Sunlight On Water

This is a definite must experience if you are on the big island of Hawaii! Matt and the other two crewmen were extremely nice and entertaining, welcoming everyone onboard the boat. The manta rays got extremely close to us. To show you how impressed I was with this experience, I literally just made this Unilocal account because I was so awe struck by this adventure. I do not believe there could possibly be a complaint about it unless the person got seasick. Please give this a try, it’s worth it!

My wife and I were referred by my friends who had a great time.
The captain and crew were very knowledgeable and customer service oriented.
I couldn’t think of a single thing they could have done better. I will be telling all of my friends to go there because you are treated like royalty!

If you are looking to do the Manta Ray night dive these guys are the best! The captain and crew were super friendly and attentive, and got everyone checked in a sized for equipment in a flash. The boat is a good size and they have complimentary snack and refreshments.
The best part of Sunlight on the Water are the lights they use to draw in the plankton, which in turn draw in the Mantas. The captain told us how they invested a ton of money buying the best lights available, and you could see once they were on that they were brighter and went deeper than all the other boats around us. We had 3 or 4 Mantas feeding under us the whole time we were out. The other boats ended up pushing their light rafts over towards ours to take advantage of our lights!
The last thing that sets Sunlight on the Water apart is the hot, freshwater spray down/​shower they give you once you get out. No sticky, salty ride back! I have had cold freshwater wash downs on other boats, but the hot water is nice when doing the night dive!
I can’t wait to do it again!

Stop looking and just book with these guys already! We did our first dolphin swim with another company and I loved it so much I decided to book another swim with this company. And boy, do I wish I did both with these folks! The crew took the time to educate us on the dolphin experience and what to expect, making for a safe and fun atmosphere for us and the dolphins. We did countless snorkels with the dolphins, who were literally within feet of us. Near the end of the trip, Captain China Mike got word of some pilot whales a bit off shore so he took us to snorkel with them too. Talk about a once in a lifetime experience! Matt, Steve, and Denise were a part of the crew that day and they all made us feel like family, offering us snacks and taking our photos to capture this amazing experience. I could not be happier with our choice to book with Sunlight on Water and know you won’t regret it either!

We have gone out with this company twice now, once two years ago and again today. I think they are just fantastic. All of the crew is knowledgable and friendly. They are all super genuine and sincere and were always ready to lend a hand or make sure we all had what we needed. They always find the dolphins and are very good at helping snorkelers of all levels of experience feel comfortable and at ease in the water. Going on the dolphin swims with them has been a highlight of our time in Kona. Not to be missed!

Did the night Manta and had a great time. The guys are really awesome, and they really enjoy what they do. Saw 4 or so Mantas hanging out and coming right to our raft! One of the best prices on night Manta too.

Did the night manta ray snorkel with this business. They were good, and we saw and experienced the manta rays which were amazing and a MUST DO experience!
My only complaint is that we asked if the boat had restroom facilities when we booked, they told us that we did, then when we got on board, they said the boat had been in dry dock and that the bathroom was out of order, but maybe the captain would let us use it if we really need to go… huh? Sounds like B.S. to me and they just don’t want to clean the holding tank unless they have to. Be upfront with your customers — if the facilities are broken, tell them at the time of booking, if not, make them available.
Other than that, crew and boat were fine and we had a very nice little night snorkel with them.
Keep in mind that there are probably dozens of operators doing this «night manta ray snorkel» activity now — look around for the best price!

What an amazing, magical experience! The crew was fantastic– from the minute we set foot on the dock, Steve and Dre could not have been more warm and welcoming. Skipper Josh led us to a big pod of dolphins on the way over to the dive spot and the and the in-​the water experience was perfect with mantas dancing a ballet right before our eyes. All 3 crew members were full of information and talked us completely thru the whole experience. I recommend Sunlight On Water to anyone wanting a complete and secure swim with the mantas experience with great value and will investigate their dolphin swim adventure as well. Mahalo!

We stayed in Kona for 8 days, and the time spent with Sunlight on Water was the best of the whole trip. The girls spent a morning swimming with the dolphins while we went fishing, and they told us how great their experience was, especially the crew, Matt and Steve. After experiencing the manta dive a few nights later, I wish I would have skipped fishing, and went on the dolphin swim also. These guys are great! From the crew, to captain Josh, to opening the store after hours to let some folks that couldn’t come back the next day buy souvenirs, the whole crew made this an unforgettable experience! (The manta’s were extremely cool too!)

We swam with Dolphins four different times. Drew the captain was great at spotting them yet respectful of their resting place. Steve was knowledgeable and kept us safe. Drae is the Dolphin Whisper. He took me to the exact position for maximum experience and then drove down dancing with them. It was magical. Highly recommend this place.

This was one of those bucket list things we really wanted to experience. My wife is not a swimmer and Denise was compassionate and very professional bringing her in touch with the dolphins. It was incredible! At first I was concerned my partner would be safe, yet under Denise’s care I could see my wife would be fine and the dolphins were curious and close. Thank you Denise, you rock!!! What a mind blowing experience for her.
Capt Josh did a great job and Capt Mike started the day right with a Hawaiian prayer, we felt this was just right and appreciated the crews respect of the animals and culture.
Highly Recommended!

Amazing experience! I definitely would go again if I had the time. The staff were kind and welcoming. They were very knowledgeable without being too overwhelming. The directions were easy, basically don’t touch the animals. We spotted many dolphins and humpbacks. At times I thought the Dolphins would come brush up next to me. They were very curious and swam circles around my group, kinda nerve wrecking but exhilarating at the same time. This experience is a must!

Dolphin swim was incredible, captain josh found the perfect spot to experience these magical creatures up close and personal! Thank you so much!!!

We recently booked 2 different tours with this company. Apart from the stunning nature the best part of the experience with this company was the wonderful staff-​Rob, Drew, Josh and Bree. So wonderful, caring, funny, positive, appreciative, respectful of nature, upbeat and attentive!
I’ve been an avid swimmer all my life and very comfortable in the ocean. Not all my family has had the same experience. My
9 year old daughter was terrified when it came to the moment of jumping off the boat into the dark of night, in somewhat choppy black ocean waters (where I was trying to coax her in and treading water while excited about Giant Mantarays). Drew put his hands on her little shoulders and whispered something (insightful and inspiring-​I don’t quite know what). Whatever he said helped her jump into the water to me and I am so grateful for that kind of support! Thanks to all the crew for being so attentive and caring. It was a great experience. The highlight was swimming with pods of dolphins and then having a humpback whale cruise by me just a few feet away! Still can’t believe it. Thanks for the awesome experience! What a great crew!

Amazing experience! Drew and Denise were so helpful and patient with our group of 5 adults and 6 kids. We saw no less than 50 – 100 spinner Dolphins, 2 manta rays, whales and fish. They gave us tips on what to do and what not to do in the water and how to not scare the Dolphins away. They set our minds at ease and answered all our questions. We were provided with snorkel mask, fins, defogger, sodas, juice drinks, muffins, pound cake, granola bars and fruit snacks. They had several dry bins on board for us to store our belongings in. Our captain, China, began our journey with a traditional Hawaiian prayer which was a really nice touch. I highly recommend this company and tour, it was the highlight of my trip to the big island and will forever be an experience I cherish.

Absolutely amazing!!! Drew was great and really made us all feel comfortable swimming in the middle of the ocean (something that can seem really scary). They have so many snacks and drinks that keep your energy (and happiness) up all day.
The Dolphins get soooo close to you. The whole experience feels like a dream. One of the most beautiful memories I have.

We had a fantastic trip with Captain China and Drew! We showed up for our dolphin swim last Monday and were shocked to be the only people on board. So the 8 of us were swiftly shuttled out to the location to find dolphins and were in the water before anyone else! We saw pods of Dolphins right away. It was amazing. After shifting a couple of times to keep up with the Dolphins he took us to another location that was unbelievable!
They made the experience one that our family will never forget! China and Drew were so helpful and hospitable! I totally recommend them!

I did the Manta Ray snorkeling. It was great.
Everything went without a hiccup. We were able to park 100 feet from the boat and had paid (with credit card) and gotten our flippers within 5 minutes.
You get to go in the water not long after you get to the Manta Ray spot, however, I would suggest waiting for a little bit as it takes quite some time before the Manta Rays start their «dance» — at least in our case (30 minutes or more). And you will get cold after a while in the water, even with the wetsuit. When the Manta Rays show up, you have to lay still in the water until the time is up — which definitely made me cold — so the hot cocoa provided when we got up was just what I needed :)
The staff was very nice and helpful.

AMAZING! This was the highlight of my boyfriend and my trip to Hawaii! It’s just so awesome to have a knowledgeable crew be so friendly and caring to! When, during our night Manta snorkel, it seemed like we were gonna be out of luck as far as seeing any Manta Rays, our guides swam the lighted float we all were hanging on to over to an area where we had better luck. It was awesome and in the end we had a spectacular Manta show!!! They swam back flips INCHES from our bodies! Honestly the neatest thing I’ve EVER experienced in nature! Just exhilarating!
Overall, we had several companies to choose from and I’m sooo glad someone had recommended them to us in passing! They were knowledgeable, fun, entertaining and made sure you were safe and having a great time! Definitely the ones you want to choose!

When I was planning our family vacation to the Big Island, Sunlight on Water definitely topped my list of «I can’t wait» moments and they definitely did not disappoint!
We set off with China Mike and the morningcrew Tori and Collin towards the south coast. But we met up with a lot of other tour boats with the same aim. And there was only a mom and her baby that were shying away from the crowds. So Mike made the call to do an about face and head up north instead (which we all appreciated and respected him for)
Turns out, a huge pod of friendly spinners were up north! It was an absolutely unforgettable experience to be able to swim with them in the wild. You could tell the babies were still very young and so the mothers still guarded them carefully, but the more energetic teenagers were eager to twirl and jump out of the water to play.
In addition to great company– human and animal alike– we also got a full breakfast of Costco muffins, kona coffee, pineapple, watermelon, and assorted tropical juices! On the return voyage, there were even chips and granola bars after our swim. Scuba gear and fins were all provided for as well.
Okay finally into the nighttime manta ray encounter! Meeting time was at 5 at the same dock and we were matched with wetsuits this time! It’s not so much a swim since we mostly attach/​hang onto a light platform. but ohhhhb my goodness did that light bring in the Plankton and the plankton the mantas. *TIP grab onto a spot next to the blue LED lights and the mantas will come within cm of you when barrel rolling to swoop up the plankton!
And can’t leave out the food of course! Nothing beats out the cold better than a hot cup of hot coco :)
Thanks for a memorable day Sunlight! Definitely going back and spreading the word of your tour!