The manta ray night dive is the one thing in Kona that lives up to the hype. Two locations work: one just off the marina, another off the Sheraton at the southern end of Alii Drive. The setup is simple — lights attract plankton, plankton attracts mantas, and the mantas glide in enormous, slow circles just inches above divers lying on the sand. Snorkelers can join from the surface. Nothing is guaranteed with wild animals, but the mantas show up most nights. Multiple operators run the trip; book with whoever has the smaller group size.
Manta Ray Night Dives
Night dives with giant mantas gliding inches above you