| Night snorkel | Night dive | |
|---|---|---|
| Certification | None | Open-water scuba or higher |
| Where you are | Floating at the surface, holding a lit board | Sitting on the sand or bottom |
| What you see | Mantas rising up into the light below you | Mantas passing overhead through beams shone upward |
| Time in the water | Usually 30 to 45 minutes | Varies by operator |
Who should snorkel
Almost everyone. It needs no certification, the gear is simple, and you see the mantas up close as they feed at the light. You just need to be comfortable floating still in deep water at night.
Who should dive
Certified divers who want the other angle: lying back on the bottom while mantas swoop through the light column above. Book with a dive operator and bring your certification card.
Mixed groups
If one person dives and the rest snorkel, pick a boat that carries both. Torpedo Tours runs snorkelers and certified divers together from Honokōhau Harbor to Manta Heaven.
Questions
Do I need to be certified for the manta night dive?
Yes. The night dive requires at least an open-water scuba certification. The night snorkel requires no certification.
Is the dive better than the snorkel?
It is a different view, not a better one. Divers sit on the bottom and watch mantas from below against the lights. Snorkelers float at the surface and look down as the mantas rise to them.
Can snorkelers and divers go on the same boat?
Yes, with some operators. Torpedo Tours, for example, takes snorkelers and certified divers on the same trip to Manta Heaven.