Sea Paradise — Local services in Hawaii

I believe this would be a good experience under better conditions.

The night we went out there were 6’ to 8’ foot swells, we thought the crew would cancel, given the rough seas, but they did not. We didn’t want to lose our money, and we deferred to the crews’ judgment, so we went. Bad decision … very, very, bad Jerry.

When we got out to the floating light boards, many people were hesitant to get off the boat, as the water was extremely choppy, but the crew told us it would be an amazing experience so we reluctantly jumped in. We held onto the floating board’s metal bars, using a death grip, while the ocean threw us from side to side, much like being in a washing machine. It felt like we were holding on to the back of a boat, face in the water, while it was driving at full speed. It was not a fun experience - it was actually terrifying at times, and ultimately physically painful.

People left the floating boards fairly quickly, given the horrid conditions, and very few mantas were visualized. Once back on the boat, we realized half the people were vomiting (given the violent motion of the ocean) so we were probably swimming in vomit, which only heightened our ick factor. Thankfully we didn’t upchuck, but it took all our might not to puke. Once back on dry land we felt like we were still on the boat for hours. It ruined the rest of our night, and collectively we never want to experience anything like this again.

If the sea is calm, this could be a fun outing. The ocean is wild and unpredictable, therefore we commoners need to confidently rely on the expertise of the crew to keep us safe. My hope is that Sea Paradise would take into consideration the overall sea conditions and how it directly impacts their customers’ experience and overall feeling of safety. We felt a bit more like money cows than prized calves. I realize everyone needs to make a buck, but this was borderline torture and something I hope no one else has to experience. Proceed...

Had a great experience with Sea Paradise for the Manta Ray evening snorkel. We were blessed with good conditions on the water. Six separate rays showed up to feed, but it seemed like a hundred since they were constantly swooping through. It was amazing to see them up close and get to visit their world for a bit. The Sea Paradise guides did a good job explaining what would happen, were very communicative on shore, on the boat, and in the water, and gently coached those who were less comfortable with snorkeling. The catamaran was nice to have a stable place to launch/retrieve from, and having available snacks/drinks and a head were super convenient.

If you are uncertain about being in the ocean at night with 1500+ lb sea creatures, don't fret. My spouse, who is less comfortable in the water than me, was anxious at first, but once in the water and holding onto the rig, was very content. She described the feeling as being more of in a pool with the lighting, and while the rays came incredibly close to you (sometimes touching you though you shouldn't try to touch them), I heard her giggling repeatedly (a good thing).

Note: A few folks and younger kids had some difficulty because they weren't comfortable in the water. You certainly don't have to be a a great swimmer (you only paddle about 20 ft from the boat with a pool noodle), it definitely makes a better experience for everyone if you've had some time in a snorkel and can relax in the water. Also, you are holding onto a floating rig with your arms above you (e.g. laying flat on the water), so if you have shoulder issues, consider that before being in that position for almost 40 minutes.

Overall a great experience with a well-organized tour and we had the privilege of mother nature cooperating for...

Absolutely spectacular experience - highly, highly recommend. If there is nothing else you do during your stay on the Big Island, at least do this. It is worth every penny, and more. Though excited, I was admittedly a bit anxious about this given my very limited experience with snorkeling and the simple fact that you're in the ocean at night, in the dark, with huge animals swimming around you... but all of my concerns quickly melted away the minute I got on the boat. I do recommend getting at least a little bit of snorkeling practice in beforehand, so you can get comfortable with the equipment and your own confidence having your face in the water... but you don't have to do anything crazy. The crew is very friendly and supportive, so if you run into any issues during your snorkeling experience, you can count on them to help you out. They did a great job making me feel safe, and I was impressed by their friendliness and knowledge about the rays. You can also rest assured that this group has the animals' best interest in mind and are very respectful and conservation-minded.

As for the up close encounter itself... I was concerned we wouldn't get to see any rays and that this would end up being a waste of money, but the crew will actively search for rays while you're in the water and will help guide the group toward them to ensure you get the up-close encounter you'd expect for the price... and boy, did we get the encounter of a lifetime. We ended up seeing about 7 or 8 rays in total, but they continued to swim all around us through the entire experience, so it felt as if we were surrounded by dozens. At times they would swim literally inches from us, and one even swept up against my husband! It was unreal and so special - something we will never,...