Big Island manta ray night snorkel from Keauhou Bay
A 2.5-hour evening boat trip from Keauhou Bay harbour to the lit water off Kaukalaelae Point, with snorkelling gear, a wetsuit top and snacks on board.
Updated 21 October 2026
In shortThis is a 2.5-hour evening boat snorkel out of Keauhou Bay to the lit viewing area off Kaukalaelae Point, with snorkelling gear, a jacket-style wetsuit top, a flotation device, bottled water and light snacks on board. A professional guide handles the briefing and gives live commentary on board in English. From $138 per adult and rated 4.8 ★ (6332 reviews), it suits travellers who can snorkel independently and want a fuller evening on a larger boat with food and commentary rather than the shortest run out and back.
2.5 htour length
from $138per adult
★ 4.86332 reviews
What the Big Island manta ray night snorkel involves
The trip runs 2.5 hours out of Keauhou Bay small boat harbour, with departure tied to sunset, so the slot moves through the year. The crossing to the viewing area off Kaukalaelae Point, the spot everyone on this coast calls Manta Village, takes about five minutes. That leaves most of the evening for the briefing, the time in the water and the ride back in the dark.
Light is the reason the rays are there at all. The resort above the bay began floodlighting the ocean in the early 1970s, the light pulls in plankton, and resident reef manta rays come up to feed on it. In the water you hold a lit float or a manta board, keep your legs horizontal and watch without touching: no underwater flash, and no phone on a neck lanyard. Operators at Manta Village report mantas on more than 90% of nights, and no operator promises a sighting.
From $138 per adult, this sits in the middle of the price range among the tours on this site and is by far the most reviewed of them, at 4.8 ★ (6332 reviews). Included are snorkelling gear, a jacket-style wetsuit top, a flotation device, bottled water, light snacks, a professional guide and live commentary on board. Gratuities, hotel pickup and drop-off and GoPro rental are not included.
Tours on this coast expect independent swimmers who have snorkelled before. If you have barely used a mask, say so at check-in and stay within arm's reach of the float for the whole stop. The water is warm year round on the Kona side, with sea surface temperatures peaking near 80 F in late summer or early fall, and the wetsuit top handles the rest.
Big Island Manta Ray Night Snorkel
Two and a half hours from Keauhou Bay harbour, with gear, a jacket-style wetsuit top, bottled water, light snacks and live commentary on board. Departure follows sunset, so the slot changes through the year.
Meeting point: turn into the harbour and take the very first road on the right. Follow it past Boat Storage and the small Sea Store & Deli on the left, then turn left. A small brown-roofed building with a pavilion, the restrooms, stands on the right, and the crew meets guests there.
Check-in: departures follow sunset and shift through the year. Check-in on this coast normally falls 15 to 30 minutes before departure, and the ticket details give the time for your date.
Getting there: hotel pickup and drop-off is not included, so plan your own drive. Keauhou Bay is roughly 7 miles south of Kailua-Kona, just outside the OUTRIGGER Kona Resort & Spa.
Parking and facilities: the bay has parking, restrooms and a small boat ramp. Pier parking is limited; street parking on Kaleiopapa Street is a 3 to 5 minute walk away.
Age bands on the ticket: infant 1 to 4, child 5 to 11, adult 12 and over.
GoPro rental, subject to availability and reserved in advance
Other night snorkel options on the Big Island
Three further evening trips cover the same coast at different lengths and prices. The 1 hour 25 minute option is the quickest in and out if your evening is tight. The second 2.5-hour trip starts from $110 and carries the highest rating of the four, 4.9 ★ from 863 reviews. The 2-hour trip from $125 is the most expensive of the three alternatives and the shortest of the longer formats.
Departure follows sunset, so the slot differs between January and August. The booking page shows the evenings still open and the check-in time that goes with each one.
