Molokini snorkeling tours are the perfect way to make the most of your Maui vacation. Molokini Crater is considered one of the premier locations for snorkeling and diving in the world, due to the breathtaking coral formations and the abundance of tropical fish and other marine life in the area.

Molokini has been labeled Hawaii’s only Island Marine Sanctuary, so it enjoys special protection to keep it in pristine condition. We have tips to help you find the best Maui Molokini tours to make the most of your visit to this now extinct underwater volcano.

Location

The location of snorkel tours will make a big difference in the success of your trip. First, choose a snorkeling tour that heads to one of the premiere spots for snorkeling, such as Reef’s End or Enenue. Both of these areas boast some lovely coral viewing, as well as a high concentration of tropical fish in the shallower waters. Keep in mind that Molokini tours in Maui are available for both snorkeling and scuba diving, so choose the package that fits your preference and ability best.

Lessons Available?

If you are relatively new to the world of snorkeling, look for tours that provide lessons and hands-on guidance for your trip. This is also helpful if you will be heading out to the crater with kids in tow. Some tours specifically advertise that their trips are “child-friendly” meaning they will have the equipment and supervision to keep your entire family safe while exploring the wonders of Molokini Crater. If you are an experienced snorkeler, you can opt for a snorkel tour that allows more time for you to explore the tropical paradise on your own.

Extras to Look for

Because there are many boat tours heading out to the crater every morning, companies sometimes try to make their packages more competitive by throwing in a few extras for the trip. For example, some tours will provide a meal or two and ice-cold beverages to enjoy along the way. Other boats might offer kid-friendly features, like a slide and snacks. Look for the snorkel tour that will meet your specific needs best, to ensure a pleasant adventure for your entire group.

Molokini snorkeling tours are a spectacular way to see the breathtaking views that Hawaiian waters offer. When you choose the right tour for your needs, you can rest assured everyone in your group will come away with vacation memories to treasure for a lifetime.

If you are in search of the best snorkeling in Maui, you will not be disappointed in your visit to this island of paradise. Maui is surrounded by hot spots for snorkelers and divers, depending on where you want to go and what you want to see. Snorkeling can be just about anywhere on the island, depending on where you go and what you want to see. These five diving hot spots are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to underwater adventure in Maui.

Molokini Crater

This underwater volcano has been listed as a Marine Life Conservation District Seabird Sanctuary. Within the volcanic walls you will find a host of tropical fish, manta rays and even the occasional shark. The clear water makes this one of the best Maui snorkeling locations, because you can easily see the underwater life that calls Molokini Crater home. It is a popular location for beginning and experienced snorkelers alike. Molokini Crater is located just three miles off the Maui coast and is accessible by boat.

Turtle Town

There has been some question as to precisely where Turtle Town is located, but the general consensus is that Turtle Town is located on the southern coastline of the island, between Nahuna Point and Black Sand Beach. This stretch is home to a particularly dense population of sea turtles, thanks to current government protection. Turtle Town is well known for providing some of the best snorkeling in Maui, particularly if these large lumbering creatures are your sightseeing target.

Coral Gardens

Coral Gardens is located in the center of the western Maui coast. This location is also home to a large number of brightly colored fish, as well as some breathtaking coral formations and the occasional sea turtle. Keep your eyes open for crabs, octopus and eels as well. The location occasionally provides a glimpse of humpback whales between the months of December and April, in the National Marine Sanctuary.

Honolua Bay

Honalua Bay is located on the northern end of Maui, and provides plenty of great underwater scenery for visitors. The bay offers a small, sandy beach where you can access the water directly. Because the area is a marine reserve, snorkelers can enjoy spectacular coral formations, sea turtles and large schools of tropical fish. Honalua Bay is not the best snorkeling on Maui due to North swells, when surfing becomes the preferred activity off of this beach.

Five Caves

If you are a good swimmer and relatively experienced snorkeler, Five Caves is another spot for some of the best Maui snorkeling. This area offers a host of caves and crevices where sea life can hide. Located just north of Turtle Town, Five Caves provides glimpses of harmless reef sharks as well as sea turtles. The beach at Five Caves is small and no facilities are offered.

Approximately three miles off the coast of Maui sits an extinct, but no less impressive, volcanic crater known as Molokini. This underwater volcano is now home to a plethora of sea life, as it has been converted to Hawaii’s only Island Marine Sanctuary. Molokini Crater snorkeling offers some of the best underwater viewing around Maui, with a host of tropical fish and marine animals available for your sightseeing pleasure. We have tips to help you make the most of your Molokini snorkeling adventure.

Finding a Location

There are many good locations for snorkeling at Molokini, particularly inside the crater where an abundance of sea life thrives in shallower waters. For example, the interior side of Reef’s End, where the top of the crater is submerged for about 200 yards, is an excellent place to spot Cauliflower coral, as well as a wide variety of tropical fish. Enenue, on the other side of the crater’s interior, is a good place to spot butterfly fish in the shallower waters. The exterior side of the crater is usually reserved for scuba divers, with deeper waters and plenty of ocean treasures to discover in the depths.

When to Snorkel Molokini

Anytime is a great time for Molokini snorkling, but the area is subject to weather conditions from time to time. When the winds become too strong, snorkeling tours often choose an alternative spot to Molokini. However, windy days are few and far between, and most visitors find at least a few days that offer perfect conditions for a Molokini snorkel cruise during their trip. It is also best to visit Molokini Crater in the morning hours, when the fish are most abundant. Many snorkeling tours don’t even offer an afternoon trip to Molokini, so book a morning tour to ensure your cruise includes a visit to the crater.

Marine Life to Look for at Molokini

Molokini Crater offers a glimpse into a huge variety of marine life, including about 250 species of tropical fish, manta rays and a few species of sharks. The crater is also home to some breathtaking coral formations just below the surface of the water. Along the shoreline of the crater, you might spot a monk seal or sea turtle. Because the crater has been labeled a Marine Life Conservation District Seabird Sanctuary, you can also catch a glimpse of a variety of birds flying around the area.

Molokini adventure tours are a wonderful way to make the most of your visit to Maui. With plenty of tours to choose from, you are sure to find the package that best fits your personal needs and skill level. A day of snorkeling is sure to make your tropical vacation complete.

Maui snorkeling offers some of the best underwater adventures across the globe, which is why many flock to this Hawaiian island to see the sights that lurk in the depths of the ocean. There are many different opportunities for snorkeling on Maui today, and each excursion offers its own version of marine life viewing. If you are considering snorkeling in Maui on your next tropical getaway, we have a few tips to get you started.

Choosing a snorkel spot

Maui is a plethora of heavenly snorkeling destinations, so you should be able to easily find snorkeling within a short drive from your hotel. The southern and western regions of the island are generally considered the best locations for snorkeling in Maui, although Molokini Crater, located just three miles from the Maui coastline, is considered one of the top spots for snorkeling and scuba diving in the world. When choosing a location for your snorkel adventure, consider the following:

• Your level of snorkeling ability and experience
• The types of diving you are most comfortable with (beach, boat, etc.)
• The marine life you are hoping to see

Once you know the type of snorkeling you are looking for, you can select a destination that will fit your needs best.

Finding a Time

Just about anytime is the right time for snorkeling on Maui, although it is important to determine when the swells are coming in before choosing the safest spot for your underwater adventure. As a general guideline, stick with southern snorkeling destinations when North swells come in (usually during the winter season), and head to the western destinations farther north when South swells arrive (usually during the summer season). However, this is a general guideline and swells can fluctuate throughout the year. It is important to gather current information about water condition immediately prior to your Maui vacation, to ensure you select the best spot.

Early or Late Risers

As you are planning your Maui snorkeling adventure, determine whether you would like to schedule your dives for first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon. The time of day you head out will in part determine the best destination for your needs. Early risers might enjoy a boat ride out to Molokini Crater, where the marine life viewing is best during the earliest part of the day. If you prefer to sleep in a bit on vacation, choose a different dive destination that works well for afternoon dives, such as Coral Gardens. Some divers may prefer a full-day adventure that includes additional activities and meals in addition to the diving time.

A snorkeling adventure in Maui takes your tropical getaway to a whole new level – quite literally. While the island offers some breathtaking scenery of its own, there is nothing like exploring the ocean depths to find an entire world of tropical fish and marine life lurking below.

Finding the best snorkeling on Maui isn’t hard; it’s paring down the choices to a single vacation that becomes challenging. Maui is one of the premiere snorkeling locations in the world, with a wealth of underwater adventure and sights to see. Whether you are looking for snorkeling opportunities right off the beach or further out via a charter, we’ve got the best snorkeling on Maui right here.

West Maui

The western side of the island offers a plethora of picturesque bays for snorkeling adventure. The tree-lined Honolua Bay is filled with brightly colored fish and a breathtaking reef. Makuleia Bay is another lovely spot, particularly in the morning when it is calmer and easier to view the reef and the tropical fish that live within its confines. For those who want to combine their snorkeling adventure with some beach activity, the fabulous coastline around Napili Bay is the perfect solution. This beach provides plenty of accommodations, with a multitude of condos in the vicinity. Kapalua Bay is one of the better known snorkeling locations in the western part of Maui, and offers a nice beach day on top of the snorkeling activity, with bathrooms, showers and food located in the area.

South Maui

Wailea Beach in the southern region offers some spectacular views and the occasional glimpse of a sea turtle if you are lucky. Both Wailea and nearby Polo Beach offer bathroom and shower facilities onsite, making for a more comfortable day of snorkeling and swimming. These locations also offer fabulous beaches for sunbathing, when you have had your fill of underwater adventure. Another popular place for snorkeling on the southern end of Maui is Molokini Crater, an underwater volcano that serves as a refuge for a multitude of tropical fish and sea life. In fact, Molokini Crater has been rated the best snorkeling in Maui by many snorkelers and divers today.

East Maui

To the east, you will find the unique Red Sand Beach, which primarily caters to snorkelers and nude sunbathers, thanks to the quiet cove that offers additional privacy. This location is good for snorkelers of all skill levels and offers a large density of colorful fish for your viewing pleasure. Hamoa Beach is another place for some of Maui’s best snorkeling adventures, as long as you visit in the spring, summer or fall. In the winter, the surf kicks up too much to make snorkeling at this location safe or enjoyable. At the other end of the eastern loop lies Koki Beach, which also provides a large amount of reef fish hiding within the picturesque reef below the surface.

No matter what type of snorkeling excursion you are looking for, you can rest assured that you can find the best Maui snorkeling nearly anywhere on the island. From the pristine beaches of the west, to an underwater volcano just south of the island’s shore, you can find a wealth of sight seeing and underwater adventure when you grab your mask and head down into the depths of the waters just off the Maui coastline.

Many visitors come to Maui every year with the express desire to experience Maui’s underwater adventures firsthand. However, snorkeling can be an expensive proposition if you don’t get savvy to Maui discount snorkel tours that help you pack more underwater activity into your vacation for a lot less money. Check out these Maui snorkeling tips that will help you dive for less money.

Snorkel Location

The first step to a snorkeling tour in Maui is to choose accommodations close to where you will be diving. For example, if your goal is to hit snorkeling hot spots like Molokini Crater, choose a hotel on the southern part of the island. A few of the premier snorkel tour companies offer transportation service. Check their schedule for hotel pickup times and points.

Shop Around

It’s true that most companies offering snorkeling excursions won’t necessarily offer really big discount snorkeling package. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t shop around to a few different companies to find out who is currently offering the best deal. Keep in mind that before you begin comparing prices, you want to locate companies that will provide an excursion that closely matches your skill level and the type of snorkeling experience you are looking for. You also want to find out whether the staff is well experienced and prepared to offer all the instruction you need to ensure a safe, productive experience.

Look for the right discount

When you begin surfing the Internet, you might be surprises at how many discount snorkeling tours in Maui you can find. This is particularly true during the off season, when companies are more interested in winning your business. Search under “Maui discount snorkeling” online to see what sort of bargains crop up. Read the fine print of the offer carefully so you aren’t surprised by hidden charges once you show up for your dive, and make sure you are working with a safe and reputable company before putting any money down. When you arrive on Maui you should also ask locals for their suggestions, or speak with your hotel concierge.

Look for Coupons

In addition to promotions and sales, you may also find some companies offering coupons online for their snorkeling excursions. Coupons will usually provide a code you input when you book your tour, or you can print out the coupon to take with you when you make your reservation. Some coupons may give you a percentage off your snorkeling trip, or even take money off of a snorkeling and accommodations package.

Snorkeling is one of the most popular activities in Maui, and fortunately, there are ways to find discount snorkeling so you can enjoy your underwater adventures without breaking the bank. Consider these tips before booking your snorkeling excursions, and you may find your Hawaiian holiday can be enjoyed for a lot less money.

When you visit the island paradise of Maui, what goes on under the water is just as exciting as what you experience on dry land. The waters surrounding Maui are filled with spectacular coral formations, breathtaking reefs and ocean life of all kinds. Snorkeling is an excellent way to see the underwater sights and Maui has snorkeling adventures for all ages and skill levels. One of the best options is to indulge in a Maui snorkel tours, with diving experts that know exactly where to take you for the best snorkeling experience. We’ve got plenty of reasons on why to love snorkeling, and we want to share a few of them with you here.

Snorkel Location

There are so many snorkeling spots in Maui; it can be challenging to choose just a handful to enjoy on your tropical holiday. The pros that run Maui snorkeling trips can help by providing some of the best destinations around the island. Some of the more popular locations for snorkeling trips in Maui include Molokini Crater, Coral Gardens and Five Caves. However, you might also find Maui snorkeling trips that go to some of the lesser known, but no less awesome, snorkeling locations so you can get your fill of ocean life without having to fight the crowds to experience it.

Training

Depending on the tour company you choose, you may find a staff that is more than happy to train the beginning snorkeler, from choosing the easiest snorkel trips to helping you get comfortable with the equipment before heading to the water. Those who have already done a few Maui snorkel tours can also find companies that specialize in more challenging snorkel tours, allowing you to stretch your wings and meet a greater snorkel challenge head-on. There is no greater trainer than experience, particularly when you are working with professionals who can guide you every step of the way.

Ocean Viewing

Snorkel pros know exactly how and where to find the most spectacular coral formations and greatest abundance of ocean life. They will point out critters both above and below the surface, whether it is a humpback breaching the waves on the way to your snorkel destination, or a lumbering sea turtle or two hanging out on the beach just feet from your dive spot. Once you are under water, your guide can point you to the densest populations of fish and may even show you a shy octopus or manta ray gliding effortlessly through the waters. When you shop for snorkeling tours on Maui, you are much more likely to see the ocean views you are hoping for.

Maui is a fabulous vacation spot for snorkeling adventure, and snorkeling tour will make every moment you spend in the water unforgettable. There is simply no better way to experience this island paradise than under the pristine surface of the clear blue ocean that surrounds it.

When you are planning a trip to Maui, you can’t miss at least one snorkeling expedition to Molokini Crater. This underwater volcano is home to a wealth of ocean life, thanks to its distinction as a marine preserve. The crater features a crescent shaped, rocky rim that rises above the surface of the water, where many bird species also congregate. Check out our overview of Molokini snorkeling tours to help you plan your Maui underwater adventure.

Where is Molokini

Molokini Crater is located just three miles off the coast of Maui, making it a prime destination for Maui Molokini tours. The calm, crystal clear waters make it easy to see ocean life as far as 100 feet away, and the conditions make it a popular spot for fish and sea creatures of all kinds. Molokini Crater tours are very popular with the Maui crowd, so it is not difficult to find a charter company offering tours to this frequented diving spot. Fortunately, the area is large enough to host a number of boats at one time without guests feeling like they are on top of each other while they are diving and snorkeling.

What to See at Molokini

Because Molokini Crater is a Marine Life Conservation District Seabird Sanctuary, you are pretty much guaranteed to witness some fairly spectacular ocean life while snorkeling in these waters. In addition to a wealth of colorful tropical fish, you may also catch a glimpse of spotted eagle rays and manta rays gliding gracefully nearby. Monk seals also frequent these waters, as do a number of shark species, including whale sharks and white tip reef sharks. You may also find some breathtaking coral formations and underwater scenery. Molokini snorkel tours will help you locate and identify ocean creatures along the way, so you get the most of your Molokini snorkeling experience.

What’s Included on a Molokini snorkel tour

Because there are a number of Molokini tours that head to the crater every day, each tour company does its best to stand out from the rest and make your day truly special. Many of the Maui Molokini tours begin with breakfast onboard your boat, complete with freshly ground Kona coffee. While you enjoy your snorkeling adventure, the boat’s crew may be busy whipping up a tantalizing lunch on the boat deck. Molokini Crater tours may run anywhere from a few hours to most of the day, depending on the tour company and the types of excursions they offer.

Molokini snorkel tours are a must on your visit to Maui, so check out what is currently available and book your tour as soon as possible. Because Molokini Crater is a hot spot for divers and snorkelers alike, Maui Molokini tours tend to fill up fast and you’ll want to act quickly to get your first pick of snorkeling adventures.