Kona, Big Island of Hawaii · 23 boats compared
After sunset you float above the reef with a light, and manta rays come up from the dark to feed. We compared all 23 boats that go there, so you can pick the trip that fits you.
This is the trip with the most reviews of all manta boats in Kona.
The short answer · updated November 14, 2026
The most booked trip to the manta rays off Kona is “Big Island Manta Ray Night Snorkel” with 6,385 reviews, a rating of 4.8 and a price from $94. The best rated trip is “Big Island: Manta Ray Night Snorkeling Adventure in Kailua-Kona” with 4.9 out of 5. The cheapest well-rated trip is “Glow of the Deep: Night Snorkeling with Manta Rays” from $80. Prices start at $80 per adult, and half of all 23 trips cost between $94 and $145. Most trips last between 1.5 h and 2.2 h. The best months to go are October to April.
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Our picks for 2027
We chose these trips from the numbers alone: reviews, rating, price and length. No operator paid to be on this list.
Most booked
from $94 per person · ★ 4.8 from 6,385 reviews · 2.5 h
6,385 guests have reviewed this trip, more than any other trip on this page. They rate it 4.8 out of 5.
See dates and pricesBest rated
from $85 per person · ★ 4.9 from 890 reviews · 2.5 h
Guests give it 4.9 out of 5 in 890 reviews. No other trip with at least 300 reviews is rated higher.
See dates and pricesBest value
from $80 per person · ★ 4.6 from 1,322 reviews · 2.5 h
At $80 per adult, this is the cheapest trip with at least 100 reviews and a rating of 4.5 or more.
See dates and pricesShort trip
from $95 per person · ★ 4.9 from 2,750 reviews · 1.3 h
It lasts 1.3 h and is the most booked of the trips that take three hours or less.
See dates and pricesSmall group
from $145 per person · ★ 4.8 from 1,188 reviews · 1 h
The operator sells it as a small-group trip, so there are fewer people in the water. It has the most reviews of the small-group trips.
See dates and pricesBest months
Manta rays live off Kona all year. Researchers see them most often from fall to spring. The numbers show the average temperature of the sea in each month.
The boats leave in the golden hour, so you see the sunset from the water before you snorkel.
How the night works
On Maui, a morning trip to snorkel inside Molokini Crater is a good second ocean day.
All boats
The table is sorted by the number of reviews. More reviews mean that more guests have been on this boat. Prices are per adult unless the trip is private.
| Trip | Length | Rating | From, per adult | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Island Manta Ray Night SnorkelKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 2.5 h | 4.86,385 reviews | $94 | See dates and prices |
| KONA Manta Ray Night Snorkel - FREE re-ride if no SightingsKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 1.3 h | 4.92,750 reviews | $95 | See dates and prices |
| Kona Manta Ray Snorkel Tour Guaranteed or come again freeKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 1.5 h | 4.72,592 reviews | $89 | See dates and prices |
| Manta Ray Night Snorkel at Kona Big Island Manta Rays GuaranteedKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 2 h | 4.72,083 reviews | $99 | See dates and prices |
| Glow of the Deep: Night Snorkeling with Manta RaysKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 2.5 h | 4.61,322 reviews | $80 | See dates and prices |
| Manta Magic: Small-Group Manta Ray Night Snorkel in Kailua KonaKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 1 h | 4.81,188 reviews | $145 | See dates and prices |
| Big Island: Manta Ray Night Snorkeling Adventure in Kailua-KonaKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 2.5 h | 4.9890 reviews | $85 | See dates and prices |
| Sunset and Manta Ray Snorkel AdventureKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 2.2 h | 4.9872 reviews | $155 | See dates and prices |
| Night Manta Ray ExperienceKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 1.5 h | 4.9829 reviews | $146 | See dates and prices |
| Manta Ray Night Snorkel in KonaKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 3.5 h | 4.8819 reviews | $125 | See dates and prices |
| Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkel — 85–95% Sighting RateKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 1.5 h | 4.8761 reviews | $141 | See dates and prices |
| Manta Ray Snorkeling by Night in Kailua-Kona, HawaiiKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 1 h | 4.8702 reviews | $127 | See dates and prices |
| Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkel— Small Group - Wetsuit IncludedKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 2 h | 4.8680 reviews | $99 | See dates and prices |
| Manta Ray Night Snorkel Experience of a LifetimeKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 2 h | 4.7597 reviews | $86 | See dates and prices |
| Big Island Manta Ray Night Snorkel AdventureKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 1.4 h | 4.8498 reviews | $85 | See dates and prices |
| Manta Ray Night Snorkel Tour in Kailua-Kona, Big IslandKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 2 h | 4.8487 reviews | $125 | See dates and prices |
| Kona’s Best Manta Ray Night Snorkel Small Group ExperienceKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 1.5 h | 4.8401 reviews | $125 | See dates and prices |
| Manta Ray Night Snorkel Tour from KonaKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 1.5 h | 4.7263 reviews | $160 | See dates and prices |
| Late Night Manta SnorkelKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 2.2 h | 4.9218 reviews | $125 | See dates and prices |
| Kona Night Manta Ray Snorkel | Small Group ExperienceKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 2 h | 5.045 reviews | $150 | See dates and prices |
| Manta Ray Night Snorkel Adventure in Kailua-KonaKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 2 h | 3.99 reviews | $137 | See dates and prices |
| Manta Ray Night Snorkel Adventure in KonaKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 2.5 h | 5.04 reviews | $150 | See dates and prices |
| Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkel from Keauhou: Max 6 GuestsKona, Big Island of Hawaii | 2 h | New tripno reviews yet | $135 | See dates and prices |
The animal
The mantas off Kona are reef mantas. They can be 3 to 4.5 meters wide, and they eat nothing but plankton. They have no sting, so you can swim near them without fear.
Snorkel or dive
You float at the surface and look down. You do not need any experience, only the ability to swim. This is the trip that most guests choose.
Divers kneel on the sand about 10 meters (35 feet) below and look up at the mantas. For this trip you need a diving license.
Questions
It depends on what you need. “Big Island Manta Ray Night Snorkel” is booked most often (6,385 reviews, 4.8 out of 5). “Big Island: Manta Ray Night Snorkeling Adventure in Kailua-Kona” has the best rating. “Glow of the Deep: Night Snorkeling with Manta Rays” is the cheapest well-rated trip at $80.
Prices for the 23 trips we compared start at $80 per adult. Half of all trips cost between $94 and $145. Private boats cost more, because you pay for the whole boat.
Most guests say yes. Reef manta rays live off Kona all year, and on most nights they come to the lights to feed. Where else can you float above wild animals that are 3 to 4.5 meters (10 to 15 feet) wide? The trips with the most reviews have ratings of 4.6 to 4.9 out of 5.
Mantas have no sting and no teeth that could hurt you. You hold on to a floating light board, so you do not need to swim much, and the crew stays with the group. Guests are asked not to touch the mantas, because touching damages their protective skin.
Yes, on many boats. The minimum age depends on the operator and is often between 4 and 6 years. You find it on each tour page before you book.
Manta rays live off the Kona coast all year, and most nights they come to the lights. Because they are wild animals, nobody can promise it. Some boats offer you a free second trip if you see none. The tour page tells you if yours does.
You can go in every month. Researchers see the mantas most often between fall and spring. The water is warmest from August to October, at about 27 °C (81 °F).
The sea off Kona stays between about 24 °C and 27 °C (76 °F to 81 °F) all year. At night it can still feel cool after an hour, so many guests wear a thin wetsuit. Many boats lend you one, and the tour page tells you if yours does.
Snorkelers float at the surface and look down on the mantas. Divers kneel on the sand about 10 meters (35 feet) below and look up. To dive you need a diving license.
More reefs
