When embarking on a trip to experience manta rays in their natural environment, it is important to set realistic expectations. As much as we would love to guarantee the presence of these incredible creatures, they are wild animals who roam freely in the open ocean.
While the chances of seeing manta rays with our company are generally over 80% throughout the year, different factors can significantly impact their visibility.
Watch the video below – or scroll down to read more!
Seeing Manta Rays on a Manta Swim
Manta ray encounters in Kona, Hawaii, usually take place at one of three viewing sites.
Manta rays have two “missions” in life: procreation and feeding. It is a lifestyle not to be underestimated, if I may say so 😉
At the viewing sites, big underwater lights attract plankton, the primary food source of the gentle giants. When a manta ray shows up during a manta swim, it will feed on the concentrated amounts of plankton.
You can find more information about the phenomenon (and the creation of manta ray viewing sites) on this page.
Likelihood of Manta Ray Sightings through the Year
The chances of spotting manta rays increase during spring, summer, and fall months. During those times, the ocean along the Kona shores is less turbulent, making it easier for the operators to access viewing areas.
The likelihood of sightings decreases during the winter due to large swells that generate high surf and waves, making the manta viewing area harder to access. The probability of manta sightings is highest during the spring, summer, and fall – simply due to calmer waters.
However, there is never an absolute certainty of manta ray sightings. Various factors, including the availability of food sources and local migration, influence their presence.
Other tour Companies and “Manta Guarantee” policies
As our terms and conditions state, we do not offer a refund, discount, or rain check if the manta rays do not appear.
Industry-wide, several manta tour companies offer a “manta guarantee”. We encourage you to check with them if this is important to you.
We conducted a simple search among three local tour boat companies. Our findings were similar across the board: none of the other operators offer refunds if no manta rays show up, as they (like us) are all small businesses with expenses.
- Company A’s policy: this operator shares our approach and understands that while it cannot guarantee manta ray sightings, it still offers an exceptional chance to witness mantas. They provide “Come Again Free” tickets once a week on a first-come-first-serve basis, allowing visitors another opportunity to encounter mantas without additional cost.
- Company B’s policy: Similar to ours, this company boasts an over 90% success rate in manta ray sightings. However, they face the same constraints of being a small operator and thus unable to provide refunds if manta rays aren’t spotted during a trip.
- Company C’s policy: Acknowledging the unpredictable nature of wild animals, this tour company maintains that while its manta ray interaction rate stands at an impressive 90%, it cannot control or guarantee encounters. Nevertheless, it allows guests who miss out on manta sightings during a night dive or snorkel to go again on another manta trip on a space-available standby basis.
From these different approaches, it seems evident that other tour operators also look for a balance between ensuring customer satisfaction and managing operational costs.
If we don’t see mantas, isn’t the whole trip for nothing?
On the off-chance no manta rays show up during a moonlight snorkel activity, 99% of our customers still leave happy and exhilarated after an unforgettable experience.
Even without mantas, a moonlight snorkel along the Kona coast with an experienced tour guide is an adventure full of wonders. There is plenty of other marine life to see, and most of it behaves differently at night around the viewing sites than in the light of day.
Check out other marine life you’d usually encounter on a moonlight snorkel!
A Call to Appreciate the Wonders of the Ocean
As eco-warriors and marine advocates, we are committed to providing informative and unforgettable experiences. Our goal is to create awareness about the importance of conservation and responsible tourism.
Engaging in responsible tourism also means understanding the limitations of wildlife encounters and appreciating the natural underwater world.
We encourage guests to (re)connect with nature, find inspiration in the beauty of the manta rays, and develop a deep respect for the fragile marine environments they call home.
0 Comments