The 14 Sunset Snorkeling Cruises in Big Island of Hawaii That Earn Their Price

1.Big Island Manta Ray Night Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,656 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $84Our pick

Meet Hang Loose Boat Tours at Keauhou Bay for a sunset boat ride and nighttime manta ray snorkel. Bryce, Noah, Vince, Jordan, and other crew members may guide your group, with wetsuit tops, flotation gear, snacks, and a free return trip if no mantas appear.

“Our traveling family group of 11 adults and children had a great time up close with the Manta Rays. Good information from the tour guide and their helpers. Good supervision and safety oversight. This experience left a wonderful, long lasting memory with all of us, particularly the young ones, age 9, 13, and 14.”

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2.KONA Manta Ray Night Snorkel – FREE re-ride if no Sightings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,212 reviews · 1 hour 20 minutes (approx.) · from $49

Join My Kona Adventures at Kailua-Kona’s small dock for a short RHIB boat ride to a manta viewing site. Guides such as Taco, Peyton, and Mike explain manta behavior before you spend about 25 to 30 minutes in the water. The group holds up to 11 people, and wetsuits are optional.

“Fun and well organized experience. Crew was great and very knowledgeable. They found 3 manata rays right away which lead to a very memorable experience for us.”

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3.Manta Ray Night Snorkel at Kona, Big Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,758 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $44Best value

From Keauhou Bay, Dolphin Discoveries takes you by boat to a lit viewing float where manta rays feed after dark. You receive a mask, snorkel, and short-sleeve wetsuit top, then hold the float while guides help you watch the rays up close. Swimming skills and comfort in dark, open water are required.

“It’s an amazing experience…once in a lifetime experience…our guide Brianna was wonderful and friendly…I took a video from the start before I jumped off the boat till almost the end and my vid was only 16 mins ☹️ I thought we will be in the water for 30 mins as indicated … the check in staff at the store was friendly and pleasant as well. Overall, it’s a nice experience and recommends it to everyone.”

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4.Glow of the Deep: Night Snorkeling with Manta Rays

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,254 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $80

From Honokohau Harbor, ride offshore for a Kona sunset, then spend about 45 minutes floating above giant manta rays in 30 to 35 feet of water. Bite Me Sportfishing supplies wetsuits, masks, flotation, snacks, and water. You may swim or ride along.

“We had a great time with our Captain, Lena, and Deck Hand, Mattie, who were knowledgeable, entertaining, and energetic making this excursion one to remember. We saw fish and had a close encounter with a manta ray that couldn’t stop showing off.”

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5.Manta Magic: Small-Group Manta Ray Night Snorkel in Kailua Kona

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,141 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $145

Meet at Keauhou Harbor for a quick boat ride to Kona’s manta site. Hold a glowing light board while mantas feed below you. Hawaii Oceanic keeps groups to about 11 people, provides snorkel gear, drinks, and optional wetsuit tops, with guides such as Sara, Molly, Justin, and Lexi helping in the water.

“Highly recommend using Hawaiian Oceanic for this excursion! The location we met and departed from was so close to the location for viewing the Mantas that a boat was barely needed (took less than 5 mins until we were in the water. Setup with the floating board and light made ie easy. The staff, from greeter, captain, and in-water guide were fantastic.”

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6.Sunset and Manta Ray Snorkel Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 843 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $154

Join Kona Style for a 2-hour-15-minute evening aboard a 50-foot catamaran. Watch the Kona sunset, then hold a lighted board while manta rays feed below. Captain Dan and the crew provide gear, instruction, drinks, hot cocoa, and a manta sighting guarantee.

“This is a bucket list ‘check the box’ experience! Other worldly having these 12ft gentle giant’s swim literally inches from your face mask. At one point we had eight large manta’s feeding directly in front /below us. If you’re intimidated, like my wife was initially, don’t be. Nothing to be afraid of. The crew is there to walk you through it with kindness and expertise. If you’re going to do this, and you absolutely should, then do it with Kona Experience. Fabulous crew. Very attentive and knowledgeable. Captain Dan runs a tight ship. The catamaran is large, nice and well maintained. It’s easy to enter and exit the water through…”

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7.Manta Ray Night Snorkel in Kona

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 777 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $125

Join Manta Adventures for a sunset boat ride from Kailua-Kona to Garden Eel Cove. Captain Bill, Captain Dan, and crew members such as Drew and Sam have led guests to manta rays beneath custom lights, with wetsuits, flotation gear, snacks, and a warm shower included.

“Great experience the crew was very knowledgeable and nice and made everyone feel safe. Their equipment is definitely superior to the other tours, while we were in the water there were other tours snorkeling and the manta rays were swimming only under our lights and did not care about the other lights. I would definitely recommend this tour above others.”

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8.Manta Ray Night Snorkel from Kona — Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 657 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $123

Meet Captain Kris, Chris, Ryan, or another C Big Island guide at Honokohau Harbor for a sunset-to-moonlight snorkel with manta rays. You will ride with up to 16 people, use provided gear and flotation, then watch mantas feed under bright lights. The boat returns after about two hours.

“Incredible seeing these gentle giant creatures swim within inches of you. Chris and Ryan were super informative, helpful and great guides.”

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9.Big Island: Manta Ray Night Snorkeling Adventure in Kailua-Kona

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 593 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $75

Meet at Honokohau Harbor for a sunset boat ride to Kona’s manta site. Guides provide snorkel gear, a wetsuit top, flotation, snacks, and safety help. Expect about 25 minutes each way by boat and roughly 30 to 45 minutes in the water, with mantas feeding beneath bright lights.

“Don’t hesitate to book this one. Not only is it a convenient location to downtown Kona but you get a bonus long sunset cruise and nice cruise longer than most tours. Plus they don’t rush you and really make it a fun experience to see one of the coolest things in the world. Just show up in a swim suit with a towel and they provide the rest to include snacks and drinks. You see a lot of other tours out at the site that are rushed and not as fun. This is the one.”

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10.Manta Ray Night Snorkel Experience of a Lifetime

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 505 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $79

From Honokohau Harbor, ride 15 to 20 minutes to Manta Heaven or Manta Village. With gear, a shorty wetsuit, and an in-water guide included, you hold a light board at the surface while wild manta rays feed below. Captain Kelly and guides such as Jay, Elijah, and Jonathan may lead your group.

“Exceeded my expectations! Be prepared if you are prone to seasickness. Both the boat ride and floating in the water made me ill. But the encounter with the manta rays was totally worth it! Next time, I’ll just take some Gravol :)”

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11.Manta Ray Night Snorkel Tour in Kailua-Kona, Big Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 382 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $125

From Honokohau Harbor, Iruka Hawaii takes you by speedboat to Manta Ray Heaven after sunset. You float beside a lighted platform for about 45 minutes while manta rays feed below. Guides such as Trevor, Diego, Madi, and Tamae help with safety, gear, and GoPro photos.

“Super cool and unique experience! It was amazing to see and be so close to the manta rays. Captain Trevor kept us safe and our guide Diego maneuvered the raft to make sure we saw the most manta rays. Highly recommend!”

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12.Manta Ray Night Snorkel Kona – Coral Reef Snorkel Adventures

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 376 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $125

Meet at Honokohau Small Boat Harbor for a night trip to Kona’s manta viewing area. You’ll hold a lightboard while manta rays feed below, with snorkel gear, instruction, snacks, and drinks included. Guides such as Jacob, Jeff, Cody, and Erika are praised for clear safety advice and lively manta facts.

“Great crew amazing experience mantas were everywhere would highly recommend to everyone as a once in a lifetime experience”

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13.Kona Manta Ray Night Snorkel Adventure! Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 364 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $83

From Keauhou, you’ll suit up, board a fast zodiac, and reach a lighted manta viewing site for 20 to 30 minutes in the water. A small crew, custom light board, snorkel gear, and lifeguard support keep the encounter close and organized. Guides may include Danielle, Rob, Ryan, or Captain Scott.

“Having the ray come inches from our faces!! Seeing the krill/shrimp & tiny fish floating in the light & getting swallowed up by the ray. Captain was fun & played fun music on the way out to the site. It was a little rough at the site but can’t help that! A little miscommunication about arrival time & meeting location but was worked out.”

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14.Manta Ray Night Snorkel Tour from Kona

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 250 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $160

Meet at Kaleiopapa Street 30 minutes early for a 1.5-hour night snorkel near Kona. Your guide provides a wetsuit, gear, instruction, and a lighted viewing platform. Watch manta rays feed on plankton, then warm up with soup, bread rolls, and hot drinks aboard the boat.

“Awesome experience! The crew was excellent. The boat and gear was great. Beautiful Manta Rays. Gentle giants of the sea.”

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