The Sea Paradise Keauhou manta ray night snorkel is the first of two nightly departures from Keauhou Bay, a 2-to-2.5-hour trip on the 50-foot catamaran Hoku Nui with about 45 minutes holding a lighted float at Manta Village. It suits families, since ride-alongs from age 4 are allowed. The main drawback is the crowd: up to 49 guests.
Highlights
Only a 5-minute boat ride from Keauhou Bay to Manta Village, so most of the 2 to 2.5 hours is briefing, wetsuit fitting and about 45 minutes in the water (operator site; Hawaii Vacation Guide review).
Priced at $130 adult, $115 child 6 to 12 and $65 for ride-along observers aged 4 and up, plus tax (October 2026).
Shorty wetsuit, snorkel gear, a custom manta flotation board, in-water guides, a marine briefing and hot drinks with chocolate afterward are included.
Manta Guarantee: if no manta is seen you can rebook free within 7 days, subject to space; it is not a refund. The operator cites an 85 to 95% sighting rate.
The first departure leaves around sunset and the second after dark; times shift by season and are set at booking.
What to Expect
Sign the online waiver, then check in 15 minutes before departure at the end of the Keauhou Bay finger pier, end of Kaleiopapa St, where crew in blue shirts fit you with a shorty wetsuit.
The Hoku Nui motors about 5 minutes to Manta Village off the Keauhou coast while the crew gives a marine briefing on manta behavior and the no-touch rules.
You enter via the stairs, hold onto a lighted flotation board with other snorkelers and float face-down while the lights draw plankton.
Mantas feed below and around the board for about 45 minutes, making passes and barrel rolls; the 2024 reviewer we read got cold after about 30 minutes.
Back on board you get warm drinks and chocolate, rinse at the two showers and sail back to Keauhou Bay.
Ride-along guests aged 4 and up stay on deck throughout and can watch the lights from above.
What's Included
Shorty wetsuit, mask, snorkel and fins
Manta flotation device with lights
In-water crew guides and marine briefing
Warm drinks and chocolate after the snorkel
Showers and two restrooms on board
Free parking along Kaleiopapa St
What's Not Included
Gratuity
Tax and fees
GoPro rental ($45 per the Hawaii Vacation Guide; price not on the operator site)
Hotel pickup
What to Bring
Swimsuit worn under clothes and a towel
A light jacket or hoodie for the cooler ride back
Sandals or slip-ons; the boat is shoe-less
Motion-sickness remedy if you are prone
Restrictions and Requirements
Snorkelers must be 6 or older with swimming and snorkeling experience and comfortable floating in open ocean at night
Ride-along observers must be 4 or older and stay on deck; minors must be supervised at all times
No neck lanyards for phones, no shark bands and no camera flash
Crew may remove anyone from the water for safety
Pregnant guests should get a doctor's approval first (operator FAQ)
Cancellation Policy
Sea Paradise requires 24 hours' notice before check-in time for regular bookings and 72 hours for private charters or groups of 10 or more, by phone to 808-322-2500; the operator does not publish fees or refund percentages for later cancellations. If no manta is seen you may rebook free within 7 days, subject to availability, but no refund is given. Checked October 2026 on seaparadise.com.
Options available
First Departure
Second Departure
Choose your option and see its price on the booking page.
End of the finger pier at Keauhou Bay, end of Kaleiopapa St, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 (in front of the Outrigger Kona Resort); look for crew in blue shirts
Check-In
15 minutes before departure; departure time set at booking and shifts seasonally
Parking and Getting There
Free along Kaleiopapa St; pier spaces limited, 3–5 minute walk; public restrooms on the east side of the street
Ratings from every source we could find
We haven't collected platform ratings for this tour yet.
Google Maps — Summarized by Our Team
See general Kona manta ray night snorkel category notes elsewhere in this dataset.
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 one long-form review of this tour (The Hawaii Vacation Guide, trip taken on the later departure in winter 2024, updated August 2026, affiliate links disclosed). The VELTRA review page for the tour showed no reviews. No public rating with a review count was visible on any fetched page as of October 2026.
What Reviewers Praise
Short boat ride and comfortable catamaran(1 of 1 review we read)
The reviewer notes the 5-minute transit to Manta Village, shaded seating, two restrooms, two showers and a bar, and calls the operation professional and good value.
— The Hawaii Vacation Guide, 2024 trip: a quick, low-stress wetsuit fitting followed by a roughly 5-minute catamaran ride to the site
Works for families and non-swimmers(1 of 1 review we read)
The $65 ride-along option from age 4 and the in-water guides make it workable for mixed groups, according to the reviewer.
— The Hawaii Vacation Guide, 2024 trip: non-swimmers can use the ride-along option and parents should watch children closely
What Reviewers Complain About
Large group and a crowded site(1 of 1 review we read · outside operator's control · most recent: 2024 (review updated August 2026))
Up to 49 guests share the boat and Manta Village typically has a dozen or more boats in the water at once, so this is not a quiet encounter.
— The Hawaii Vacation Guide, 2024 trip: Manta Village was very busy, with a dozen or more boats
Cold water and motion sickness(1 of 1 review we read · outside operator's control · most recent: 2024 (review updated August 2026))
The reviewer got cold after about 30 minutes of the 45-minute float despite the shorty wetsuit and warns that motion sickness is possible while floating at night.
— The Hawaii Vacation Guide, 2024 trip: take motion-sickness medicine the night before and bring a jacket for the ride back
About the Operator in General
Sea Paradise runs two manta departures nightly from Keauhou Bay on the same 49-guest catamaran used for its daytime snorkel sails; its Manta Guarantee is a free rebook within 7 days, not a refund.
Our Verdict
Tripreviewall's Take
At $130 plus tax this is priced in the middle of the Kona manta market, and the short 5-minute transit from Keauhou means more of your 2 to 2.5 hours is spent in the water than on boats leaving from Honokohau. It is a solid choice for families, because of the $65 ride-along seat from age 4, and for anyone who wants a stable, well-equipped catamaran. Choose a smaller operator if a crowd of 49 guests and a dozen boats at the site would spoil it for you.
Book This Tour If…
You want the shortest possible boat ride to the manta site from the Keauhou side
You are bringing children aged 4 to 5 or non-swimmers who can ride along for $65
You value a stable catamaran with showers, restrooms and hot drinks over a small boat
You can book early; the reviewer and operator both say nights sell out a week or more ahead
Skip This Tour If…
You want a small-group encounter; the boat carries up to 49 and the site is crowded
You get cold easily; only shorty wetsuits are provided and 45 minutes of floating is the plan
You are not comfortable floating in open ocean at night; the operator requires it
You want a money-back guarantee; no-manta nights only earn a rebook within 7 days
Tips From Reviewers and Operator Notes
Book the first departure if you have young children; it leaves around sunset, and the operator's site says times shift seasonally.
Bring a hoodie or jacket for the ride back; the operator and the reviewer both recommend it.
Take motion-sickness medication beforehand; the operator's FAQ recommends over-the-counter remedies and the reviewer suggests the night before.
Rent a GoPro at booking if you want footage; flash and neck lanyards are banned in the water.
Stay close to Keauhou for the rebook option; if no mantas appear you must return within 7 days.
Assessed by the Tripreviewall editorial team, last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Sea Paradise manta ray night snorkel?
Sea Paradise charges $130 for adults 13 and over, $115 for children 6 to 12 and $65 for ride-along observers aged 4 and up, plus tax and fees, as of October 2026. Both the first and second nightly departures cost the same. Wetsuit, gear, flotation board and hot drinks are included; GoPro rental is extra.
What time does the first manta tour leave Keauhou Bay?
The first manta ray tour departs around sunset and the second after dark, but Sea Paradise does not publish clock times because they shift with the season; the exact time appears when you book. Check in 15 minutes early at the end of the Keauhou Bay finger pier, where crew in blue shirts meet you.
What happens if we do not see any manta rays?
If no manta appears on your night, Sea Paradise's Manta Guarantee lets you rebook free on a regular manta tour within 7 days, subject to space and an advance reservation. It is not a refund. The operator says sightings run 85 to 95% but are never guaranteed, so plan the tour early in your Kona stay.
Can children and non-swimmers come on the manta night snorkel?
Children aged 6 and up with snorkeling experience may enter the water, and anyone aged 4 and up can join as a $65 ride-along who stays on deck and watches the lights from above. Minors must be supervised at all times. Snorkelers must be comfortable floating in open ocean at night with a flotation board.
How long are you actually in the water with the mantas?
Plan on about 45 minutes in the water. The whole tour runs 2 to 2.5 hours, including check-in, wetsuit fitting, a roughly 5-minute boat ride to Manta Village, the briefing and the return with hot drinks. The 2024 reviewer we read got cold after about 30 minutes, so a rash guard under the shorty wetsuit helps.
Where do I park for the Keauhou Bay manta tour?
Park free along Kaleiopapa Street in Keauhou and walk 3 to 5 minutes to the finger pier; the few spaces at the pier fill quickly. Public restrooms are on the east side of the street near the parking area. Guests staying at the Outrigger Kona Resort can walk to the pier from the hotel.
Contact
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