By simply installing a protective device on our boat ‘Orca’ we can avoid the worry altogether! What a simple solution.

The mantas are being injured by propellers so how could we keep them from coming into contact with our propellers? It is nearly impossible to see a manta at night on the surface so it would be difficult if not impossible to avoid it. Kona Snorkel Trips feels that it is important to maintain the high standards we have set but we asked ourselves how can we further our efforts and protect the mantas by going above and beyond those high standards. Since then Kona Snorkel Trips and our sister company Kona Honu Divers have abided by these standards designed to deliver the best experience for people while giving the manta rays a chance to do their show in a safe setting. The industry came up with standards to abide by in 2014 and the Manta Ray Green List was formed.

They have pieces missing or propeller marks scored along their body. There have been numerous reported sightings of injured mantas. Crowding, misbehavior, safety issues and the worst, injured mantas. With the introduction of new operators new problems have arose. On some nights there can be over 30-40 boat operators at a single manta snorkel site. The awareness of the activity has exploded with books, travel agencies, magazines, news outlets and more sharing the experience with the world. There are now upwards of 50 companies participating in the manta ray snorkel. Fast forward to 2019 and the manta ray industry has grown exponentially. Some nights it was only me and the other divers in my group. A small group of snorkelers would get the show of their lifetime and then head back to shore. At the manta site one boat would occasionally linger for an our while it’s guests lay floating in the water. When I first went swimming with manta rays in Kona in 2008 it was a very different experience. The manta rays are able to scoop up these little critters with their large mouths designed to scoop up vast amounts of water and filter out the phytoplankton.Ī manta ray does what mantas do best, put on a great show! This powerful underwater light attracts the phytoplankton which is made up of small little crustaceans like shrimp that eat even smaller animals. The Outrigger (used to be the Sheraton) Keahou hotel has had a light in the ocean for as long as people can remember. But at night it has a predilection for the light. During the day they hide inside the reef and the deeper parts of the ocean. Humans discovered this predilection for little plankon critters 20 years ago and ever since then the manta ray night snorkel was born. They are filter feeders in search of small plankton critters. Every night after sunset dozens of massive underwater flying aliens also known as manta rays look for food. The Big Island of Hawaii is home to one of the most spectacular underwater shows known to man. Manta Ray night Snorkel Kona’s biggest Industry How can we do our best to protect what is most precious to us? The dark side of Swimming with Manta Rays in Kona Click here to Learn more about blogBlog.Click here to Learn more about contact usContact Us.Click here to Learn more about about usAbout Us.Click here to Learn more about covid-19COVID-19.Click here to Learn more about view all toursView All Tours.Click here to Learn more about deluxe kailua-kona morning snorkel & marine life encounterDeluxe Kailua-Kona Morning Snorkel & Marine Life Encounter.Click here to Learn more about seafari & discover pawai afternoon reef snorkelSeafari & Discover Pawai Afternoon Reef Snorkel.Click here to Learn more about private kona snorkeling toursPrivate Kona Snorkeling Tours.Click here to Learn more about combo package – kealakekua bay and manta ray snorkelsCombo Package – Kealakekua Bay and Manta Ray Snorkels.Click here to Learn more about captain cook & kealakekua bay snorkelCaptain Cook & Kealakekua Bay Snorkel.Click here to Learn more about night manta ray snorkel in kona, hiNight Manta Ray Snorkel in Kona, HI.Click here to Learn more about snorkel toursSnorkel Tours.Click here to Learn more about homeHome.

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