The Kona Honu Divers 2-tank manta night dive leaves Honokohau Harbor on the 46-foot Honu One mid-afternoon for a reef dive at Garden Eel Cove, sunset on deck, then a 45-minute night dive beneath feeding mantas. It suits certified divers who want a large boat and free nitrox; the drawbacks are up to 18 divers aboard and tightly controlled profiles.
Highlights
Up to $259 per certified diver before tax, including guide, air or free nitrox, weights and a dive light; price varies with demand
About 5 hours, starting between 2:45 and 4:00 pm depending on sunset, with a light meal during the surface interval
The operator claims mantas appear about 80% of the time and offers a free standby retry if none show, according to The Hawaii Vacation Guide
4 of the 5 manta-dive reviews we read saw mantas, described as squadrons by 3 reviewers; 1 reviewer in September 2021 saw none
Honu One carries up to 18 divers and has a marine head, hot shower and camera tables; a 6-diver private version on Honu Lele is $1,695
What to Expect
You show your certification card and waiver at the Kona Honu Divers slip at Honokohau Marina, 74-425 Kealakehe Parkway, and board Honu One in the mid-afternoon.
The boat cruises about 20 minutes north to Garden Eel Cove (Makako Bay), where the crew sets up your gear and leads a daylight reef dive.
During the surface interval you eat a sandwich and snacks, watch the sunset and get a briefing on manta behavior and the rules: stay with the group, lie where assigned, surface together.
After dark you descend to the lit campfire area and lie on the bottom for about 45 minutes while mantas feed on plankton above the lights.
If no mantas appear the dive becomes a night reef dive; a September 2021 reviewer watched opakapaka and trevally for 20 minutes then finished as a regular night dive.
The boat returns to Honokohau between 7:45 and 9:00 pm; a hot shower is available on board.
What's Included
Guide and two dives
Tanks with air or free nitrox for certified divers
Weights and a dive light
Snacks, a sandwich and water during the surface interval
Marine head, hot shower and camera tables on board
Dive computer (required on the operator's charters)
Mineral sunscreen only; chemical and spray sunscreens are not allowed aboard
Handheld camera if you want photos
Warm layers for the ride back after dark
Restrictions and Requirements
Open Water certification or higher with proof before boarding
A logged dive within the past 2 years, otherwise book a refresher
Ages 10 and up; 10–11 need a private guide, 12–17 must dive with a parent or guardian
Good health with no heart conditions; not suitable in pregnancy or with neck or back injuries
Must understand English briefings and be comfortable diving in a guided group
No flying or travel above 2,000 feet for 18 hours after the charter
Cancellation Policy
Cancel or rebook up to 72 hours before the trip for a full refund; cancellations within 72 hours are non-refundable, and arrivals more than 15 minutes late or no-shows get no refund. Full refund if the operator cancels for weather or sea conditions. Checked October 2026 on Greetwell and the operator's site.
Kona Honu Divers boat slip (Honu One), Honokohau Marina, 74-425 Kealakehe Parkway, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740.
Check-In
Arrive on time; arrivals more than 15 minutes late forfeit the fare
Ratings from every source we could find
Google
5.0
7,700 reviews
Google Maps — Summarized by Our Team
See general manta night dive category notes.
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 11 reviews and reports for Kona Honu Divers in October 2026: 4 full Undercurrent reports (March 2020, September 2021, January 2024, September 2024), 4 Undercurrent previews (June 2025, October 2025, July 2026, August 2026), 1 Greetwell review (September 2026), 1 Bluewater Dive Travel review and 1 testimonial on the operator's site. Five of these describe the manta night dive. The June 2025 report rates the operator 1 of 5 for advanced divers; its full text is paywalled.
What Reviewers Praise
Mantas appear in numbers on most nights(4 of 5 manta reviews we read)
Three reviewers (July 2026, August 2026 and June 2025) logged manta squadrons and one (September 2024) saw 3 animals; a repeat customer on her third manta dive with the operator said the rays have multiplied over the years.
— Undercurrent, July 2026: "The manta rays have multiplied over the years," on the reviewer's third manta night dive with the operator.
Organized crew with thorough briefings(6 of 11 reviews we read)
Reviewers across 2020–2026 describe well-run briefings and named captains and divemasters, with the crew keeping cameras separate in rinse tanks and using divers' names.
— Undercurrent, 5/5 operation, September 2024: the divemaster's manta and blackwater briefing with his own photo boards was "thorough and impressive."
What Reviewers Complain About
Tightly controlled dives with no own-profile option(3 of 11 reviews we read · operator issue · most recent: August 2026)
Three reviewers note divers must stay with the group, lie where assigned and surface together, and that regular dives follow the leader; one calls it tightly controlled, which suits new divers more than independent ones.
— Undercurrent, July 2026: "Stay with the group, lay down where you are assigned, surface with your group. Tightly controlled."
Crew reluctant to lift gear from the water(1 report · operator issue · most recent: June 2025)
A June 2025 reviewer with over 1,000 dives says the crew was reluctant to take his BCD and tank at the ladder, forcing a climb of about five feet fully weighted, which he found physically hard as an older diver; the rest of his complaint is behind a paywall.
— Undercurrent, 1/5 for advanced divers, June 2025: crew were "highly reluctant to take my BCD and tank from the water."
About the Operator in General
Kona Honu Divers is a large operation with three boats; a September 2023 Undercurrent reviewer grouped it with Big Island Divers and Jack's Diving Locker as the big Kona shops. Reviewers consistently praise briefings and gear handling, and the June 2025 report is the only negative one we found among 43 Undercurrent entries dated 2004–2026.
Our Verdict
Tripreviewall's Take
At up to $259 plus roughly 13% in tax and fees, this charter is worth it for certified divers who want the manta dive from a big, stable boat with free nitrox and a crew that runs it several nights a week. The 18-diver capacity and strict group control are the trade-off; divers who prefer small groups should look at the operator's own 6-person Honu Lele private option at $1,695 or at Kona Diving Company's 5-per-guide boat. Book the standby retry if mantas skip your night; 1 of 5 manta reviews we read missed them.
Book This Tour If…
You are Open Water certified with a dive in the last 2 years and want mantas plus a reef dive in one evening
You value free nitrox, a hot shower and a head on a 46-foot boat
You are comfortable following a guide closely and lying still on the bottom for 45 minutes
You are staying near Kailua-Kona and can reach Honokohau Marina mid-afternoon
Skip This Tour If…
You want a small group; the boat takes up to 18 divers
You like to dive your own profile; 3 of 11 reviewers note strict control
You have mobility or strength limits climbing a ladder with gear, given the June 2025 report
You are flying out within 18 hours or booked the long-range trip the same day, which the operator advises against
Tips From Reviewers and Operator Notes
Buy the manta dive first in your trip so you can use the free standby retry if mantas do not show
Bring a 3–5 mm suit; reviewers measured 75–80°F water and 3 of 11 wore 5 mm
Pack mineral sunscreen only; chemical sunscreen is banned on the boat
Ask which captain and divemaster are scheduled; reviewers name Jeff, Rob, Kimo and Elias as standouts
Visibility can drop to 10–35 feet on rainy nights, as in July 2026, so keep your light and group close
Assessed by the Tripreviewall editorial team, last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Kona Honu Divers manta ray night dive?
The Kona Honu Divers 2-tank manta night dive is listed at up to $259 per certified diver before tax and fees on the operator's site as of October 2026, with prices varying by demand; Greetwell shows $294.51. The fare includes a guide, tanks with free nitrox, weights and a dive light. A private 6-diver charter is $1,695.
What time does the Kona Honu Divers manta dive start?
The manta charter starts between 2:45 and 4:00 pm and ends between 7:45 and 9:00 pm, depending on sunset, for about 5 hours total. The first reef dive happens in daylight, the manta dive begins after dark and lasts about 45 minutes, and arrivals more than 15 minutes late forfeit the booking.
How often do mantas show up on the Kona Honu Divers night dive?
Kona Honu Divers says mantas appear about 80% of the time on its night dive, and a partner site cites a free standby retry if none show. Among the 5 manta-dive reviews we read, 4 saw mantas, including 3 reporting squadrons, and 1 in September 2021 saw none after a week without sightings.
What certification do I need for the 2-tank manta night dive?
You need an Open Water certification or higher with a physical card or e-card, a logged dive within the past 2 years, and a dive computer. Divers aged 12–17 must dive with a parent or guardian, and Junior Open Water divers aged 10–11 need a private guide arranged in advance. Snorkelers are not listed on this charter.
Where does the Kona Honu Divers manta charter depart from?
The manta charter departs from the Kona Honu Divers slip at Honokohau Marina, 74-425 Kealakehe Parkway, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, between Kailua-Kona town and the airport. The boat is the 46-foot Newton Honu One, which runs about 20 minutes north to Garden Eel Cove for both dives.
What is the cancellation policy for Kona Honu Divers?
Kona Honu Divers allows free cancellation or rebooking up to 72 hours before a charter. Inside 72 hours the booking is non-refundable, and late arrivals over 15 minutes or no-shows receive nothing back. If the operator cancels for weather or sea conditions you get a full refund or a reschedule, as checked in October 2026.
Contact
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