Green List of Manta activity providers
Why do we need a Greenlist?
In 2013, dozens of companies involved in manta ray tourism came together to develop "tour operator standards”. However, not all companies agreed to hold themselves to that standard - and it’s impossible for people coming to Hawaii to know which companies are really making an effort just by looking at their website. Of course, each company will tell you they’re 100% safe and sustainable!
This is why we developed a “green list” of manta ray tour operators who make sizeable efforts to improve safety and sustainability for their guests, their crew, and the manta rays.
How do activity providers get on the greenlist?
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Hawaii Ocean Watch Preferred Activity Providers practice the highest ecological standards.
Each preferred activity provider is a trendsetter showing leadership for the entire ocean recreation boating industry by committing itself
to keep people and marine life safe
to conduct sustainable operations and
to create marine life-friendly encounters.
Preferred activity providers prioritize safe, sustainable, and marine life-friendly practices over profits.
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Each preferred activity provider spreads the mission and message of Hawaii Ocean Watch by educating their guests, website visitors, and followers.
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Every year, greenlisted companies re-commit to our shared goals - to make ocean recreation as safe and sustainable as possible.
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Preferred activity providers don’t just commit with words: our volunteers monitor the situation at the viewing sites so we know companies on the greenlist are “walking the talk”.
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Being on the Hawaii manta greenlist increases the visibility of participating activity providers. It shows your customers that you care about their safety as well as that of the mantas and the environment.
We are not currently running the greenlist (see below), but feel free to get in touch with any questions you may have.
Criteria for the green list
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No touching mantas
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No free diving
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No hull lighting
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No propellers
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No fragmentation
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No anchor on reef
2023 - Greenlist suspended.
Why?
It is now virtually impossible for companies operating at the Keauhou or the Airport viewing sites to comply with safety and sustainability criteria.
Read on!
The Kona manta industry has grown exponentially since 2012, with more boat operators starting their businesses and ultimately bringing many more people to the activity sites.
The nightly oversaturation with boats, divers, snorkelers, and crew at the Keauhou viewing site and the manta site near the airport makes this activity inherently unsafe.
While we assume most Manta tour providers do their best to provide an enriching adventure, this is simply impossible when 15-30 boats are circulating at the same site while 200-400 people are in the water.
Here in Kona, manta ray snorkeling and scuba diving activities take place at night; keeping things organized with so many boats and people around would be a huge challenge during the daytime; it can become a nightmare for crew and captains to keep everyone involved safe in the dark of night.
2024: While we understand that the curious traveler desires to do good for the environment and the manta rays, we were surprised to receive many inquiries after the suspension, wondering if there is an alternative.
Instead of the Greenlist, it prompted us to develop five questions you can use when you pick your activity provider. Hopefully, this questionnaire will lift the curtain (a little) on what has been happening behind the scenes for years.
