Booking choice: The Kona submarine, from $160 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
The submarine takes you dry to the deep reef by day. The manta night snorkel puts you face down in the open ocean after dark while manta rays feed on plankton in the lights beneath you.
Between them sit the glass-bottom boat, for a gentle look at the shallow reef, and the Kealakekua Bay snorkel trips, which show the brightest coral on the coast.
The quick answer
Pick the submarine if anyone in your group cannot or will not swim, or you want the deep reef and wrecks by day. Pick the manta night snorkel if everyone swims and has snorkelled before: it is Kona's signature wildlife encounter, rated 4.9. For the brightest coral, snorkel Kealakekua Bay. Many visitors do the submarine by day and the mantas the same evening.
How do Kona's reef experiences compare?
The submarine and glass-bottom boat keep you dry; the manta and Kealakekua trips need you to swim.
| Trip | When | Get wet? | Youngest | Time | Rating | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kona submarine | Day | No | 36 in tall | 1.5 hours | 4.7 (759) | $160 |
| Manta night snorkel | Evening | Yes, snorkel | Age 7 | 1.5 hours | 4.9 (817) | $146 |
| Glass-bottom boat | Day | No | Infants on lap | 50 minutes | 4.6 (531) | $72 |
| Kealakekua Bay cruise | Morning | Yes, 2.5 h | Child fares from 4 | 4.5 hours | 4.9 (1,040) | $194 |
| Captain Cook reef snorkel | Day | Yes | Age 6 | 3 hours | 4.6 (1,626) | $69 |
What is the submarine best for?
Seeing the deep reef, fish and two wrecks at about 100 feet without swimming, and at any age from 36 inches tall.
It is the only option here that goes deep. The trade-off is colour: at 100 feet the reef looks blue and grey. See what you really see for the details.
Non-swimmers in the group? The submarine is the deep reef without the water.
Check dates for the Kona submarineWhat is the manta ray night snorkel like?
You float at the surface with your guides while manta rays swoop up through the lights to feed on plankton, often very close.
The Sea Quest trip leaves Keauhou Bay in the evening, with wetsuits and snorkel gear included and hot chocolate afterwards. Everyone must be able to swim, have snorkelled before and climb a short ladder back onto the boat; the youngest age is 7. If no mantas at all turn up, you can go again free on another night of the same trip, subject to space.
Is the manta snorkel scary?
It can feel intense: it is dark, you are in open water, and mantas can be several feet across.
Mantas have no stinger and do not bite, and the guides are in the water with you. Guests praise the crew's patience with nervous swimmers and children. If you have never snorkelled, practise first; if the idea of dark water worries you, the submarine is the calmer choice.
Ready for Kona's signature night out? Wetsuits are included, and there is a free second try if no mantas show.
Explore the manta ray night snorkelWhat about the glass-bottom boat?
It is the cheapest dry option: 50 minutes over the shallow Kailua Bay reef from the same pier as the submarine.
It suits babies, toddlers and anyone who wants a short, easy outing with a restroom on board. The view is through glass panels in the floor, so it is gentler and less immersive than the submarine.
Is a Kealakekua Bay snorkel better for coral?
Yes: Kealakekua Bay's shallow, protected reef shows far more colour than anything at 100 feet.
The Fair Wind morning cruise gives you about 2.5 hours in the water with breakfast, lunch and flotation gear. The Captain Cook reef snorkel is a cheaper, faster 3-hour Zodiac trip with sea caves, from age 6.
Can you do the submarine and mantas on the same day?
Yes: the last submarine dive leaves at 14:00, and the manta trips leave Keauhou Bay in the evening.
Keauhou Bay is a short drive south of Kailua-Kona. A morning or early-afternoon dive leaves plenty of time for dinner before check-in for the mantas. Non-swimmers can do the submarine while the rest of the group snorkels at night.
Doing both? Book the submarine first, then fit the mantas around it.
Check dates for the Kona submarineWhich should you choose on a budget?
The cheapest reef trips are the Captain Cook snorkel and the glass-bottom boat; the submarine and the snorkel cruises cost the most.
- Captain Cook reef snorkel: $69
- Kona glass-bottom boat: $72
- Dolphin and whale watch: $129
- Manta night snorkel: $146
- Kona submarine: $160 (about $144 in the sale to 15 October 2026)
- Snorkel and dolphin catamaran with lunch: $184
- Kealakekua Bay snorkel cruise: $194
Frequently asked questions
Can non-swimmers do the manta ray snorkel?
No. Sea Quest asks that everyone can swim, has snorkelled before and can climb a short ladder. Non-swimmers are better off on the submarine or the glass-bottom boat.
Which is more memorable, the submarine or the mantas?
For confident swimmers, the mantas usually win: they rate 4.9. For non-swimmers and young children, the submarine is the more memorable day.
Do you see manta rays from the submarine?
It is not what the dive is for. The mantas gather at night near the lights; the submarine dives by day over the Kailua Bay reef.
Ready to book
Choose your dive
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Atlantis Kona Submarine Adventure
- Sightseeing shuttle boat from Kailua Pier to the dive site, about 5 minutes each way
- About 45 minutes underwater in the 48-passenger submarine, down to roughly 100 feet
- Live English narration by the naturalist; audio in Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish and Korean
Manta Ray Night Snorkel by Sea Quest
- Evening boat trip from Keauhou Bay to the manta feeding site
- Snorkel gear and wetsuits, plus hot chocolate after the swim
- Snorkel guides in the water with you
Kealakekua Bay Morning Snorkel Cruise
The brightest reef colours, about 2.5 hours in the water
