Manta ray night dive facts for kids
A manta ray night dive is a special scuba diving trip. On this trip, people go underwater at night to see amazing manta rays. It's a popular activity, especially near Hawaiʻi Island.
Contents
Seeing Manta Rays at Night
When you go on a manta ray night dive, you'll see how many manta rays are around. The number changes each night. It depends on how much tiny food, called plankton, is in the water. On some nights, you might not see any manta rays. But on other nights, when there's lots of plankton, you could see more than ten!
How it Works
Scuba divers shine bright lights upwards from the ocean floor. People snorkeling on the surface shine lights downwards. These lights create a bright column of light in the water. This light attracts millions of tiny plankton. The plankton then attracts the hungry manta rays. They swim gracefully through the light, scooping up their dinner.
Popular Dive Spots
One very popular place for these dives is off the coast of Hawaiʻi Island. It's called Garden Eel Cove. Another well-known spot is near the old Kona Surf Hotel. This area is close to Keahole Point and the Kona International Airport. Its official name is Hoʻona Bay, located at 19°43′58″N 156°3′26″W / 19.73278°N 156.05722°W. Besides manta rays, you might also see garden eels, Hawaiian turkeyfish, and Heller's barracuda.
History of Manta Ray Dives
For many years, visitors to Hawaii watched manta rays from hotels and restaurants along the coast. Places like the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and the Kona Surf Hotel were popular viewing spots.
When Dives Began
In 1992, companies that organize dives started taking scuba divers to places like the Kona Surf Hotel. They wanted to give people a chance to see manta rays up close. Over the years, these trips became more and more popular. Now, many dive companies offer these tours almost every day.
Highly Rated Experience
Travel guides often say that the manta ray night dive is an amazing experience. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) even says that dive magazines around the world often call Kona's manta ray night diving one of the best things you can do underwater.
Main Dive Locations Today
As of 2017, there are three main places to do the manta ray night dive on the Island of Hawaiʻi. They are:
- In front of the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay. This spot is often called 'Manta Village'.
- In front of the Kona International Airport at Keahole, Hawaii. This spot is known as 'Garden Eel Cove' or 'Manta Heaven'.
- Between Kawaihae harbor and the Kohala resorts.
Protecting Manta Rays
As manta ray night dives became more popular, protecting these gentle giants became very important. In some other parts of the Pacific Ocean, manta rays have been hunted. This is because there's a demand for their gill plates.
Conservation Efforts
Manta rays are delicate creatures. Because of this, special rules have been created to keep them safe and healthy during these dives. The Ocean Recreation Council of Hawaii and PADI's Project AWARE helped set these guidelines. Dive companies that offer these tours follow these rules very strictly. This helps make sure that the manta rays are not harmed and can continue to thrive.
Finding a Dive Tour
Several dive shops in Kailua-Kona offer manta ray night dives. You can choose between one-tank or two-tank dives. Most of these dive trips leave from Honokohau harbor. This harbor is only a short boat ride away from the dive sites. You can go on a manta ray diving tour in Hawaii any time of year. They are not limited by seasons.
