Kona Manta Ray Snorkel Tours — Attraction in Hawaii

Great Zodiac trip to snorkeling and great boat captain and crew! Great calm and scenic trip back along the coast. Snorkeling was great. We didn't see any dolphins, but we know that isn't the fault of the tour operators. Bouncy -- so sit near the captain for smoothest ride. The reason for the four stars (and I'm being generous here) is that there are multiple meeting locations to get started and the advertised meeting time is actually one hour after the actual (until you read the fine print hidden within the confirmation for Viator bookings and find that you are supposed to "check in" one hour earlier than the advertised meeting time). So, the "hook up" to get started made the start a nightmare and we almost missed the excursion -- along with 2 other parties who also missed this key information. Specifically, the advertised meeting time was 10:45 AM. We were supposed to have noticed that we had to check in (in person, not just a call or text) at 9:45 AM. More significantly, for those who don't have their own rental car, the advertised meeting location is merely an office located 2 miles from the cruise ship port. After you stop there to rent a wet suit and check in, you are then given the actual address of the boat launch/marina where the boat is -- continuing another 3 miles further down the road. One couple had rented Uber to the office and let the Uber go -- only to find out that they were still 3 miles away. We had walked the first 2 miles and had no idea that we had another 3 miles to go! Fortunately, the other party had a rental car and drove us to the real take-off location. In addition, their office manager at the check in site was very defensive and seemed to think that we should have expected/noticed this inconvenient check in process -- despite the "big print" advertised meeting time and location and very-much-hidden details. I looked at every section of my TripAdvisor app that morning and didn't see these details -- except for the surprise that the check in was an hour prior to the "meeting time". I (later when after we were back on the cruise ship) took a screen shot of the app just to prove to myself that I hadn't screwed this up. I have taken over 20 Viator/TripAdvisor excursions in the past 4 years, and this was the worst logistics confusion I have experienced. When trying to call and text on the way to the "check in", no one answered for over two hours. Also, the name of the company on the door of the office was different than the name of the operator cited in the Viator -- wasting another 20 minutes of looking around for them once we got to the check in site. The defensive office manager said we should have noticed that the logo on the small taped-up sign was the same. He also wouldn't let us in and waved us away when we first knocked -- causing a further delay and making us feel that we had the wrong place. Again, the actual boat crew was absolutely super and the tour was great. I would suggest that these two guys on the boat get rid of the front office operation and just meet at the final point or (better) send a driver to the cruise ship port -- forgoing wet suit rentals. Definitely advertise the check in time as the...

Great tour and the mantas were amazing!

The company supplies snorkels and face masks, and you can also rent wet suit top halves for $10 (highly recommended for warmth and flotation, everyone in our boat got them) as well as phone waterproof cases and even a GoPro camera, though I’m not sure of the prices for those other things.

The crew was friendly and helpful, and everything was done very efficiently. You bring a small bag or pack that you can close and put your wallet and keys etc in that, and they keep it in their van during the tour. The only things you take onto the boat are your towels and flip flops.

We saw what we came for, several visits by huge mantas, one or two that did several loops right under us, literally an inch from our noses! We saw a fair number of fish too, though not really the pretty tropical reef kind.

But if the water’s somewhat rough (like it was when we went) and you aren’t super comfortable with swimming or snorkeling, or your arms aren’t the strongest, you might find it all a bit challenging, maybe more mentally than physically. You have to swim a short distance from the boat to the floating platform, maneuver your legs through a float belt (this helps keep your legs on the surface so you don’t accidentally kick a manta), then hang onto the edge of the pitching and rolling platform while floating face down for almost half an hour. Then swim a short distance back to the boat and climb the ladder. With the water churning all around this got old fast (especially having to pull my face out of the water every few minutes to drain my leaky mask - thanks facial hair), but we stuck it out and it was worth it.

But another member of our party had problems with his snorkel (and maybe wasn’t a big fan of the whole idea in general), so as soon as he went into the water and got water in his mask, the attentive crew quickly helped him back into the boat.

For what it’s worth, on average the water’s calmer in the summer than in the winter, but this is the second time we’ve done this tour in the same place, both in February, and the first time the water was much smoother.

P. S. The confirmation email says they could reschedule you up to 30 minutes before your prebooked tour time if they don’t get at least 8 people, or other unexpected things happen. A few hours before seems reasonable but 30 minutes is much too short!

Also P. S. They seem to do business under multiple names. I booked with, and got confirmations from, “Hawaii Island and Ocean Tours” but when I followed the link they sent to leave this review, it was “Kona Manta Ray Snorkel Tours”, and when they gave me the Venmo QR code to leave a tip, it was “Big Island...

This was our favorite experience during our visit to the Big Island!

I was a little concerned when I first booked the tour because I received a confirmation email from a company of a different name: Hawaii Island and Ocean Tours & Kona Snorkel Tours, but that is the name they go by and that is what’s on their van as well.

We originally booked for a 7pm tour but we were told a day in advance that we would have to join the 6:20pm tour and it all worked out. The crew kept us posted with reminders the day of the tour and we were able to find the parked van easily. Street parking is limited but when we arrived, there were still a few spots available.

We were fitted for wetsuits right there on the street (no changing room, but everyone had swimwear on anyway so we just slipped the wetsuits right over). I am a big girl and was worried they wouldn’t have one that fit me, but they gave me one that fit on the first try. They do feel tight, but they’re supposed to be watertight to keep you warm.

Only recording devices could be taken to the boat. Anything else had to be left with them in a secure place (or could be brought back to your car if there was time and your parked nearby). I was able to take my float belt with me, but they do have lifevests if you need one.

It was a short walk to the dock, and a short boat ride to the snorkel area. The sun had just set as we started. I was slightly terrified of jumping into the water as it was dark and I’m not a strong swimmer but there were plenty of people in our group and we had a lighted board to swim towards so I mustered up enough courage to do it.

We were instructed to hold onto the board and place a pool noodle under our legs to keep them straight. It took a few minutes of staring at plankton before we saw our first manta ray. As soon as I saw it, I felt my fears melt away, surpassed by awe. As they got more comfortable with us in the water, they swam closer and closer, doing barrel rolls right by our faces. They were such playful, majestic creatures. It was definitely an experience of a lifetime.

You do have to be fit enough to climb up the ladder to get back in the boat. That took me a little while, but I eventually got in.

Overall, the crew was professional, knowledgeable, and really showed how much they cared about the animals. Highly recommend this company and...