Frequently Asked Questions
- Where do we leave from?
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Keauhou Bay located next to the Sheraton resort in Kona.
- How early do I need to be there prior to the boat tours' designated time?
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30 minutes prior to your departure.
- What's the length of the trip?
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Our Kona tours vary anywhere from three to four hours, manta ray snorkels are an hour in the water.
- What do I need to bring with me?
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Day trips you will need some sunscreen, towels, and hats if possible; your head burns while out at sea. Bring cameras if you want to take pictures!
- Can the manta rays harm me?
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Manta rays are totally harmless, they have barbs, no stingers or teeth.
- Do you provide all the equipment? (including wetsuits)
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Yes, we do provide all the snorkel gear and wetsuits.
- What if we don't see manta rays?
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If you do not see mantas then we take you out again for free during the duration of your vacation.
- What happens in an event of a cancellation? And what is the refund policy?
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If there is a cancellation on our trips you get a full refund, cancellations made within 48 hours or no shows are not refunded though.
- Will I get seasick?
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If you know you get seasick take something an hour prior to your trip, if you get seasick easily, take something the night before when you go to bed then an hour before you get on the boat.
- What if I can't swim? What if I've never snorkeled before either?
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If you can’t swim or have never snorkeled before you may still enjoy this activity, our expert guides are ocean life guard certified and take very good care of you as well as lots of flotation devices being available.
- What if I want to see the mantas but not go into the water?
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If you don’t want to get into the water but still want to see the manta rays, our boat is perfect for the situation; it has a lighting system that’s able to draw them to surface beside the boat for viewing purposes.
- Do you take GoPro videos for us?
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Yes, we do take GoPro video for you, that way you don’t have to worry about your own camera, you can just enjoy the tour and relax while we record.
- Is it easy to find parking there?
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Parking is not the easiest thing to find due to all the activities, in the morning however you can park alongside the road or use the Sheraton’s parking lot in Kona.
- Can we take the trolley from Kona town to Keauhou Bay if we don't have a car?
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Yes, the Kona trolley does run to the Sheraton and back, so if you do not have a car or no ride accessible to you, you can ride the trolley.
- Are there crew members with us in the water?
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Yes, the crew members will always be in the water with you, especially at night on the manta ray snorkel, and during our day snorkel tours.
- How deep is the water?
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The depth of the water will vary from the tours you choose, the night manta ray snorkel is anywhere from 10-40′ deep, however the dolphin swim and Cpt. Cook snorkel can range from 10-70′ deep.
- How many guests are there on each tour?
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The amount of guests we take out regardless of time of day are six people maximum, we keep the amount of people to a minimum to allow a more personable and family-oriented experience.
- Kama'aina rates?
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Yes, we do offer kama’aina rates. Call us to find out more.
- Can we touch the manta or dolphins?
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No, it is prohibited to touch the manta rays or dolphins.
- Can we swim down?
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During the day trip you may dive down, free dive, and have fun. However during the night trip we encourage you to hang onto the board and don’t allow you to dive down.
- Do they have names?
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Yes, the manta have names, and they’re all in the manta ray database.
- Why do the manta come into the light?
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The manta come into the light because the light attracts their food (primarily plankton) to the surface.
- Do you feed the manta?
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No, we do not feed them.
- Will the manta hurt me?
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They are totally harmless, they’re filter feeders.
- Do the manta have stingers or barbs?
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They have no stingers or teeth.
- What if there is surf or lightning?
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If there is surf it will be the captain’s call to cancel or go, if there is lightning far away we will still go but if it gets closer at an alarming rate we will cancel.
