The famous Kona Manta Ray Night Dive is one of the most memorable dives around the planet, and is one of the activities on Hawaii that you shouldn’t miss. Each year thousands of people take the plunge and have an experience that will last them a lifetime! With their huge 12-foot wingspans and agile movements manta rays are truly mesmerizing!  With no teeth, luckily, they are quite harmless.

Why do the manta rays come out at night?

The Kona coast is one of the best places to get close to manta rays. At night, divers carry a light and shine it up towards the surface. These lights attract plankton and tons of fish as well. The manta rays are attracted by this plankton. They feed on it and filter it out of the ocean by swooping through the water with their mouths open. During the feeding, the manta rays swim, turn, and even somersault in the light beams giving you an unforgettable night!

Planning your manta ray dive

It is possible to dive or snorkel to see the Manta rays at night. To protect these giants, a strict set of guidelines should be followed when diving and snorkeling with the manta rays. For your safety, and that of the manta rays, we recommend to go with an organized group. When planning your dive, be sure to make your reservations well in advance! The manta ray dive is so popular that the dive operators get fully booked, even a couple of days in advance.

There are many companies on the Kona coast that take you out at night on the manta ray dives. Walk around town for special offers, or start looking online here (google is your friend!).

Manta ray dive video

If you are curious what these dives look like, have a look at this video! Also, don’t forget to check out our snorkeling and diving safety tips.