A Manta Rays + Snorkeling experience by Sea Paradise. Back to all Big Island tours.
Tour Summary: Manta rays at Keauhou's Manta Village feed within inches of the lit flotation board. Sea Paradise has operated here since 1985, making them one of the longest-running operators at this location.
Manta rays are drawn to the lights attached to the flotation board, which attract the plankton they feed on at night. Guests hold the lit frame face-down while manta rays feed in the water below. The swim from the boat to the board is about 30 feet. Manta Village sits offshore of the Sheraton Kona Resort at Keauhou Bay, about 5 to 10 minutes by catamaran. Map credit: Google Maps. Manta rays at Manta Village routinely come within inches of guests on the float. Close contact is the norm, not the exception. A manta ray scooping plankton at night at Manta Village. The circular feeding motion brings them repeatedly through the same lit water, which is what makes the close encounters consistent. The view from the flotation board as a manta ray passes through the lit water below at Manta Village. Guests on the flotation board at Manta Village. The lights on the frame draw plankton to the surface, which draws the manta rays in close. Image credit: Sea Paradise.
5 Tour Highlights:
- Manta rays loop directly under the flotation board at Manta Village, routinely coming within inches of guests on the float
- Ride-along seats available from age 4 for guests watching from the catamaran deck, including children below the snorkeling minimum of 6
- Manta Village is 5 to 10 minutes from Keauhou Bay, keeping the open-water crossing short for guests prone to motion sickness
- Sea Paradise has operated at this site since 1985 and holds a Manta Ray Advocates of Hawaiʻi certification
- Manta guarantee: rebook free within 7 days on any scheduled tour if no manta ray is spotted
Important: Bring your own swimwear (worn under the provided wetsuit) and a light jacket or sweater for the return crossing. An underwater camera if you have one optional (no flash allowed; GoPro rentals available on board)
Tour Information:
| Price: | Adult | Youth | Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| (excluding taxes & fees) | $130 | $115 | $65 |
Price note: Infant pricing is for ride-along seats, suited for guests age 4 and up who want to watch without getting in the water.
Tour Provider: Sea Paradise
Activity: Manta Rays + Snorkeling
Tour start time: Depending on the time of sunset between 5 pm and 6:30 pm, with when needed a second tour 2.5 hours later
Duration: 2 hours
Departure from: Keauhou Harbor
Pick-up available? No
Included: All snorkel gear and wetsuit provided. In-water guide support throughout the snorkel session. Hot cocoa, chocolates, water, soft drinks, and local juices (served on the return crossing). Pre-snorkel briefing on manta ray behavior and interaction etiquette
Cancellations: Cancellations require 24 hour advance notice. You must call (800) 322-5662 or 808-322-2500 to cancel your tour. No refunds will be issued if you do not call to cancel in the required time prior to your scheduled check-in time.
Read more: about manta rays in our Big Island manta rays guide.
Read more about the Manta Ray Snorkel
The floating boards Sea Paradise uses at Manta Village have lights mounted underneath that attract plankton. Manta rays feed by circling through the lit water, which is how they end up within inches of the guests holding the frame above. This happens most nights, not occasionally.
The flotation board, the swim, and what happens in the water
The tour departs Keauhou Bay on the Hoku Nui, a 50-foot catamaran, in the late afternoon, timed so the outbound crossing coincides with the last of the sunset. Manta Village is 5 to 10 minutes offshore from Keauhou, which limits the open-water exposure for guests prone to motion sickness at sea. Once anchored, the crew runs a briefing on manta behavior and etiquette. Then guests move onto the manta flotation device: a large lit frame that floats on the surface. You hold the edges and float face-down while the mantas circle the lit water below.
During the tour you hold onto a flotation device to which strong lights are attached. These lights attract plankton which, in turn, attract the manta rays. Image credit: Sea Paradise
The swim from the boat to the flotation board is about 30 feet, in dark water. That surprises some guests. Once on the board, the main instruction is to hold still. The mantas are there to feed, not to interact with people: they are focused on the plankton that the lights draw to the surface, which is why the encounters are consistently close. Snorkeling time is about 45 minutes, with the full tour running 2 hours from departure. Sea Paradise guides enter the water with every group and stay in throughout for hands-on support. Guests who need to come back early can do so. Standard masks, snorkels, and wetsuits are provided. No fins are needed. No full-face masks are allowed on this tour.
After the snorkel, the return crossing includes hot cocoa, chocolates, soft drinks, and local juices. The catamaran has restrooms on board. Bring a light jacket or sweater: getting out of the water after dark on the ocean runs colder than most guests anticipate, even in Hawaiʻi. If anyone in your group is susceptible to motion sickness, the short crossing helps, but the anchor period in open water can still be a factor at night.
Kids aged 4 and up, or guests who skip the snorkel: how the ride-along works
Sea Paradise offers a ride-along seat for guests who want to watch without getting in the water. The rate is $65 per person for guests aged 4 and up. Ride-along guests stay on the Hoku Nui’s deck while the snorkel group is in the water. At Manta Village, the lit water and the mantas moving through it are visible from the deck above, so the ride-along is a genuine alternative, not a consolation option. Guests under 18 on the ride-along need a supervising adult in their group.
This makes the tour workable for families with children aged 4 and 5, who are below the minimum snorkeling age of 6, as well as anyone else in the group who would rather not be in the ocean at night. Ride-along guests join the rest of the group for the sunset outbound crossing and the refreshments on the way back. Snorkeling participants are age 6 and up (children $115 / adults $130).
Why we list Sea Paradise
Sea Paradise has operated manta ray tours at Keauhou Bay since 1985, making them one of the longest-running operators at this specific location. They hold a certification from the Manta Ray Advocates of Hawaiʻi and run every tour under the organization’s interaction protocols: no touching, no chasing, passive float-based observation. When the Manta Green List was active, Sea Paradise was one of four certified providers in the state. The list was discontinued in 2023, but Sea Paradise continues to follow the same guidelines.
We list Sea Paradise because the tenure and the in-water guide protocol matter more on a night tour than a day trip. Most guests are not experienced night-ocean swimmers. The crew knows that, and the briefing and in-water support reflect it. They donate to the Surfrider Foundation and the Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund.
[Video] Short Video of the Manta Ray Snorkel with Sea Paradise
About Sea Paradise
Sea Paradise has operated manta ray tours at Keauhou Bay since 1985, making them one of the longest-running operators at this specific site. They hold a certification from the Manta Ray Advocates of Hawaiʻi and run every tour under the organization’s interaction protocols: no touching, no chasing, passive float-based observation only. They are members of the Sustainable Tourism Association of Hawaiʻi and donate to the Surfrider Foundation and the Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund.
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