Budget Fare Snorkel, Honokohau Departure

2 hours 30 minutes with manta rays off Kona

Overview

This is a night snorkel off Kailua-Kona built around one thing: manta rays feeding close to the surface. You board with Kona Coast Boat Tours from the harbor on Kealakehe Parkway, ride out along the coast as the light goes, then get in the water holding a flotation device while the mantas arrive to feed. Reviewers repeatedly describe rays feeding within inches of their masks, sometimes several at once beneath the group.

The whole trip runs 2 hours 30 minutes. Gear is part of the package: snorkel set, a jacket-style wetsuit top, and a flotation device, plus snacks and bottled water on board.

It suits most travellers, families included, with a cap of 26 guests per departure. It does not suit everyone: the listing flags back problems, pregnancy, heart conditions, and it is not wheelchair accessible. You make your own way to the harbor, since no hotel pickup is provided, and the listing asks you to phone at least 12 hours ahead in case the time shifts.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Honokohau harborMeet the crew at Kona Coast Boat Tours, 74-429 Kealakehe Pkwy, Kailua-Kona. After turning into the harbor, follow the road about a quarter mile to a small public bathroom with a red roof on the right; gather in front of it.
2. Boat ride outCruise along the coast toward the snorkel site with live commentary on board. Several reviewers describe the boat ride as fun and thrilling.
3. Gear up and briefingPut on the provided snorkel gear, jacket-style wetsuit top, and flotation device, and get safety instruction from the crew before entering the water.
4. Night snorkel with mantasHold the flotation device at the surface while the manta rays feed underneath. Reviewers mention rays coming very close, along with fish and occasional other sea life.
5. Ride back to harborReturn to the same meeting point. Snacks and bottled water are available, and the listing advises bringing something warm for the way back. One reviewer mentions the crew pointing out sites and a pod of spinner dolphins on the way.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this trip goes, from gear fit to timing and seasickness.

• Bring a towel. Towels are not provided, and the listing tells you to bring one plus something warm for the ride back.
• Seasickness medication. One reviewer advises taking motion sickness medication before departure. You are on open water after dark.
• Check your mask. Snorkel gear is included, but one reviewer had persistent leaks from a mask that did not fit their face and wished they had brought their own. If you own a mask that fits, bringing it is a reasonable backup.
• Group feel. The tour carries up to 26 travellers, and one reviewer found the flotation device crowded. Several reviewers call the crew funny, informative, and attentive, but it is a shared group experience, not a private charter.
• Good with kids. One reviewer took children and said the crew were helpful with them. Infants must sit on laps, and the listing notes most travellers can participate.
• Call ahead. The listing asks you to phone at least 12 hours before the tour in case the time changes. Doing this avoids a wasted trip to the harbor.

Common issues. No hotel pickup or drop-off is included, and towels are not provided. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for travellers with back problems, pregnant travellers, or anyone with heart problems or other serious medical conditions. One reviewer found the shared flotation device crowded at the maximum group size, and another had trouble with a leaking mask. The experience requires good weather, and the operator asks you to call at least 12 hours ahead in case the time changes. Gratuities are not included.

Choosing A Tour