SWIM WITH RAYS PATCH

More than five Manta Rays playfully looped around the bay, entertaining the group of snorkelers. When we jumped into the water we were immediately staring face to face with a giant Manta Ray, which is one of the most majestic creatures of the ocean. Once we arrived at Manta Point, the captain looked for any Manta Rays and they are very good at spotting them before you even have your snorkel ready. Our boat drove us the 20 minutes to Manta Point as we took in the beautiful coastline of Nusa Penida. I have experienced the tour both from Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan and both were very relaxing and great experiences. MY EXPERIENCE SNORKELING WITH MANTA RAYS AT MANTA POINT To book a tour on Lembongan, head down into the main street and you will find many tour offices who all sell the tour at the same price more or less. To book a tour from Nusa Penida just head down to Crystal Bay and find a vendor as that is where you will launch off from. You can book a tour locally if you are already on Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan. Check out the latest deals, like up to 23% off your stay all year long, at Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa.BOOK A SNORKEL TOUR WITH MANTA RAYS AT MANTA POINT FROM NUSA LEMBONGAN OR PENIDA Plus, you’ll get even more fun for the whole family with the resort’s multi-level fantasy pool - with a 200-foot water slide! - and spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.īook a manta ray night snorkeling adventure to swim alongside these gentle giants of the sea. Stay at the Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa for easy access to this magnificent, memory-making excursion.

Perfect for kids (of all ages), you’ll get to see these creatures in Keauhou Bay and learn about their habits and habitats, what attracts them to the Kona shore (hint: it has to do with minerals) and how ocean currents affect their patterns. You can also try daily manta ray viewings at dusk and talks at Outrigger’s Manta Center. You get to swim alongside these ocean giants as they embark on their mesmerizing waves of filter feeding. As snorkelers’ flotation devices light up the surrounding plankton, nearby manta rays are drawn to the light and congregate for feeding time. With Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa's Manta Ray Night Snorkel you’ll get to swim with rays under the night sky in what’s known as the Manta Ray Village, just off the Kona Coast. You can get up close and personal with these gentle creatures for a little dinner swim, too. Then a unique set of “gill rakers” sift through the water to leave behind a nutrition-rich plankton dinner. As it swims, the plankton are funneled into the ray’s cavernous mouths.

SWIM WITH RAYS PATCH

First, a ray will approach a large patch of plankton-rich water with its mouth wide open. Manta rays’ eating habits are fascinating to watch: they feed on tiny, free-floating organisms called plankton via a highly efficient “filter-feeding” method. Their harmless demeanor and habit of being comfortable with divers and snorkelers have made them highly sought-after “swimming” partners.

This sea creature’s distinctive “body-wings” propel them, acting as a modified fin that lets them glide through the water with dancer-like grace. Reaching up to 22 feet in wingspan - and weights of over 2,000 pounds - manta rays have earned the nickname “gentle giants of the sea.” The Big Island, is truly a destination for all things nature. But one of the most magical experiences may lie in the crystal-blue ocean itself: manta rays.

Swim with rays