Big Island Snorkeling Tours: The 15 Best Trips

Big Island Manta Ray Night Snorkel - Leaving Keauhou Bay as the sun sets

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,656 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $84Our pick

Swim beneath Kona’s night sky with manta rays, sunset views, gear, snacks, and a free return if weather or wildlife disrupts your evening.

“Our traveling family group of 11 adults and children had a great time up close with the Manta Rays. Good information from the tour guide and their helpers. Good supervision and safety oversight. This experience left a wonderful, long lasting memory with all of us, particularly the young ones, age 9, 13, and 14.”

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Big Island: Kona Manta Ray Snorkel Tour in Keauhou Harbor

2.Kona Manta Ray Snorkel Tour in Keauhou Harbor

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,465 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $25Best value

See wild manta rays after dark on a small-boat snorkel from Keauhou Harbor, with a short ride, warm water, guides, and a ray guarantee.

“This was the 2nd time that we have taken this tour with this company. And the trip did not disappoint. It was as good as the first time. The staff on site are very friendly and helpful and we felt safe jumping into the ocean in pitch black darkness.”

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Big Island: Captain Cook Snorkel On A Power Catamaran With Lunch

3.Captain Cook Snorkel On A Power Catamaran With Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,232 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $85

Review of Hang Loose Boat Tours’ Captain Cook snorkel trip, with dolphin sightings, reef fish, lunch, practical tips, and honest value advice.

“By far the best snorkel boat tour I have ever experienced! The snorkel spot was really amazing and we spent a good amount of time there. The boat staff were so much fun! Jumping off the boat and going down the slide with us! They really had a great vibe. We were excited to hopefully see whales while we were out and captain aiden and staff made every effort to make it happen. We did see some from a distance. Then got word of dolphins in the area so went to see them. Our tour ran a little over on time because the crew made sure we saw the extras,…”

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KONA Manta Ray Night Snorkel – FREE re-ride if no Sightings

4.KONA Manta Ray Night Snorkel – FREE re-ride if no Sightings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,212 reviews · 1 hour 20 minutes (approx.) · from $49

Review of Kona’s affordable manta ray night snorkel, with small groups, safety details, timing, value, and practical booking advice.

“I was fairly skeptical before we got to the water. Having in mind that mantas are actually wild animals… but I guess Keyo, Taco and Max knew exactly what they were doing (or maybe we just got lucky?). We got to see a small pack of them SO CLOSE! Great experience from booking to completion. Good instructions on a meeting spot. If you have a wet suit- bring yours everything else you’ll get there.”

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Manta Ray Night Snorkel at Kona, Big Island

5.Manta Ray Night Snorkel at Kona, Big Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,758 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $44

Swim beside wild manta rays after dark in Kona with Dolphin Discoveries. See what to expect, what to bring, and who should book.

“The guides were super knowledgeable and the activity was easy for all the people in our party. We had a great time!”

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Kona Snorkel Tour: Captain Cook Reef Snorkel, Dolphin & Sea Caves

6.Kona Snorkel Tour: Captain Cook Reef Snorkel, Dolphin & Sea Caves

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,411 reviews · 2 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $71

Ride a small Zodiac to Captain Cook Reef, explore sea caves, and snorkel clear Kealakekua Bay waters on this lively Kona tour.

“David and Danielle were awesome guides. Lots of nice “color commentary” on way back especially with some cool stops to see lava tubes, etc. Wear sun screen and if you have any motion sickness issues take your medicine prior. The boat ride to the bay is really fast and fun (a bit like a baby roller coaster). If you have flippers you might want to bring them for the snorkeling. Not needed but enhances getting around. We didn’t see any dolphins but you can’t schedule Mother Nature. All in all definitely worth it.”

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Glow of the Deep: Night Snorkeling with Manta Rays

7.Glow of the Deep: Night Snorkeling with Manta Rays

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,254 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $80

A practical review of Kona’s $80 night manta snorkel, with sunset views, gear details, safety advice, timing, and honest drawbacks.

“Amazing experience viewing of the Manta Rays! Easy and very safe snorkeling where you hang on a lighted raft and float while viewing the Rays”

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Manta Magic: Small-Group Manta Ray Night Snorkel in Kailua Kona

8.Manta Magic: Small-Group Manta Ray Night Snorkel in Kailua Kona

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,141 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $145

Review of Manta Magic’s small-group night snorkel in Kona, with manta encounters, practical tips, price, safety, and what to expect.

“The small group was great. Personal service from meeting with Christine to Justin and Shane on the boat to Sara guiding us to the Mantas and telling us about them! Very short time from meeting to seeing the rays VERY up close!”

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Kona’s Best Morning Snorkel: Captain Cook & Kealakekua Bay

9.Kona’s Best Morning Snorkel: Captain Cook & Kealakekua Bay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 957 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $193

Review of Kona’s Best Morning Snorkel, with Captain Cook history, 2.5 hours in Kealakekua Bay, meals, gear, costs, and tips.

“Very well organized trip - I would definitely recommend this to everyone! We saw spinner dolphins and a baby humpback whale on the way out to the snorkeling site. The captain gave some history about the Captain Cook monument and other Hawaiian cultural sites as we passed them along the coast. Snorkeling was lovely and, for those who were less enthusiastic about the fish, the water slides and high dive platform were lots of fun! I'd recommend arriving early as the parking lot fills up fast.”

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Sunset and Manta Ray Snorkel Adventure

10.Sunset and Manta Ray Snorkel Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 843 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $154

Review of Kona Style’s sunset catamaran cruise and manta ray snorkel, with practical advice on price, safety, timing, swimming, and value.

“What a cool experience! The whole sunset and night snorkeling with mantas was great - from the nice boat to the friendly crew, to just how amazing it is to have these giants swimming right next to your face. I had a GoPro in one of my hands, leaning against the light board and it looks like they might swallow it in several videos. They reall are that close. I also enjoyed the guide giving us facts during the snorkel. The crew is great, very friendly and always making sure you have what you need. A very fun way to spend an evening!”

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Deluxe Snorkel & Dolphin Watch Aboard a Luxury Catamaran from Kailua-Kona

11.Deluxe Snorkel & Dolphin Watch Aboard a Luxury Catamaran from Kailua-Kona

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 797 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $183

Review of Kona’s luxury catamaran snorkel cruise, with dolphin watching, meals, water toys, practical tips, costs, and honest drawbacks.

“This was one of the highlights of our family trip! With a total of 17 people and kids ranging from 8 months to 20 years there was something for everyone! From the slide, jumping off the boat, paddle boards, noodles, and a mat to just float! The staff was absolutely amazing, the Captain was very informative and stopped every time she saw something in the water that was worth a pic or two! Shout out to Taylor, my boys enjoyed your stories of adventure and overall your kind nature and down to earth personality! We had so much fun, so thank you to all of your staff who were hands…”

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Manta Ray Night Snorkel in Kona

12.Manta Ray Night Snorkel in Kona

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 777 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $125

Review of Kona’s Manta Ray Night Snorkel, with boat details, safety tips, pricing, manta sightings, weather risks, and practical advice.

“The crew was great, put we didn’t see any Manta Ray. The sea was rough and we floated in the cold water for about an hour. Sam the deck hand offered another trip,but NO vouchers were issued to any participants or refund. The Captain of the boat bragged on how he has the best lights out of any crew(boat) and still saw not even 1 Manta Ray! Several people got sea sick as well. Including my wife.. This was the worst part of our vacation.. Would I do it again?”

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Snorkel with Manta Rays Guaranteed

13.Snorkel with Manta Rays Guaranteed

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 738 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $141

Sea Paradise’s Big Island manta ray snorkel pairs a sunset trimaran ride with 45 minutes near feeding manta rays.

“This was an awesome experience. We chose the later booking (9:00). Shortly after we arrived there were more mantas than we could count. I heard our guide said there were at least 10, but another guide I heard saying she thought there were around 15! I was the first one out to the platforms and one of the last back on the boat and spent 50 minutes in the water. My husband got a bit sea sick and went back in after 30. My kids probably went back about 40 minutes. Our guides said for a summer night the ocean was a bit rougher than normal (but not near as…”

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