![]() ![]() To get a bite of plankton, the mantas glide quickly and gracefully toward towards the columns of plankton with their mouths wide open. The frenzied activity in turn attracts manta rays, which gobble up the tiny creatures by the mouthful. During the trip, the guides will shine a bright light into the water, which will attract plankton. Remember that manta rays feed mainly on plankton. What is it about manta ray sightings that make them so popular among visitors from around the world? For one thing, these nighttime excursions bring you close enough to the rays to touch them (but please do not touch the manta rays as the oils from your hands/body can cause harm to them). WHAT HAPPENS DURING A MANTA RAY SIGHTING? While scientists still do not know with certainty how long manta rays live, they estimate that the average life span is approximately 50 years. These reef manta rays aren’t migratory, spending most of their lives around the Kona coast. The rays then filter the plankton and expel the water. Manta rays feed mainly on plankton, which they catch by leaving their mouths open as they swim through the ocean. Most of the ones you will see on your manta ray sighting trip will have wingspans of about 12 feet. When fully grown, their ‘wings’ can measure an incredible 18 feet from tip to tip. The manta rays that you will see in and around Kona are part of the Mobula alfredi species and are among the largest of their kind in the world. The manta ray night sightings are especially noteworthy, giving you a rare and memorable opportunity to get up close to them. It is then that they come together in droves to feed on plankton, which makes up the majority of their diets.Īs you might expect, many of the most popular activities in Kona revolve around the habits of these wonderful marine creatures. But the best time to see manta rays up close is at night. If you’re lucky, you can see these magnificent creatures at different times of the day. It is also the ideal place to catch sight of manta rays, which by itself is more than enough reason to pay the place a visit. ![]() ![]() Known simply as Kona, it is famous for its sheer beauty and vast array of natural and human made attractions. Kailua-Kona is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Hawaii. ![]()
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