The trip was great with only two other families on this charter besides us. Went in early and stayed in the water since 5:30. Haven't dived in a long time. So, nice relaxing in the water. The lights were turned on around 6:30 and the mantas were swarming the plankton around us. Would definitely recommend this. read more

10/10!!! We say mantarays, dolphins, AND A WHALESHARK!!!!!!! 100% recommend!!!!!!!!!!

Preston, Taylor, and Patrick were great guides to the manta rays today. We got lucky and saw dolphins, a whale shark, and what seemed like over a dozen rays! I highly recommend this company! read more

See all

Taylor and Preston were awesome! What an experience! I highly recommend the sunset manta tour with Sunlight on Water. Thanks for topping off our trip to the Big Island! read more

This was so awesome! Captain Taylor and his crew Preston & Eden were amazing, we learned lots of information about manta rays, we got to see between 20 & 30 manta rays come right beneath us as we hung out in the water, a beautiful sunset, had hot cocoa after our snorkeling and they were a genuinely nice and personable crew. I would highly recommend this trip. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure!! read more

See all

When I say this was the most amazing thing I have ever have the extreme pleasure of doing I am not exaggerating in the slightest! Great crew, great boat & an unforgettable experience! read more

See all

https://sunlightonwater.com/ My family did this last night and said it was far better than what they did in 2021. I was a ride along and so enjoyed talking and listening to the guide Kirin. It was very educational and the kids said they saw many more mantas than they did in previous trip. read more

Sunlight On Water - Manta actually seen from boat. - Snorkeling Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Went for the sunset Manta snorkel last Friday and had a great time. The water was a little rough and the captain and crew were very supportive and helpful with the few of us having a difficult time with the motion sickness. The boat captain, Kai, and the two boat crew, Joe and Sage, were very knowledgeable teaching us about the Mantas. Very honest and helpful answering any questions we had. Use the wetsuit!! It is cold in the water especially once you are not moving as much on the board. The earlier time slot allowed us some time to snorkel and acclimate to the water prior to using the light board for the manta show. There were already Mantas in the water when we first anchored down and plenty of fish hanging out. The gear provided worked well. There is a small restroom on board, snacks available, ginger chews for the queasy guests, and drinks. For those of you who get motion or seasick. I was on a particularly choppy excursion due to the weather/waves. Trust the staff when they tell you to watch the horizon or land and not the water or the boat. Getting in the water really helps stabilize the queasiness. And last but not least- drink the sprite when offered! We saw so many Mantas up close. It was an unforgettable experience and highly recommend this tour. Thank you Kai, Joe, and Sage for a great time! read more

Sunlight On Water - Snorkeling Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

See all

It was cancelled due to bad weather. I'm sorry. We are leaving the Big Island today. When will I get a refund? read more

Sunlight On Water - We arrived here. But it was all canceled because of the weather. - Snorkeling Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

We went in the snorkel and whale watch tour. Taylor and Alyssa were outstanding tour guides! Very knowledgeable. We saw many kids of reef fish, white top reef sharks, and eagle ray on the reef. We also were fortunate to see a pod of about 200 dolphin. Although the whale season was at the end, we saw a baby whale, a big whale breaching and another whale fin slap on the surface. Great job by Sunlight on Water! read more

See all

We did the manta experience. It was great. Gabe and Taylor were excellent captains. They were very knowledgeable and funny, but most of all, for an experience such as night snorkeling with mantas, they made us feel safe and that they truly knew what they were doing. read more

Sunlight On Water - Mantas - Snorkeling Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Sunlight on water provided the best experience I have ever had on the water! The information learned to the physical experience gained their kindess and knowledge about all things on the water are unmatched! Highlights of the trips were getting to snorkel with Pilot whales and White Tip sharks in the open ocean! To cap off our trip coming back into to the harbor Captain Taylor and crew mate Marine Naturalist Alyssa used their combined experience to tow a fellow captain back into harbor that had his boat fall inoperable. The overall time spent out on the water was an unbelievable time that will not soon be forgotten. We will be back and I highly recommend this crew for all of your future sea time safaris! read more

See all

Great experience. Good crew and the giant mantas were majestic. Equipment was solid and the staff made sure to assist everyone so all skill levels could enjoy the experience. read more

Sunlight on Water has an amazing crew of sea-lovers who provided me an amazing first time deep sea snorkel and whale watching adventure off the Kona Coast in Hawaii!!! The crew was super knowledgeable and super respectful of the marine life as they guided us along! I got an opportunity to snorkel with fish, sea turtles, and Manta Rays (who greeted me and my magical friends in the day time hours, something I learned that Manta Rays don't usually do )!!!! AND the whale watching was amazing!!!! I felt safe to explore as Taylor, Alyssa, and Kelsey kept a watchful eye on our group all while showing us the beauty the of the sea! My experience was simply magical! Thank you, thank you, thank you! read more

Sunlight On Water - Snorkeling Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

See all

My family of 5 (including my in laws from Europe) had a wonderful time exploring some great snorkeling and sights with Alyssa and Taylor! They explained everything very clearly upon check in and boarding. We all felt very safe the whole trip! They also listened to our preferences and made every effort to accommodate our requests. We are repeat customers and will always give Sunlight on Water our business when we are on island. Mahalo Alyssa and Taylor! read more

This team made everything great from the minute we arrived. They walk you through what to expect. They provide everything you need. We had snacks and drinks available. They made us all very comfortable before getting in the water. You could tell they were the experts in the manta ray experience. They knew where to go. Had best lights. Attracted sooo many rays. Hot chocolate and hot tea waiting for you when you got out of the water and a beautiful, peaceful ride back to the harbor. Can't wait to do this again. read more

See all

Everything! Captain Taylor and Patrick Lambert we're incredible hosts! Top notch, beautiful coastline, secure, and safe... We saw bottle nose dolphins, spinner dolphins, we snorkeled in the best snorkel spots on the island! Kona Village and Maks! Our happy places!!! We highly recommend! Shout out to our friends, Todd and Shirley who own the boat an amazing boat and an amazing time.! Mahalo Nui Loa!! read more

See all

Taylor and all the guys were so awesome!, my girlfriend felt really safe and hand such a fun vibe!, Highly recommend this boat n crew on manta! Thanks guys!!!! read more

Such an amazing experience doing the night manta ray snorkeling tour with Taylor and Drew! They were so accommodating of our last minute outing, even though we were requesting a late night tour and had a large party. Also, they were amongst the most affordable tour I had found. We saw amazing mantas that night - it was like a ballet in the water. I couldn't recommend Taylor/Drew and this adventure enough! read more

Great trip! Guides were awesome. Water was clear and lots of fish to see! Half day is perfect. Be sure to wear your reef safe sunscreen, the coral is bleached and we all need to do our part! My only suggestions: better signage at the storefront, even with directions, it was hard to find! read more

I went on a private tour with a group, and we had an AMAZING time. Not only did we some pretty rare sightings, but we also had incredible tour guides: Taylor, Kelsey, and Alyssa made this experience. In addition, they were super respectful of the Mammals and didn't try to disrupt them or were right up in their space like some of the other boats, who basically were riding right on their backs. It really was so beautiful how much they care about the mammals, and how knowledgeable they are. Learned so many new things! Thank you so so SO much for making this day truly incredible, I HIGHLY recommend them if you are looking for a memorable experience during your time on Kona. We will absolutely be booking them the next time we are on Kona! read more

We had a BLAST! These two crews, Sunlight on Water and the Torpedo crew were outstanding. We watched the crew do some really gnarly tricks under water as well that was so cool. They were nice, and explained directions so well. We recommend these two crews to anyone who is wanting an adventure on the Big Island Hawai'i! read more

See all

Taylor, Patrick and Drew were incredible guides!!!! I will dream about these Mantas forever. These beautiful, gentle butterflies of the ocean were stunning. read more

INCREDIBLE!!! The mantas were so beautiful and our group had an absolute blast! Taylor and Drew were amazing and so knowledgeable. 10/10 would recommend We will definitely be coming back to do it again soon!! Book with them or you'll be missing out on this incredible experience in Kona! read more

Sunlight On Water - Manta Ray! - Snorkeling Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Heather, Andy and Captain Taylor are fantastic!! Their experience in the water is truly incredible. The way they work together and get you in the water safely is like a well oiled machine. Very professional. What you see can't even really be described. Beautiful. Other worldly. You just have to do this trip. Unfortunately my anxiety got the better of me and I had to modify my experience with the help of Andy and Captain Taylor. Especially Capt Taylor. They were incredibly incredibly understanding and made me feel very comfortable. We felt safe. Thank you for an amazing experience. read more

Heather the owner or planner was awesome! She set us up on a loose schedule when we were available and it was great. We been on this boat last year and signed up for 2 trips on this vacation. We had 2 days back to back on the boat original we wanted to go to Captain Cook, the boat captain and Andy " First Mate" said " well show you a great time with way more fish than Cook and took us to great snorkeling spots Andy and Captain Taylor were fantastic, those guys burned through through alot of fuel showing us secluded spots and were having just as much fun as us. They were right Captain Cook was not even close to the amount of fish we seen so " Thanks Andy and Captain Taylor"we have great memories See you next year Rene & Mary Rivera From San Diego read more

Amazing experience! A must try! NEED TO KNOW: bring warm clothes and a wind breaker for the boat ride home, it gets COLDDD. Also, if you get seasick, take dramamine. The boat rocks a lot. We saw so many manta rays up close, and it was an experience like no other! They take pictures of the trip free of charge, which you can download a few days after. If you get lucky, you may see some whales on the way there. read more

Sunlight On Water - sunset from the boat - Snorkeling Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Fantastic adventure! Alyssa and Taylor were a fantastic crew. Saw mantas, humpback whales and dolphins. Plus a great snorkel spot. Totally worth it! read more

Our family of four took a 3+ hour morning boat trip with Sunlight on the Water last week. It was an outstanding experience! Taylor and Alyssa hosted us so well. They tracked down a humpback whale with her baby and we were able to watch them surface together just a few feet away from our boat! Amazing! It was a highlight moment for our time in Hawaii. This is the company I would book a daytime safari trip and a night time manta ray trip with! The boat, the hospitality, the knowledge of the water/area...make this an A+ experience! read more

Enjoyed our day out with the crew, China Mike, Steve and Dre, who took us out on a great trip out to swim with dolphins. We saw hundreds of dolphins in the 4 or 5 swims we took. Absolutely amazing to see them in their natural habitat. The spots we swam were pretty deep and while floaties are available for those that cant swim, just keep in mind you will be out in the open ocean. That said the crew did keep an eye out on the guests. Muffins, fruits, hot coffee and soft drinks were available, but having read a couple other reviews, keep in mind this is not meant to be a luxury cruise. We were all out to see the dolphins, not to be sailed around in luxury. There are other cruises you can look at if you prefer the latter. Only downside for our trip was the number of guests. While i wouldnt go so far as to say we were packed like sardines, it was a little too cosy. 4 to 5 guests less would have been about right! read more

Sunlight On Water - Dolphins! - Snorkeling Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Friendly and very knowledgeable. Amazing trip. Would do it again. A little pricey but worth it b

Absolutely love swimming with the dolphins with this company! Have been out there a couple times with them and each time had a lovely time. It's super relaxed and organized. Swimming with the dolphins in their natural habitat is amazing and so peaceful and mesmerizing, but the boat ride alone is nice and peaceful as well. The guides and captain are knowledgeable and make it an overall great experience! They provide snacks and take great pictures of you and your crew! Will continue to swim with the dolphins with this company! read more

Sunlight On Water - Snorkeling Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

This was my husband and I first time snorkeling. Taylor Drew and Pat were awesome! As soon as we got on Board they offered us refreshment. Drew calmed our fears by letting us know everything that would happen. While in the water they would let us know where a manta was coming so we would know where to look. When we got back on the boat we were offered hot chocolate. 10/10 would definitely recommend!!! read more

The Sunlight on Water crew has figured out a recipe for success for snorkeling with dolphins. The entire crew works in unison to make sure everyone is ready when dolphins are spotted. The captain is highly regarded in The Big Island for navigating the waters to the perfect dolphin spot. One of the crew members even stated that he has seen dolphins every time with their captain. On board, once the captain has spotted dolphins, he positions the boat to be in their direct path, so that when all fourteen guests are in the water, the dolphins will be passing through. Their first pass was thrilling and stunning. Once all three schools had passed us, we boarded the boat and leap-frogged the dolphins so that we could have two more passes with them for optimum viewing. Their second and third passes were even more breathtaking than the first. We knew that they were coming and everyone in the boat was calling out their locations to ensure the readiness of the group, however, the exhilaration felt when they finally became visible is difficult to convey. They are beautiful, friendly, graceful and muscular. It's truly awesome to swim with them and to capture the experience on video will allow us to enjoy it many times over. We had the privilege to witness a new born pup swimming with its family. After the third pass, it was clear that the dolphins were headed out to deeper waters and they very swiftly bid us adieu. NYSeeYouLater.com https://youtu.be/XDLViTIA2i4 read more

See all

They were highly recommended to us by our friends. I think if we had just booked a spot on a boat rather than charter the whole boat for our family it would have been better. We had lots of little guys so I though chartering the whole boat would be better.. I recommend not doing that! We were taken to a dump and dropped off for 1 hour and a half and then taken back.. we were suppose to go to captain cook to snorkel for a little while and then cruise around looking for dolphin.. it's been three months and I'm still feel terrible that our only boat trip we scheduled was so bad. Everyone we tell that we went to Kona say did you go to captain cook! Still heart broken. I am only giving them a three because they credited us a little after complaining! read more

Best manta guide in Kona. Had the best time with our guide Patrick also saw some whales.

Taylor and Drew were exceptional! We got to swim with pilot whales and even saw an oceanic white tip. I was a bit nervous getting into the deep sea but they both made me feel at ease. The hospitality and crew were top notch. I highly recommend this company!! read more

I'm a local of 7+ years and would say this is the best tour company I have experienced on the Big Island. I've been on over 15 or thirty cruises. Highly experienced Captain and deck hands. They are one of the oldest companies on the island and the experience shows. I've done there snorkel, dolphin, whale, & Manta Ray tours and the are all amazing. read more

Sunlight On Water - Dolphins!! - Snorkeling Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

My wife, daughter, and I went out on Sunlight yesterday. We swam with dozens (100's?) of dolphins while listening to the music and chatter of humpback whales in the distance. What a great crew--friendly, helpful, well-equipped, with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of dolphins, whales, and the other sea life we came across. They were also consciientious about their role as stewards of all ocean life, keeping a respectful distance from the dolphins, not chasing them as more than a few of the multiple boats were doing. Can't recommend them highly enough. Thank you! read more

Sunlight On Water - Snorkeling Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Went out on a day snorkel trip. Great crew. We went to two different snorkel sites. Then on a cruise up the coastline. Highly recommend