The Kona Diving Company 2-tank manta ray night charter is a 5-hour trip for certified divers: a dusk reef dive at Makako Bay, a sunset interval, then a night dive under lights as mantas feed. It suits Open Water divers who want mantas from the seabed; the drawbacks are cold night water and a full charge inside 72 hours.
Highlights
Two dives for $230 per certified diver before tax: a late-afternoon reef dive and the manta night dive at Makako Bay
Departs about 2.5 hours before sunset from the 46-foot Newton dive boat Huakaʻi, with no more than 5 divers per divemaster
Tanks, weights, dive lights, defog and snacks including homemade brownies are included; BCD, wetsuit and regulator are paid add-ons
If mantas do not show, the crew runs an exploratory night reef dive and you can return within 12 months at a discounted rate
All 4 reviews we read saw mantas; one counted 3 or 4 feeding for about 20 minutes
What to Expect
You check in roughly 2.5 hours before sunset; the exact time changes through the year, and the office is at 74-5615 Luhia Street in Kailua-Kona.
The crew sets up your tanks and weights on board; one reviewer in November 2022 reports guides rinsing and storing gear between days for repeat divers.
The first dive is a guided reef dive at Makako Bay, also called Garden Eel Cove, while the crew places lights on the bottom.
During the sunset surface interval you get snacks, hot and cold drinks and a briefing on manta behavior and the no-touch rules.
On the night dive you kneel on the sand around the lights as mantas loop overhead to feed on plankton; a September 2021 reviewer was lightly grazed by mantas drawn to her video light.
The site is shared with other operators' boats and snorkelers at the surface, according to a November 2016 reviewer.
The boat returns to Honokohau Harbor about 5 hours after departure; bring warm, dry clothes for the ride back.
What's Included
Two guided dives (dusk reef dive and manta night dive)
Air tanks, dive weights, dive lights and defog
Use of masks, snorkels and full-foot fins
Snacks between dives and hot and cold beverages
Hot freshwater shower on board
What's Not Included
Rental BCD, wetsuit, regulator and computer (add-on, prices not published)
Enriched Air Nitrox (recommended, not required)
Private guide (add-on)
7.712% GET and harbor tax
Gratuity; the operator suggests at least 20% of the charter cost
What to Bring
Physical certification card or eCard
Swimsuit, towel, rash guard, hat and sunglasses
Refillable water bottle and hair ties
Reef-safe sunscreen
Warm, dry clothes such as a sweatshirt or light jacket for after the night dive
Restrictions and Requirements
Open Water scuba certification required
Minors under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian; divers aged 10–11 need a private guide
All passengers must sign a waiver and be able to converse in English
No flying, altitude travel or freediving after the dives
Manta sightings are not guaranteed
Cancellation Policy
Cancel by phone or email at least 72 hours before the charter for a full refund. Cancellations within 72 hours are charged the full cost unless the seat is rebooked. Charters from December 20 to January 5 need 5 days' notice; groups of 6 or more, classes and private guides need 7 days. Full refund if the operator cancels for conditions. Checked October 2026 on Kona Diving Company's booking policies page.
Kona Diving Company boat Huakaʻi; the operator's office is at 74-5615 Luhia Street, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. The exact boarding slip is not published on fetched pages.
Check-In
About 2.5 hours before sunset; time varies with the season
Ratings from every source we could find
Other
5.0
563 reviews
Google Maps — Summarized by Our Team
Diving (versus snorkeling) manta ray night experiences are a smaller subset of this popular Kona category, valued by certified divers for the different underwater vantage point.
Last checked 2026-09-15
Ratings and review counts are checked periodically and may not reflect same-day changes on each platform.
What the Reviews Say
We read 4 full reviews for Kona Diving Company in October 2026: 1 on Greetwell (September 2026, 5 stars, manta night charter) and 3 detailed diver reports on Undercurrent (November 2016, September 2021 and November 2022; dive-operation ratings 3, 5 and 5 of 5). We also scanned the excerpts of 15 Undercurrent reports dated 2011–2022. No 1–2 star reviews were found.
What Reviewers Praise
Crew handles gear and adjusts to each diver(3 of 4 reviews we read)
Reviewers describe the crew setting up tanks, changing them between dives and defogging masks; the September 2026 reviewer was switched to a steel tank when he was using air quickly, which lengthened his dives.
— Undercurrent, dive operation 5/5, September 2021: "The crew takes very good care of you, doing all your setup and tank changes."
Mantas showed up on every trip reported(4 of 4 reviews we read)
All four reviewers saw mantas, from 1–2 animals to a group of 3 or 4 feeding for about 20 minutes; two describe mantas passing directly overhead or brushing against them.
— Greetwell, 5★, September 2026: mantas glided directly overhead and the reviewer called the night dive the highlight of the trip.
What Reviewers Complain About
Water is colder than expected at night(2 of 4 reviews we read · outside operator's control · most recent: September 2021)
A November 2016 reviewer measured 75–78°F and was told a full 2–3 mm suit, or 5 mm for cold-sensitive divers, was required; a September 2021 reviewer notes most divers wore 2–3 mm suits. Rental wetsuits cost extra.
— Undercurrent, 3/5, November 2016: "full 2 or 3 mil would be required and even 5 mil for those who are sensitive to the cold."
Dusk reef dive has little coral and few large fish(3 of 4 reviews we read · outside operator's control · most recent: November 2022)
Three reviewers rated corals 1 of 5 and large fish 1–3 of 5, citing lava rock, El Niño bleaching and surge; one found the diving outside the manta encounter not very interesting.
— Undercurrent, 3/5, November 2016: "the diving itself was on the whole not very interesting" apart from the mantas and a large frogfish.
About the Operator in General
Across 15 Undercurrent report excerpts from 2011 to 2022, the recurring praise is for small groups (a 12-diver maximum was cited in 2013) and professional staff; two reports mention the owner-led service culture, and the only recurring caution is the cold water on night dives.
Our Verdict
Tripreviewall's Take
At $230 plus tax for two dives, this charter is worth it for certified divers who specifically want the manta encounter from the seabed, which snorkel boats cannot offer, and the 5-diver-per-guide ratio is tighter than larger Kona shops. Budget for a wetsuit rental and expect the dusk dive to be a lava-rock warm-up rather than a coral reef. Snorkelers pay $160 for a surface view on the same boat.
Book This Tour If…
You hold Open Water certification and want to kneel on the bottom while mantas feed above you
You prefer a 5-diver-per-divemaster ratio to a larger boat
You are not flying or driving to Mauna Kea or Volcano the next morning
Your trip dates are fixed, since cancellations inside 72 hours are charged in full
Skip This Tour If…
You are not certified; the snorkel option exists but Discover Scuba is not offered on this charter
You get cold easily and do not want to rent a 3–5 mm suit on top of the fare
You expect colorful coral on the dusk dive; 3 of 4 reviewers rated corals 1 of 5
You need to be at altitude or on a flight within 18 hours after the dive
Tips From Reviewers and Operator Notes
Rent or bring a full 3 mm wetsuit; 2 of 4 reviews we read mention cold water at night
Bring a dive light or video light; the September 2021 reviewer found mantas came closer to her light
Ask about the first-charter 10% discount shown on the operator's charter pages when booking both a morning and a manta trip
If mantas do not appear, keep your receipt; the operator offers a discounted return within 12 months
Budget a tip; the operator's policies page suggests at least 20%
Assessed by the Tripreviewall editorial team, last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Kona Diving Company manta ray night dive?
The Kona Diving Company 2-tank manta ray night charter costs $230 per certified diver and $160 per snorkeler on the operator's website as of October 2026, before 7.712% GET and harbor tax. Greetwell lists $262.64 and $183.05 including fees. Rental gear, nitrox and private guides are extra.
What time does the manta night dive charter leave?
The manta night dive charter leaves about 2.5 hours before sunset, so the start time shifts through the year, roughly late afternoon. The trip runs about 5 hours: a dusk reef dive at Makako Bay, a sunset surface interval with a manta briefing, then the night dive under lights.
Do you need to be scuba certified for the Kona manta night charter?
Divers on the Kona Diving Company manta night charter must hold at least an Open Water scuba certification and show a physical card or eCard at check-in. Non-certified guests can join the same boat as snorkelers for $160 and watch the mantas from the surface above the lights.
What happens if the manta rays do not show up?
If no manta rays appear, the Kona Diving Company crew leads an exploratory night reef dive instead, and the operator's policy allows you to return for a manta night dive or snorkel within 12 months at a discounted rate. All 4 reviews we read reported seeing mantas, but sightings are never guaranteed.
How cold is the water on the Kona manta night dive?
Reviewers report water of 75–82°F on Kona Diving Company trips, with a November 2016 diver told that a full 2–3 mm wetsuit was required and 5 mm advised for anyone sensitive to cold. The operator rents 3 mm and 5 mm full suits as a paid add-on; the price is not published.
What is Kona Diving Company's cancellation policy?
Kona Diving Company refunds in full when you cancel by phone or email at least 72 hours before the charter. Inside 72 hours you owe the full cost unless the seat is rebooked. Holiday charters from December 20 to January 5 need 5 days' notice and groups of 6 or more need 7 days, as checked in October 2026.
Contact
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