Manta Village
Also known as: Sheraton Manta, Manta Theater
Best time to dive
January to December; May to October; November to April
What you might see
- Manta rayLikely
Sightings are seasonal probabilities, not promises - even in peak season nature does its own thing.
Certification & difficulty
Open Water
Snorkelling
Snorkel-friendly - Yes - very popular manta ray night snorkel, floating at the surface on a lit board while mantas feed below
Safety notes
Night ocean conditions (disorientation, boat traffic, crowding of divers/snorkelers), light/gear entanglement, no-touch rule for mantas; note: reported operator-quality concerns and crowding at Keauhou/airport manta sites in recent years - VERIFY current safety oversight status. CONTESTED WILDLIFE PRACTICE FLAG: operators do not feed mantas directly, but dive lights attract plankton which in turn attracts mantas - debated by conservationists as indirect provisioning that could alter natural manta behavior if unregulated; proponents call it harmless natural-food concentration with conservation-tourism benefits
Permits & fees
No specific individual permit found; commercial operators hold their own state/county operating permits (not itemized in sources)
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
Location
Nearest hub: Keauhou
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand dive report. Coordinates are approximate.