Snorkel with the Manta Rays
Imagine seeing a large, mysterious creature gliding like an acrobat through crystal clear ocean waters. Hauntingly beautiful and graceful, what is it you saw? You have seen a manta ray, the largest of the rays, reaching wing spans up to twenty feet and weighing as much as 3,000 pounds.
On the Big Island of Hawaii, you can snorkel with manta rays at night! Manta rays are filter feeders, meaning they feed on plankton and other tiny marine organisms. When people set up bright lights on the shoreline or the front of a boat, the plankton are attracted to the light and the rays follow for the feast!
Unlike stingrays, mantas don’t have barbs on their tails. And, although they are related to sharks, they pretty much only eat plankton. They are also curious creatures, with the largest brains of any fish species!
Watching these gigantic marine creatures glide through the water around you is an unforgettable experience. Just watch our video below to see why!
Want to snorkel with the manta rays? The most popular way to see them is to take a boat to their common feeding sites. Depending on the company, you can take a large snorkel tour boat, fishing boat, or kayak to see the manta rays. Typically the boats will have a bright light to attract the plankton and mantas. The following companies offer boat and kayak tours to snorkel with the rays near Kona:
- Fairwind Hawaii Ocean Cruises – Large boat (Hula Kai) – Keauhou Bay in Kona
- Sea Paradise Snorkel & Sail Cruises – Catamaran – Keauhou Bay in Kona
- Ocean Encounters – Fishing Boat – Departs from Honokohau Harbor in Kona
- Kamanu Charters – Zodiac or Catamaran Boat – Departs from Honokohau Harbor in Kona
- Aloha Kayak Co. – Kayak to snorkel with mantas in Keauhou Bay
If you are a licensed diver, you should check out the SCUBA tours offered by Jack’s Diving Locker or Big Island Divers. Both of these companies offer spots for snorkelers as well as SCUBA divers – perfect if you have your SCUBA certificate but you’re traveling with non-divers.
If you don’t want to snorkel or scuba, you can also see manta rays from the viewing areas at some local resorts – where the hotels put out bright lights so you can watch them from the shore. At Kona’s Sheraton Keauhou Bay, you can see manta rays from the Manta Ray Learning Center – right next to the Rays on the Bay restaurant. On the Kohala Coast, you can view the rays at the Mauna Kea Beach Resort where they have set up a light to attract them to Manta Ray Point.
Whether you swim with the mantas or just watch from the shore, make sure to get a glimpse of these amazing creatures on your Hawaii vacation!
If you drive up to the town of Waimea, stop by the Gallery of Great Things. This unique gallery and shop features numerous beautiful handmade crafts.
Situated in an old house with history – it housed nurses during World War Two – the Gallery has many small rooms to explore. Around every corner, you will find some nook with beautiful works of art from Hawaii and around the world.
This is the Gallery of Great Things: Art of Hawaii and the Pacific.
Here, you will find everything from stained glass to rosewood furniture and bowls to handmade jewellery. The Gallery also has numerous paintings, photographs, and sculptures, including prints of the Hawaiian Islands’ gorgeous landscapes. Another section has kitchen utensils with island flair. The many crafts and works of art run the gamut from quirky to elegant – so you’re sure to find something that suits your taste.
Great gallery to visit when in Waimea!
The Gallery of Great Things is located on Kawaihae Road (it will be on your right as you head into town if you’re driving from the Kohala Coast). This is a great place to stop on the way back from a Farmers Market in Waimea , Horseback Riding on Kohala Mountain , or just while exploring the ranching town of Waimea.
For more information, including business hours, please visit the Gallery of Great Things’ website.
Click here for directions.
This month, Christopher Trent and his family are staying in one of our homes while he competes in the Ironman World Championships in Kona as a national representative for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
The Ironman World Championship in Kona is a big deal. In this long-distance triathlon, athletes from around the world swim 2.4 miles in open water, cycle for 112 miles, and finally run a marathon (26.2 miles)! The World Championship in Kona attracts competitors from around the world – who must qualify in a previous competition to get a coveted spot in the race.
Having a guest competing at Ironman Kona is extraordinary, but what is truly inspiring about Chris’s story is that he is running for a cause. In 2002, his 8-year-old daughter, Monica, was suddenly diagnosed with leukemia. As a little girl, she endured 26 months of chemotherapy, including needles, biopsies, and spinal taps.
Hear Chris’ Story in this Video
The Trent family owes Monica’s good outcome to advances in medical research. Which is why their passion is raising funds and awareness to support further advances in cancer research so that other families can have good outcomes too. Since 2002, the whole family has competed in numerous marathons, triathlons, and century bike races. Through many events over the years, Team Trent has raised more than $150,000 for research programs at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
This year, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society selected Chris Trent as their National Representative at the Ironman World Championship in Kona. Team Trent’s goal is to raise $100,000 at this event to fund live-saving research. They have already raised $75,000 this year.
Please consider donating to support Chris, Team Trent, and cancer research.
You can learn more and make a donation at the Team Trent website.
