Kona Coast

United States

The leeward Kona Coast of Hawai'i Island (Big Island) is world-renowned for its manta ray night dives, where divers illuminate the water to attract plankton and, in turn, large manta rays.

The Kona Coast stretches along the western shore of Hawai'i Island from around Keauhou Bay in the south to Kawaihae in the north. It is best known for manta ray night dives at Keauhou Bay ("Manta Village") and Garden Eel Cove ("Manta Heaven") off Keahole Point, plus a further site near Kawaihae. Divers shine lights into the water to draw plankton, which attracts manta rays, alongside garden eels and other marine life.