My Kona Adventures — Local services in Hawaii

The Manta Ray tour from My Kona Adventures was incredible! We did the 8:50pm tour and arrived 40 minutes earlier for check-in and were greeted warmly by Eliza. Though we forgot to ask for wetsuits, which was included in our booking price since we bought tickets directly from the site rather than Groupon, it was a pretty balmy night and the water wasn’t too cold, either.

The boat ride there and back was really short, 3-5 minutes or so, which was really nice when we were out of the water at the end. The water was a little choppy, but because of the brevity of the ride, I didn’t feel too seasick. Props to our captain (we were trying to remember her name—we think it was Diane?), who got us there and back safely and demonstrated the proper usage of the snorkels and getting on and off the boat.

And then, of course, the mantas. Our water guide, Van, shared a lot of awesome facts about the manta rays as they swam up—they are gorgeous creatures! The ones we saw were 12-13 feet in wingspan, and felt larger than life. It was a bit scary at first because they swam up toward us as we hung on to the floating board, with their mouths agape to eat the plankton—we could see right into their mouths and it felt like we were about to get eaten! But they’re gentle giants, and harmless like big “sea butterflies”, as Van shared with us. With the clear goggles and snorkel on, it felt surreal—until they brushed up against us as they were eating the plankton! They were graceful, smooth, and slippery. We of course didn’t reach out to touch them ourselves (by regulation to protect them, they can only come into contact by their action, not ours). Apparently, according to Van, this geographical area is also the only one where the mantas can be observed this way, so it was awesome that we were able to bear witness!

We saw a “manta party” of a large handful of mantas, and they were extremely active throughout the 30 or so minutes in the water! The time flew by. I only wish I could have gotten my phone to work with a video, but I was able to take some pictures underwater of them. The My Kona Adventures team will also share with us a compiled video of the best footage from the month, which I’m looking forward to.

The one downside during the experience, which was out of the crew’s control, was that we were visited by a large number of bristleworms, which sting a little and look very… unpleasant. They come out at night and were drifting among the plankton, and stung most of us quite a few times. No harm done (nothing like a jellyfish or bee)—but it did dampen the experience and create more goosebumps than expected. Maybe remembering to ask for the wetsuits would have helped :). A quick freshwater shower on the boat ramp afterward helped to reduce the icky feeling, and a warm shower with soap at home did the trick.

Eliza was waiting for us on the boat ramp with our shoes, towels, and other belongings when we got back. It was a great experience end-to-end and I’d definitely recommend it to those who want to have a unique encounter with these...

My recent manta ray snorkeling expedition was nothing short of spectacular, special thanks to the incredible team of guides who brought the experience to life in the most memorable way possible. Each guide had a unique set of qualities that contributed to an unforgettable adventure.

Will was a true standout. He met us before we got on the boat and through a rain squall, he maintained a positive “have fun” attitude during the introduction to our expedition. His attention to detail was evident from the start; he ensured that every aspect of the trip including wetsuits, storage of our stuff, and pre-tip information was well orchestrated. His colorful and enthusiastic personality shone brightly as he answered every question with patience and passion. Will’s love for these magnificent creatures was infectious, and it deepened my appreciation for them.

Cap John was the energetic force of the group. His direct communication and clear diction made every instruction easy to follow, which was crucial for our safety in the water. He always put safety first, and it was clear that we were in good hands under his guidance. Despite his focus on safety, Cap John’s major stoke kept the energy high throughout the expedition. His enthusiasm was truly contagious, making every moment feel exhilarating.

Chase brought a unique flair to the trip. As a big fan of the ray “Kenzie”, he shared delightful anecdotes that added a personal touch to the experience. His reputation as the "dolphin whisperer" proved true when we had multiple surprise encounters with a pod of dolphins, which he expertly guided us through. His fashion sense and quirky love for Tuesdays added a light-hearted charm to the day, making the whole journey even more enjoyable.

Finally, Brian balanced the group with his stoic presence. Though reserved, his raw emotion showed through in his quiet appreciation of the sea’s beauty. He provided comic relief with his witty remarks, and his ability to work closely with Chase and us in the water was unmatched. Brian’s calm demeanor and unexpected humor added depth to our interactions, making him an essential part of the team.

Overall, this manta ray snorkeling expedition was an extraordinary experience, brought to life by a team of guides whose diverse talents and personalities complemented each other perfectly. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to explore the ocean’s wonders with a group of passionate and...

I was really looking forward to this manta ray snorkeling tour with My Kona Adventure, but it turned out to be a big disappointment. It Christmas week, so things were understandably busy, but the disorganization and lack of care made the experience unfortunately stressful and unpleasant.

From the start, things felt chaotic. We checked in with Jen and her husband, who were courteous and helpful, but then we were handed off to another person who gave a very brief safety talk on shore. After that, we were passed to the boat crew—the captain and two guides—who didn’t seem directly connected to the rest of the operation. During the ~5-minute bumpy boat ride to the manta ray viewing spot, a crew member rattled off some instructions so quickly that were quite hard to follow. When we got there, we were literally told to just "jump in," with no one checking if our wetsuits (which we’d rented from them) were zipped up properly or if our snorkeling masks (which they also provide) were worn securely. Everything felt chaotic and disorganized. Imaging trying to swim in dark, choppy ocean water and trying to balance on a pool noodle between your legs while holding onto a small board—all the while one of the crew members was yelling and threatening to send people back to the boat if they didn’t comply. That was unfortunately our experience that night.

It was clear that people working for this tour were all stressed and overworked, which speaks to larger issues with how My Kona Adventure runs its business. The entire experience felt very disjointed. There was very little coordination among the check-in staff, the person giving the safety briefing, the captain, and the guides. To add to my concerns, earlier in the day, we were in fact told the tour was canceled due to high winds, only to get a phone call later saying the tour was still on and the message had been a “technical error.” The waves were indeed choppy that night, and I did hear from another guest that the tour they had originally booked with another company was canceled that day due to sea conditions. Part of me wondered if My Kona Adventure chose to push ahead when they shouldn’t have.

I booked this tour because of the great reviews here, but after this experience, I have a hard time believing it was just bad luck during a busy time...