#Manta ray night snorkel kona how to

The boats form a circle, place floating rafts with downward-facing floodlights into the water, then allow snorkelers to enter. This adventure is particularly unique, as several boat operators coordinate their arrival and positioning to ensure the safety of guests and manta rays. The high volume of evening boat traffic and poorly lit rocky shoreline make swimming from shore dangerous and thereby prohibited.Д¬heck the Hawaii Ecotourism AssociationвЂ™s list of sustainable snorkeling tour operators on the Big Island for the best way to experience Manta Village yourself. Many tour operators offer nightly snorkel tours departing around sunset to reach Keauhou Bay (from $130pp.).

Keauhou Bay is located about 7 miles south of Kailua-Kona.

#Manta ray night snorkel kona how to

How to get to Keauhou Bay for snorkeling? Manta Village is considered one of the best locations on the planet to view manta rays perform their nightly feeding rituals and at close-hand!ДЄ manta ray at the surface of the sea in Keauhou Bay. Today, the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay maintains the legacy of shining the floodlights into the water, and many tour operators bring snorkelers here to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Keauhou Bay, and particularly Manta Village (the name given to the area in front of the hotel), became a popular place for people to come to view manta rays right on the shoreline easily. Unbeknownst to them, the floodlights served as a beacon for plankton to gather on the oceanвЂ™s surface, thereby attracting the filter-feeding manta rays to feed on the huge schools of plankton. The hotel started to illuminate the waters with bright floodlights for guests to view manta rays swimming in the evening. These gentle giants began congregating upon Keauhou Bay since the 1970s, when the Kona Surf Hotel first opened.

As you walk toward the end of the street toward the water, pass the boat ramp (on your left), follow the rock wall (on your right), and you will come to a small 10-car parking lot and a pier (on your left).The Kona Coast has long been a hotspot for manta rays to feed in the warm waters off the shore.

Waterproof camera (video is generally better than photos in low light)Д¬heck in is at the Keauhou Bay finger pier at the very end of Kaleiopapa St.Motion sickness medication (take before your trip if you tend to get motion sick or seasick).Rash guard (if you get cold, as an extra layer under the wetsuit).All necessary safety equipment is easily accessible on the canoe and discussed in the safety briefing.Snorkel and masks (normal and Rx) provided.Wetsuit tops and flotation devices provided.The first manta ray trip departs between 7:00pm and 7:30pm (dependent on bookings).Check-in 15 minutes before departure at the Keauhou finger pier/dock.Minimum of two guests to confirm a booking.The powerful lights attract photosynthetic plankton towards the group, and the manta rays come in search of the plankton! We will reposition the group as needed for optimal manta ray viewing! Additional Information Guests simply hang on to the handles and effortlessly float, face down, with the help of floatation devices. While guests watch for manta rays, we keep the Light Board in position. Guests will then be guided into the water by our crew members and positioned along the perimeter of our Light Board. We then provide a safety brief, instructions on how to use snorkel gear, and fit the group with wet suit tops to keep you warm in the water. Guests will join us on a short Hawaiian canoe ride out to the manta ray snorkel site located near the mouth of Keauhou Bay. YouвЂ™re unlikely to find another activity that provides an incredible adrenaline rush while being very safe and low risk! Manta ray snorkeling will give you an unforgettable sensation. Our manta ray night snorkel experience is an activity that can only be had in a few locations on earth one of them is here on the Big Island of Hawaii. Regarded by the Travel Channel as one of the most thrilling experiences on earth, join us as we watch magnificent manta rays glide through the ocean in search of dinner! They can weigh more than 1,000 lbs and span more than 15 feet! DonвЂ™t worry, manta rays only filter feed on plankton.