If you’re not inclined to see the manta rays from the water but still want to get a good view, some tours offer bottomless boat tours that provide an illuminated view of the ocean floor, where manta rays feed on the plankton attracted by the bright lights of the boats and harbor.Īnother option is to catch a glimpse of the manta rays from one of the viewing platforms at the Outrigger Kona Resort or the Mauna Kea Resort. If you’re not a certified diver and wish to become one before or during your trip, check out our guide to becoming scuba certified. Whereas tours and snorkeling have you looking down from above on the animals as they feed, diving provides the unique perspective of seeing the rays from below. While this option is restricted to certified scuba divers, there are plenty of options for those who meet that requirement. If the tour boat is crowded, the experience can be overwhelming for people who are claustrophobic or uncomfortable in snorkel gear. You will be looking down into the water, wearing snorkel gear and holding on to a floating platform with handles.īecause plankton are attracted to these bright lights, you’ll be awarded a unique perspective to see the manta rays feeding up close without venturing too far from the boat. You’ll be looking at the rays while as they feed, illuminated by nearby spotlights and viewing lights projected by the tour boat. Most manta ray snorkeling trips include a guided tour to the location, gear, and floatation devices. Whether you want to splurge and experience the animals up close or relax and watch them feed from a nearby viewing platform, options are available that suit both your time and bank account. Thankfully, visitors have plenty of options based on price, availability, and timing to see the manta rays. Visitors to the resort can watch the rays feed from the resort’s viewing platform, but for an up-close experience, getting in the water with these amazing animals is the best option. Directly below the Outrigger Kona Resort at Keauhou, these manta rays are often attracted to the plankton that moves near the surface as the resorts spotlights turn on and the sun begins to set. Several locations on the Kona side of the Big Island allow for manta ray viewing and activities, but so-called ray bay is the hotspot. Manta Ray Dives and Snorkeling – an Unforgettable Experienceįew other places in the world make viewing manta rays up close so easy and accessible, but only Hawaii allows you to experience the rays at night, while they feed.
Because they live to be nearly 50 years old and return regularly to the same locations, many of the manta rays in Hawaii have been given their own names.
Surviving on a diet of mostly plankton, Kona manta rays feed with their mouths wide open and reside in the coastal waters around the islands for the entirety of their lives. The rays are incredibly graceful and gentle and watching them swim is more like watching a bird in flight than a marine animal swimming.
While their wingspans can reach up to 18 feet, most manta rays around Kona average between 10-12 feet in wingspan. The manta rays native to the waters of Hawaii are of the Manta alfredi species, the second largest in the world. Swimming, diving, and snorkeling with the manta rays off the Big Island coast is a remarkable activity you can enjoy with your family or friends, making memories that will last a lifetime.
One of the most memorable and fascinating activities to seek out on your Big Island adventure doesn’t take you far from the comforts of Kailua-Kona, but you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to another place and time.
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