything super easy and stress-free. They provided all the gear and made sure everyone felt comfortable and ready to go. Once we got in the water, the Manta Rays came right up next to us — it was surreal! Such a magical, once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience. You can tell they really love what they do — and honestly, who wouldn’t? It was so much fun! 10 out of 10, recommend!

Had a great small group trip with Ocean Eco tours. Sunset was beautiful on our way to see the amazing mantas. The Monet and Brenden were great guides, this is a must book trip for anyone visiting the island of Hawaii!

Brenden and Monet were wonderful!! We saw so many mantas & had great visibility. Truly such an incredible experience!!

Brenden and Monet made my experience with the manta rays one to remember! They made me feel so secure and safe in the water. Can’t say enough good things!

Amazing trip swimming with those huge mana rays.B and Monet couldn't be more knowledgeable and caring..love them . Be back in October for that snorkel trip with you 2.. JOHN M and family

Thank you for an amazing tour , we saw so many mantas and a monk seal,watched a beautiful sunset on the way to the bay had the best time Thank you guys so much

The manta tour was an amazing experience! The whole time felt like you were in outer space or on another planet. We swam out from the boat and immediately manta rays were swimming right up to us. They were probably no more than an inch or two from our group the entire time. Monet & Brenden made us feel very comfortable, especially since it was my first time. Thank you again for this opportunity! Will definitely do it again next time I’m in town!

Really fascinating and exhilarating. I think you can simply sum it up as that. If you on't do what you want to know what you missed. Like life, don't let this pass you by.

Bucket list experience it’s a must do! Smaller group makes it a much more enjoyable experience as well rather than being on one of those big boats with 50 people in the water. And free videos of the trip too!

We had the best time with these guys , very professional and extremely knowledgeable We saw so many mantas and they were dancing below the whole group , can’t wait to go again 🩵

Such an unbelievable and unforgettable experience. The mantas came within 15 feet of us! Highly recommend getting photos with Monet as well. These photos are definitely going to be printed out and put up on the wall!

Once in a lifetime experience! Brenden and Monet were the absolute best! This is definitely a more personalized tour. Monet captured insanely good GoPro video of our experience. That’s something you won’t get with anyone else. You will not regret booking with this company!

The best trip EVER!!! Brenden and Monet are so fun, knowledgable, and truly make your experience one of a kind! We even saw whales and dolphins on the way! The mantas were INSANE!! So many and truly the best experience!