Hawaii - Day 8

Today's activity was a Evening manta ray snorkel with Jack's Dive Locker.  After signing the requisite waivers we were fitted with wet suits, mask, snorkel and flippers. We then drove to Honokohau Harbor and boarded a dive boat and were taken about half an hour north to the manta ray feeding site. The Rays eat plankton. Plankton are drawn to the lights and the Rays come for the plankton. 

After some instruction, we donned our gear and got in the water. We held on to big floating boards and then floated on top of the water snorkeling and looking for rays. We saw schools of fish as well as several rays. Manta rays are huge, about 1000 pounds. One came right up under our board, somersaulting around over and over nearly brushing against us. It was amazing.  We were in the water 30-45 min then climbed back onto the boat, stripped off our suits and rode the half hour back to the harbor. Quite a thrill!