Did you know that Kona is one of the best places in the world to see manta rays?
The waters off of Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa have actually become a regular feeding spot for these beautiful creatures. Many Kona Coast ping and snorkeling companies offer night tours that take visitors even closer to the mantas.
If you’re wondering, manta rays are completely harmless to humans because they have no teeth nor tail stingers. Sting rays are the ones to watch out for, but luckily we don’t have those in Hawaii. Manta rays can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and have a wingspan of up to 20 feet! They are no doubt one of the largest fish in the sea and most graceful, I might add.
Because they feed on microscopic plankton, the nearby Sheraton Kona resort usually shines powerful lights from the deck to attract plankton for them to eat. That’s also why visitors can easily view them from land – right from the lanai off the Crystal Blue cocktail lounge. How’s that for live nightly entertainment?
In addition to viewing them from land, as previously mentioned, visitors can take a boat tour right out to Keauhou Bay. The tour company shine bright lights onto the ocean floor, where you’ll see the mantas almost instantly. That’s when you can choose to jump in and swim, float or glide right alongside them.
Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia Commons
