Observing mantas dance gracefully around pillars of light is one of the most awe-inspiring marine experiences in Hawaii. They are a flagship species that inspires conservation efforts in tourist destinations worldwide.
Night snorkeling with mantas is easy and a lot of fun! But there are some things you need to know before you go.
1. Know Your Limits
It’s important to know your limits when swimming with manta rays, particularly at night. While they are harmless, they can still swoop down and rake in your face if you get too close. This is especially true of the smaller, younger rays. If you feel like you are getting too close, reassess your position or ask for help from a guide.
Also, remember that night swimming manta rays are migratory animals, and they are not guaranteed to be there on any given day or time. Therefore, if you’re planning to surprise someone with this experience, make sure they are ready and have the skills to take part in the swim.
You should enter the water quietly and stay calmly in order to not scare manta rays away with splashing and noise. In addition, be sure to keep your fins below the surface as it’s easier for the rays to see you this way. Once you are spotted, try to stay at about 3 meters away from the rays. You can usually find mantas at their cleaning stations, where they come to be cleaned of parasites by small fish. Your dive guide will likely know the location of these cleaning stations and how to approach them without disturbing the rays.
Whether you are snorkeling or scuba diving, it’s best to choose an eco-friendly and ethical tour operator. These companies will adhere to industry standards in regards to sustainability, animal care and safety for all participants. Additionally, they will have first responders on hand and an emergency plan in case of a medical issue. Hawaii Ocean Watch keeps a Green List of activity providers who prioritize the health and safety of both humans and marine life.
2. Bring a Camera
You will want to snap a few shots, especially since these creatures are so stunning and rarely photographed. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Just be sure to bring a waterproof camera or GoPro.
Make sure your camera has a wide-angle lens. It will help you to capture more of the body and details of a manta ray. A camera with fast autofocus will also be helpful. Since mantas are in a constant state of movement, it’s important that your camera can lock on to your subject quickly. Additionally, you will want to shoot in continuous autofocus mode.
Another tip is to record video at the highest quality and frame rate possible. This way, you will be able to lift individual frames out of the video and have beautiful, high-resolution photos to remember your encounter.
A flashlight can also come in handy, as it will attract plankton—the mantas’ favorite food! Just be careful not to block the mantas’ path when they are swimming overhead. If you’re unsure of how to use a flashlight or are prone to seasickness, take Dramamine ahead of time.
Lastly, listen to your dive guide. They will know how to find the best spot for a manta encounter. They will let you know where the mantas are likely to be and may even suggest an area where you can wait to be spotted.
Be sure to follow their instructions, as they will keep you safe and happy during your night swim with manta rays! By following these tips, you can safely enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience. And don’t forget – respect for these magnificent creatures is key! Your encounters with them will be much more meaningful if you can observe them in their natural habitat without disturbing them.
3. Wear a Wetsuit
Typically, manta rays are only seen from the surface during the day, but at night, they can be found diving down to the ocean floor where there’s a concentration of plankton. This is what draws snorkelers and scuba divers to swim with them at night, and is the most reliable way to see them. While it is possible to find tours that allow you to observe them from the boat, this usually requires a much longer boat ride and doesn’t guarantee sightings of the gentle giants.
If you’re planning on participating in a moonlight manta ray swim experience, you should definitely wear a wetsuit to keep yourself warm! Wetsuits also help protect you from the rough conditions that can sometimes occur during a manta ray encounter. In addition to a wetsuit, you’ll need a mask, snorkel, and fins to fully enjoy this incredible experience.
Snorkeling with mantas is the most popular way to encounter them at night in Kona. The snorkel tour starts with a short boat ride to the feeding grounds, and from there you’ll float on the surface of the water holding onto a raft that has more lights shining down to attract the mantas. From this angle, you’ll be able to watch as the giant filter feeders swim and dance around in perfectly synchronized choreography as they scoop up their dinner of plankton from the ocean floor below.
It’s important to remember that while the manta rays may swim close to you, touching them is a no-go. The oil from our hands can rub off their protective mucus coating, and this can lead to infections and parasites. It’s also important to note that while it might be tempting to kick and punch the rays, you should resist the urge as this can hurt them.
4. Wear Sunglasses
For many people, swimming with Manta Rays is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that they want to check off their bucket list. The best place to do this is in Hawaii at night, where they congregate and perform their underwater dance.
Manta Rays in Hawaii are some of the most majestic and graceful creatures you’ll ever see. Their graceful glide through the water is like a ballet, and it’s mesmerizing to watch. However, they also have a sense of humor, and you’ll often find them bumping into each other or crashing head-on into each other in an attempt to perform a backflip.
In addition to their beautiful, elegant movements, Manta Rays have an outer layer of mucus that protects them from disease and parasites. Touching them breaks down this protective coating, so you should never touch a Manta Ray while they’re in the water.
You can do a snorkel tour or scuba dive with Manta Rays, but the most common and easiest way to do this is on a boat. Snorkel tours are a great option for those who don’t want to take the time to become scuba certified, but you still have to be able to swim. Most snorkel tour operators use large and stable boats to ensure you’ll have a comfortable ride, especially for those who are prone to sea sickness.
You’ll also find that the boat ride to the location where you’ll swim with the Manta Rays is one of the most exciting parts of the trip. You’ll get to see the beautiful Hawaiian coast and watch the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. It’s a magical experience that’s sure to leave you with lasting memories of your trip to Hawaii.
5. Don’t Touch the Rays
If you go night swimming with Manta Rays it is important to remember that they are wild animals and that means you can’t touch them! While they may approach you and allow you to get close enough for some stunning photos it is important that you don’t reach out to touch them. This is because touching them removes a thin layer of mucus that helps protect them from infections. This is why it is important to stick with a tour operator that follows strict sustainable tourism guidelines and prioritizes animal welfare in their excursions.
While touching them may seem tempting it is extremely dangerous and damaging for the creatures as they can easily pick up bacteria from your skin. In addition, touching them can also scare them and alter their natural behaviors. They may start to avoid areas that are frequently visited by humans and this could lead to a decline in the population of the Manta Rays.
One of the best things about the Manta Rays is that they are incredibly docile and do not have stingers on their tails which makes them very safe to swim with. They are gentle giants that feed on plankton and their massive wide open mouths act as filters for the plankton they eat. They glide silently through the water and can be seen popping up out of the dark ocean in a dance that is mesmerising to watch.
They can be as large as 23-ft in width! They are a majestic marine creature that is beautiful to witness and the experience of watching them up close and personal will be something you never forget. They are awe inspiring to see as they glide so effortlessly through the waters and the moment you spot them for the first time in the darkness of night is a magical feeling.