A Manta Rays + Diving + Snorkeling experience by Torpedo Tours. Back to all Big Island tours.
Tour Summary: Manta rays at Garden Eel Cove off Kailua-Kona can reach 15-foot wingspans, and Torpedo Tours runs 18 guests maximum to see them: snorkelers and certified divers together on the same boat, owner-operated for over 30 years.
Large photoDivers sit on the bottom at Garden Eel Cove as manta rays circle overhead during the nightly feeding event. Photo: Torpedo Tours. - Large photo
Snorkelers hold lit flotation boards at the surface of Garden Eel Cove while manta rays feed in the water column below. Photo: Torpedo Tours. - Large photo
Michael Hale is a dive instructor, Red Cross Emergency First Responder, and USCG 100-ton master captain who has been with Torpedo Tours for six years. Cieba is his mini Australian shepherd and rides on every trip. Photo: Torpedo Tours. - Large photo
he Na Pali Kai II is a USCG-certified 38-foot vessel. Torpedo Tours departs Honokohau Harbor at 6:00 PM for the 25-minute cruise to Garden Eel Cove. Photo: Torpedo Tours.
5 Tour Highlights:
- Manta rays at Garden Eel Cove can reach 15-foot wingspans. They feed by doing continuous loops through plankton attracted to light boards at the surface.
- Maximum 18 guests per trip, compared to 49 or more on most competing Kona manta tour boats.
- Snorkelers and certified divers go in the water together: snorkelers look down from the surface, divers look up from the ocean floor at the same manta rays.
- The 25-minute boat ride to Garden Eel Cove runs at sunset along the Kailua-Kona coastline, where dolphins and humpback whales are occasionally spotted.
- Owner-operated for 30+ years from Honokohau Harbor, with American Lifeguard Association-certified crew and Red Cross Emergency First Responders on board.
Important: Towels are not provided. Bring your own along with a dry layer for the return trip. Cieba, Michael's mini Australian shepherd, rides on every tour. If dogs on boats affect your decision, that is worth knowing before you book.
Tour Information:
| Price: | Adult |
|---|---|
| (excluding taxes & fees) | $129 |
Price note: Snorkeling: [tour_price] per person. Certified divers: $159.
Tour Provider: Torpedo Tours
Activity: Manta Rays + Diving + Snorkeling
Tour start time: 6pm
Duration: 3 hours
Departure from: Honokohau Harbor
Pick-up available? No
Included: Wetsuit, snorkel mask, fins, and flotation board.. Snacks and beverages: chips, nuts, cookies, rice crispy treats, soft drinks, sparkling water, bottled water
Cancellations: This policy applies to any cancellation of a private charter, or reduction in the number of passengers you booked on a shared charter. There is no refund for any reservation made within 48 hours of the activity. Additionally, if you cancel 2 weeks (14 days) prior to your trip date, there will be no charge. If you cancel between 8 and 13 days prior to your trip date, 50 percent of the charter price may be charged if we are unable to rebook your space. Any cancellation 7 days or less before the scheduled charter, or if you do not present yourself on the day of the charter, will be charged 100 percent of your reserved space for that charter. We reserve the right to cancel a charter due to mechanical failure or unsafe weather conditions. When we cancel a trip, you are refunded in full. If you have questions or concerns call 808-938-0405
Read more: about manta rays in our Big Island manta rays guide.
# Read more about the Manta Ray night dive/snorkel
The manta rays at Garden Eel Cove off Kailua-Kona can have wingspans up to 15 feet and weigh over 1,000 pounds. They feed at night by doing continuous somersaults through plankton drawn to light boards, and on a good night you can count 10 or more passing within a few feet of the surface.
The detail that comes up most in guest reviews, cited even more often than the manta encounters, is the group size. Torpedo Tours caps trips at 18 guests. Most competing Kona operators run 49 or more. At 18, the crew can actually manage individual guests, and the light boards aren’t competing with a crowd. Guests who have done manta tours with other operators describe the difference directly in their reviews. The crew on this boat are good with first-time night snorkelers, including those who are nervous about the dark water.
The boat departs Honokohau Harbor at 6:00 PM (check in by 5:30, or you risk forfeiting your seat). The 25-minute coastal cruise to Garden Eel Cove runs along the Kailua-Kona shoreline, where dolphins and humpback whales are sometimes spotted. The sunset tends to happen right around the time the crew is giving water entry instructions. Snorkelers hold on to lit flotation boards and look down into the water column; certified divers sit on the ocean floor and look up. The mantas pass between both groups doing their feeding loops. At 7:45, everyone is back on the boat for a hot freshwater rinse, snacks (chips, nuts, cookies, rice crispy treats), and drinks before the 8:05 return to harbor.
Dive or snorkel: same boat, same mantas, different view
Snorkelers pay $129 per person and receive all gear (mask, fins, flotation board, wetsuit). Certified divers book at a separate rate and can rent onboard equipment if needed. The position changes the experience: snorkelers float at the surface looking down into the feeding activity; divers sit on the bottom and watch the mantas’ white undersides pass overhead. Reviews mention close encounters from both positions. If you’re not a certified diver, snorkeling puts you directly above the action. The tour duration is 3 hours.
Swim requirement, ages, and what to bring
You must be able to swim 50 feet without a flotation device, and the operator requires intermediate to advanced snorkeling experience. The minimum age is 4 for snorkeling and 12 for diving. The tour is not suitable for pregnant guests or those with back, shoulder, or neck problems due to the occasional bumpy ride to and from the snorkel/dive spot. Towels are not provided. Bring your own, plus a dry layer for the return trip. One more thing: the crew brings a dog. Reviewers name the dog nearly as often as they name the mantas, so it’s worth knowing in advance if that affects your decision either way.
Torpedo Tours has been running this specific route from Honokohau Harbor for over 30 years under owner-operated management, which is a longer track record than most operators in the Kona manta market. They were one of four companies listed on the Hawaii Ocean Watch Manta Ray Green List before the program ended in 2023: the cap of 18 guests per trip and no-touch protocols are part of what earned that designation, and they’re still how the operation runs.
# What is the Manta Ray dive like? (video)
# About Torpedo Tours
Torpedo Tours has been running manta ray tours from Honokohau Harbor for over 30 years under owner-operated management, which gives them a longer institutional track record than most operators in Kona. The crew holds American Lifeguard Association certification and includes Red Cross Emergency First Responders. They were one of four companies listed on the Hawaii Ocean Watch Manta Ray Green List before the program ended in 2023: a designation based on passive-interaction protocols including the 18-guest cap and no-touch standards that are still in place today.
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