With the newest boat in the Kona Fleet, the Maheli Heli, Manta Adventures of Kailua Kona, Hawaii, offers a variety of tours and experiences. Of course, one of the specialty excursions offered and the impetus for its name is its Manta Night Snorkel. Interestingly enough, the Hawaiian culture reveres the Manta Ray, which they call the hahalau, meaning “two breaths”. This gentle giant of the sea represents wisdom, grace, strength, and flow and is subsequently beloved by the island residents and guests alike.
The Manta Night Snorkel with Manta Adventures lasts approximately 3.5 hours. It was named “one of the top ten things to do in your lifetime” by The Travel Channel, a moniker it has well-earned. As a guest on this tour, you will begin at near sunset, cruising up the Kona coast on the Maheli-Heli arriving at the Manta Ray Village.
At this location, you will get to see many mantas swimming under the surface, feeding on the plankton off the shoreline. The mantas glide effortlessly through the water as if they are floating. These beloved gentle giants can have a wingspan of some 16 feet, but they are not aggressive in the least. The night snorkel gives you the chance to get into the water and see this nightly exercise for yourself. Of course, if you aren’t a big swimmer or just not interested in snorkeling, you can still enjoy the “manta show” from the comfort of the boat without having to get into the ocean.
The manta tour snorkel includes a light snack, along with water and juice, snorkel gear, mask, fins, and floatation devices, so you can hover over the mantas below, and wetsuits. Guests are encouraged to bring along their own towel, swimwear, light jacket, sweater, or cover-up, any special drinks or snacks, and an underwater camera or Go Pro. Captain Bill and Captain Dan have over two decades of experience bringing guests to this location for manta night snorkels, dolphin encounters, whale watching, and sportfishing tours.
The aforementioned Maheli Heli, the newest in the area, is a 2016 SeaHawk 36 custom vessel. There has been immense attention to detail in its construction and rigging, and she is outfitted with the latest and most up-to-date safety equipment, electronics, and powertrain. She also is designed to virtually eliminate exhaust smoke and promises quiet operation, reducing the noise by around 80%.
The vessel is also designed with guest comfort in mind and features a freshwater system with a hot water shower, two dive ladders, four steps below the surface of the water to ease the process of getting on the boat from the water, safety railings, comfortable seating, a head, and much more. All Manta Adventures captains are licensed by the United States Coast Guards and are certified in First Aid as well.
Manta Adventures also offers private fishing excursions and seasonal whale watching tours. They also feature another snorkeling tour called the Kona Snorkeling Adventure. This four-hour, daytime experience takes guests off the Kona coast, stopping at one of over 100 diverse and secured day mooring sites. Guests can expect to encounter assorted reef fish, sea turtles, sea coral, dolphins, manta rays, and other marine life. Visibility in the Kona waters is excellent, which makes it an ideal location for snorkeling. Amazingly guests can experience visibility in the water of more than 70 feet, which provides breathtaking views of the marine world below the surface of the waves.
Insider Tips:
-Gratuity is not included in the tour cost and is much appreciated by the crew and captains.
-Private custom charters are completely unique and offered for groups of up to 10 people. For larger groups than that, Private Party Charters are ideal.
-Manta Adventures vessel can accommodate parties of up to 24 people.
-At the time of booking, guests are encouraged to indicate any special needs they may have.