Molokini is an underwater marine reserve and is also a sea-bird sanctuary. 
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 Molokini Snorkeling from Maui |
 Aloha Blue Charters - 40' Power Catamaran |
| Aqua Snuba Adventures - 50' Power Boat |
Blue Water Rafting - Rigid Hulled Inflatable  |
| Four Winds II - 53' Sailing Catamaran |
| Friendly Charters (Lani Kai) - 50' Power Catamaran |
| Frogman - 55' Power Catamaran |
| Kai Kanani - 65' Sailing Catamaran |
| Lahaina Cruise - Island Princess - 65' Double Deck Motor Yacht |
| Leilani - 45' Uniflight Motor Yacht |
| Mahana Nai'a - 58' Power Catamaran |
| Maui Magic - 54' Power Catamaran |
| Pacific Whale Foundation - 65' Power Catamaran |
| Paragon Sailing Charters - 47' Sailing Catamaran |
| Pride of Maui - 65' Maxi Catamaran |
| Quicksilver Charters - 55' Power Catamaran |
| Sea Fire - 30' Aluminum Hull S.A.F.E (Secured Around Flotation Equipment) |
| Trilogy Excursions - 55' Sail Catamaran |
| Wailea Boating Company - 36' Powerboat (Private Charters) |
Molokini Snorkel Tour
Molokini snorkeling tours offer one of the premier snorkeling adventures in all of Hawaii
Molokini Crater is actually the tip of an extinct volcano vent, barely peeking above the ocean's surface between Maui and Kahoolawe.
About Molokini.
- Visibility is often 150 feet, tropical fish are everywhere, and Molokini's sheer cliffs and rugged beauty are the focus of professional photographers from all over the world.
- Of all the activities we have sent people on over the years, none has been more popular or has provided more positive feedback than our snorkel trips to Molokini. People just love it! It's a perfect destination - only a forty-five to sixty-minute cruise out of Maalaea Harbor.
- Molokini is an underwater Marine Preserve and Molokini's snorkel areas are protected.
- Molokini is also a protected habitat for sea birds.
The bowl of Molokini Island Crater is teeming with marine life. The colors and shapes of the fish are so beautiful and distinctive that visitors to our island find themselves returning to Molokini year after year in what has become for many a pilgrimage of sorts.
The only way to get to Molokini to snorkel is by boat and there are lots.
Large boats, small boats, power boats, sail boats - you name it, we have it. There are so many choices it can become confusing. Here are a few of the key questions to ask yourself to help you (and help us) sort out what Molokini snorkel trip might be best for you.
- Do you want a large boat that is stable in the water for your snorkeling tour to Molokini?
- Would you prefer a smaller, more personalized vessel with fewer people on board?
- How about a zodiac raft trip for your Molokini snorkel?
- Would you like to snorkel at Molokini and then go to a second location off the coast of Maui to snorkel again?
- How about taking advantage of the late morning trade winds and choose a sail boat for a refreshing sail home?
- Would you like to leave from Maalaea Harbor, the small Kihei boat ramp, or Lahaina harbor?
- Is price a factor? Molokini snorkel prices vary considerably.
Tom's Tips - Molokini Snorkel Tour
- Snorkeling Molokini is best in the morning. Afternoon trade winds make snorkeling impossible most days. Many boats advertise an afternoon trip to snorkel Molokini at an attractive reduced rate and will go if weather permits. When weather does not permit, which is most often, they maneuver to a protected spot off Maui's coast and snorkel there instead. If you want to snorkel at Molokini, book a morning trip.
- Do the Molokini snorkeling tour first. If you're here during whale season and plan to go on a whale watch trip as well as a Molokini snorkeling tour you just might see enough whales on your Molokini snorkel to last your whole vacation.
- Book your Molokini snorkeling tours early. During busy times we book up most boats days in advance.
- If you have an underwater camera, be sure to bring it.
Molokini Tours and Molokini Rides in Maui - Options Below:
Aloha Blue Charters Aloha Blue Charters will take you to Molokini aboard the “Hokua”. The “Hokua” is a forty-foot power catamaran that is extremely fast. This boat will get you to your destinations quickly and comfortably. The catamaran hull makes for a very stable stance in the water. She is a modern eco friendly jet drive propelled vessel with no external propellers for added safety. This boat takes smaller groups of no more than thirty passengers…(more info) | Price Range: (From: $79.90 - To: $79.90) |
Aqua Snuba Adventures Aqua Adventures is a well-designed, fast and stable mono-hull that has an ideal design for daily tours to Molokini. Aqua Adventure limits its passenger count to just about forty passengers so it's a bit more personalized than some of the larger boats. A true distinction this boat has compared to many others is that they make a concerted effort to provide the technique of "SNUBA dives" into their Molokini experience. SNUBA is a patented system connecting you and your dive companions to an inflatable raft…(more info) | Price Range: (From: $86.90 - To: $129.00) |
Blue Water Rafting Blue Water Rafting is one of the few Molokini snorkel companies that also offers snorkel and rafting tours to the remote Kanaio coastline along Maui's southern shore. Kanaio is the site of Maui's last volcanic eruption in the 1780s and the underwater lava flows, lava arches and sea caves built a seabed of clarity and visibility for some of the most beautiful snorkeling on the island. This part of the island is very difficult to access by land. The lava fields are very abrasive because of their…(more info) | Price Range: (From: $32.90 - To: $113.90) |
Four Winds II The “Four Winds II” is a boat that is great for families and mixed-groups going to Molokini because there is something for everyone. The large fifty five-foot double deck power/sailing catamaran has a spacious shaded cabin and an upper sundeck. There is a glass bottom viewing room where for those that would rather not get in the water. There is a waterslide, BBQ lunch and SNUBA diving is available too. The crew is known for their ability to help beginners and people who are not yet comfortable…(more info) | Price Range: (From: $33.90 - To: $70.90) |
Friendly Charters (Lani Kai) The “Lani Kai” is a very fast fifty-three foot power catamaran. She is one of the quicker boats to depart out of Maalaea Harbor. The speed of the “Lani Kai” allows them to spend more time snorkeling and less time en route. They snorkel at snorkel at two locations. They will go to Molokini first before they move on to turtle town where they will set up the buffet lunch. You can spend your time on the upper sundeck relaxing, playing on the waterslide, cruising by the buffet and bar, or swimming…(more info) | Price Range: (From: $39.99 - To: $82.99) |
Frogman Frogman Charters has been a big name in the Molokini Snorkel industry for quite some time. The fifty-five foot catamaran “Frogman II” has always been known as a value themed trip that goes to Molokini as well as to Turtle Town. Their catamaran hull design is stable and allows for easy access into the water. The snorkeling at Molokini is for lack of better words, amazing. This shallow reef that is surrounded by deep water provides visibility that can be at times reach as much as two hundred feet…(more info) | Price Range: (From: $27.90 - To: $58.90) |
Kai Kanani The “Kai Kanani” is a sixty-five foot sailing/power catamaran that departs from the beach in front of the Maui Prince Hotel in Makena. “Kai Kanani” goes to Molokini and on some trips they also go to a second spot that is known for it’s abundant population of Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles. This departure location is much closer to Molokini then the Maalaea Harbor or the Kihei Boat Ramp so the “Kai Kanani” is able to get out to the snorkeling destination very quickly. The catamaran hull design makes…(more info) | Price Range: (From: $54.00 - To: $114.00) |
Lahaina Cruise - Island Princess Are you looking to go to Molokini, but do not want to have to go all the way to Maalaea Harbor and would rather leave from Lahaina Harbor instead? The Lahaina Cruise Company does just this with the “Island Princess”. The “Island Princess” is a sixty-five foot powerboat that goes to Molokini as well as a secondary location. They have a water trampoline as well as a BBQ lunch, freshwater showers and marine restrooms. This cruise lasts a bit longer then most of the Molokini cruises because of the…(more info) | Price Range: (From: $65.90 - To: $65.90) |
Leilani A sister ship to the "Pride of Maui" is their boat “Leilani” which is used for Molokini Tours. There are a slew of desirable features, which make this boat a great choice for a Molokini adventure. They have an upper sun deck and a completely enclosed lower cabin, fresh water shower, modern marine head. Recently the boat has been renovated with new engines and with cosmetic additions making it sleek, comfortable and reliable. For over thirty years Pride Charters has provided top-quality tours to Molokini…(more info) | Price Range: (From: $74.90 - To: $74.90) |
Mahana Nai'a The “Mahana Na'ia” is one of the original boats used to tour Molokini. Their catamaran hull design allows for a very stable platform to snorkel from. The success of this theory is evidenced by the countless other boats that have also adopted the catamaran hull design for this trip. The crew of the “Mahana Nai’a” has always been among the friendliest and we have received countless accolades regarding their attentiveness and generous concern for their clients well being. The “Mahana Na'ia” goes to…(more info) | Price Range: (From: $84.90 - To: $84.90) |
Maui Magic The Maui Magic is one of the faster boats to go to Molokini from Maalaea Harbor. She often times does a trip out to Molokini and then Turtle Town, The Kanaio Coast or La Perouse Bay. This boat is so fast it is able to get all the way to La Perouse in the time it takes many boats just to go to turtle town. This translates into more time in the water snorkeling and less time waiting around on the boat to get there. The Maui Magic features a waterslide, BBQ grills, quality snorkel gear and a great…(more info) | Price Range: (From: $99.90 - To: $99.90) |
Pacific Whale Foundation The Pacific Whale Foundations is perhaps best known for their Whale Watches, but what many people do not know about them is that they also offer a variety of different trips to go snorkeling in the waters off of Molokini and Lanai. Molokini is perhaps one of the most well known marine preserves in Maui County. This small caldera shaped atoll is home to some of the best water visibility you can find anywhere on the planet. The reason for this is simple. The reason why the visibility levels of the…(more info) | Price Range: (From: $49.96 - To: $76.46) |
Paragon Sailing Charters The “Paragon” and “Paragon II” are some of the fastest wind powered vessels to sail in the waters of Maui. These boats have been clocked at over thirty knots on windy days and to be along for the ride is a thrill to say the least. The amazing thing about these boats is how luxurious they are considering how well they perform. The wide deck of these catamarans allow for plenty of space to spread out and find a place to lie out and enjoy the sun. There is also a large shaded cabin for you as well…(more info) | Price Range: (From: $46.99 - To: $79.99) |
Pride of Maui The “Pride of Maui” one of the largest boats that offers snorkel trips to Molokini. It is a sixty-five foot vessel that is designed for comfort and stability. It is a “Maxi” catamaran which is designed means that is very wide. This wide design allows for a very high degree of stability as well as a great deal of deck space. The crew of the “Pride of Maui” is known to be very helpful and will be right there with you to assist throughout the entire trip. Snorkeling gear and instruction is included…(more info) | Price Range: (From: $38.90 - To: $79.95) |
Quicksilver Charters The “Quicksilver” is a fifty-five foot double deck catamaran that offers trips to the Molokini Marine Preserve. The “Quicksilver” is a very comfortable boat with plenty of shade in the lower cabin as well as a full open air sundeck on top. All snorkel equipment and instruction is included. The Molokini Marine Preserve has some of the clearest water you will find on the planet and in addition to snorkeling here, the “Quicksilver” also will go to a second spot called Turtle Town because of the…(more info) | Price Range: (From: $80.90 - To: $80.90) |
Sea Fire The “Seafire” is one of the shortest and least expensive trips that goes out to Molokini. The “Seafire” is a thirty foot aluminum hulled S.A.F.E (Secured Around Floatation Equipment) Raft. The “Seafire” departs from the Kihei Boat Ramp, which is only about a fifteen-minute boat ride from Molokini. Some of the trips offered by “Seafire” will also go to another snorkel destination called “Turtle Town”. All snorkel equipment and instruction is provided. The “Seafire” is a very fast boat and the…(more info) | Price Range: (From: $42.90 - To: $51.90) |
Trilogy Excursions Trilogy Excursions has been offering sailing and snorkeling trips in the waters of Maui County for over thirty years. The company was founded by the Coon brothers and is now run by their many sons and daughters. They offer trips to Molokini as well as a variety of other locations including the island of Lanai. The crew of Trilogy Excursions is very safety conscious and has reputation for going all out to make sure that their guests are enjoying themselves throughout the entire trip…(more info) | Price Range: (From: $59.00 - To: $110.00) |
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Molokini Crater Snorkeling Tours near Maui - Molokini is the tiny island located about 6 miles off the coast between Maui and the island of Kahoolawe. Since 1977 it has become both an Underwater Marine Reserve and a Marine Bird Sanctuary and enjoys the governmental protections that are provided by each. In geological terms it is referred to as an underwater caldera and is one of three such formations on the planet. Essentially it is a volcanic cinder cone that just manages to peak its top above water and its cone provides a shallow protected area in the middle of the ocean that is reminiscent of a fish bowl. The center of the bowl is about 80’ in depth however the areas closer to the surface that are ideal for snorkeling are at the 20 to 25’ levels. The highest points of the island above sea level are about 160’ and the entire island covers about 18 acres but you are not permitted to go onshore because of the extremely fragile ecosystem on the island. The back side of the island is quite sheer and descends straight down to depths of about 350’ and this area is only really accessible to and recommended for experienced divers. Marine life here is prevalent and it is estimated that this is the home of over 250 species of fish.
