Whale & Wildlife Report | August 27 - September 2, 2023
PC: Manta Master Olivia Milller
Highlights
Pantropical spotted dolphins
Oceanic whitetip sharks
Bottlenose dolphins
Hawaiian spinner dolphins
Reef manta rays
Whale & Wildlife Report | August 27 - September 2, 2023
This Saturday the 2nd was the 50th Annual Queen Liliuokalani canoe race inshore, so our ability to search offshore put us in a great position for potential wildlife encounters. Kona’s offshore waters are where we find many of the year-round whales and dolphins, and we often see species that you would not be able to see from shore!
Our trips this week encountered manta rays, sea turtles, oceanic whitetip sharks, bottlenose dolphins, Hawaiian spinner dolphins, flying fish, and more! Our highlight encounter of the week occurred offshore where we found a pod of Pantropical spotted dolphins chasing flying fish!! A few of Kona’s dolphin species are known to feed offshore, and it’s always exciting to witness a hunt firsthand. Guests watched in awe as flying fish dashed at the surface and hungry dolphins followed in a high-speed pursuit!
This week’s night manta trips were the definition of manta madness! Whether we had over 20 mantas or just a handful, the up-close encounters were non-stop! We found our luck at the northern manta site this week with great visibility and lots of plankton. With our light boards hooked together displaying both white and blue lights, mantas drew from the depths for a late-night bite!
Follow our social media for videos like the one below to see under the surface and experience the magic from wherever you are! It’s hard to imagine a night manta snorkel experience until you do it yourself, but this video from our manta guide Olivia captures the essence!
We can’t wait to get back in the water! The summer may be coming to an end, but the wild encounters are in full force!
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