The Kona Manta Ray Night Dive

 

The Kona Coast on the island of Hawaii is a world-class destination for those who seek ocean adventures.  Whether boat cruises, snorkeling excursions, or scuba diving tours, people come to Kona to experience the beauty and awe of Hawaii’s marine environment.  One activity that sets Kona apart from other worldwide tourist destinations is the opportunity to observe manta rays in the wild. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For many years, lights from the  Kona Surf hotel (present day Sheraton Kona) would shine into the water at night to offer a beautiful vista for onlookers from the terrace above.  Below the surface of the sea, plankton was attracted to light and manta rays were attracted to plankton. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starting in the early 1980’s, a local dive operator, Jack's Diving Locker, started taking scuba divers on underwater tours at night to view these rays.  Popularity of this dive grew as other operators joined.  By 1993, dive operators came together and created a set of guidelines for those participating in the experience.  These voluntary guidelines are still in effect today.  The first and most important being, "Observe Only: No touching."  For the complete list of guidelines see Lesson 2 of this module.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the dive gained momentum, dive operators discovered a second site located at Makako Bay just north of Keahole Point on the west side of the island of Hawaii.  Below is a video from KHON News in 2004 where Ron Mizutani is reporting on the dive. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Change in the Industry

A change occurred that altered the nature of the experience as the activity gained worldwide acclaim.  Snorkel operators started frequenting the site and the snorkeler numbers began exceeding the scuba diver numbers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data based on Manta Pacific Research Foundation Nightly Manta Reports

 Summer months of June, July, August of 2007 and 2012.

 

 

 

 

Manta Tour Industry Today

 

Today, over 30 manta tour operators exist and that number continues to rise.  Upwards of 50,000 people participate in nightly manta viewing excursions annually.  Those that use the site commercially include scuba diving and snorkeling operations but have also expanded to include kayaks, glass bottom boats, and even stand-up paddleboards.  Reports from the summer of 2014 included up to 22 vessels and approximately 200 participants and guides in the water at one time.  High number of manta rays have also been reported.  Over 40 manta rays in one night were reported on several occasions in 2014.  Overall, the manta sighting numbers have increased, not decreased with more people.  

 

However, the crowds of people are a concern.  In 2014, the State of Hawaii legislature passed a resolution (H.R. NO. 129) that urges the Department of Land and Natural Resources to adopt rules to manage manta ray dive sites.  This process is currently underway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Economic Impact 

In 2002 and 2007, Manta Pacific Research Foundation conducted surveys of dive and snorkel operators to assess the economic impact of the Kona manta tour industry.  When totalled in 2007, the manta tour industry generated approximately $4 million in direct revenue.  

 

In study conducted O'Malley, Lee-Brooks, and Medd (2013), the value of manta tourism worldwide equaled $140 million.  For more information, please review this study with the link provided.