Night Manta Ray Experience
Pick your date
Highlighted days have spots open. Grey days are sold out or not running.
September 2026
Loading live availability
Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
Select a highlighted day to see live departure times and the exact price for your group.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 814 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Night Manta Ray Experience worth booking?
Night Manta Ray Experience is a 1.5-hour experience in Big Island of Hawaii, United States, from $146 per person. It scores 79 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 814 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 79 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (814)
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- From
- $146 per person
Snorkel at night with the gentle giants of the South Kona Coast in safety and comfort, and experience what the Travel Channel named one of the top 10 things to do in your lifetime. Our incredibly short boat ride will hav
What you get
About this experience
Snorkel at night with the gentle giants of the South Kona Coast in safety and comfort, and experience what the Travel Channel named one of the top 10 things to do in your lifetime. Our incredibly short boat ride will have you and our highly trained in the water guides snorkeling with the manta rays in minutes. An evening you won't ever forget!
What's included
Included
- Snorkel Gear Included
- Wetsuits
- Hot Chocolate
Not included
- Gratuities
- Towels (recommended)
- No transportation provided
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Big Island of Hawaii
ARRIVE 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO DEPARTURE We are located at Keauhou Bay in Kailua-Kona Our office is located just past the driveway to the Sheraton Keauhou Resort & Spa We are a white, one-story building Park in a spot along the road there where parking is permitted
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
ARRIVE 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO DEPARTURE We are located at Keauhou Bay in Kailua-Kona Our office is located just past the driveway to the Sheraton Keauhou Resort & Spa We are a white, one-story building Park in a spot along the road there where parking is permitted
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 14 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Sea Quest Hawaii
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- What if we don’t see any mantas? It is an extremely rare occurrence, but if we do not see ANY manta rays on our Night Manta Experience, you are welcome to come back out with us again during the same vacation, based on availability, totally free of charge. Make sure you call us right away so that we may reschedule you! Non-refundable and non-transferable.
- NIGHT MANTA EXPERIENCE:
- Everyone in my group can swim
- Everyone in my group has snorkeling experience
- Everyone in my group can climb a short ladder to re-board the boat
- Please read and understand the manta guarantee : Manta Guarantee: If zero manta rays are seen, you are welcome back out again. Itʻs that simple. We are fortunate to see mantas almost every night, but on the rare occasion where none are sighted on your tour, Sea Quest invites you to come back out on another night at no additional cost to you, or on a confirmed afternoon snorkeling adventure at no additional charge. No refunds available.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 811 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
4 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
4 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
2 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Good for families
2 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Traveler reviews
811 verified traveler reviews for Night Manta Ray Experience. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Could not have been better!
This was the most magical experience! I was nervous about the idea of snorkeling at night but it could not have been more fun. The guides are so enthusiastic and helpful, sharing knowledge during the experience. We saw 4 different mantas doing barrel rolls underneath us. It was as good as it gets! Some things to know: you will remove your shoes and they store them on the boat. They provide you with wetsuits to keep warm and snorkel gear, including vision correction masks if needed. Strong swimming is not necessary as you are holding on to the light board and have a pool noodle under your feet to help you float. They will keep your bag dry on shore so no need to bring anything with you.
Response from the operator: Aloha Amy! Thank you for choosing Sea Quest Hawaii! Mahalo nui loa for sharing such a wonderful review of your Night Manta Ray Experience! We are so happy to hear that what started as a little nervousness about snorkeling at night turned into such a magical and fun experience. Seeing four different mantas doing barrel rolls beneath you must have been absolutely incredible! We are especially grateful for your kind words about our guides. Our crew loves sharing their knowledge and helping each guest feel comfortable, confident, and cared for throughout the experience. Mahalo as well for sharing so many helpful details for future guests. We are glad the wetsuits, prescription masks, flotation noodles, and light board helped make the experience comfortable and accessible. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we would love to welcome you back for another unforgettable manta adventure! Mahalo nui loa, The Sea Quest Hawaii Ohana
via Tripadvisor
Absolutely amazing!
This was an absolutely incredible experience, beyond anything I had imagined, and I will definitely be doing it again! (Beware: it does actually work your triceps to hold onto that raft for 45 minuts - we were sore the day after!)
Response from the operator: Aloha Amelia! Thank you for choosing Sea Quest Hawaii! Mahalo nui loa for sharing your wonderful experience with us! We are so happy to hear that the Night Manta Ray Experience was even more incredible than you imagined and that you are already looking forward to doing it again. Those manta encounters can be truly unforgettable, and yes, holding onto the float for 45 minutes can definitely give those triceps a little extra workout! We hope the beautiful mantas made the next day soreness completely worth it. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another magical evening on the water! Mahalo nui loa, The Sea Quest Hawaii Ohana
via Tripadvisor
Memorable experience
Great experience seeing the mantas up close. The guides were very knowledgeable and made the trip run smoothly. The boat ride is only about 5 minutes away as the dock is located right by the area where the mantas feed.
Response from the operator: Aloha! Thank you for choosing Sea Quest Hawaii! Mahalo nui loa for sharing your memorable Night Manta Ray Experience with us! We are so happy to hear you enjoyed seeing the mantas up close and that our guides helped make the experience smooth, informative, and enjoyable. We are fortunate to have our dock located so close to the manta viewing area, making the boat ride just a few minutes before you are in the water and ready for an incredible encounter with these amazing animals. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope to welcome you and your ohana back for another ocean adventure in the future! Mahalo nui loa, The Sea Quest Hawaii Ohana
via Tripadvisor
Not what we expected
Unfortunately, we didn't see any marine animals; it was cold Even with the suit, people were throwing up next to us. I hope people have a better experience than we did.
via Tripadvisor
This was awesome! Our...
This was awesome! Our children who were 7 and 8 were a little nervous. Ally, Brooke, Ethan, and captain Mike put them right at ease and made the who experience that much better with how wonderful they were with our kids. I really enjoyed all the additional facts and info our in water tour guides had on the manta rays. The hot coco and cookies at the end just made it that much better.
Response from the operator: Aloha Todd! Thank you for choosing Sea Quest Hawaii! We are so happy to hear you and your keiki had such a wonderful experience with us! It means so much to know that Ally, Brooke, Ethan, and Captain Mike helped your children feel comfortable and at ease. Creating a fun and welcoming experience for our guest of all ages is something our crew truly cares about. We are also glad you enjoyed learning more about the manta rays from our in water guides. Sharing their knowledge and helping guests connect with these incredible animals is one of the most special parts of what we do. And of course, we are happy to hear the hot cocoa and cookies were a sweet way to finish the evening! Mahalo nui loa for sharing your experience with us, Todd. We are grateful you chose to spend your evening with our Sea Quest ohana, and we hope to welcome you back for another ocean adventure someday!
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 285
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Why this scores 79
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Night Manta Ray Experience: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Big Island of Hawaii.
How much does Night Manta Ray Experience cost?
+
Prices start at $146 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Big Island of Hawaii usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Night Manta Ray Experience take?
+
Plan for about 1.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Big Island of Hawaii is not rushed.
Is Night Manta Ray Experience worth it?
+
It holds an Outty Ranking of 79 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 814 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Big Island of Hawaii, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Night Manta Ray Experience?
+
Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Night Manta Ray Experience suitable for kids and families?
+
Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Night Manta Ray Experience?
+
Around 285 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Big Island of Hawaii can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
+
Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Big Island of Hawaii and add a light layer if any part of the 1.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Night Manta Ray Experience start and how do I get there?
+
The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Big Island of Hawaii within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Big Island of Hawaii?
+
The Big Island is volcano country: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park tours, Mauna Kea summit stargazing, night manta ray snorkels off Kona, Waipio Valley lookouts and coffee farm visits. Summit tours have real altitude rules, so we weight safety detail. On Outty we rank every Big Island of Hawaii experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include KONA Manta Ray Night Snorkel - FREE re-ride if no Sightings, Big Island: Captain Cook Snorkel On A Power Catamaran With Lunch, Big Island in a Day: Volcanoes Waterfalls Sightseeing and History. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Big Island of Hawaii?
+
April to October, though the island runs year round. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Big Island of Hawaii?
+
Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
+
Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
Ready to lock in your spot?
Pick a date, choose your group, and see the exact price for Night Manta Ray Experience.
Pick your date
