Are you planning a trip to the Big Island, Hawaii? If so, one of the top things we recommend as an absolute must-do is swimming with the MANTA RAYS!
Below we will share all about our manta ray swim adventure, tips on what to bring, and how to prepare for your experience.
Looking for more Big Island ideas?
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A Little About The Manta Rays
Manta Rays are the largest rays in the world! There are two different manta ray species, the reef manta, and the giant oceanic manta. The smaller reef manta has approximately a 16-foot wingspan, while the oceanic manta has approximately a 29-foot wingspan. Both manta ray species are filter feeders, meaning they swim with their mouths open wide, consuming zooplankton and krill as they often somersault to stay in a single spot.
Manta Rays are brilliant sea creatures and have the largest brain-to-size ratio of any cold-blooded fish. According to some studies, manta rays have shown cognitive function
similar to dolphins, primates, and elephants.
Unlike other sea creatures, manta rays appear to be more tolerant to human presence. The manta ray lacks a poisonous sting, so they are not harmful to humans; however, it is important to avoid touching them as their bodies are covered in slime, protecting them from bacteria and infection. Touching their skin may remove this slime, increasing their exposure to infection or injury.
The Kona coast is home to over 240 manta rays that have all been identified and named based on their black and white markings visible on their bellies. These distinct markings allow researchers and visitors to tell each ray apart.
What To Bring
- Towels and a change of clothes
- Snorkel gear (if you prefer to use your own, not necessary though)
- Wear your bathing suit onto the boat; wetsuit top is provided by the tour
- Long sleeve shirt or jacket while on the boat
- Motion sickness medicine
- GoPro or underwater camera if you have one
How To Prepare
***If you are prone to motion sickness in any way, we highly recommend taking motion sickness medicine before this experience.***
It is recommended on the tour's website to take a pill that morning and one hour before the tour. We followed this recommendation, and nobody in our family felt sick. We also recommend bringing extra medicine on the boat in case you begin to feel sick while out in the ocean.
Several guests on our tour were very seasick, and I am sure they had a very different experience than ours. The tour does not end early or turn around for motion sickness, unfortunately, so at that point, you are stuck waiting on the boat until the tour is complete.
We visited the island in December, and the waters are typically a little rougher in the winter months; however, the water conditions can change at any time of the year, so it is best to be prepared. Not only is it possible for the boat to rock when you are stopped at the tour location, but if the waters are choppy, you may also be rocking in the water while watching the rays.
We say the above not to scare anyone out of this experience, but simply to better prepare you because this adventure is 100% worth it!
Our Manta Ray Swim Adventure
We booked our Manta Ray night snorkel through Hang Loose Boat Tours, and we had a fantastic experience! The experience lasts about 3 hours from the time you board the boat to the time you return. The tour includes snacks and drinks, snorkel/mask/optional safety jacket, & wetsuit top. The crew was very informative and professional.
Upon arrival at the dock, we were provided with wetsuit tops and a safety jacket for our youngest. We chose to bring our snorkel gear as we are more comfortable using our own, but this is certainly not mandatory. After a 20-30 minute boat ride, we arrived at a popular manta ray location, and to say the area was crowded would be an understatement. Our crew assured us that it was a good thing there were so many tours in this location as it meant there were tons of manta rays out and about!
The location has become a very popular spot for manta rays to frequent due to all of the nearby hotels' and buildings' bright lighting. The bright lights attract marine plankton (manta rays favorite food), and thus manta rays often appear to feast on the plankton. It did not take long for divers and boat tours to learn of this location, and so it is now very common to see dozens of groups of visitors surrounding bright lights in the water.
After the crew anchored our boat and explained the process of viewing the rays in the water, we were ready to get in! The catamaran boat has a sturdy ladder making entering and exiting the water very safe and comfortable. The crew set up a well-lit board with PVC handles surrounding it in the water. During our short swim to the board, we already witnessed two manta rays beginning to swim beneath. We quickly swam to our viewing spot and held onto the handles and the crew brought around a flotation device to put underneath our feet to be sure we stayed parallel to the water. It is essential to stay parallel and relaxed in the water to avoid accidentally kicking or touching the rays as they swim beneath you.
We honestly had no idea what to expect with this adventure, and I personally thought we would maybe see one or two manta rays off in the distance below us, but boy, was I wrong! We were fortunate to see dozens of manta rays somersaulting in front of us, and when I say in front of us, I mean so close that I had to suck in and move several times to avoid making contact with the rays. It was simply amazing to witness how graceful the rays swam and rolled in the water and how unphased the rays were by us.
After 40-45 minutes in the water, our kids became tired and cold and were ready to head back to the boat. We took turns swimming back with the kids, and my husband returned to the water for a little more action. The boat has warm showers to rinse off in, and drinks and snacks were available after our swim.
The entire experience was unforgettable! The boat ride back to the dock was peaceful and allowed us to reflect on what we just experienced. After drying off and changing clothes, we headed back to our hotel in Hilo. The entire ride back, we could not stop talking about how unique and surreal the experience was. It almost did not seem real when we were in the water witnessing them.
Out of all of our Hawaii adventures, this is probably at the top of our list! We cannot recommend this enough if you are planning to visit Big Island.
Check out our short video of our manta ray swim adventure and just how majestic these creatures are!
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