KAILUA-KONA ATTRACTION FIELD GUIDE
Nightfall and Giant Wings: Snorkeling Kona’s Late Manta Show
An evening outing that places snorkelers in the water after most of the fleet has left—an intimate, 2–2.5 hour encounter with manta rays around Kailua-Kona.
Nightfall and Giant Wings: Snorkeling Kona’s Late Manta Show.
Kailua-Kona’s manta night is a singular marine ritual: after dusk, lights draw plankton and with it the largest rays in Hawaiian waters. Torpedo Tours runs a focused evening excursion that puts snorkelers into that glow, offering up-close views of manta rays in near-solitude.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
An exclusive, late-evening in-water encounter
The trip is designed to put you in the water after most of the boats have left—creating a quieter, more personal setting for watching mantas glide and loop through the illuminated water.
A compact evening tour
Advertised as an evening outing that runs roughly two to two-and-a-half hours, the schedule concentrates the experience into a short, impactful window after nightfall.
Close encounters with gentle giants
This Kona-only spectacle centers on repeated, graceful manta passes as the animals feed on plankton drawn to the lights—an unforgettable marine encounter framed by the dark ocean and bright circling rays.
What the day feels like
What it feels like to go
You leave in the evening, slip into warm, lamp-lit water and watch mantas arc in the beam—an intense, focused experience concentrated into a short night outing that emphasizes in-water viewing once the harbor quiets.
THE MOMENT
An exclusive, late-evening in-water encounter
The trip is designed to put you in the water after most of the boats have left—creating a quieter, more personal setting for watching mantas glide and loop through the illuminated water.
THE DURATION
A compact evening tour
Advertised as an evening outing that runs roughly two to two-and-a-half hours, the schedule concentrates the experience into a short, impactful window after nightfall.
THE WILDLIFE
Close encounters with gentle giants
This Kona-only spectacle centers on repeated, graceful manta passes as the animals feed on plankton drawn to the lights—an unforgettable marine encounter framed by the dark ocean and bright circling rays.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this outing suits—and who should look elsewhere.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Evening departure; the experience is presented as a roughly 2- to 2.5-hour outing, typically beginning around 8:00pm.
This outing is for snorkelers only—bring your snorkel gear if required and any personal wetsuit layers you prefer for night water. Confirm whether equipment is provided with the operator.
The tour is operated by Torpedo Tours out of Kailua-Kona; check meeting time and exact departure location when booking.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Late Manta Snorkel?
The outing runs roughly two to two-and-a-half hours, with the core in-water viewing taking place after nightfall.
Is this a scuba dive or snorkel trip?
This is a snorkel-only manta trip—participants must snorkel to take part.
When does the trip typically depart?
The headline schedule notes an 8:00pm start for the late manta outing; confirm exact meeting and boarding times with the operator when you book.
Who operates the Late Manta Snorkel?
The verified operator listed for this evening manta snorkel is Torpedo Tours.
Why go on a late tour instead of an earlier trip?
The late departure places snorkelers in the water after about 90% of the other boats have left, which creates a quieter, more concentrated manta-viewing window.