Manta Ray moonlight swim in Kona, Hawaii
The transformational, educational and sustainable experience of a lifetime
A Life-Changing Adventure
Swimming with giant manta rays at night is a unique adventure that truly transforms any person who experiences it. Yes, most visitors spend these magical moments with several dozen other snorkelers and divers blocking their view, and disturbing the manta rays on top of that.
At Manta Ray Advocates, we offer an exclusive and animal-friendly experience to guests who want to understand the true magic of the manta rays.
What Makes Our Manta Ray Snorkel Experience Unique?
Environmentally sensitive
At Manta Ray Advocates, the mantas always come first. We adhere to strict guidelines to make sure the manta rays don’t get disturbed by our presence. We approach the mantas from the beach, an eco-friendly alternative to sighting boats.
Safety First
Swimming with manta rays should be completely safe, for the mantas as well as for you. With 50+ years of combined experience, we know how important it is to brief you on safety before we start – and we only work with top-notch equipment.
Private Setting
Instead of getting on a boat to one of the busier viewing areas, we go in from a white sandy beach and swim to where the manta rays are feeding. Read more about the location here! We work with small groups (up to 6 people), so we can give every guest the personal attention they deserve and make the experience highly educational for everyone.
Book a Manta Ray Night Snorkel in Kona, Hawaii
Interested in joining us for a moonlight swim with manta rays?
- See our availability – and choose a day and time that fit your travel schedule
- As soon as you’ve booked and paid, we’ll send you an email confirmation
We can’t wait to meet you… so you can meet the mantas!
Your Guides on the Manta Ray Snorkel Adventure
With several decades of experience each, our guides are here to keep you safe and help you get the most out of your moonlight swim with the manta rays.
James L. Wing
Underwater cameraman at heart, James founded “Dolphin Dreams Imaging” (and today’s Manta Ray Advocates) in 1991. He was the first photographer for the manta ray dive at Manta Village (Keauhou) and established Manta Heaven (airport) in 1999.
When he retired from diving and filming in 2014, he pivoted from production and set up the manta ray moonlight swim program with the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel.
He’s a PADI master diving instructor, ocean educator, and loves sharing his in-depth knowledge about manta rays. His field-experience with the gentle giants along the Kona Coast is unmatched.
Martina Wing
Martina is a passionate manta ray advocate, ocean educator, and underwater camerawoman. She lives in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, with hubby James.
Martina’s all about raising awareness and spreading knowledge about the gentle giants of the sea, so we can better protect them from harm – and people will be able to experience manta rays (online and in real life) for generations to come.
Her love for the mysterious manta rays inspired her to teach other people about marine life and the uncountable wonders taking place in our oceans. Martina has been filming manta rays (and other underwater stories), as well as guiding people who come to swim with the gentle giants in Hawaii for over 20 years.
Kerstin Windberg
Kerstin got her diving certification in the Maldives in 1998. After finishing her divemaster in Thailand (2010), she followed through with the PADI Instructor (2011) and has worked around the beautiful reefs of the Red Sea (Egypt), Bali, Thailand, and the Florida Keys. In 2017 she moved to the Big Island of Hawaii.
Kerstin cherishes small critters and large marine life alike and loves introducing people to them. She’s passionate about making the mantas’ home safer and working towards a sustainable future for the ocean, that everyone can benefit from.
One of the most amazing experiences a human can have. And one flicked its wing and hit me on the hand – it was unexpected and so exciting. Made me feel blessed to be so fortunate. A wonderful antidote to negativity bias!
As Featured In…
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the manta ray swim scheduled at night?
This is the time of the day when manta rays come to feed. Lights at the viewpoint attract zooplankton, and the manta rays associate those lights with food. Read more about this here.
Where exactly does this take place?
There are three recognised manta ray viewing sites in Kona, Hawaii. Read all about the different locations here!
While the other locations are only accessible by boat, we walk into the water directly from a sandy beach at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. We love that we get to use a private beach for this unique and relaxing experience, and that there are no boats involved in our manta ray tour.
We meet at the beach activity kiosk for the briefing and preparations; full directions will be sent to you by email upon booking.
How long does the manta ray moonlight swim take?
We start with a safety briefing and share our insights about the manta rays, the ocean, and other marine life you may encounter. The activity takes about 75-90 minutes in total, of which 30-40 minutes are spent in the water.
Do I need a guide? Can’t I do this on my own?
There are 3 reasons why you need a guide:
- Our experienced guides keep you safe and away from currents, jellyfish, sharp lava rock and coral, sea urchins, rogue waves and other potential danger
- Swimming in the ocean at night requires planning and proper equipment; we work with top-notch gear like safety lights and swim vests
- We will also show you how to passively interact with the manta rays, so they aren’t frightened or injured by your presence – and so we don’t interrupt them while they eat.
Do I have to be in "good shape" to do this? Are there any age limits?
Can the manta rays hurt me? Do I need to worry about sharks or other marine animals?
Manta rays are notorious pacifists; Steve Irwin was killed by a stingray, a much different creature. In over 25 years of scuba diving along the Kona coast, we have only seen sting rays twice – and not at our location. Stingrays are shy creatures that roam in much deeper water. Read about how manta rays protect themselves here – and more about the difference between mantas and stingrays here.
We have never seen a predatory shark during the experience.
We may get augmented numbers of box jellyfish in the area at certain times of the month (read about this phenomenon here).
Are we going snorkeling or scuba diving?
We offer snorkeling tours with manta rays only. If you’d rather scuba dive: see Hawaii Ocean Watch Greenlist.
Can we touch or even ride the manta rays?
No, touching removes a protective coating from their skin and this is harmful to the manta rays. Trying to ride or touch them can harm or kill them. More about this here.
What do I need to bring - and what do you provide?
Please bring a swimsuit, swim shirt, and you are welcome to use your own snorkeling gear.
The water temperature does not normally change between day and night. It is generally around 78-82 degrees Fahrenheit (21-25 degrees Celsius). Keep in mind that you will be floating still for about half an hour while in the water; however, most of our guests feel they do not require a wetsuit.
We supply you with a high-quality mask and snorkel, fins, safety flotation vest, and towels. Or, you can use your own snorkeling gear if you prefer. Please bring your own swimsuit. Read more here about what equipment you will use to swim with mantas.
There is a freshwater shower for your convenience after the swim and restrooms and changing rooms.
What can I do to prepare for swimming with manta rays?
Ahead of time: download our Guide to Swimming with Manta Rays to learn all about what you need, remind yourself of the guidelines to interact with marine life and more.
You will also get access to additional information once you signed up for your manta ray experience with us.
Practice snorkeling in the ocean or in the hotel pool with mask, snorkel, and fins (mandatory use) so you’re confident the gear is comfortable and fits right.
On the day of the swim: take it easy during the day. Eat something so you are not hungry during the activity. The beach shack is not easy to find, so make sure you arrive ahead of time! And have a Plan B in case we have to cancel due to ocean conditions.
What happens if the manta ray experience gets cancelled?
Do you guarantee manta ray sightings?
While our night snorkel adventure offers one of the best chances to experience manta rays in their natural environment, it’s important to remember that manta rays are wild animals. Many factors influence their presence, and those can change rapidly.
We do our best to forecast the likelihood of seeing mantas by sharing the sighting success of the prior nights, but there is still no guarantee of mantas showing up (much like whale-watching or fishing).
If the manta rays do not appear, we do not offer a refund, a discount, or a rain check.
Got more questions?
Feel free to contact us by calling 808-987-5580 or emailing info@mantarayshawaii.com.
If you’re looking to book a swim with us (or you’ve booked already), our team is best reached from 9 AM – 3 PM Hawaiian Standard Time.
We are happy to help Monday to Saturday – Closed on Sundays, July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve.
Where to Stay
Kona Coast Vacation Rentals
We offer three different holiday rentals on our property in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. We love sharing our passion for manta rays and interacting with guests – if that’s what you want! If you book a week’s stay with us, you get the moonlight swim with manta rays for free (2 for 1).
Mauna Kea Beach Resort
Looking for all-inclusive accommodations? We start our moonlight swims on the private beach of the legendary Mauna Kea Beach Resort. This is for you if you want luxury & relaxation.
What They Are Saying
Know what you’re getting into
Download our guide to swimming with manta rays in Hawaii.
Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?
Pick a day and time that fits your travel schedule
As soon as you’ve booked, you get access to all the information you need to prepare
We can’t wait to meet you… so you can meet the mantas!