Big Island Manta Ray Night Dives

Catch a glimpse of the underwater “butterfly of the sea,” the manta ray. Enter the Big Island’s underwater world and participate in one of the most unique Hawaii ocean adventures. Your Hawaii tour guide will take you to the warm waters of the volcanic Kona coastline where manta rays search for plankton. The manta ray has a mouth that is designed to function like a large funnel that filters plankton for their food intake so they do not chew or bite. Manta rays are harmless, timid, and do not have stinging spines on their tail making the adventure of swimming with them safe for snorkelers. Manta rays are attracted to lights. Near the Kona airport on the Big Island, lights have been placed in about thirty feet of ocean water. At night, the lights are turned on to attract the tiny plankton, and the plankton attracts the manta rays. The manta rays are so interesting to observe as they gracefully swim, whirl, and tumble to grasp the microscopic food particles. You will think you are attending a manta ray ballet. It is quite amazing at how close the manta rays will swim by a snorkeler. Choose your manta ray snorkeling adventure below.