Hang Loose Snorkel, Wetsuit Top

A 2 hour 30 minute manta night snorkel

Overview

This is the night manta ray snorkel run by Hang Loose Boat Tours in Kailua-Kona, and it lasts 2 hours 30 minutes. You check in at the dock by the restroom pavilion, board the boat in the evening, and ride out to the manta viewing site off the Kona coast with live commentary from the crew along the way.

Once on site, snorkelers get into the water with a provided jacket-style wetsuit top, mask and snorkel set, and a flotation device. Reviewers regularly describe rays passing close by, sometimes bumping against them, along with sharks and other fish on some trips. Non-swimmers can stay on the boat as ride-alongs and still watch from the surface. After the water session the boat returns to the same meeting point.

It suits confident swimmers who are comfortable in open water at night and able to climb a short ladder. Families with children as young as two can join, with an upper age limit of 70 unless the operator approves otherwise. It is not a fit for wheelchair users, travelers with serious heart or back conditions, or anyone who cannot swim, since prior snorkeling experience is required to enter the water.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check in at the harborMeet at Hang Loose Boat Tours, 74-381 Kealakehe Pkwy, Kailua-Kona. After turning into the harbor take the first road right, pass the boat storage and the Sea Store and Deli, then turn left to the brown-roofed restroom pavilion where the crew meets you.
2. Board and ride outClimb aboard with the crew for the run out to the manta site, with live commentary about the rays and the area on the way.
3. Night snorkel with mantasSnorkelers take the water with a wetsuit top, snorkel gear and flotation. Non-swimmers can stay aboard as ride-alongs.
4. Return to the dockThe boat heads back to the same harbor meeting point, where the tour ends. Light snacks and bottled water are provided on board.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this night goes, from swimming ability to what you need on board.

• Swimming ability. The listing is blunt: you must have previous swimming and snorkeling experience or you will not be allowed in the water. Non-swimmers can still join as ride-alongs and watch from the boat.
• What to bring. Bring a towel, a change of clothes and a sweatshirt or light jacket, as the listing recommends. Snorkel gear, a wetsuit top and flotation are provided for the water.
• Crowds on board. The tour runs with up to 48 travelers, and one reviewer found that number off-putting at first but praised the crew's efficiency. With a group this size, listening closely to the crew briefing helps the session run smoothly for everyone.
• Sightings vary. Most reviewers describe mantas passing close by, sometimes for an extended stretch, along with sharks and other fish on some trips.
• Food and extras. Light snacks and bottled water are included, so you do not need to pack dinner. GoPro rental is possible but is not included and must be arranged by phone in advance, subject to availability, and gratuities for the crew are separate.
• Getting there. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so you drive yourself to the harbor meeting point and follow the specific turn-by-turn directions in the listing. Arrive with time to spare, since the whole experience runs 2 hours 30 minutes door to dock and back.

Common issues. The honest downsides: manta sightings are not guaranteed. One reviewer commented that the tour carried too many people for their taste. Weather can cancel a departure, and the tour also needs a minimum number of travelers to run; in both cases you are offered a different date or a full refund. Refunds are denied if you cancel inside 24 hours of start time, and no refund is given if the operator refuses service due to intoxication. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and requires climbing a short ladder.

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