Night Snorkeling with Manta Rays in Kona, Hawaii

We had a bit of an unexpectedly challenging week in Waikaloa due to scheduled tours being cancelled because of the high swell, including our original EKA Canoe Adventure. We were lucky to be able to reschedule it for our last night (it was the only scheduled experience we were actually able to do) and it was SO GREAT and I am so grateful we got to do it. I'd go so far as to say it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. We saw so many rays, they are so big and came so close (basically grazing our chests), and are so playful with the barrel rolls. We loved it. The crew was also fantastic. Highly recommend. As some other reviews have said, the boat portion of the trip is quite short...maybe 5-10 minutes, and then you're in the water for probably 30+. You have to hold onto a lit platform with your arms straight and your feet extended and floating on a pool noodle so you don't kick and distract the rays. Our 16 year old, about 10 minutes in, complained that her shoulders hurt, and it does get a teeny bit hard, but it's worth it and she was fine and able to hold on and absolutely loved the experience. The only other thing I'd add is that we picked EKA bc we wanted to do the canoe, but from what we can tell, many of the boats/groups go to the same spot so you are actually out there with several boats having the same experience so pick whichever boat/group you prefer. The EKA Canoe was cool and the crew was amazing and patient and attentive. Have fun!

My ohana and I had the most wonderful time seeing the mantas with Eka Canoe Adventures! It was such a seamless experience throughout the whole trip (thank you Keila). The double hull canoe boat ride was about 5 minutes and then you reach the manta snorkel destination. They bring out the light that you hold onto and provide you with really good quality snorkel gear and a pool noodle for your ankles so you don’t kick around because it scares the mantas. I was very appreciative of the crew who would alert us when the mantas were coming and for the few times when we weren’t seeing any mantas, they swam our light to them! Overall, we had a great time and will definitely book with them in the future!

This was a fantastic experience. From start to finish the staff was great. Check in was easy. Instructions were clear. I LOVED the smaller group (we had 11, max is 12). We were on the earliest tour. Once we were in the water our guide (Nico?) moved us around to get the best viewing opportunity. We settled next to another light board/group. As soon as we did we were surrounded by the big, beautiful rays. The experience was magical. Highly recommend both the manta ray snorkel and Eka Canoe.

What an incredible experience! The canoe style boat felt more authentic and I appreciated the spacious room in our seats. Our group had the pleasure of seeing many manta rays! Our captains Chayden & Koa were fantastic, which made the experience even better. Both were very polite and helpful during boarding. They were personable and remembered all our names in our large group. Their knowledge about the manta rays was very educational and I learned some new facts. I had an absolute blast and would definitely recommend!

We had the most incredible manta ray tour with Eka Canoe Adventures! The entire experience was unforgettable—from start to finish it felt well-organized, safe, and truly special. The two young guys leading the tour were absolutely awesome—super knowledgeable, hilarious, and made the whole night even more fun. You can tell they genuinely love what they do, and it shows. Swimming with the manta rays was unreal, and we’ll definitely be booking with them again on our next trip!