Hawaii is known for its sunny weather, but did you ever think about catching some rays under water? We’re talking about the gentle manta rays; ocean giants with wingspans that can reach 20 feet or more. And Hawaii Island, along the Kona Coast a short drive from the Royal Kona Resort, is one of the best spots to snorkel or scuba dive with these amazing leviathans.
Snorkeling or scuba diving with fierce looking, but gentle, manta rays is an amazing life experience off the coast of Hawaii Island all year round.
The mantas may look fierce and even eerie, but they are quite friendly and only eat tiny plankton, which is gathered through their large, gaping mouths. Unlike stingrays, mantas have no stingers and they are found most often at night feeding in about 30 feet of water off the coast.
In the evening, spotlights are used to illuminate the plankton, which attracts the mantas. The graceful mantas glide under the water in swooping patterns, as they take in their dinners. It’s an experience of a lifetime to snorkel or scuba within inches of the mantas as they swim right up to you, just missing contact. These close encounters are breathtakingly exciting, but try not to touch the mantas.
To get to the best spots, it’s a good idea to go on an organized boat tour around sunset. Some tours leave from the harbor just north of Kailua-Kona. These tours are available year-round and, depending on plankton abundance, you may meet up with just a few mantas to over a dozen on any given evening.
If you are a scuba diver, you will need to present your certification card to dive with the mantas. Snorkelers have no restrictions and just about anyone can enjoy this unique experience.
The Activity Center at the Royal Kona Resort can make all of the arrangements and let you soak up some magnificent rays . . . under water.