The dive site “Manta Heaven” is located in Makako Bay that is just around the corner of Keahole Point, the most western tip of the Big Island. It’s offshore of the Kona International Airport. During daylight hours, the dive site is called “Garden Eel Cove”. 

In the summer of 1999, the manta rays essentially abandoned the Kona Surf Hotel as a feeding area. There were no sightings for many weeks. James knew that he could find the manta rays somewhere along the coastline and had heard from local boat captains that manta rays were being seen during the day at Garden Eel Cove. His friends Mike Ho and Mike & Nicki Milligan had done night dives in the bay and a manta swam by.

Garden Eel Cove / Manta Ray Heaven

I'm just writing this to clarify with the entries previously noted. Definitely do this! It's perfect in the summer time, flat as glass.  If you are able to climb down 20ft of reef off the Sheraton Keauhou hotel, it brings you to 1 ft above the water where the mantas swim  in the spot light 30 ft from shore! I can't jump off cliffs, 3-5ft scare me so...this was doable. Save money and go every night just in case you don't spot them the first night you are hanging out by the bar at the hotel. The people at the bar will be cheering you on and maybe think it's strange but they take pics and say how that was cool!

Jen at Honolulu's Dive Log

@jen_at_honolulu

1 dives