We are planning a vacation to Hawaii next year in March and would LOVE to do a Manta dive. Due to our itinerary we are only staying on Maui and Oahu. Do any outfitters leave from those islands for Manta rays? I understand the Big Island is best for Mantas but was wondering if it is still possible to do it from the other two?
Is it possible to do a Manta dive if staying on Oahu or Maui?
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Not THE Manta Night Dive since that's off Kona - but there were reliable sightings of Mantas for years at a cleaning station off Umekahame (sp) Beach - sort of mid-island Maui - during the day. Maybe still are?
Try Ed Robinson's - they took my buddy there once - they saw 3 late one afternoon (3rd dive).
There was also a guided scooter operator that does it from shore - the name is something like Maui Scooter Divers?
Try Ed Robinson's - they took my buddy there once - they saw 3 late one afternoon (3rd dive).
There was also a guided scooter operator that does it from shore - the name is something like Maui Scooter Divers?
Is Ukumehame Beach Park the spelling? Between Maalaea and Olawalu?
I saw a manta off the "back" side of Molokini a couple years ago, but in 3 dives there it was a one-time siting....
JamesBon92007
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According to Google it's about 83 miles from Kihei (a likely point of departure) to Kona. To me it was worth the trip to Kona if all I did was the manta night dive.
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Yes but it's not just offf the beach - so you need the scooters - or a long surface swim. Not reliable sightings either and my buddy went more than a few years ago although I have seen it mentioned more recently on the Scooter Divers website.
I wonder if some of the other guides do it also - Scuba Mike, Tiny Bubbles and Maui Dreams Dive Co. have scooters also afaik.
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Mike Severns Diving also mentions seeing them "occasionally" off Molokini.
Steelyeyes
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Thanks for the suggestions. Appears as though to get better chances, we really do need to visit the Big Island as well. I think it'd be a shame to go all the way to the Hawaiian Islands and then not see the mantas. Due to flying after diving, we'll end up spending 2 nights.
Wow, they see up to 30 a night! So cool.
As long as I see one, it'll be worth it!
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Verify all this because I'm making assumptions that may not be true.
It should be possible to fly into Kona (not Hilo) the afternoon of the dive - get a room in town - the King K is a Courtyard by Marriott - and do the dive that night - the boats all leave from the harbor between the airport and town.
If you stay along the coast - it's all at low elevation and the dive is not overly deep so you should clear to fly the next afternoon to your next island. Check with Mokolule on the planes they use interisland - some of theirs are smaller and not pressurized? so they stay low. I believe all the Hawaiian flights are jets so pressurized - ours from HNL to Kona and back was.
Pre-rent a car - the walk-up price can be a shock. A cab to town is more.
If it was me - I'd arrange everything then call Jack's Diving or Kona Dive Co.
from your first destination and see what they're seeing that week - sometimes the Mantas don't show up.
Also the drive from Hilo to Kona is to elevation so don't fly into/out of Hilo.
And don't go watch the eruption the next day since that's also about 6000'
It could work...
It should be possible to fly into Kona (not Hilo) the afternoon of the dive - get a room in town - the King K is a Courtyard by Marriott - and do the dive that night - the boats all leave from the harbor between the airport and town.
If you stay along the coast - it's all at low elevation and the dive is not overly deep so you should clear to fly the next afternoon to your next island. Check with Mokolule on the planes they use interisland - some of theirs are smaller and not pressurized? so they stay low. I believe all the Hawaiian flights are jets so pressurized - ours from HNL to Kona and back was.
Pre-rent a car - the walk-up price can be a shock. A cab to town is more.
If it was me - I'd arrange everything then call Jack's Diving or Kona Dive Co.
from your first destination and see what they're seeing that week - sometimes the Mantas don't show up.
Also the drive from Hilo to Kona is to elevation so don't fly into/out of Hilo.
And don't go watch the eruption the next day since that's also about 6000'
It could work...
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