Sea Paradise Manta Ray Review: I Took the Tour (+ Video)
I was looking forward to going out with Sea Paradise and the tour did not disappoint! There 50-ft catamaran departs from Keauhou Bay, in front of the OUTRIGGER Kona Resort, only a 5-minute ride to Manta Village. Get ready for acrobatic barrel-rolls, close-encounters, and a great price for manta ray night snorkeling in Kona.
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Activity Overview
Sea Paradise Manta Ray Snorkel Tour Highlights
- My verdict: Great crew, location, and large catamaran sailboat make this a wonderful tour for first-time manta ray snorkelers. The biggest drawback is that it is a big group of up to 49 guests in the water and at a busy viewing location. But you can’t beat the low price and luxury services!
- Price: $130 for ages 13 and up. $115 for ages 6 to 12. $65 for a Ride-Along, ages 4 and up. $45 for a GoPro rental.
- Departure location: You can’t beat the convenient location near the OUTRIGGER Kona on the South Kona Coast. The tour leaves from the small boat harbor in Keauhou Bay. Click for Google Map directions: Sea Paradise.
- Destination: Manta Village, a world-famous manta ray viewing site off the Kona Coast due to the high chance of seeing manta rays.
- Sea Paradise is a manta-friendly tour. It correctly answers the five questions from Hawaii Ocean Watch. Visit to Manta Ray Village departing from Keauhou Bay in South Kona.
- Duration: 2 to 2.5 hours
- 45 minutes in the water with the mantas
- 2 tours per night, Early Tour and Later Tour
- Manta Guarantee: If you do not see manta rays during your Sea Paradise manta ray tour, you can rebook for free on any regularly scheduled manta ray experience within the next 7 days. See the FAQ for details
- Luxury-feeling services: Warm drinks and chocolates after snorkeling, 50-ft luxury sailing catamaran, full bar, 2 showers, 2 staircases for easier water entry, and 360-degree ocean views
- Early Tour (First Tour): This tour offers an extra half hour onboard, allowing you to watch the island and ocean transition to dark. It is popular with families and those who prefer an earlier evening experience.
- Late Tour (Second Tour): This tour is quieter and more intimate, with darker skies and fewer vessels on the water. It is only offered once the first tour reaches full capacity.
- Tips on booking with Sea Paradise: Book the tour early in your trip! If you don’t see a manta ray, their Manta Guarantee lets you rebook within 7 days, subject to availability. Also, book this tour a week or more in advance! It can sell out for the date and tour time you want.
Sea Paradise Manta Ray Review
I went out with Sea Paradise in 2024. It was the fourth manta ray night snorkeling tour I did. I never get tired of swimming with manta rays!
Swimming with these gentle giants is a top 5 outdoor experience for me. You can’t beat the feeling of first seeing them come into view, near the sea floor. The dark silhouette gets closer as everyone collectively screams into their mouthpieces.
On the second pass, they come up to the flotation board to scoop up the photoplankton. If you’re lucky, and the vast majority of the Sea Paradise manta ray tours get lucky, the manta ray will start doing barrel rolls inches from your face as they start their feast. It is a crazy experience, and I hope you can do it!
Parking Tip: Arrive early to find parking, especially if you do the late tour as I did. Parking is limited at the harbor. Most likely, you will park along the road to the harbor. You can walk from the OUTRIGGER Kona Resort if you’re staying there.
Your adventure begins aboard their new catamaran, the Hoku Nuni, as you cruise to the world-famous Manta Ray Village. Manta rays are gentle giants of the sea, with many residing along the Kona Coast. Harmless to humans, they are drawn to the spotlights that light up the night to eat plankton.
Sea Paradise is an original manta ray tour expert in Hawaii, helping its guests get up close and personal with these majestic creatures since 1985. Departure times vary seasonally based on sunset times.
Pros of Sea Paradise Manta Ray Tour
- This is a great price for such a professional and eco-friendly tour.
- Getting the wetsuit fitted and getting on the boat was fast and no-stress for such a large group.
- As this is a large group tour, there are a lot of lighted boards in the water. This attracts many manta rays.
- I’ve been on a 45-minute raft ride just to get to Manta Village; hence, it was lovely to ride the catamaran for 5 minutes out to the snorkeling spot.
- The catamaran seating was comfortable, with plenty of room for me, my bag, and my towel. It did not feel crowded.
- As the tour is 2 to 2.5 hours, it didn’t feel rushed. Only two tours a night means they are taking their time to provide excellent service and make sure they don’t hurt any manta rays. Some tours rush to do more tours.
- Best family-friendly tour in Manta Village. The luxury catamaran, hot drinks and chocolate after the snorkel, and the 4-year-old minimum age for a Ride-Along make Sea Paradise an excellent manta ray tour for families.
Cons on Sea Paradise Manta Ray Tour
- This is a large-group tour, with 49 guests. Other tours we recommend for manta ray night snorkeling have 6 to 8 guests.
- Manta Village is the busiest location for manta ray night snorkeling. You may be one of a dozen or more boats in the water.
- Because of the large group size and number of boats, keep a close eye on your children and swimming buddy.
More Tours! We share five more of our favorite manta ray tours here if you want more tour options and prices: Big Island Manta Ray Night Snorkeling Tours
Know Before You Book: FAQs for Sea Paradise
Based on my experience going on manta ray night snorkeling tours, here are frequently asked questions and what to know before you book a Sea Paradise manta ray tour.
Feel free to email Erica or me with any questions; we are happy to help. See our contact us page.
What happens if no manta rays show?
Sea Paradise offers a Manta Guarantee. The Manta Guarantee ensures that if you do not see a manta ray during your tour, you can rebook for free on any regularly scheduled manta ray experience within the next 7 days. This is subject to space availability and requires an advanced reservation for the return trip.
What is the cancellation policy?
Regular Non-Private Tours (less than 10 guests): Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance. That is a good policy for Hawaii tours!
Private Chartered Tours and Groups of 10 or more: Cancellations must be made at least 72 hours in advance.
To cancel a reservation, you must call the office at +1 808-322-2500.
Are there restrooms onboard?
The vessel, Hoku Nui, is a 50-ft luxury sailing catamaran. It has 2 restrooms / changing rooms onboard (marine heads). Since you’re here, it has shaded seating, full galley, full bar, 2 showers, 2 staircases for easier water entry, and 360 degree ocean views.
What is included on this tour?
The following is included by Sea Paradise: Snorkel gear, Manta Flotation Device, shorty wetsuits, warm drinks & chocolates after snorkeling, marine education briefing, and in-water crew guides.
What do I need to bring?
All snorkel gear is included in the tour, but be sure to bring a towel and jacket for after the tour to keep you warm on the boat ride back to the harbor. I got cold on this tour as I did it in the winter. The water was around 75 degrees, but it can get cold after more than 30 minutes.
Will I get motion sickness?
If you are prone to motion sickness, you may get it on this tour. While the bay is calm, the boat is still rocking, and you’re rocking while you’re floating in the water with the manta rays. I recommend taking medicine the night before.
What if I can’t swim?
I’m afraid non-swimmers may not enter the water; it is not safe. But the Ride-Along option is available from the deck. You can see manta rays from the deck of the Hoku Nuni.
What is Manta Village?
Manta Village is the most popular manta ray observation location in Hawaii. It is located at the entrance to Keauhou Bay on the South Kona Coast, about 15 minutes south of Kailua-Kona.
Nightly manta sightings are around 90 to 96% at Manta Village.
The non-migratory group of manta rays on the Big Island has reliably visited Manta Village for decades. It started when the hotel on the point, now the OUTRIGGER Kona, installed spotlights on the ocean. The lights attracted photoplankton, which attracted the manta rays to feed on them. See our Manta Ray Snorkeling in Hawaii to learn more.
Manta Village is a calmer snorkeling site compared to Manta Heaven, located near Kona Airport. Manta Heaven is a popular manta ray diving location.
About Sea Paradise
Sea Paradise Inc. opened its doors in 1985 as one of Kona, Hawaii’s original premier scuba diving operations. Originally located on the pier at historic Keauhou Bay, Sea Paradise offered scuba diving tours to incredible dive sites in south Kona. The facility offered full scuba certification courses and carried a complete line of scuba equipment as well as a technical repair center.
Sea Paradise recognizes the importance of protecting Hawaii’s ocean environment. They are committed to incorporating the values of the Hawaii Ecotourism Association’s principles of sustainable tourism into their tours.
And they have happy customers — they have 1,000 five-star reviews on TripAdvisor.
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