A seasonal Kona double feature, December through April: a 60-minute sunset-hour humpback whale watch with hydrophone audio, then a 30-minute night snorkel above feeding manta rays — both guided by marine biologists.
A seasonal Kona double feature, December through April: a 60-minute sunset-hour humpback whale watch with hydrophone audio, then a 30-minute night snorkel above feeding manta rays — both guided by marine biologists.
QUICK ANSWER
Whale Watch & Manta Snorkel Combo: A seasonal Kona double feature, December through April: a 60-minute sunset-hour humpback whale watch with hydrophone audio, then a 30-minute night snorkel above feeding manta rays — both guided by marine biologists.
Price: $219 refundable · $209 non-refundable.
Duration: 3 hours total, two segments
Island: Big Island
Best for: Confident swimmers; ages 5–17 with adult supervision
Booking: instant confirmation.
CAN YOU SEE WHALES AND MANTA RAYS IN ONE KONA TRIP?
December through April, yes: this combo runs a 60-minute hydrophone-equipped whale watch at golden hour, then a 30-minute manta night snorkel — both marine-biologist guided, in a single three-hour evening.
For four months a year, the Kona coast hosts two marine spectacles at once: humpback whales passing through on their winter migration, and the manta rays that feed here every night of the year. This combo exists for exactly that overlap — December through April — and stacks both into a single evening.
PRICING
$219 refundable · $209 non-refundable. Verified against FareHarbor, August 2026 — confirm current rates at booking.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
– Mask, snorkel, shortie wetsuit, and flotation device
– Professional guide for whale and manta portions
– Boat safety and wildlife briefing
– Return boat ride to Kailua-Kona harbor
– Equipment fitting and check-in assistance
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
– Seasonal: December through April only
– Swimmers must handle 50 yards unaided
– Intermediate snorkeling experience required for the night portion
– Ages 5–17 require adult supervision
– Cancellation: Confirm the operator’s current cancellation window at booking.
WHO IT’S FOR
Confident swimmers; ages 5–17 with adult supervision. The requirements are stricter than the standard manta tour and worth respecting: swimmers must handle 50 yards unaided, the night portion calls for intermediate snorkeling experience, and children 5–17 need adult supervision.
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. Planning your Big Island days? Read what is worth booking on Hawaii Island. Timing a whale trip? Read when to go whale watching in Hawaii and which island is best. Based in Kona? Read how to fill three days on the Big Island’s dry side. Also see our guide to the Big Island with kids.
Confirm the operator's current cancellation window at booking.
December through April only — the window when humpback whale season overlaps Kona’s year-round manta activity. Outside those months, the manta night snorkel runs on its own.
An underwater microphone that pipes live whale song through the boat’s audio. Male humpbacks sing on the Hawaiian breeding grounds, and hearing it in real time while scanning for breaches is the part guests talk about afterward.
More than the standard manta tour asks: 50 yards unaided and intermediate snorkeling experience for the night segment, which involves darkness and open water. Children 5–17 must have adult supervision.
Neither can be — both are wild animals. The seasonal timing maximizes the odds on whales, and Kona’s manta feeding sites are among the most reliable anywhere, but ask the operator about their policy on no-sighting nights.
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