My Kona Adventures
My Kona Adventures
5
Scuba & SnorkellingSwim with DolphinsEco ToursDolphin & Whale WatchingDay Trips
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
Enjoy the outdoors with exhilarating ocean activities offered by our Hawaiian/Veteran-owned business in Kona, Hawaii. We are proud to offer a variety of exciting excursions, such as Kona snorkeling, dolphin swims, whale watching, cliff jumping, and fishing. We are based in Kona, Hawaii, and specialize in small, family-friendly tours (6 people maximum). Since we are locally operated, customers can expect the Ohana, which is what we call "the family feeling". We provide the history of the island to all clients, including interesting local stories and folklore! With some of the best prices in kona, come and enjoy your day or night on the water with My Kona Adventures!
Kealakekua, Hawaii
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
2,757 reviews
Excellent
2,606
Very good
96
Average
21
Poor
17
Terrible
17
Matt J
24 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
This was easily one of the most amazing things we have ever done in our entire lives. All the hype I’ve heard about night snorkel trips with manta rays had me believing it could never be as good as it sounds. First, it was awe-inspiring to be in the water with these amazing creatures. Pictures and videos don’t do it justice. You WILL be amazed. But not just any tour company will do. We went with My Kona Adventures after a lot of research. They exceeded expectations every step of the way. From our initial booking, communications with questions, instructions leading up to our scheduled tour, all the way through getting back on dry land. Every one of their people we interacted with were top-notch, polite, professional, and just stellar across the board. We saw other companies out there with people crammed together. Our small group had plenty of room and we never bumped into anyone. Our guide was incredible and super informative throughout. You cannot find a better company and I strongly recommend you go with My Kona Adventures for a mind-blowing experience! Mahalo!!!!
Written June 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aloha~
WOW!
What an amazing review. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a detailed one. We greatly appreciate it and hope to see you all again. Mahalo~
Written July 2, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Beach Life
Ewa Beach, HI13 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
This was a great experience and we would recommend it for everyone! The water guides were entertaining and knowledgeable, the captain of the boat was funny even for the quick trip out. One of the things that I noticed as we were waiting for our trip was the owner came by and apologized for the wait because the mantas weren’t steadily out for the group ahead of us and when they did come around they wanted to give that group a fair time in the water, that right there is straight Aloha for the customer. We didn’t mind the wait because we got to enjoy a beautiful sunset. The booking process was easy and we booked via email and they were very responsive. From my kiddos (15 & 16), “a 10 out of 10 and we would recommend for everybody.”
Written July 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aloha!
Thank you for taking the time to leave us this review and providing those details. I am so glad that you had an amazing time with us and I thank you greatly for choosing us. We surely hope to se you all again on your next visit to Kona.
Mahalo!
Written July 25, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ella S
Spokane, WA2 contributions
Feb 2021 • Family
Amazing experience with William, Justin the Captain, and Aaron who was in the water with us! We got the first slot and saw spinner dolphins at sunset and they were totally showing off. We saw 5 mantas altogether and they were very majestic creatures. Overall, a wonderful experience. Definitely recommend!
Written February 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aloha!
Wow! Both Dolphins and Manta Rays, that is awesome!
Thank you so much for joining us, we appreciate you choosing us. Should you return to Kona, we hope to see you again.
Mahalo!
Written February 24, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
flyingkitt
1 contribution
Aug 2022
My husband and I did the night Manta Ray snorkel with this company on 8/1 and what an amazing experience! We contacted the company a week before our trip for this activity and were offered a discounted cash rate on the time and day of our choice. Once we confirmed our booking, they gave clear instructions for checking in and for all the safety precautions by email. With their instructions, check-in was easy. The wet suits they provided were dry and clean. We brought our own snorkeling gears. No shoes or personal belongings were allowed on the boat. Our captain was John and the water man was Van. John gave a briefing on the boat about safety and tips on how to hang onto the floating board during the snorkel. I was an OK pool swimmer but ocean waves always make me nervous. John's tips worked perfectly for me. I was very comfortable in the water. Van gave us information on the manta rays, introduced their names, their personality, and how to distinguish them, etc. Van also helped a person or two in our group when they were having trouble keeping a straight floating posture. We saw 6 or 7 manta rays (or it could be the same few manta rays that reappeared a few times). The 30 minute water time was just about right for me. I feel that longer than that, I would have started losing my attention and felling cold. I also appreciate the short boat ride so that we could get to our dry towels quickly to get warm. All in all, the crew made our manta ray night snorkel experience pleasant and memorable. I noticed some users gave a low rating because they didn't see manta rays on the trip. While I understand their disappointment, I feel that it is not fair to rate a company based on the behavior of wild animals that humans do not have control over. I am giving the rating based only on the human service. But of course, we saw the manta rays so I may be biased :)
Written August 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
meganwickes
1 contribution
Mar 2023 • Family
We researched a dozen or so companies before choosing My Kona Adventures. We chose them because they were affordable, close to where we were staying, and have a 95% chance of seeing the mantas.
We have a 5, 8, and 10 year old and they said it was the best thing we did on our trip to Hawaii. Eliza was so great hyping the kids up and hooked them up with wet suits (which I highly recommend) it gets cold out there. Chase was awesome teaching the kids facts and making sure everyone felt safe and comfortable. And the Mantas were performing for us from the second we jumped in flipping through the water and coming almost close enough to touch us. An experience I definitely won't forget.
We have a 5, 8, and 10 year old and they said it was the best thing we did on our trip to Hawaii. Eliza was so great hyping the kids up and hooked them up with wet suits (which I highly recommend) it gets cold out there. Chase was awesome teaching the kids facts and making sure everyone felt safe and comfortable. And the Mantas were performing for us from the second we jumped in flipping through the water and coming almost close enough to touch us. An experience I definitely won't forget.
Written March 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris M
1 contribution
Aug 2022
This was a once in a lifetime experience! We had so much fun on the guided manta ray night snorkel. Our group can’t stop marveling over how terrific the trip was.
The crew was fantastic. It was easy to find them at the launch site among the other companies. The on shore guide Eliza was helpful and quickly went over the process and guidelines. At least one of our team was more than a little nervous and the crew quickly put them at ease. The boat arrived and departed on time. Boarding and launch was easy. We used the wetsuits and snorkels they provided. All were top quality and in great shape, cleaned, and ready for use. Chase and John were helpful, engaging and kind.
The ride was short and we were in the water quick and easily. I looked into the lighted depth and it was clear. Nothing below me. Before the rest of the group was even in the water the first ray glided silently below along the floor of the sea. Within moments a school of them swooped and swarmed beneath us. They were majestic, silent and graceful. Any nerves were calmed as they fed along with a school of darting fish. The beauty was indescribable!
I highly recommend making this a part of your Hawai’i experience and booking with My Kona Adventures.
The crew was fantastic. It was easy to find them at the launch site among the other companies. The on shore guide Eliza was helpful and quickly went over the process and guidelines. At least one of our team was more than a little nervous and the crew quickly put them at ease. The boat arrived and departed on time. Boarding and launch was easy. We used the wetsuits and snorkels they provided. All were top quality and in great shape, cleaned, and ready for use. Chase and John were helpful, engaging and kind.
The ride was short and we were in the water quick and easily. I looked into the lighted depth and it was clear. Nothing below me. Before the rest of the group was even in the water the first ray glided silently below along the floor of the sea. Within moments a school of them swooped and swarmed beneath us. They were majestic, silent and graceful. Any nerves were calmed as they fed along with a school of darting fish. The beauty was indescribable!
I highly recommend making this a part of your Hawai’i experience and booking with My Kona Adventures.
Written August 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ed W
4 contributions
May 2024 • Family
Don’t look elsewhere for a manta ray experience in Kona! We were on a family trip and there were six of us wanting to do this. I found these folks on Groupon but since we had a limited time frame I called them directly. The message told me to email them. “Great”, I thought, “probably won’t hear back until we leave.” But they responded promptly and with a few emails we set it up for the next night. They were a 15-minute drive from downtown Kona in a small bay. Their arranger, Will, found us there, we paid him, and he sent us to the dock. We opted for wet suits which turned out to be a good idea. The six of us and three others hopped in a small boat that had a crew of three. Only took a couple of minutes to the jump spot, which would be a huge relief for anyone prone to seasickness in choppy water. My son was with us and said he had taken a manta ray excursion in Kona the year before but thought his boat ride took at least 30 minutes. One we reached the spot, my wife decided to stay in the boat, but she was able to see the mantas easily as they did their underwater ballet right under the rest of us in the water. Devin was our water guide and very capable. An awesome experience! Plus, this crew loves the mantas, has named them and was simply the best group of people we could have found to help us enjoy their love of these sea creatures. How does it work? Get in the boat. Take a short ride. Once in the spot you snorkel up, dip over the side and grab the rope that runs around the top of a larger float board. You put a noodle tube under your ankles to keep you floating but not kicking. You look into the water at the light. In a few moments you see a manta, then another and another. They swim below then suddenly they swoop upside down inches from your mask and body. They are incredible to watch. It beats the hell out of any sunset drinking cruise or bus tour any day. If you are going to do a manta ray excursion, THIS IS THE ONE!
Written May 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your detailed review. We greatly appreciate it. Thank you for choosing us.
Written June 17, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Natalia
Lakewood, CA1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Family
We Really enjoyed our nighttime manta ray snorkeling experience with My Kona Adventures! Their prices were very reasonable and their staff was very friendly and knowledgeable.
We were able to see around 20 manta rays; our guide made sure we were comfortable in the water and kept navigating to ensure we saw as many rays as possible.
We gathered at the dock first and checked in, then boarded a small vessel. We were outfitted with wetsuits (additional fee to rent), ankle floaties, and snorkles. Once we had gone around 10 minutes offshore, we hopped into the water. We held on to a floatation device (a surfboard with light attached to attract phytoplankton and provide visibility into the water to see the manta rays), which the guide helped direct. It was a unique experience! You won’t regret it!
We were able to see around 20 manta rays; our guide made sure we were comfortable in the water and kept navigating to ensure we saw as many rays as possible.
We gathered at the dock first and checked in, then boarded a small vessel. We were outfitted with wetsuits (additional fee to rent), ankle floaties, and snorkles. Once we had gone around 10 minutes offshore, we hopped into the water. We held on to a floatation device (a surfboard with light attached to attract phytoplankton and provide visibility into the water to see the manta rays), which the guide helped direct. It was a unique experience! You won’t regret it!
Written August 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you!!
Written August 19, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Robin M
4 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
The staff were very informative. Aleya was amazing! She was knowledgeable and so calming for nervous participants. Our Captain always stayed nearby with the boat. We were out for just about 30-40 minutes. It was just the right amount of time. The ride out was only 5 minutes. Many other boats had to ride a half hour to get where we were at. The mantas were so playful and would barrel roll and come inches from touching you. What a great experience!
Mark and Robin Maxam
Mark and Robin Maxam
Written February 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Acarrell22
Fallston, MD77 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
What a truly exhilarating experience. We went as a family, teenagers up to 70, and Eliza, Cedric, and Van were fabulous from start to finish.
The teenagers and college age kids with no fear were very excited. The adults a little nervous but all couldn’t wait to see the manta rays. Eliza was very informative and patient and even took on late notice walk ups without a problem while getting us signed in. She gave her safety briefing and asked if anyone was nervous and no one answered but me and I said I was and she said well the. You’ll probably get the most visitors. Not sure if she was trying to crack a joke at the time or not but in all reality I was surrounded by them and our video has me giggling and shrieking every time the manta rays flapped a fin on me or rubbed up on me doing a swim by and I dropped the camera. She WAS SPOT on but it was a magical evening even though my heart was beating out of my chest my children loved how playful and close and how many manta rays there were.
Cedric was very safe onboard the boat and helped everyone on and off. He explained everything very well who was to get off and on first, the ankle floats, the spray for the masks. And to stay floating not splashing. The very short 3-4 minute boat ride was the best. So very happy it wasn’t a 30-40 minute ride like so many others had!!!!!
Then we arrived and to be able to have a smaller number of guests at once was perfect as well so we had more time in the water. Van was there waiting for us and he was so patient when my mom got scared last minute in the dark and almost didn’t get off the boat. Thankfully everything went great and we were all off the boat, floating and seeing mantas in about 3 minutes after arrival.
Customer Service was top notch!!!!!! You can’t go wrong. The short boat drive was perfect, the smaller group size is ideal, but when other groups start migrating toward your guide…… you know you picked the right company. We had another group hook up with us about half way through because we had such a beautiful show to watch under the water. Alexia was doing multiple swim bys with her 8-10 friends (or more) and there was not a dull moment. It was breath taking.
The teenagers and college age kids with no fear were very excited. The adults a little nervous but all couldn’t wait to see the manta rays. Eliza was very informative and patient and even took on late notice walk ups without a problem while getting us signed in. She gave her safety briefing and asked if anyone was nervous and no one answered but me and I said I was and she said well the. You’ll probably get the most visitors. Not sure if she was trying to crack a joke at the time or not but in all reality I was surrounded by them and our video has me giggling and shrieking every time the manta rays flapped a fin on me or rubbed up on me doing a swim by and I dropped the camera. She WAS SPOT on but it was a magical evening even though my heart was beating out of my chest my children loved how playful and close and how many manta rays there were.
Cedric was very safe onboard the boat and helped everyone on and off. He explained everything very well who was to get off and on first, the ankle floats, the spray for the masks. And to stay floating not splashing. The very short 3-4 minute boat ride was the best. So very happy it wasn’t a 30-40 minute ride like so many others had!!!!!
Then we arrived and to be able to have a smaller number of guests at once was perfect as well so we had more time in the water. Van was there waiting for us and he was so patient when my mom got scared last minute in the dark and almost didn’t get off the boat. Thankfully everything went great and we were all off the boat, floating and seeing mantas in about 3 minutes after arrival.
Customer Service was top notch!!!!!! You can’t go wrong. The short boat drive was perfect, the smaller group size is ideal, but when other groups start migrating toward your guide…… you know you picked the right company. We had another group hook up with us about half way through because we had such a beautiful show to watch under the water. Alexia was doing multiple swim bys with her 8-10 friends (or more) and there was not a dull moment. It was breath taking.
Written July 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow!
Thank you so much for your detailed review.
Written August 1, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
When setting up a reservation, I noticed that you need to give a size for the wetsuit. If I indicate a size too small, would that be a problem once I’m there? Women’s largest size is XL, but I think I might need a larger size. Is that a problem? TY
Written January 20, 2020
They have a variety of sizes available once you are there. I was given one size and then realized it would be too small, they easily got me the next size.
Written January 21, 2020
Hi if I am not a confident swimmer, is this experience for me.
Written October 7, 2019
Aloha!
Yes, you can do the Manta Night Snorkel with little water experience as you will be holding on to a raft, and floating for most of the tour. There is a short swim from the boat to the raft but we can always provide a pool noodle for your assistance if needed.
Written October 14, 2019
Hello, Do you take the boats to the area by the airport, or somewhere else?
Written August 16, 2019
Aloha!
No, we depart from Keauhou. Approximately 10 miles South of the Kailua-Kona Airport.
Written August 29, 2019
Does anyone know if there is a weight restriction on the Manta Ray snorkel?
Written August 5, 2019
Aloha!
we can take persons up to 320 lbs.
Written August 10, 2019
Is it better to go earlier or later in the night? We will be there in December so the sun will set early.
Written October 24, 2017
usually the water in the evening trips would be desirable because it would be less crowded less boats less people in the water
Written October 26, 2017
Hi,
Planning to take this night manta ray tour . . . I was reading somewhere that a diver certificate is required? Is that true?
Thanks
Written April 6, 2017
Aloha,
We do snorkel trips for the manta rays and No you do not need one if you plan on snorkeling, if you plan on scuba diving then yes you will need to be certified
Mahalo
Written April 7, 2017
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