Eel Cove

Eel Cove, also known as Garden Eel Cove, is a dive site located at Makako Bay on the Kona Coast of Hawaii's Big Island, and is one of the primary sites used for manta ray night dives and snorkels. The site is also referred to as the northern Airport site.

Eel Cove is best known as a manta ray feeding site. After dark, lights are used to attract plankton to the surface, which in turn draws manta rays in to feed — sometimes passing within inches of divers and snorkelers. The number of mantas varies with naturally occurring plankton levels, which can shift even during the course of a single dive; manta ray sightings are likely but cannot be guaranteed. Manta rays occasionally appear during daylight hours as well.

Night dives at this site typically run 45 minutes underwater. The site is also used for night snorkeling, with an afternoon snorkel session often preceding the main after-dark activity. The verified difficulty rating is advanced, suited to certified divers with appropriate experience.