A manta ray night dive is a nighttime activity to see manta rays. People can participate by scuba diving or snorkeling. One of the most well-known places for these dives is in Hawaii. There, divers and snorkelers can watch manta rays feed at night in their natural environment. The month of May is known for having the best diving conditions on Kona and the Big Island of Hawaii.
Description
The number of manta rays seen depends on the amount of tiny plankton in the water. On some days, no manta rays are visible, while on days with high plankton levels, as many as twelve may appear. During dives, scuba divers use a method called "bonfire" or "campfire" diving by shining lights upward, while snorkelers shine lights downward to create a column of light. This light attracts millions of tiny plankton, which then draws manta rays to the area.
A popular location for manta ray diving is Garden Eel Cove near the coast of Hawaiʻi Island and the Kona Surf Hotel. This site, located near Keahole Point (close to the Kona International Airport), is officially named Hoʻona Bay (coordinates: 19°43′58″N 156°3′26″W). Other sea life found there includes garden eels, Hawaiian turkeyfish, and Heller's barracuda.
Manta ray diving tours in Hawaii happen all year, but the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) notes that the best time for night dives is between May and September.
History
For many years, visitors to Hawaii watched manta rays from restaurants and hotels near the coast, such as the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and the Kona Surf Hotel, which closed in 2002. In 1992, dive companies began taking scuba divers to places like the Kona Surf Hotel to see manta rays. Over time, more dive trips were offered, and many companies provided these experiences most days.
Travel guides often praise this dive activity. PADI states that "many diving magazines around the world often list Kona's manta ray night diving as one of the best underwater experiences."
In 2017, the three most popular locations for manta ray night diving on the Island of Hawaiʻi, from south to north, were:
1. In front of the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay (formerly the Kona Surf Hotel, called "Manta Village").
2. In front of the Kona International Airport at Keahole, Hawaii (also known as "Garden Eel Cove" or "Manta Heaven").
3. Between Kawaihae Harbor and the Kohala resorts.
Conservation and the Manta Pacific Research Foundation
Because more people are diving to see manta rays, protecting and preserving these animals has become a key focus for diving companies and groups. In other areas of the Pacific Ocean, manta rays have been hunted by fishermen because of high demand for their gill plates. Local groups, such as the Manta Pacific Research Foundation, work to protect manta rays and teach the public about them and other ocean life. The Manta Pacific Research Foundation's mission is to "study manta rays in their natural environment, carry out scientific research, offer educational programs about manta rays and the ocean, and support worldwide efforts to conserve manta rays." Because manta rays have a delicate body structure, rules to keep them healthy during dives have been created by The Ocean Recreation Council of Hawaii and PADI's Project AWARE. These rules are strictly followed by diving companies that offer the dive in Kona.