A night snorkel from Keauhou Harbor near Kailua-Kona — up to 40 minutes floating on an illuminated light board while manta rays with 16-foot wingspans barrel-roll through the glowing plankton beneath you.
A night snorkel from Keauhou Harbor near Kailua-Kona — up to 40 minutes floating on an illuminated light board while manta rays with 16-foot wingspans barrel-roll through the glowing plankton beneath you.
QUICK ANSWER
Manta Magic Night Snorkel: A night snorkel from Keauhou Harbor near Kailua-Kona — up to 40 minutes floating on an illuminated light board while manta rays with 16-foot wingspans barrel-roll through the glowing plankton beneath you.
Price: $139 per person. Private charter $1,499. GoPro rental $50.
Duration: 50 minutes in-water experience
Island: Big Island
Best for: Ages 7+ with adult supervision; non-swimmers accommodated
Booking: instant confirmation.
IS MANTA MAGIC THE BEST MANTA RAY NIGHT SNORKEL IN KONA?
It is one of the strongest: Green Listed by Manta Ray Advocates of Hawaii, staffed by marine biologists, launched from Keauhou Harbor beside the most reliable manta feeding site in Hawaii — with non-swimmers accommodated on the light board.
The manta night snorkel is the Big Island’s signature after-dark experience, and the mechanics are simple enough to explain in one sentence: lights attract plankton, plankton attracts manta rays, and you float on the surface directly above the feeding. The execution is what separates operators, and this one runs it from Keauhou Harbor — the protected stretch of Kona coastline where the mantas have fed nightly for decades.
PRICING
$139 per person. Private charter $1,499. GoPro rental $50. Verified against FareHarbor, August 2026 — confirm current rates at booking.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
– Snorkel mask and fitted equipment
– 3mm wetsuit for evening warmth
– Non-alcoholic beverages and hot chocolate
– Professional guide and safety briefing
– Boat transport from Keauhou Harbor
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
– Ages 7+ welcome with adult supervision
– Minimum six passengers or the tour reschedules
– Arrive 30 minutes early at Keauhou Harbor
– Non-swimmers can participate on the light board
– Cancellation: Confirm the operator’s current cancellation and no-manta policy at booking.
WHO IT’S FOR
Ages 7+ with adult supervision; non-swimmers accommodated. Children 7 and up are welcome with adult supervision, non-swimmers can participate via the light board, and tours run year-round.
BROWSE MORE
Compare other Big Island boat tours, or explore the full Big Island range. Planning ahead? Read how the manta ray night snorkel works. Travelling with older relatives? Read Hawaii activities for seniors and limited mobility. Also see our guide to the Big Island with kids.
Confirm the operator's current cancellation and no-manta policy at booking.
Manta rays have no stinger and no real teeth — they are filter feeders eating plankton. You float on the surface holding an illuminated board while they feed below; guides brief everyone first, and the operator holds Green List status with Manta Ray Advocates of Hawaii for passive-interaction standards.
Yes on both counts. The light board keeps you afloat without swimming, and children 7 and up are welcome with adult supervision. A 3mm wetsuit is provided for warmth.
No — these are wild animals, and while the Keauhou feeding site is among the most reliable manta locations on earth, no night is a certainty. Ask the operator about their policy for no-show nights when you book.
Swimwear under your clothes, a towel and warm layer for the ride back, and an underwater camera if you have one. Wetsuit, snorkel gear, hot chocolate, and soft drinks are provided.
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