Observing manta rays as they dance in the dark ocean is an underwater experience like no other. However, while these gentle marine creatures are harmless to humans, it’s still important to follow the guidelines set forth by your in-water tour guide.
Among the most important rules is to refrain from touching them, as this can remove their protective mucus coating. Read on to learn more about this mesmerizing excursion!
Appreciate Their Graceful Movements Underwater
Imagine floating in the warm Hawaiian waters at night, surrounded by the serene sea, when graceful manta rays dance below you in a mesmerizing underwater ballet. This unforgettable experience is one of the Big Island’s top activities that’s not to be missed. It’s also a powerful way to connect with our ocean and create memories that will last a lifetime.
The wingspan of a Manta Alfredi, the species most commonly encountered by snorkelers and divers in Hawaii, can reach up to 18 feet. Despite this impressive size, these creatures are docile and incredibly graceful.
While the majestic beasts are often found near the surface during the day, they tend to hang out at deeper waters at night to feed on the plankton attracted by our bright lights. It’s also possible to see Manta Rays cruising the reef in groups of up to 30 or more during a mating train, as they follow one another in an intricate dance that can continue for days or even weeks.
Whether you’re snorkeling or diving, it’s important to respect these wild creatures’ personal space and leave them alone as much as possible to allow them to thrive in their natural habitat. Avoid touching them as this can rub off their protective mucus coating, and try not to obstruct their looping glide path while they feed on the plankton. While they’re not aggressive, it is recommended that you keep a distance of at least 10 feet when swimming with them to avoid accidental abrasions.
Manta Rays are incredibly smart animals, with some research suggesting that they have the largest brain-to-body ratio of any living marine animal! They can also recognize humans and remember them over time, making it unlikely that they will ever be aggressive towards us. In fact, they have completely unique patterns on their bellies, just like fingerprints, which helps them identify individual individuals, as well as their favorite feeding grounds.
When you book your snorkel or dive with a reputable tour operator, they will be sure to give you tips and advice on how to safely observe Manta Rays in their natural environment. This includes not touching them, which can rub off their protective mucus coating and may make them uncomfortable, as well as staying away from their cleaning stations (places where they go to get their skin cleaned by smaller fish).
Witness Their Feeding Habits
Unlike stingrays, manta rays do not have tail stingers and instead suck in plankton with their mouths. This makes them a completely safe and thrilling experience for snorkelers to watch. Even during the day you can find them cruising along the reef, but night is when they are in their element, attracted to the lights and feeding on the plankton that gathers in this darkened area.
Manta rays are creatures of habit and have specific places where they go to feed each night: feeding stations. For a front row seat to this incredible sight you can join a tour that takes you to one of these spots, like the world-famous “Manta Village” site off of the south Kona coast or at another well-known location known as “Manta Heaven” in Hanifaru Bay. On a manta ray night snorkel you’ll spend your time in the water, usually holding on to a flotation device and looking down at the water surface while bright lights are lowered into the water to attract the plankton and give you an up close view of this magnificent animal’s incredible movements as it dives down to eat.
The tour guide will explain what is happening in the water below you as the mantas swim around, somersaulting, and gliding above your head. The guides will also point out the smaller mantas that hang out nearby, waiting for their big brothers and sisters to come in so they can grab a share of the plankton.
You will see the circle feeding behavior, as well as the more unique cyclone feeding, where as many as 150 mantas gather to form a chain-feeding train that moves in a circular pattern, growing until it looks like an underwater cyclone that can last for up to 60 minutes!
You will also see some of the other behaviors that are part of the natural food chain that keeps this creature thriving. For example, if you catch the right time of year and are lucky enough to be there when a male and female manta pair is mating, you’ll get a chance to witness their courtship rituals that can include swimming patterns, body movements, and vocalizations.
Discover Unique Underwater Features
Uncovering extraordinary aquatic locations requires curiosity, a bit of research, and oftentimes a little adventure. There’s a whole world beneath the ocean that remains largely unexplored, and these remarkable habitats often boast vibrant ecosystems and breathtaking underwater scenery that rival those of more well-known areas.
Manta rays inhabit the waters surrounding the Big Island, and are found year-round at two popular snorkeling spots. The type of manta rays that frequent Hawaii’s oceans belong to the Mobula alfredi species, and are typically around 12 ft (3.7 m) in wingspan. The most common sightings at these locations involve manta rays aggregating to feed on the plankton that gathers in these shallow waters during the night.
One of the best ways to experience this mesmerizing phenomenon is by participating in a manta ray night snorkeling. This unique snorkeling activity involves being escorted by an in-water guide while floating on a modified surfboard that has rope “handles” going around the perimeter. You hold onto these handles superman style, and a guide “tows” you around to the various places where mantas are most active.
This type of snorkeling isn’t just safe, but it allows you to witness a mesmerizing ballet performed by these elusive sea creatures that elude swimmers throughout the day. As they glide through the calm waters, these enormous fish attract and filter plankton from the water, consuming as much of it as they possibly can. This mesmerizing dance is an awe-inspiring sight that you don’t want to miss out on when you visit the Kona Coast of the Big Island.
During this type of snorkeling, it’s important to remember that you are not supposed to touch the mantas. Although it may be tempting, this is very stressful for the animals, and it can cause them to lose their protective mucus coating. You also don’t want to chase, grab, or ride on the mantas – this doesn’t benefit them in any way.
If you’re planning a trip to the Big Island and would like to witness this incredible phenomenon for yourself, book a manta ray night snorkel through your preferred tour operator. Make sure to check your confirmation email for specific tour details, including check in and departure times.
Experience the Thrill of a Close Encounter
Imagine floating in the warm Hawaiian ocean under a canopy of stars and then watching graceful manta rays glide by. It’s a magical experience you can only find in Kona. This unique and highly sought-after activity is known as a Manta Ray Night Snorkel. It’s a bucket list conquest and a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you won’t forget.
To see the mantas at night, a tour company will take you to one of two popular feeding stations near the Kona Coast. The guides will explain everything you need to know about the manta rays and then they’ll lead you down to the water. Once you’re there, the strobe lights from the boat will illuminate the sea floor and attract plankton that the manta rays love to feast on. Then they will allow you to swim freely next to the rays as they feed.
This is a safe and fun snorkeling experience for people of all ages. If you’ve never done this before it is best to join a morning or afternoon snorkel first to gain some skill and comfort. Your tour will provide you with a wetsuit and special Rx mask designed to work in dark waters.
You’ll also receive a waterproof camera and headphone so you can enjoy the experience without worrying about your gear. You can capture this once-in-a-lifetime memory to take home with you!
In addition to manta rays, you might encounter other types of marine life as well. You can expect to see yellow tang, raccoon butterfly fish and even a sea turtle during your snorkel or scuba dive. In the right environment, you might also get a chance to see the legendary Menpachi or the Hawaiian garden eels that rise out of the sand at night to feed.
The most important thing to remember when snorkeling with manta rays is to be mindful and not touch them. They have a mucus coating that fends off infection. Touching them can rub this coating off. It is also important to stay close to the surface and not swim down where they are feeding. Also, be sure not to kick up your fins as you approach them because this can scare the rays and cause injury.
