Sea Paradise Hawaii — Complete FAQ
Sea Paradise Hawaii has operated snorkel and manta ray tours from Keauhou Bay on the Kona Coast since 1985. This FAQ covers booking, logistics, the tours themselves, marine life, health and safety, and responsible tourism. If your question is not answered here, contact Sea Paradise at (808) 322-2500 or info@seaparadise.com.
Booking & General
Morning Snorkel, Afternoon, and Manta Ray Tours— can be booked online at seaparadise.com. Private charters are booked by phone at (808) 322-2500 or by email at info@seaparadise.com — not through the online booking system.
Yes. Sea Paradise gift cards are available in any amount through seaparadise.com.
Cancellation terms vary by ticket type selected at booking. Most have 24hr cancellations. Private charters and group bookings of 10 or more guests require 72 hours notice for cancellation. To cancel a private charter, call (808) 322-2500.
If manta rays are not seen on your Sea Paradise manta tour departure, you can rebook a future manta tour at no additional charge on a space-available standby basis. See seaparadise.com/manta-guarantee/ for full terms. Manta sighting rates run 85–95% on most nights — the guarantee is rarely needed.
Yes. Sea Paradise offers a multi-trip discount for guests booking more than one tour. Contact Sea Paradise directly at (808) 322-2500 or info@seaparadise.com for current multi-trip pricing.
Logistics — Check-in, parking & getting there
All Sea Paradise tours depart from the end of the finger pier at Keauhou Bay — located at the end of Kaleiopapa Street, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Do not check in at any buildings. Look for crew members in blue shirts 15 minutes before your scheduled departure. Sign digital waivers in advance using the link provided in your booking confirmation email.
Parking at the Keauhou Bay pier is limited. Free parking is available along Kaleiopapa Street. Allow 3–5 minutes to walk from your vehicle to the finger pier. Public restrooms are located on the east side of Kaleiopapa Street near the parking area. Restrooms are also onboard the Hoku Nui.
Yes. All guests must sign a release form before boarding. Waivers are linked in your booking confirmation email — Sea Paradise strongly recommends signing in advance to speed up check-in at the pier. Guests who have not signed waivers will need to complete them at the pier before boarding, which can delay departure.
Wear a swimsuit under comfortable clothing. Bring a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, a light jacket or rash guard (especially for manta tours — the 5 minute return sail is cooler), and sandals or slip-on shoes (Sea Paradise operates shoe-less vessels). Underwater cameras are welcome on all tours — disable any flash on manta tours before entering the water. Go -Pros are available to rent at the time of booking (limited rentals avail during tours)All snorkel gear is provided. Guests may bring their own mask or snorkel if preferred. Bring a reusable water bottle; non-alcoholic beverages are provided on all tours.
The Hoku Nui — Vessel & facilities
The Hoku Nui — Hawaiian for “Big Star” — is Sea Paradise’s 50-foot luxury sailing catamaran. It is spaciously designed for 49 guests. The vessel includes 2 onboard restrooms/changing rooms, shaded seating under a bimini top, galley, full bar (local brews, cocktails, wine, and mixed drinks for purchase), 2 freshwater showers, and 2 staircases with handrails for easier in water entry. The catamaran’s twin-hull design significantly reduces sea sickness-inducing motion compared to single-hull or rigid-hull vessels.
Yes. The Hoku Nui has two onboard restrooms. Public restrooms are also available near the Keauhou Bay pier on the east side of Kaleiopapa Street.
No. The Hoku Nui is not wheelchair or walker accessible. Boarding requires stepping between the dock and the vessel. Guests with mobility limitations should contact Sea Paradise before booking at (808) 322-2500 to discuss whether the experience is suitable.
No, the Hoku Nui is unable to reasonably accomodate service animals at this time.
The Hoku Nui’s twin-hull catamaran design significantly reduces rolling and rocking compared to single-hull or rigid-hull vessels. Most guests who are typically sensitive on the water report a comfortable experience. Tips: choose a seat with a clear horizon view, stay hydrated, avoid heavy meals immediately before departure, and consider over-the-counter sea sickness remedies taken before boarding. If you are highly motion-sensitive, the Morning Snorkel Tour in the calmest conditions of the day is the best choice.
Yes. Local Brews, tropical cocktails, wine, seltzers, and mixed drinks are available for purchase onboard the Hoku Nui on all day tours. Non-alcoholic beverages are included with all tours.
Snorkel tours — Morning & afternoon
Both tours sail to Kealakekua Bay and include a marine naturalist briefing and all gear. The Morning Snorkel Tour (8:30 AM, ~4.5 hours, $165 adult) includes breakfast and typically offers calmer seas and better visibility as trade winds are lighter earlier in the day. The Afternoon Snorkel Tour (2:00 PM, ~3 hours, $125 adult) includes light snacks, has a full bar, and offers golden-hour light and a more relaxed pace at a lower price point. Both are excellent — the choice usually comes down to schedule preference.
Yes, with different inclusions by tour. The Morning Snorkel Tour includes tropical brunch breakfast and deli style lunch. The Afternoon Snorkel Tour includes light snacks (pupus). Both tours include non-alcoholic beverages. Local brews, wine, tropical cocktails, and mixed drinks are available for purchase onboard both tours.
Manta ray tours
Both tours visit Manta Village and follow the same format at the same price ($130 adult, $115 child, $65 ride-along). The Sunset Tour (first departure, around sunset) offers a golden-hour sail and earlier return — recommended for families with younger guests and those preferring an earlier return. The Late-Night Tour (second departure, after dark) offers darker skies, fewer vessels at the viewing site, and a quieter, more intimate atmosphere. Both carry the Manta Guarantee.
Manta ray sighting rates on Sea Paradise tours run 85%–95% on most nights of the year, year-round. Sea Paradise captains log every sighting after every departure, tracking patterns across nights and conditions. The Manta Guarantee applies if mantas are not seen within 7 days— free rebook on a future tour, space-available.
The Ride-Along option — available only on the manta ray tours, not the snorkel tours — is designed for guests who want to share the experience without entering the water. Non-swimming guests are warmly welcome as Ride-Along observer for $65, remaining on deck aboard the Hoku Nui. Ride-Along guests enjoy deck observation of the mantas from above the illuminated water, the full crew manta briefing, warm drinks and chocolates, and non-alcoholic drinks throughout. All Ride-Along guests must review the medical information and sign a release form before boarding.
The Kona Coast is home to over 450 individually catalogued reef manta rays. Famous regulars at Manta Village include Lefty — the first Kona manta ever identified, in 1979, recognizable by her damaged left cephalic fin — Big Bertha, one of the largest females with a 14–16 foot wingspan documented since 1991, Koie Ray, known for swimming closely to snorkelers, Jolene Ray, a petite 5-foot-wide female who appears reliably, Obama Ray (confirmed female, originally named Barack Obama), and Quarantina, first spotted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guests who photograph manta undersides can submit images to the Manta Ray Tracker database and potentially name new individuals.
Health, safety & swimmers
Yes. All guests who plan to enter the water — on snorkel tours or manta tours — must be confident swimmers. Sea Paradise crew does not teach swimming onboard. Guests must be able to swim independently and follow crew directions in open ocean. On manta tours, non-swimmers are welcome as Ride-Along guests on deck ($65) and do not need to enter the water. On day snorkel tours, non-swimmers may join the tour and relax from the deck at the regular tour rate which includes food and non-alcoholic beverages.
Yes, Pregnant guests are welcome on our tours but must talk to their doctors prior for approval. Please review the health guidelines at seaparadise.com/medical/
Sea Paradise requires reviewing the health guidelines at seaparadise.com/medical/ before booking. Snorkeling can be physically demanding and may pose risks for guests with certain conditions including heart conditions, high blood pressure, severe asthma, and others. Guests with health considerations will need to discuss with their physician before participating.
Yes. Sea Paradise tours are popular with families. Children must be confident swimmers to enter the water on snorkel and manta tours. Toddlers and young children who are not swimmers may join as deck observers on snorkel tours or as Ride-Along guests on manta tours. Children must be able to follow crew directions in an open-ocean environment. Contact Sea Paradise before booking if you have questions about specific ages or abilities.
Yes. Guests who prefer their own gear- mask, fins, or snorkel, are welcome to bring it. All other gear — flotation devices for day tours, and flotation boards and wetsuits for manta tours only— will be provided by Sea Paradise. Note that full-face snorkel masks are not permitted on Sea Paradise charters for safety reasons.
Yes, The Hoku Nui has two freshwater showers on deck — a freshwater wash-off for guests returning from the water. It is not a full enclosed shower. Public restrooms and rinsing facilities are also available at the Keauhou Bay parking area.
Marine life & conservation
No. Manta rays have no stingers and are entirely harmless to humans. They are filter feeders focused on plankton. Guests float above them on the surface while they feed below. The mantas are in control of the interaction at all times and approach humans only because they choose to.
No. Sea Paradise has a no-touch, no-chase policy for all marine life. Hawaiian green sea turtles (honu) are protected under federal and state law — touching or harassing them is illegal and can result in significant fines. Manta rays carry a protective mucus layer that is damaged by human contact. The crew briefs all guests on these rules before every water entry.
Use mineral-based sunscreen free of oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, avobenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, and nanoparticles. Sea Paradise provides compliant reef-safe sunscreen onboard all tours. If you bring your own, the crew can check the label before entry to the water. Chemical sunscreens — even those marketed as reef-safe — often still contain harmful ingredients. When in doubt, use the sunscreen provided.
