A few miles off shore in the small town of Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii, lots of manta rays live and interact with those scuba diving just after the sun is gone.
The diver´s lights make a reaction with the plankton attracting these large species. The result is an amazing experience. Divers sit on the bottom, like in a campfire at about 10 meters deep, pointing their lights upwards. At the same time, snorkelers stay at the surface pointing their lights downwards. In a matter of minutes, the first manta rays turn up and the show is on.
WHAT WE LIKED THE MOST
- The mantas get really close to you and they even touch you sometimes.
- There were so many! We counted about 10 of them.
- They were big, about 3-4 meters feet wide.
WHAT WE DIDN’T LIKE THAT MUCH
- There are quite a lot of people in the water at the same time in the water, but it doesn´t really make the experience any worse
- Paying 145 USD plus gear for 2 dives can be a bit pricey.
It´s just one dive, about 45 minutes long, right after dusk.
You can dive with manta rays all year around.
In Kona, in the Big Island of Hawaii, there are several operators that will take you diving with mantas.
If you are not a certified diver, you can also snorkel and see the mantas from the surface. If diving, they have very good scuba gear for rent but make sure you bring your dive computer.
VIDEO: SCUBA DIVING WITH MANTA RAYS IN HAWAII
FINAL THOUGHTS
Diving with Manta Rays in Kona can be pricey and touristy. There are lots of other divers in the water at the same time, but the experience is just incredible.
We recommend you to forget about the touts, the money and put your head in the water. The show is totally worth it and you will remember the experience for the rest of your life.
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