Manta Ray Night Snorkel Experience Of A Lifetime

Simple no frills experience with 3 excellent crew. They were attentive to everyone’s abilities and needs and safety. We saw many little mackerel and there was tons of plankton but, no fault of theirs, we did not see a manta. The crew was sincerely disappointed for us and offered a re-do if we were interested.

The guys were great, Trevor, Eli and Elio are really knowledgeable and helpful. We don’t see any mantas unfortunately but we did a see a Galapagos shark. There was a small kiddo brave enough to try this with parents and one of the guys was so patient and helpful. Learned about mantas and enjoyed the full moon.

Not a single manta ray did we see. We were the only group there aside from scuba divers. I should have checked ahead of time to see where they were going before we booked.

They cancelled on us twice so we didn’t get to do it I’m very disappointed because we will never be back at Kona again.

It is a very beautiful experience but unfortunately we didn’t get to see any mantas up close. As is the chance in nature nothing is guaranteed. The up close interactions were described as unbelievable

Great experience! Something you really have to do while in Kona, Hawaii!

Terrible experience with this company’s service, don’t trust them! The tour was scheduled to start at 20:30, I called the them at 19:53, they told me to wait. I called them again at 20:34, and was told the trip was cancelled and there is no other compensation. I am very very mad. We wasted a 3 hours to get here, it could have been avoided if the company have the sense of responsibility. My questions: 1. Guests can only cancel the tour at least 24 hours in advance, otherwise fees will be charged. Why is your company can cancel our tour at any time with no compensation? 2. The cancellation was entirely due to the company's own reasons, not weather or any other force majeure. Yet the company refused to take any responsibility for the losses it caused, failed to notify us properly, and did not help us arrange alternative tours for that day. In our last phone call at 20:37, they promised to find another company for the tour that day, but in the end they did nothing, why? 3. Why didn't you contact us through proper channels? You had our phone number and email address, and you had sent us confirmation texts and emails. But when it came to cancellation, you only sent a message through a third-party platform—no text, no email, no phone call. We had no idea the tour had been cancelled.

That’s definitely the experience that is worth the visit. The experience is the same like the other companies, just better price. The crew was awesome, Trevor and the other two guys had a great sense of humor and were pretty helpful of giving us more info about the island and everything we should know.

We booked this for my birthday and it was one I won’t forget ! Bailey and the captain were very friendly and welcoming . We did see a manta and sharks which was a plus. The crew was very knowledgeable and very safety first . I would definitely recommend them to anyone.

I wouldn’t go if you can’t swim but I would NOT miss this if you do anything while you are here. It was amazing!

The crew was very friendly and got us there safely. My son and I enjoyed the outing because we did see a Galapagos shark at the end. The crew was knowledgeable and efficient. Other manta ray tours in Kailua Kona offer another session if no manta rays are seen. Mother Nature is unpredictable so I recommend choosing an outfit that has a “try again” guarantee.

This was so much fun! My husband and I had no idea what to expect but frankly it was more than what we could’ve imagined! We would definitely do this again

The captain and crew were all helpful and knowledgeable about the Manta Rays. The boat trip was rough because of the speed and distance we had to travel but once we got in the water, it was a wonderful amazing experience. We had 8 Manta Rays swimming all around us. It was amazing.

The captain and guides were helpful but the boat ride out and back was very uncomfortable. We were a party of 6 and one of us was just going for the ride and to be with family. Everyone should know that they will get ABSOLUTELY soaked and blasted in the face with seawater on the ride out and back whether they swim or not. For people who don't mind the seawater blast or the uncomfortable boat, it would be an ok trip. The light on their light board is not very bright, some of the boats around us had much better light boards. We did see a few manta rays but I definitely would never do this trip again.

This is a once in a lifetime experience. The crew was great and did a nice job with setup! The manta rays came within inches literally while they fed! It was a little startling how close and majestic all in the same breathe. Such amazing beauty. This really is a must do.

​Seeing the manta rays up close was the highlight of our trip! Snorkeling Big Island is a wonderful family-owned company that keeps group sizes small, which made us feel so well cared for. ​Captain Dylan, Elion, and Billy were outstanding guides. Billy was incredible with my daughter—she was terrified at first, but his encouragement made her feel safe enough to enjoy it. The rays came so close, almost touching us! An unforgettable experience and a absolute must-do for anyone visiting!

Once in a lifetime experience. The crew and Captain were so kind and informative on the whole excursion. 25 out of 30 minutes we saw nothing but manta rays swimming around us.

Very cool experience, highly recommend. Manta rays get up close and barrel roll eating the plankton. Also got to see a small reef shark. Boat ride can be chilly, be sure to take towels. The snorkel equipment needs some attention. Mine and my daughter’s air tube was cracked and kept filling up with water. Made it a little hard to stay under the water and fully enjoy the show.

Amazing experience, even for a nervous swimmer at night in the ocean! We had 6 rays directly under our boards the entire time, the whole thing ended up being exciting, relaxing and magical - once in a lifetime for us. Bailey made us feel really safe in the water and was really knowledgeable about the rays and the area.

Messaged, called, texted the company and never got a response. We waited in the dark parking lot and no one ever showed up or called us to cancel. Drove 4hrs round trip to do this experience only to be ghosted!

This was just all around awesome! First you get in a boat at night and drive around 30mins to a location, where you get in the water and float on the surface whith a snorkel with mantas coming up to the lightboard REALLY close! It gets like a few centimetrs from your face! The crew was helpful and very nice and calming. We even saw some doplhins around 20 meters away and two sharks in the deep water( they were not dangerous). 100% must do, this and vulcano eruption were the highlights of our trip to Big Island and possibly all travels in my life so far!

We had a full boat but never the Captain and crew were super. Interacted with guests and provided clear instructions for everyone. Once in the water, we had to wait just a little bit for the mantas to come. When they came to us, it was just an awe inspiring moment. The mantas are beautiful, graceful and huge! So grateful to have experienced this.

We did not expect a 30 min ride to some remote site and we never received a promised re-booking due to no sight of mantas. What was most disappointing is that there was not even a call back or text or an attempt to rebook us OR at least give a voucher for the future. While we understand that mantas are wild, it’s not okay to charge a family of four $350 and not even call back. There was no bathroom on the boat and no water offered.

The manta rays were huge, and came right up to us! Amazing. Our tour guides were cool, helping us see the mantas and pointing out bioluminescent plankton and a reef shark.

We booked this excursion last minute, because everyone at our hotel was raving at how it was an indescribable experience. It was amazing… definitely a once in a lifetime experience! The captain, Rome, & his partner, Trevor, were fantastic! We saw 7 rays!!!

The captain and guide had 8+yrs experience. The boat is in excellent condition. The wetsuits were jackets only. The snorkeling gear worked fine and the guide made sure they fit and troubleshoots. My 9 yr old got nervous and cold so the guide helped her get out a little early. The guide pulls everyone to good spots as needed, works really hard! We felt blessed with 2 mantas. The experience was extraordinary, enlightening, inspiring, humbling, sacred. We need to preserve the oceans life and this tour was clean and environmentally considerate. We are so thankful!

Trevor and Rome were funny and sweet and love what they do and passed that along to us

Amazing experience! The Manta Rays swim right up and near you. It was definitely worth it and would do again. It would have been nice if it was longer than 30 minutes to watch them swim

This was the highlight of our trip! To experience these magnificent Manta Rays up close and personal and seeing them gracefully swim among us was so beautiful and exciting. Captain Dillon's knowledge of these giant creatures added to the experience and found the perfect location. Highly recommend this as a must do experience.

This was a good experience it delivered as expected. The guides did a good job and the rays cooperated

We had a great time, awesome experience for sure!

It is one of the best experiences of my life. Im 65, my son is 41, my granddaughter is 9. It is perfect for all ages

Amazing and memorable experience! Staff was on time, knowledgeable and accommodating to our needs. They were great at story telling and giving guidance. We saw many manta rays and was an experience of a lifetime! Would highly recommend.

Amazing — with friendly and helpful crew. My 8 year old daughter was afraid getting in, they helped her back to the boat, and back to the water again when she felt confident to get in. They were great with the kids. You’ll get to learn a bit about the mantas and the time provided in the water is plenty to have a good experience. Would recommend and was worth every penny.

Johnny Bailey and Dylan were the best! They made sure we had the best time even taking our 8 year old son! We saw at least 10 mantas! Beyond amazing and would recommend this company!

This experience was way better than my sisters and I expected. Our guides were great. Rome and Trevor were knowledgeable, fun, and friendly. We enjoyed this encounter with the Mantra Ray’s. They were majestic and it was amazing watching them do their barrel rolls eating the plankton. The admission fee was less than others and was totally worth it. The length was perfect for us. We loved this experience and would recommend anyone that visits to do it.

It was an amazing experience to see Manta Ray in the night snorkeling. Realized it’s a beautiful world.

Smaller boat, but it did its job. Got us to a great location with a small group of other people. Saw anywhere from 3-7 rays at any given time, plus a dolphin and shark (bonus points!). Even though this was a smaller charter, it was well worth it!

This was truly an incredible experience. The crew was fantastic and worked very hard to ensure we got to see as many manta rays as possible. Our guide in the water had swam around pulling all of us while we floated to get the best views of the Manta rays! They also provided us with information on them while we were in the water. 10/10 experience, I definitely recommend this company. They also provide wetsuits if you would like them.

Amazing and unique experience - like snorkeling with friendly Jurassic Park creatures. Trevor and Rome were great guides!

This truly was an experience of a lifetime, I went with my wife and our three friends. Our captain and his shipmates were very chill and shared some insightful information about the manta rays and island.

This was a once in a lifetime experience! The hosts were efficient, knowledgeable, and helpful. We had about 30 minutes with the manta rays.

Dylan and Bailey were great guides. We felt safe the entire journey. Bailey was in the water with us and gave us great information about the manta rays and explained everything while we watched. It was one of the best experiences we have ever had- magical. The mantas were huge, graceful and incredible!

A once in a lifetime experience. Only two in our group went but now the rest wish we had gone too. We have done several trips and this has been one of the favorites.

Awesome experience. We were able to catch the lovely sunset when leaving and view many stars on the way back. We saw few manta rays and 2 sharks up close and my kid loved it.

Such a fun time! We went out with Bailey who made sure we got the best manta ray views. Overall a great time and I would recommend this to others who are thinking about booking.

Unfortunately, this manta ray night snorkel did not live up to expectations. The excursion started late, which set a frustrating tone from the beginning. The captain’s delivery of the safety instructions felt rushed and short with the group rather than welcoming or reassuring, which wasn’t the best start to what’s supposed to be a magical experience. Because of the late start, the boat ride out was longer and more unpleasant than it should have been — about 30 minutes to reach the site. By the time we arrived, every other tour boat was already there, so the area was already crowded. Oddly, instead of anchoring, the captain kept the engine running the entire time we were in the water, which felt unnecessary and added to the chaotic feel of the outing. After a long time in the water waiting, we didn’t see a single manta ray. For an excursion that’s centered entirely around that experience, this was a huge letdown. Overall, a poorly run and disappointing outing. I wouldn’t recommend this particular operator for the Kona manta ray experience.

We had an amazing time, we saw the manta’s, Galapagos sharks. Our whole family was so excited about the trip.

This truly is a once in a life time opportunity. The manta rays swim right up to you and do flips over and over again. However, I wouldn’t book with Big Island Snorkel. It was one of the smallest boats I had ever seen and because the water was so choppy, many on the boat got sick. The “crew” was made up of one man and a teenager, neither of whom seemed to care that people were throwing up on the sides. All to say, book the experience but with a different company! I was also hoping to get an informational about the manta rays before getting in the water but we never got that.