5 questions to ask your manta ray activity provider
In 2014, Hawaii Ocean Watch (that’s us!) published a “Green List of Activity Providers” for manta ray tours in Kona, Hawaii.
Since then, the manta ray industry has grown exponentially, with more boat operators starting their businesses and bringing many more people to the activity sites.
In 2023, the Green List of Activity Providers was suspended. We currently deem it impossible for companies operating at the Keauhou or the Airport viewing sites to comply with the safety and sustainability criteria.
While we assume most Manta tour providers do their best to provide an enriching adventure, this is simply impossible when 15-30 boats dwell or circulate at the same site while 200-400 people are in the water.
Keeping things organized with so many boats and people around would be a huge challenge during the daytime; it can become a nightmare for crew and captains to keep everyone involved safe in the dark of night.
Keep these 5 questions handy while searching for the best activity provider that fits your needs.
You can download the questions in PDF format at the bottom of this page.
🏝️ Q1 - Which manta viewing site do you go to?
There are 3 manta ray viewing sites around Kona, Hawaii. You can learn more about all three viewing sites on this page.
The nightly oversaturation with boats, divers, snorkelers, and crew happens at the Keauhou viewing site and the manta viewing site near Kona airport, making this activity inherently unsafe at these two locations.
If you book a tour at one of these sites, we recommend you choose a tour operator with a high crew-to-guest ratio, employing well-trained and experienced crew members, and adhering to the highest safety and sustainability criteria on its tours.
⛴️ Q2 - Does the boat stay at the site, and if so, how?
Some operators “live-boat” at the viewing sites, rather than parking the boat with engines off and a safe distance from the campfire. Live-boating is dangerous because running propellers can injure marine life (manta rays or other animals) or people.
The US Coast Guard has investigated reports about operators who drop off a group of people at a viewing site and then leave to pick up more participants, similar to a taxi situation. This means that if something bad happens, the boat won’t be able to come to the rescue.
🤿 Q3 - What is the ratio of crew to guests on your tour?
Ask an activity provider how many people they will typically take on a tour and how many crew will accompany you if you book a tour with them.
We recommend 1 crew to 8 guests or less for the in-water swim or dive.
❗Q4 - How experienced is the crew?
While the crew/guest ratio is essential, it’s also important that the crew knows what they’re doing, what risks and dangers to watch for, and can take immediate action if necessary.
However, not all tour operators employ well-trained and experienced crew members.
Hawaii has a high cost of living, and jobs in the ocean recreation industry are usually not well-paid. This leads to a transitory workforce: there aren’t enough experienced professionals to man the boats.
This means some tour operators hire people who lack training and experience and cannot always accurately judge people and situations.
When your captain isn’t used to navigating the shores of the Big Island, or when guides without Lifeguard and/or First Aid training are supposed to help you if something happens during the night tour, we do not believe the risks outweigh the fun.
❌ Q5 - What are your cut-off criteria for canceling?
Hawaii’s civil defense message system alerts the public about adverse ocean conditions, which is especially important during winter months. The alert levels are 1. ADVISORY, 2. WATCH to 3. WARNING (most serious).
When large waves hit the shorelines and the water is rough, going on a snorkeling or scuba diving adventure is risky - regardless of other factors. We recommend asking during sign-up about the tour operator’s cut-off criteria.
Ready to start asking questions?