Night Snorkel at Manta Village, Five Minutes Out of Keauhou
You float face down holding a lit board while Kona's manta rays sweep up through the plankton beneath you.
Hawaii Oceanic runs this snorkel from Keauhou Harbor in Kailua-Kona on Pueo Kai 2, a 27-foot Force Marine, and the ride out to the viewing site known as Manta Village takes about five minutes. In the water you lie flat at the surface and hold the edge of a light board, with flotation under your legs. The lights draw plankton up to the board, and the manta rays come in to feed on it. The operator notes that mantas have no teeth, barbs or stingers.
The booking below is a seat on one evening departure, for up to eleven travelers. Everyone aboard needs a ticket, even a rider who stays dry, and the listing gives a full refund up to 24 hours before departure.
Manta Magic: Small-Group Manta Ray Night Snorkel in Kailua KonaHawaii Oceanic · Keauhou Harbor departures · Snorkel gear, optional wetsuit and nonalcoholic drinks includedwww.viator.comSunset Light or Full Dark: Choosing Your Departure
The operator runs several departures each evening and moves them through the year with the sunset. As of October 13, 2026, its booking calendar showed October departures from 6:10 PM to 9:30 PM, 50 minutes apart, shifting earlier in November. The earliest leaves before sunset and puts you in the water in daylight; later departures board and swim in the dark. The operator puts the odds of seeing mantas at about 92 percent for both, and suggests the earliest one for anyone who is not a strong swimmer. Some travelers read it differently. One in 2023 wrote that the first two departures that night saw no rays, and another in 2024 suggested a later slot to give the rays time to reach the lights. Pick by what you want from the night: a sunset from the boat, or full dark.
A Wetsuit, a Lit Board, and Other Boats Nearby
Plan on floating almost still for 30 to 45 minutes, depending on sea conditions and how the mantas are feeding. The operator hands out wetsuits at check-in, and travelers in 2024 and 2025 described a top or jacket for adults and a short suit for children. Several of them still got cold before the end, and one suggested asking for a second top. Manta Village is also a shared site. Boats from other companies light the same water, and one traveler in 2024 described joining a line of other companies' groups. Hawaii Ocean Watch, a group whose volunteers monitor the viewing sites, wrote in 2023 that the Keauhou and airport manta sites see 15 to 30 boats and 200 to 400 people in the water at night.
Swim 25 Yards, or Ride Along on the Boat
The swim test is short. Anyone who cannot comfortably swim 25 yards in the ocean is asked to buy a ride-along ticket and stay on the boat. Children seven and older can snorkel on the same terms, and the booking's age bands start at seven; one note on the listing still gives three as the minimum age, while the operator's own FAQ says seven and calls the trip appropriate for ages seven to seventy. The listing sets a 280-pound limit per traveler and does not recommend the trip for pregnant travelers or anyone with spinal injuries, neck problems or poor cardiovascular health. Height and weight are asked when you book.
When a Night Is Cancelled or the Mantas Skip It
Three things can call off a night. Each departure needs at least six guests; with fewer, the operator moves you to another departure or refunds you. High wind or surf can cancel it as well, and the operator's booking notes say weather cancellations get a trip on another tour or a full refund. When no manta appears at all, it offers a free trip on any departure with space, which only helps while you are still on the island. The operator suggests booking near the start of your stay, noting that departures typically sell out several days ahead. A traveler in 2026 needed that second night: no mantas on the first trip, three on the next.
📍 Meet at Keauhou Harbor on Kaleiopapa Street in Kailua-Kona, 30 minutes before your departure, to check in and get fitted for a wetsuit. Look for the white van with Hawaii Oceanic on its sides near the boat ramp; the operator texts its exact spot on the day and asks for a call when you are running late. A 2022 traveler found parking at the harbor limited and had to walk a long way down the road.
- Come in your swimsuit with a towel and a light jacket for the ride back.
- Gratuities are not included, and the crew takes tips in cash or by payment app.
- A GoPro can be rented by calling ahead.
The ride back to the dock takes five minutes, and on a clear night the operator says you may see the Milky Way.