This is a little delayed review, but what a fun time! I am not a very good swimmer so going out into the water at night made me very hesitant. Thankfully, most of the time we were just floating - holding onto the light board and having our feet held up by pool noodles. The crew made us feel very safe and kept us well informed. One of them even dove down to get a dropped go pro from one of our group members. We were in the water for about 30 min, but the manta rays came right away and a lot towards the end of our time in the water! (Of course this varies from tour to tour based on various conditions and factors) My friends and I will never forget meeting "Manteria." Other tours were out in the same area as well and everyone was considerate of each other. I can't recommend this experience enough! read more

Night snorkeling with majestic Manta Rays in calm Keauhou Bay was awesome ... seriously, totally, ya, completely awesome! There are dozens of Hawaiian tour companies all bringing groups every evening to get in the water with the rays, but we were lucky to have the concierge at the Sheraton Kona Resort connect us with Eka Canoe Adventures for several reasons: * All groups are small around 6 people (plus 2 crew) * Because the boats are small, but stable double hull sailing canoes * The captain & mate were cool & professional * The tour is quick at just 1 hour * Cost was covered by a hotel credit and reasonable * It conveniently launches from the harbor next to the hotel A powerful light is attached to a board with handles that attracts photosynthetic plankton which in turn attracts the manta rays. A big ray will literally swim out of the dark ocean right up at you. Taking pictures is almost impossible unless you come better prepared with the right device and way to hold/trigger it than we did. Of course, swimming experience is required, but really this is not like normal wet-n-wild snorkeling. You basically just float face-down while hang on to the Light Board. Flotation noodles to keep you afloat, wet suit tops to keep you warm & floating, and snorkel masks to keep you breathing are all provided by Eka. Otherwise, just bring your own towel and a jacket to stay warm on the boat. Eka Canoe Adventures provided us a quick magical and memorable experience (even without in-water photos) snorkeling at night with manta rays off the coast of the Big Island of Hawaii that was awesome ... seriously, totally, ya, completely awesome! read more

Hawaiian Coastline Adventures - The small boat used for the Manta Rays Snorkel Night Tour - Boat Charters Near Me - Kailua-kona, Hawaii

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Eka Canoe showed us such a wonderful time on our manta ray tour! They were kind and knowledgable and made us feel very comfortable. It was just the captain and one crew member and 5 of us passengers and it was perfect. We saw several other tours with bigger groups doing a lot of waiting because of the amount of people and the requirements of bigger boats. But we got started and in the water really quick and then when the time with the mantas was over, we were back to shore and home right when we were starting to get a chilly. The experience itself was unreal! The mantas came so close they were almost grazing our bodies with theirs. It's something that we will never forget. I cannot recommend this adventure and this company enough. read more

Swimming with Giant prehistoric manta rays was incredible! The crew was fantastic and I recommend. read more

This was the best excursion I have ever done. They whole process was smooth from start to finish. Lana was in the water with us and he was amazing and informative. We saw 3 mantas & truly enjoyed every minute of being able to watch them eat as they glide gracefully through the water. I would recommend this 10/10. Don't hesitate just book it !! Thanks Lani for an unforgettable memory. read more

Eka Canoe is the BEST! They make everything easy and fun. Our captain and deck hand were great and helpful on the boat and in the water. They took care of me and my 8 and 10 year old kids. Jumping off a boat in choppy waters in the middle of the night should feel dangerous but the crew made us feel very safe and comfortable the whole time. The Mantas were beautiful and majestic. The only problem with our adventure was that I dropped my GoPro (and all the memories from our vacation) to the bottom of the ocean! After an email exchange with the Eka staff, the Captain went diving and recovered the camera and returned it to me!!! It was a true miracle and a demonstration of the unbelievable customer service that Eka Canoes provided. read more

Wow. Just. Wow, You need to do this. What a night to remember! You have a choice of several companies. Here is why I chose them and why I would choose them again: 1. They are a smaller operation. They took the time to get to know us. There were five of us that night. 2. The tour is an hour. My friend gets sea sick so we didn't need a three hour tour. Seriously an hour is a perfect amount of time. They launch about 2000 meters from the snorkel site. 3. They use a double hull sailing canoe. (Also less prone to motion sickness) . Seats are plenty wide--not narrow like a racing canoe 4. The crew.... Captain Danielle did a great job getting us there safely and Manta Whisperer Chayden kept us safe in the water and told us all about these magnificent creatures. We loved them both. Here's how it works: You get to the site and he tells you how to get in the water. You do not snorkel in the traditional way. Trust me. You don't want to. They have a small floating platform with a rail all around it. You hold on to that and have a pool noodle under your ankles which essentially keeps you floating on top of the water. With the added buoyancy of the wetsuit top it's easy. They have a very bright blue light that attracts the plankton which attracts the rays. And did it ever! We saw several rays. They literally do barrel rolls inches from your face. Magnificent!!!! Breath taking!!! Tips: Don't try to use the camera on your phone even if you have one of those little cases. It's hard. A go pro with a handle would have been better. I wish I had a picture to post but I don't. Better yet...just take it in. 2. If you tend to get cold like me, consider wearing a rash guard and some tights as an additional layer. It was fine but as an eternally cold person I wished I had. 3. When you get back in your seat make sure you don't slide your butt on the platform or you might get splinters on your okole . Don't ask me how I know. This was incredible. Do it!!!!! read more

Omg such an amazing experience! I forgot if it was captain Dustin or Chayden (didn't hear his name) but him as well as captain Danielle were both so sweet and helpful! My group and I are beginner swimmers and we were nervous about this activity, but had to try it given it is a must try of Kona. It's actually the only island that is known for swimming with the manta rays. EKA is especially great because they do smaller groups of 6 people so you really get that personal and careful attention to make you feel comfortable and safe. A lot of other companies don't even send a captain/guide in the water with you, but Eka had the captain with us in the water the entire time. Captain Chayden was so helpful because he was explaining the history of the mantas / more information on them while also helping us with any concerns we had as we were swimming. It felt sooo safe and I highly recommend this activity even as a beginner. I understand doing a night snorkel is nerve wracking but this experience is a 100% must try especially with Eka. Not to mention they are the cheapest company in the area (as of April 2021). read more

Wow- what a trip! Night snorkeling with the Manta Rays was an unbelievable experience. The Eka Canoe Adventures team appeared to really care about our experience and was committed to ensuring we were safe at all times. Kia, who jumped in the water with us, was very knowledgable about the Manta Rays and was such a pleasure to have as a guide. I highly recommend Eka Canoe Adventures to anyone looking for the Manta Rays experience in Kona. read more

Hawaiian Coastline Adventures - One of the many, many Manta Rays that we saw on our trip. - Boat Charters Near Me - Kailua-kona, Hawaii

It is totally worth it to pay for the adventure to snorkel and swim with the mantas. Danielle and Tanner are such beautiful crew members who made our evening adventure such a joy. These two are so caring and attentive to all our needs and concerns this eve. ToTally loved the canoe ride out to see the mantas. We felt taken care of and safe out in the middle of the ocean and in the canoe ride. U guys have to try this adventure for sure read more

I cannot say enough about this experience! I have never done anything like this before, and we also had a *very* trepidatious 7 year-old with us. I LOVED every minute of this adventure! I loved the canoe, and the calm and gentle nature of our captain David and our AMAZING guide Nick. It was a laid-back and more organic experience compared to the "Go-Pro Crowd" that was in the water near us on their more expensive, more "sterile" outfit. (NOT my cup of tea). David and Nick easily guided us to a location that turned out to be THE SPOT for viewing these unbelievable creatures. I also want to note that the other Go-Pro crowd quickly descended on the same area once they realized their area had nothing in it. The ONLY drawback was that once the other groups clung on to us, their guide was SO obnoxious and would not just SHUT THE HECK UP and let us enjoy the spectacle in the water below. This has NOTHING to do with Eka - it just proved that I made the right choice in booking with them! An aside - my daughter was beyond terrified once we had to get in the water. Jet lag, inexperience, etc. made her a hot mess. Nick could not have been kinder or more patient with her. His calm, gentle nature eventually made her relax, and he helped her up onto the surfboard so she wasn't floating - by the end she was completely enjoying herself. I have never seen someone work so well with a freaked out kid, and I'm a kindergarten teacher! I cannot stress how much this meant to us. On the way back, the hot chocolate was divine!! They even took a moment to go to a different spot, kill the engine, and let us dip our hands into the ocean and play in the dark water with the bioluminescent plankton. It was utterly perfect! I've read the few negative reviews, and I totally get that these are the people who need scripted, "upscale" pampering. If you want a more natural, organic experience that feels more in tune with the incredible environment both in and out of the water, with people who are just as in awe of what is taking place inches away from you even though they see it several times a day, then book with Eka without hesitation. They exceeded my expectations beyond belief. read more

My husband and I were staying at the Sheraton and really wanted to swim with the Mantas. We ended up booking through Eka because of the close vicinity to the hotel and because of the shuttle to and from the launch site. On the night of our adventure, we were picked up by the golf cart right on time and driven down to the harbor. The boat itself wasn't too impressive, but it didn't really matter since it's job was to just take us out into the water. Once we got out, we met up with a bunch of other boats that were already anchored and set up with their lights. We were provided noodles, snorkel gear, and spring suits, and then we jumped into the water. We all hung onto a surfboard that had handles and lights and our guide attached us to another boat's board. I was skeptical at first because I felt like the red headed stepchild boat, but everyone seemed to know each other. At first we didn't see any rays, but once our guide moved us, we saw a TON of rays!!! I was 8 months pregnant at the time so everyone told me that the rays would love me...and they were right! We had like over 20 mantas swim up and flip right underneath us! They came so close their bellies touched us! We had such a fun time in the water and were so glad we had a GoPro to capture it all. The ride back, we were provided with hot chocolate which hit the spot! We had a great experience. As for the crew: Our guide was young, but she was nice and got the job done. The captain of the boat was more seasoned and professional. PS- At the time of booking, you need to provide your shoe size and your wetsuit size, so be prepared. read more

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We booked a same day manta tour. Great price. David and Danielle were super hosts. They didn't waste anytime so we could have maximum time in the water. There were at least 12+ rays. They gave us lots of info about them and answered our questions during the dive. We would definitely recommend anyone, any experience to try. Also the Hot chocolate at the end was a very nice touch. Mahalo Perry Ohana read more

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Where to begin? Captain Danielle and Chayden are both super hard working as well as super nice and made it such a night to remember! Was super nervous at the start but by the time I was in the water swimming to the snorkel location I was calm and confident everything was going to be safe and okay. Would definitely recommend for small groups or couples, or even solo you'll make great friends. 100% recommend doing this and 100% going to come back! read more

If you do only one activity on the Big Island - DO THIS! This was hands down the highlight of the trip. Eka Canoe has a small boat, so our crew size was small, just ourselves and three other people. We chose them because we were told they had a Manta Ray guarantee, and as the only boat that goes out three times in a night - if you don't see them the first time, we could rebook that same night possible. This was completely unnecessary however, as our first and only trip out on the water DID NOT DISAPPOINT. This is not a free snorkel, you don't even need fins, there's lots of groups going out in the water. Each holding onto a surfboard with a large light facing down below the waves. The light draws in the plankton, and the plankton draws in the Manta Rays. They are absolutely amazing, we saw TONS OF RAYS (and don't worry, unlike stingrays they don't have stingers), doing barrel roll after barrel roll inches from our faces. We've done a lot of snorkeling in Hawaii, and elsewhere in the world, but this was definitely a unique experience. The crew, Rob and Chloe were excellent - and had a nice hot cocoa waiting for us once we got back on the boat. Definitely an unforgettable amazing experience. CANNOT RECOMMEND ENOUGH!!! read more

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captian Panda and mate Anne were awesome . understanding and extremely patient and professional. Made our first ever trip fun and educational as well .Above and Beyond for a couple of us who had anxiety and fear of the water . Thank you for a wonderful evening. read more

This was our first time snorkeling with manta rays and it was the best thing we've ever done!! We did a lot of activities in Hawaii but this was our absolute favorite! We saw so many manta's the second we got to our location spot. They're literally inches away from your face it was incredible! I love the ocean and have been snorkeling & scuba diving numerous times, but I still respect it & understand the dangers. Being said, I was looking for a huge boat with lottsss of people. But none of those had the time we needed to fit our schedule. We did the 7:45 night tour aka PITCH BLACK. I've never been so terrified in my life. THEN to top it off the boat is teenie tiny (only 6 of us). Oh add choppy water to it and I was ready to back out. But after snorkeling I wouldn't have it any other way. Boat - DOESNT MATTER! All the boats are literally going to the exact same spot. Also the boat has an actual engine for anyone wondering (the entire time leading up my boyfriend made me believe that we actually had to row our way out there) Small group - THE BETTER. There was only six of us holding onto the surfboard and it was so much better after seeing the bigger groups being clustered. I felt this was more personal. You're out there for about 45 min which seems like a long time but it went by so fast. Tour guides - they were young so easy to connect with and you can tell they loved what they did. My boyfriend also had never been snorkeling before so the guy was kind enough to explain how it all worked. Also, I got extremely sea sick toward the end of the tour and the lady was so nice & helpful to try and make me feel better again. Overall we had a great experience and can't wait to plan our next trip to Hawaii and book eka canoes again! The only critique I'll give is to add signs on where the location of the boat is. Since it was pitch black at night, we were searching for 15-20 min since the canoe wasn't back yet from it's last departure. And if there were signs, please make them more visible we were so scared to miss the tour! Aside from that, best time of our lives! read more

Our guides were Becca and David. Both were great! I was afraid to go out in the open water in the dark but Becca made me feel comfortable going. If you've never snorkeled before, I'd suggest you try snorkeling during the day first. During the night time snorkel, you have about a minute to figure out your mask and put it on, in the dark. Reason for the 4 stars was because we didn't see any manta rays, although they did offer for us to come back the following day at no extra charge. I know it's not their fault that the manta rays didn't come out! This experience was definitely one to remember, especially for my 7-year old daughter who had a great time out there! I would recommend this to anyone visiting the Big Island! read more

Swimming with the graceful Manta Rays is unforgettable -- an almost spiritual experience -- and Sam and Captain Chanda make the experience even better with their friendly good humor and knowledge of history and natural surroundings. Sam gave us a briefing on what we'd see, and a history of the Manta's relationship to humanity. He also assured us that we'd see rays, and he was right -- they were up close, numerous, and fearless, almost skimming our bodies trying to reach the plankton near our faces. Sam and Chanda were sure to discuss with us not only our safety, but the safety of the rays, and how not to cause them or their environment harm. Additionally, my daughter has been petrified of open water her whole life, and true to Murphy's Law she lost her grip climbing back into the boat and fell into the water. Nothing was hurt but her pride, but it really scared her, and Chanda -- very professional and personable -- took pains to salve her embarrassment and fear by reassuring her and making her laugh. 90% of good customer service is empathy and graciousness. No one wants to feel like just another customer. So, if you read this, thank you for that kindness, Chanda. I would definitely recommend choosing Eka Canoe, and its crew. If we ever come back to the Big Island, we're definitely doing this again. read more

Amazing, panda and Sam we awesome and accommodating. We had Rays for days! Easy boat ride and right in the water for maximum viewing. Highly recommend for anyone looking to do this, ask for panda and Sam And They have hot chocolate after you get out to warm you up if you need it A must do on the big island! read more

I did the 7pm Manta Ray snorkel. Staying at the Sheridan, it's a short walk to the harbor where we took off. The guys looked young, but were totally professional and did a great job, exceeding my expectations. There was someone in our group who was afraid to jump in the water, and they did a great job comforting her without delaying the rest of us. The experience in the water was awesome, and probably the same with any company. read more

I was told that this was a 'MUST' and it totally was! Eka provided a great experience with a beautiful boat and an amazing crew. The boat only seats 6 so it was a much more intimate tour than others offered around town. We saw SO many Manta Rays, was an amazing experience! read more

Hawaiian Coastline Adventures - Boat Charters Near Me - Kailua-kona, Hawaii

This was our first time snorkeling with manta rays and it's one of the most awe-inspiring things I've ever done. These graceful creatures are amazing! Everyone going to Hawaii should experience this. The crew of Eka Canoe was very knowledgable and told us about the mantas, what to expect, and how to make sure we don't accidentally harm the mantas. The sailing canoe that we ride to the snorkel spot is small so you aren't going out with a large group of people like some of the other tours. There were six tourists on our boat so it's a nice sized group and you're able to ask questions and the tour feels very intimate. I would definitely do this again! read more

Hawaiian Coastline Adventures - a manta ray during our night-time snorkeling adventure. the date/time is inaccurate. - Boat Charters Near Me - Kailua-kona, Hawaii

Very cool to have this experience on an actual canoe instead of a snorkel boat! We were very lucky to get some manta action, I think we saw about 5 mantas?? However... a little disappointed they didn't have the sail up like in the photos nor provide us waters... but Danielle and Alika were very kind and extremely accommodating. They did offer us hot cocoa when we came back to the dock. Thank you for the experience! read more

it was super fab from start to finish. crew was attentive to our needs and the intimate setting with only 12 guests was perfect. the lifeguard on board, Kai, did a great job making everyone comfortable with getting ready to see the rays...and we saw sooo many rays! read more

Great tour for a Kealakekua Snorkel! We met up at 8am and Captain Kalani Nakoa took our group of 6 adults out on the Wa'a Kini Kini. It's a very stable, comfortable and unique sailing/motorized vessel comprised of two huge canoes bridged by a large wooden platform. The captain is great and you learn a lot about Hawaiian history, geography and culture from him during the tour. We visited and snorkeled the Captain Cook monument and the whole tour lasted 3 hours roundtrip. We saw spinner, spotted and bottle nose dolphins and they literally were jumping and surfacing within feet of the boat. Don't show up late otherwise it will eat into your snorkel/exploring time. Kealakekua Snorkel - $119 Historic Sail - $55 Sunset Sail - $75 Manta Ray Snorkel - $89 read more

Sweet crew...very personal attention...almost one on one...excellent experience...swimming with the mantas...memories of a lifetime...

Eka is amazing!! Kalani is an incredible guide, teacher and lover of Hawaiian history and culture. My husband and I took a private sunset sail and were honored with stories of the history of both the land and sea. It feels a bit like a spiritual adventure to be out on the water on this beautiful canoe. We were lucky enough to bring the wind with us and actually sail! Thank you for the wonderful and personal experience!! read more

Big thanks to Alicia & Zion for a great experience. As newbies who had never even snorkeled before they helped us every step of the way. The hot coco as we got back on the canoe to head back was PERFECT! The Manta Rays are beautiful gentle giants. Must do, even if only once. read more

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The activities desk at Royal Kona Resort recommended we check these guys out. What a personal, unique and enlightening experience! We chose the historical tour and learned more about Hawaiian culture and history in 60 minutes than we did during our entire 7 day trip. Our "captain" was incredibly insightful and knowledgeable in many areas. We even had the chance to see a manta ray - an extremely rare occurrence as they almost never come out during the day. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and a must do while in Kona. read more

The mantas are amazing! This was my 3rd time swimming with the mantas. The first time we jumped off the rocks at the Sheraton, the second was from a kayak and this last time was with Eka. My son and I saw a bunch of mantas, but we weren't out there very long. Our lanai at the Sheraton overlooks the site and my wife said we were out less than an hour. Many of the other boats were out a lot longer. I'm a certified diver with 100s of dives logged I was a little irritated when our guide kept asking me to keep the pool noodle under my ankles when every time she swam to pull our group into the mantas it would float away. The boat is ok, there are nicer options, but it's only a 5 minute ride so it's not a deal breaker. Just wish we had a little more time. read more

This is way better than taking an Uber into Kona town. The crew were super friendly! Shared about Hawaiian culture and history. Pointing out landmarks as we passed them. 10/10 highly recommend. Can't wait to come back and do it again on my next Kona trip! read more

Someone else here mentioned "organic tour" which is an apt description, quiet, peaceful Hawaiian experience without all the flash of a large, loud motor boat and tons of people. So much better to part of the experience and respect the nature and majesty of floating quietly above the Manta Rays with expert hosts. Went with 3 well traveled teenagers and they all loved it. read more

My 5 year old daughter and I did the Manta Ray scuba experience last night with Robert and Danielle. It was AMAZING!! My wife rode along in the boat with my 3 year old (who wore her Moana dress because the boat looks just like Moana's- such a bonus!!) Danielle was so patient with my 5 year old, answering each of her many questions. We saw so many Manta Rays and the whole experience was unbelievable. Both Robert and Danielle were excellent guides!! Highly recommend this to anyone staying near Kona!! read more

Thank you Nick and David! Private(ish) Manta-ray adventure was amazing evening saw so many rays, and they put on a show! It was amazing to see these awe inspiring creatures , If you are here on the big island go Eva! read more

The manta ray snorkeling was so incredible, the crew was super knowledgeable and friendly they answered all questions and I felt totally safe the whole time. There were a TON of mantas and my boyfriend and I got touched by them numerous times. Baron ( idk how to spell it) gave great facts and even offered us a golfcart ride to the hotel. We got hot chocolate upon return to the catamaran and we got great footage of the mantas. Would definitely recommend this as the number one thing to do when u visit Hawaii. read more

Did the night Manta Ray Dive... This was AMAZING! If you're lucky enough to see rays, they can venture very close to you. We had a half dozen over the course of a half-hour and they were repeatedly coming within inches of our faces. Eka Canoe will provide a wetsuit top, snorkel gear, and a noodle to help you keep your body flat so the mantas come to see you. They're very kind and make sure you know the steps from minute to minute and they watch over you the whole time, so I felt very safe. The Hawaiian canoe is really cool and the groups are kept relatively small, which I thought was more fun. The guides are respectful, fun, and genuinely enjoying themselves. They're happy to answer questions or to share their experiences or tell you about their favorite mantas. When I return to the Big Island I'll certainly book another experience with them. They're doing a stellar job! read more

We highly recommend Eka Canoe Adventures out of Keauhou. They are a small company and took out only six of us at a time. They work very hard to ensure you get to see the mantas. Really nice people too; Chris and Panda were awesome. Rather than spending a lot of time on the boat and not necessarily seeing mantas, it's only a 5-10 minute canoe ride out to the bay. It was a great experience. They live up to their guarantee as well. Another couple was back for their second trip, as they didn't get to see mantas on their first outing. We saw three that night and it was an unforgettable experience! read more

Horrible experience, unprofessional people, they cancel trip like nothing destroying vacación plans. If you don't want to waist your time, money and gas just choose and other company in the island for sure you can save $30 and make all your vacation plans. Sheraton such a good resort should not sponsor this low quality company. Disappoint read more

Cheap snorkel mask leaked immediately. Borrowed the one from the guide, but then she couldn't see underwater to bring us to the Mantas. (They brought zero spares) Both crew were baked out of their minds. Captain on the boat called out to our guide several times to point out rays & dolphins, but she didn't listen. Never saw anything! Other groups nearby said they had amazing experiences. Absolute crap group. read more