Manta rays abound in the tropical waters of Kona, feeding on the microscopic plankton attracted to coastal light. Take a guided snorkeling excursion in the evening and watch the graceful ocean creatures from an underwater raft as moonlight reflects off the calm water.
Night snorkeling with manta rays is one of the most popular activities and tours in Kona, Hawaii. It is also safe – as long as you follow guidelines and respect the animals.
Manta Rays Are Not Stingrays
While manta rays are a big draw for snorkelers and divers, it is important to know that these fish do not enjoy being petted or touched. In fact, doing so can rub off their protective mucus coating, which could lead to an infection.
While stingrays have the ability to sting, they do not intentionally seek out humans to attack or injure them. Their stingers are primarily used to defend themselves from predators and other perceived threats to their territory. They are also opportunistic hunters that dive for crustaceans, shellfish, and other small organisms, crushing them with their flat, gill-like mouths.
Manta rays, on the other hand, are not aggressive and do not swim away if approached by snorkelers or divers. They are gentle creatures that can even be swum alongside while they feed on plankton in the water column.
For this reason, it is important to follow the manta ray viewing standards that were first established in 1993, as they are meant to guide all human interaction with these animals and ensure that both species benefit from the experience. This includes observing only, not touching or petting the mantas, and staying on or near the surface of the water column where they can maneuver easily.
Swimming with manta rays is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences that a diver can have, so it is important to remember these simple guidelines in order to enjoy your encounter to the fullest. The best way to see these magnificent creatures is on a Manta Ray Night Snorkel in Kona with an experienced tour operator.
Unlike Maui, Oahu, and Kauai, which offer chance sightings from boats during the day, Kona is one of only three locations in the world that offer guided manta ray night snorkeling tours. Using the power of coastal light to illuminate the ocean floor, these tours take guests to specific areas where mantas gather to feed on their favorite plankton after dark. While this is not a guaranteed sighting, reputable Kona tour operators do have excellent track records of success and can provide you with an unforgettable evening.
Manta Rays Are Pelagic
Unlike their cousin, the stingray, Manta Rays are pelagic – meaning they live and feed in the open ocean. That’s why they are unlikely to be disturbed by snorkelers or scuba divers, and don’t have the sharp, painful barbs that can sting a human.
Snorkeling with Mantas is a mesmerizing experience that will leave you in awe of Hawaii’s underwater ecosystem. Mantas are large marine eukaryotes that have wide mouths that filter-feed on plankton and zooplankton. Their unique appearance is unmistakable, with triangular-shaped pectoral fins and a round body that glides gracefully through the water. They are also social creatures, gathering in groups called “fevers” or “ballets.” These mesmerizing dances of synchronized swimming are not to be missed.
If you’re interested in snorkeling with manta rays, it’s best to book a tour with a professional guide who knows the area and follows eco-tourism safety guidelines. In addition to keeping you safe, a guide will be able to educate you on manta ray behavior and help you photograph these magnificent animals.
Most of the snorkeling with manta rays tours in Kona take place at night, when a small amount of light can be used to attract their favorite food: plankton. In the dark, it’s easy to see why these gentle giants are awe-inspiring.
In order to protect the marine environment, most tour companies follow strict rules when it comes to how they interact with manta rays. These include not chasing or harassing mantas and leaving the area once a dive has concluded. In addition, tour operators only use biodegradable sunscreen that doesn’t harm the animals and follow environmental conservation practices.
In addition to these guidelines, most guides ask snorkelers to stay on or near the sand, rubble, or boulder bottom so as not to disturb the area. They also advise snorkelers to form a semi-circle with their group so as not to scare the mantas away. Finally, snorkelers are asked to refrain from making loud noises under the sea or exhaling bubbles directly into the face of a manta ray. These simple rules are crucial for keeping the marine environment and the manta rays healthy and happy.
Manta Rays Are Safe
Unlike sharks, manta rays are docile fish that don’t prey on larger animals, including humans. In fact, they are known to approach divers and snorkelers to investigate. They are also filter feeders that consume plankton and small fish, leaving them with no incentive to attack anything larger than themselves. Because of these facts, manta ray encounters are typically safe and exciting, even for non-divers and beginners.
Manta rays are also incredibly intelligent. Their brains are large enough to process visual information at the speed of light, meaning they can instantly recognize and react to any changes in water conditions. They can identify objects, such as boats, scuba divers, and snorkelers, using their radar-like eyes to detect motion and vibrations in the water around them.
This ability to instantly respond to any change in the water’s current or temperature is one of the reasons it is so easy for people to see manta rays on the west side of Hawaii, where they gather to feed at night. Unlike pelagic manta rays, the coastal manta rays that live in Kona’s waters have learned to associate the coast with abundant food and have adapted to this new reality by gathering near bright hotels lights and human activity.
While manta rays are generally comfortable around humans, they still have the same basic rules of marine wildlife that apply to all ocean creatures: “look, don’t touch.” While many people enjoy touching manta rays while they swim by, this can cause them stress and disrupt their natural behavior. It is recommended that you follow the “look, don’t touch” guidelines of the tour you choose, to ensure that your encounter with manta rays is safe and enjoyable for everyone involved.
Seeing manta rays at night on a guided snorkeling tour is a truly magical experience. The marine realm comes alive under the billions of stars that shine over Kona, adding a sense of magic to this incredible encounter with one of nature’s most magnificent creatures.
Manta Rays Are Not Dangerous
Manta Rays are beautiful, docile sea creatures that swim around the surface of the ocean. They do not have stingers, and they feed on plankton. Manta rays have a unique appearance, with triangular-shaped pectoral fins and wide mouths that they use to filter feed on plankton. Their enormous mouths can take in huge amounts of food at one time, and they use their gills to help them digest the food.
These incredible marine creatures are also safe to swim with. While they do have a mild sting, it is not dangerous for humans. This is a good thing, because the number of people that want to go swimming with mantas has increased dramatically over the years. The best way to see these creatures is to join a snorkeling tour that offers manta rays as an activity. These tours are available year-round and do not require any special training or equipment. You can simply hold on to a light raft and float on the surface of the water, breathing through your snorkel.
Most of these manta ray snorkeling tours take place at night. This is because manta rays are attracted to the lights that are used to attract plankton, their main source of food. By using these lights, the manta rays can be gathered in the same location, which improves the chances of snorkelers seeing them.
Another reason why these tours are so popular is because they do not require any special skill or training to participate in. All you have to do is stay calm and relax in the water, holding onto the raft and floating on your stomach. You can then watch the incredible sight of manta rays soar through the beams of light as they hunt for plankton. It is a spectacular sight to behold and is one of the most satisfying things you will do in your lifetime.
One important thing to keep in mind when participating in a manta ray tour is to never touch the rays. This is because touching can remove their slimy mucus, which can expose them to infections and bacteria. It can also frighten them, which could cause them to flee the area. While stingrays do have stingers, they are not aggressive and only use them when they are startled or feel threatened.