A short run out from Keauhou Bay to the lit water off Kaukalaelae Point, with departures between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Updated 21 October 2026
In shortThis Keauhou bay manta ray night snorkel is an evening boat trip from the pier on Kaleiopapa Street out to the viewing area off Kaukalaelae Point, where lights in the water pull in plankton and the resident reef mantas come up to feed. Departures run from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and each trip lasts about an hour, with 1 h 20 min listed from check-in to return. Briefings and commentary are in English, and it suits strong swimmers who have snorkelled before, from age 5.
1 h 20 mintour length
from $95per adult
★ 4.92716 reviews
What the Keauhou bay manta ray night snorkel involves
Departures begin at 6 p.m. and run until 10 p.m., each trip lasting about an hour, with 1 h 20 min listed from check-in to return. The boat leaves Keauhou Bay and reaches the water off Kaukalaelae Point, the stretch operators call Manta Village, in roughly five minutes, so the snorkel takes up most of the evening rather than the crossing.
The light is what brings the animals in. The resort above the bay started floodlighting the ocean in the early 1970s, the glow concentrates plankton, and the reef mantas rise to feed on it. Boats add their own dive lights and lit floats, which is why these trips go out after sunset. Operators at Manta Village report mantas on more than 90% of nights, and no operator guarantees a sighting; the come-again arrangement is part of this tour's own name.
Participants must be strong swimmers in good health who have snorkelled before, and the minimum age given for this tour is 5. The operator's weight policy requires anyone 260 pounds and over, to a maximum of 320, to buy an additional seat. Snorkelling is included when that option is selected on the ticket. In the water you stay horizontal at the surface, hold the float, and keep your hands off the rays: Hawaii state law makes it illegal to capture, take, possess, abuse or entangle any ray in state marine waters, with fines running from $500 to $10,000.
Take one of the later slots if your plans allow. With boats going out until 10 p.m., the last departures share the site with fewer vessels and the water is darker, which makes the cone of light and the feeding passes easier to follow. Bring a towel and something dry to put on for the ride back; nights on the water feel cooler than the air temperatures on shore suggest, with Kona lows running from 68.4 F in February to 75.7 F in August.
The trip on this page
From $95 per adult, rating 4.9 (2716 reviews). Departures between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., check-in on Kaleiopapa Street next to the OUTRIGGER Kona Hotel sign.
Meeting point: check-in at 78-7138 Kaleiopapa St, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. The check-in table is set up right next to the OUTRIGGER Kona Hotel sign. If you lose your bearings at the harbour, any of the companies there can point you to it.
Hotel pick-up and drop-off are not included, so you drive or take a taxi to Keauhou Bay. The bay has parking, restrooms and a small boat ramp; pier parking is limited, and street parking on Kaleiopapa Street is a 3 to 5 minute walk away.
Ages: adult 5+
Photos: ours and the tour operator's
What is included
Included
The manta ray tour
All taxes, fees and handling charges
Snorkelling, if that option is selected
Fuel surcharge
Not included
Gratuities
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
How this Keauhou bay manta ray night snorkel compares
The four trips in the table sit close together on length and far apart on price. This one is the cheapest at a from price of $95 and carries the largest review count here, 4.9 ★ (2716). The two 1.5 hour options cost from $141 and from $146 and give you longer on the water; the 1 hour trip at from $127 is the shortest evening of the four and suits confident snorkelers who want the site and nothing else.
Tour
Length
From
Rating
KONA Manta Ray Night Snorkel - FREE re-ride if no Sightings (this page)
Departures go out through the evening, from the 6 p.m. boats to the last run at 10 p.m. The booking page shows the current times, the from price and the check-in details on the ticket.
