Pride of Maui is large, stable, and exceptionally well equipped, with unsurpassed amenities and comforts including more deck space per passenger and perimeter seating for ease of movement throughout. She’s handicap accessible, has two restrooms, a water slide, warm showers, and multiple locations with platforms and stairs to easily enter and exit the water.

During your Maui whale watch these amazing animals will often display themselves in full glory, giving you the ultimate Maui whale watching experience. Some common behavior displayed on a Maui whale watch includes blowing and spy hopping. They’ll also slap their tails, believed to be an act of communication and to demonstrate their individual strength. Spy hopping is when the humpback whales come high out of the water to literally have a look around at the world above.

There are so many incredible opportunities whale watching on Maui and aboard the Pride of Maui. With over 1500 feet of unobstructed panoramic viewing from her sprawling upper deck alone, the views and photo opportunities aboard the Pride of Maui are unsurpassed. This truly is the ultimate Maui whale watching experience, where you may even capture on film a full breaching humpback whale, yet another behavior frequently observed on our Maui whale watch.

The scientific name of the North Pacific Humpback Whale is Megaptera novaeangliae, which refers to the flippers as the whale’s large wings. A mature, North Pacific Humpback Whale averages about 40 feet in length and weighs about 40 tons, although the female whales are slightly larger up to about 45 feet in length and 45-50 tons. The female humpback whales are slightly larger in order to defend themselves and their nursing calves from the more aggressive male humpback whales. The North pacific Humpback Whales have good reasons to return to these waters surrounding Maui. They return each year to the very waters where they were born. Many of the female humpback whales which are not yet pregnant will be impregnated while here on Maui and those that are with calves are here to birth them. The male humpback whales are driven to mate with the females and pro-create. It is common during the heat of the Maui whale watching season to find large competitive groups (pods) of male humpback whales jousting for the opportunity to mate with a single female. These pods include numerous animals in hot pursuit of a single female and the action can be heavy, as the males wrestle with each other for the position to mate. The female humpback whales with new born calves are particularly vulnerable to the advances of the male humpback whales during the Maui whale watching season. Sometimes we are mugged (an affectionate term), by the female and her calf as she uses our large boat to hide under and around as she attempts to ditch the hopeful males. Other times we believe that curiosity causes these wonderful animals to mug us. Being mugged on a Maui whale watch by humpback whales is the ultimate Maui whale watching experience where photo opportunities aboard the Pride of Maui are unsurpassed. Join us on a Maui whale watching and afternoon snorkel adventure for the memories of a lifetime!

The North Pacific Humpback Whale is a baleen whale (toothless), declared as an endangered and protected species. Humpback whales migrate in the thousands from the Gulf of Alaska to and around the Hawaiian Islands, and in particular the island of Maui, creating the perfect opportunities for a Maui whale watching experience. 

During spring, the humpback whales swim up to the colder polar waters where they feed on tiny crustaceans, microscopic planktons, and small fishes, such as herring and mackerel. When winter comes, they swim towards the warmer, tropical waters of Hawaii. It is believed that the island of Maui and surrounding islands of Molokai, Lanai, Kahaolawe and Molokini offer sheltered water, where the females can more safely give birth and raise their young before the long journey back to Alaska. Whales are mammals and the calves are fed with their mother’s milk. While suckling, it is believed they may be safer from predators in the sheltered Maui waters, as opposed to the open ocean or less protected seas. Whale watching in Maui is whale watching at its very best, with the opportunity on any given trip to see numerous animals displaying a variety of interesting and memorable behaviors. Newborn calves in addition to being adorable are curious and often bring mom close to the boat for a close encounter. As a protected animal, it is unlawful to approach closer than 100 yards from these majestic animals and we adhere strictly to these regulations. It is not uncommon for the whales to approach us as we sit idle in the water giving them the space they so well deserve. Close encounters initiated by the whales are common here on Maui.

A mature North Pacific Humpback Whale can grow up to 16 meters or 52 feet long. Their heavy bodies can weigh up to 50 tons. The heart alone is about 400 pounds or more. The size of these whales makes them hard to miss, especially when they swim in groups. The exciting and amazing part is that the North Pacific Humpback Whales have the reputation of being sea acrobats. They will arch their large bodies as they jump up and dive into the sea, creating artistic scenes for your Maui whale watching adventure. They move their fins to slap the water joyously during your Maui whale watch, and put on a show using their two blowholes. No adventure will be as enjoyable or memorable as your Maui whale watching cruise.

During the Maui whale watching tour, it is highly probably to see a young calf swimming beside its mother. The newborn calves are usually 14 feet long. When you see them, you have definitely experienced some of the best Maui whale watching. They are not small, even when newborn. The mother whale stays with her offspring for about one year, feeding it with up to 100 pounds of milk every day. The whale matures after 15 years and will have a lifespan of about 50 years.

The Maui whale watching and afternoon snorkel adventure is not just about whales. It also offers underwater adventure while snorkeling at one of our fantastic reefs. You may bring your own, or use our sanitized, professional snorkeling gear. You might find yourself face to face with the friendly and playful green sea turtles. You’ll experience a variety of amazing fish and marine animals. You just never know what interesting marine life you may see on the afternoon Maui snorkeling and whale watching adventure. The coral reef visited during your Maui snorkeling adventure is the natural dwelling of many marine animals. The coral reef is sometimes compared to a forest, where animals will establish their homes. The structure provides nooks and crannies where fish and other marine animals make their unique homes and sanctuaries.

Besides corals, the delight of Maui snorkeling is the rich diversity and incredible abundance of colorful tropical fishes, green sea turtles and diverse marine animals. Some of them are well camouflaged, and they challenge the snorkeler to find them. Others in the Maui snorkeling adventure are curious, swimming alongside their human visitors. The experience of visiting with these wonderful aquatic creatures is indescribable. There are hundreds of species of marine animals endemic to the Hawaiian Islands (found only here). You are on your way to the experience of a life time on your Maui snorkeling and afternoon whale watching adventure. Your afternoon of Maui snorkeling and Maui whale watching aboard the Pride of Maui is the ultimate adventure and VALUE.  Experiencing the best Maui snorkeling destinations, along with the best whale watching in Maui, your vacation memories are now complete. 

This is an exciting afternoon of adventure, new sights and fulfillment, where you can experience it all, or just sit back and relax as your attentive crew provide you with the Impeccable service we are so well known for.