![]() See the manta ray in this picture? Can you snorkel with manta rays without a tour? The best view by far is from in the water. The refraction of the light from the rough ocean surface can make it difficult to discern what you may be seeing. Depending on conditions you might see a ray or some backlit shadows on the surface from the light below. Can you see manta rays from Manta Restaurant? This means you will be most likely to see them up-close and personal during feeding time at night. After sunset the mantas are drawn to lights underwater. What time is best to snorkel with manta rays?Īt night after the sun has gone down. This means if you choose a smaller boat like Kona Snorkel Trips you’ll be more likely to see the mantas because they can pick the site that has been getting the most manta rays recently and move into the perfect position to view them. There are more snorkel tour boats and they are more flexible in how they can move around the site. You’ll also likely see more manta rays here in a greater concentration.įor snorkeling it depends where the mantas are. Which Manta Dive Site is Best?įor scuba diving the Manta Ray Heaven / Garden Eel cove site is the best due to the protection, depth, layout and bottom topography. Most operators like Kona Honu Divers and Kona Snorkel Trips leave from Honokohau Marina which is located between the Kona Airport and Kona Town. While the rays don’t always show up every night they are very consistent. Hundreds of people get in the water each night to view these large fish up-close and personal. The most consistent and popular spot is in Kona, Hawaii home of the world famous manta ray night dive & snorkel. This means there can be up to 40-50 boats in one spot running their motors while snorkelers are swimming around! It can get a bit chaotic.įrequently Asked Questions Where is the best place to see manta rays? The site itself only has a few moorings and if the mantas don’t show up in Manta Heaven for a night or two all of the companies head to this site. Since then is has exploded in popularity causing congestion and angst with the local fishermen onshore due to the limited parking and small launch ramp. Manta Village was the first manta viewing site established in the 70’s when bright floodlights from the hotel attracted plankton and the mantas took notice flocking to the area. The other Kona manta viewing site is located in Keahou off of Kaukalaelae Point just offshore from the Keahou Outrigger Hotel. It’s named to campfire because of the multitude of lights dive companies put together in the Manta Village in Keahou The ‘campfire’ is a spot in the sand with boulders that is perfect for divers to sit at 35′ and watch the mantas. ![]() The western most point on the island (Keahole point) is just to the south. It is located just offshore from the Keahole (Kona) Airport runway. ![]() Sometimes we’re the only boat out there and we get a spectacular show all to ourselves! Since then a few other operators has committed to only visiting this site seeing the benefit to the safety and environment that it offers. Kona Honu Divers has been committed only going to this site since 2018. This means if you’re not in place and paying attention when a manta comes around you might miss it! ![]() This means everyone gets a good show versus Manta Village where the rays are fewer and can be more fragmented. It is also the best topographically with a ‘campfire’ that companies have set up so divers can gather around and view the mantas together. It also has plenty of moorings so most boats can tie up near the campfire. Manta Ray Heaven / Garden Eel cove is easily the best manta ray dive site because Keahole point to the south blocks the southern swell that is typical in the summer. ![]()
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