Looking for an Awesome
Maui SNUBA® Tour?
SNUBA Equipment
SNUBA® is a
hybrid of
snorkeling
and scuba
diving
Harness, mask, fins and belt
Participants wear a lightweight, highly adjustable, quick-release harness from which the air-line is attached. The harness tow point is located between the shoulder blades to provide easy towing of the SNUBA Raft. Each participant is fitted with a mask and fins, the same as used for snorkeling, including the lesser powered fins to reduce foot cramping and slow controlled movements.
Guests also wear a weight belt, comfortably adjusted around the waist. Certified SNUBA Guides determine the proper amount of weight so that each guest is neutrally buoyant in the water. Participants can choose not to wear a weight belt if he or she prefers to hold onto the raft and “power snorkel” (continuing to breathe through a regulator) at the surface.
Air Delivery
SNUBA participants breathe through a standard SCUBA regulator system and mouthpiece. Air is delivered through a positively buoyant 20-foot air-line that connects via manifold distribution to the compressed air cylinders in the SNUBA Raft on the surface–participants do not have an air cylinder strapped to their back.
The air-line allows guests to dive at whatever depth is most comfortable, from the surface power snorkeling to 2 feet… 10 feet… or the maximum depth of 20 feet. Guests are also trained to use the air-line for hand- over-hand controlled ascents and descents and to maintain their vertical control over fragile coral reefs.
The SNUBA Raft
The SNUBA Raft is made from the highest quality inflatable fabric, fully welded seams and shaped for easy towing. The Standard SNUBA Rafts hold 1 air cylinder in a recessed compartment, and the SNUBA Quad Rafts hold 2 air cylinders.
The recessed compartments are designed to allow easy access to the SNUBA Guide to make convenient cylinder changes between tours and to keep the first-stage regulator dry while changing out tanks in the water.
The compartments sit below the water line, providing a low center of gravity and stability to the SNUBA Raft. Rafts are inflated using a power inflator nozzle which is easily connected to a compressed air cylinder. A Standard Raft can accommodate 2 participants, while a Quad provides air for 4 guests.
At the bow, the Raft flies either the U.S. or International diver down flag to alert individuals at the surface that there are divers below the water. Additionally, the SNUBA Raft is never more than 20 feet from a SNUBA participant and can be held onto for support while guests are at the surface.
About Trips
Molokini
SNUBA® Tour
SNUBA® dive at the Captain’s special coral reef teeming with a variety of colorful fish aboard the spacious and stable Pride of Maui. See incredible sea turtles!
Molokini Crater SNUBA diving at its very best! There are significant reasons why Molokini SNUBA is so special. The quality of the water surrounding Molokini is superior, providing unsurpassed clarity.
SNUBA diving aboard the Pride of Maui is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the ultimate underwater adventure. This activity is one you will never forget!
Please note: SNUBA is offered on a limited basis on our AM trip, which you can reserve online. Purchasing (1) SNUBA upgrade is for one location only. If guests would like to SNUBA at both Molokini and Turtle Town, the upgrade will need to be purchased for each location.
#1 SNUBA® Provider in the U.S.
SNUBA® is a
hybrid of
snorkeling
and SCUBA
#1 SNUBA Provider
Pride of Maui is the nation’s leading SNUBA diving vessel. We have introduced more guests to SNUBA than any other passenger vessel in Hawaii!
We are honored to have earned SNUBA International’s 2017 Operator of the Year award. We love to show our guests how amazing it is to SNUBA on Maui. Anyone eight years or older can enjoy SNUBA—no experience is required!
Difficulty
If you are up for an exhilarating underwater adventure, our SNUBA adventure is for you! The Pride of Maui is Maui’s largest stable maxi-power catamaran, explicitly designed for Maui snorkeling and SNUBA. Entries and exits to and from the ocean are easy and simple. This is one experience you don’t want to miss!
SNUBA diving requires no prior experience or special talents at all. You just have to be at least 8 years of age and in average health.
Experiences
Over the past 20 years, thousands of our guests have had the unique experience of weightlessness and breathing underwater. You will swim up close with the beautiful marine life in a safe, controlled environment about 15 feet beneath the surface, all under the watchful care of our expert Maui SNUBA instructors.
With SNUBA, you do not have to carry that heavy air tank on your back; it is attached to a raft on the surface above you with a hose connected to a SNUBA compressor. You only need the connected breathing apparatus to swim like a fish. All you have to do is relax and enjoy!
Requirements
Your safety
is our main
concern
Restrictions
Your SNUBA instructor reserves the right to determine whether or not you may participate in the SNUBA dive based on your comprehension and level of comfort in the water.
If you are more than three months pregnant or under treatment for any of the following medical concerns: respiratory, lung, chest, heart, or high blood pressure, please consult with your physician. When completing our onboard medical questionnaire, please provide your SNUBA instructor with a clearance note.
Please note: SNUBA is not available to persons with certain pre-existing respiratory or heart conditions. Nothing is more important to us than your safety!
Requirements
Age – You must be at least 8 years of age or older.
Skills – You must have basic swimming skills and be comfortable in the ocean.
Health condition
You must be in good health or cleared by a physician to dive. Blood pressure, heart, or respiratory conditions are health concerns that your doctor must clear before you SNUBA. In order to participate, you are required to complete and sign a brief Participant Health Record & Liability Release Form.
Safety Briefing
Participating in a Safety Briefing about the SNUBA system and what to expect during your tour is required for you to SNUBA.
You will also practice the skills discussed during the briefing before entering the water. These skills include hand signals for underwater communication, mask clearing, proper breathing, skills for controlled ascents and descents, ear equalization techniques, and more.
Hand Signals
You can learn some basic signals here; your SNUBA instructors will go over hand signals with you.
What to Choose
Snorkel,
SNUBA, or
both?
SNUBA
SNUBA diving in Maui is a fantastic experience and an unsurpassed adventure. Because you are not restricted to breathing at the surface, you can go deeper and stay under longer. Breathe effortlessly with time to explore the environment and the fascinating marine life around you. To SNUBA in Maui is more than seeing the aquatic beauty; SNUBA is to mingle with the aquatic beauty. When you join our SNUBA adventure, you will swim alongside the multi-colored Hawaii tropical fish and get closer than ever to the coral reef below.
With the breathing apparatus, you remain submerged, gliding along the coral reef with its colorful inhabitants. You will see remarkable marine life up close on your Maui SNUBA adventure.
SNUBA is a perfect family adventure and a unique experience to share with friends. It is an underwater activity everyone can join in together from eight years old and above. When friends SNUBA in Maui together, the enjoyment and the beauty of the underwater world are magnified.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling in Maui’s pristine waters is a beautiful experience and an incredible opportunity to explore the underwater scenery from the sea’s surface.
Maui snorkeling is thrilling as the reef unfolds in bold living colors beneath you. With the abundance of Hawaiian tropical fish and stunning coral, snorkeling is always a favorite way to spend time in the water.
SNUBA®
Advantages
of SNUBA®
diving?
Advantages
SNUBA is much easier for the novice than SCUBA diving because heavy air tanks won’t restrict you. The Maui SNUBA diver swims directly below the raft, wearing a light and comfortable harness. Air flows from the surface through a hose connected to the SNUBA compressor on the raft.
Another advantage of Maui SNUBA vs. SCUBA diving is that you don’t need any special training or certification. No special diving skill is required to participate in SNUBA, provided you are a basic swimmer and at least 8 years old. We provide the necessary information to keep you safe, help you practice, and then you’re in the water! Enjoy deeper dives and more time among the incredible tropical fish swimming all around you. You can find Hawaiian green sea turtles and red pencil sea urchins, and you can hear the Humpback Whales singing during the winter months!
Due to safety reasons, the Pride of Maui cannot allow guests on heart medications to participate in SNUBA.
Experiences
Join one of our expert Maui SNUBA instructors/guides for an adventure beyond compare. The expert guides aboard the Pride of Maui have tens of thousands of Maui SNUBA dives under their belts and are some of the best. They will help you become familiar with the SNUBA equipment and explain in straightforward terms what to expect on your SNUBA tour. Your Maui SNUBA instructor/guide will even pick out the best spot on the reef for your Maui SNUBA adventure.
SNUBA Equipment
Maui SNUBA is a tremendous value for your vacation dollar. There is no special equipment to buy or rent, as everything is included. Your crew will provide all of your SNUBA equipment. All you have to do is don your bathing suit and let us take care of the details on your Maui SNUBA tour. Space is limited, so be sure to ask about our exciting SNUBA adventure! Experience a once-in-a-lifetime Maui SNUBA adventure in the pristine waters of Maui today!
Underwater Life
What makes
Maui SNUBA®
diving so
unique?
Hawaii’s wide variety of indigenous fish and marine animals will make your Maui SNUBA adventure a one-of-a-kind experience. So, what exactly will you see? Every color in the rainbow, as the reef comes alive below you. Angelfish, butterflyfish, damselfish, and Moorish idols are just some of the exotic tropical fish you will experience. How about a humuhumunukunukuapua’a? That’s our Hawaii state fish!
- Go down 15 feet
- See coral close up
- Ease of use
- Breathe with comfort
- Perfect for children
- No experience required
Take a journey into the inner world of our ocean realm, floating in inner space as you cruise along the coral reef. You may meet the graceful Hawaiian green sea turtles during your SNUBA dive. Residing peacefully on the coral reef, these unique turtles often swim close to our SNUBA divers to get a closer look. Curious and gentle, the turtles are protected marine animals found along the coral reef.
20-Year History
Maui SNUBA
diving with
the Pride
of Maui
The Pride of Maui SNUBA program is well established, with a 20-year history of caring service, where thousands of our guests have safely experienced Maui SNUBA. We pride ourselves on providing an exceptional experience for even the most timid landlubber. You will see why we are renowned for our highly sought-after Maui SNUBA program aboard the comfortable maxi-power catamaran Pride of Maui.
We provide you with state-of-the-art SNUBA equipment, expert instruction, and the opportunity for an extraordinary underwater experience aboard our spacious vessel. Treat yourself to an incredible SNUBA adventure in Maui’s pristine waters. This is YOUR Maui vacation, and you have earned it!
#1 SNUBA Provider
SNUBA®
Equipment
SNUBA® equipment combines scuba and snorkeling, making underwater exploration easy and safe with minimal training. Dive freely!
Green
Sea Turtles
Hawaii’s graceful green sea turtles captivate snorkelers and SNUBA® divers as they glide through the crystal-clear waters of their natural habitat.
SNUBA®
Instruction
Learn top-notch SNUBA® instruction from our expert crew, ensuring your underwater adventure is unforgettable and safe.
Maui’s
Humpback Whales
SNUBA® diving in Maui offers a unique experience, with the chance to watch the majestic humpback whales underwater.
Requirements
No certification or prior experience are required. Dive into Maui’s innate beauty with Pride of Maui SNUBA®.
Frequently Asked Questions
SNUBA® is the safest and easiest way to experience the exhilaration of breathing underwater. It lasts for about 20 minutes and you will be under the care of our expert instructors. A cross between snorkeling and scuba diving, SNUBA® is easy for anyone to enjoy. The air tank is attached to a raft floating at the surface above you, so you can relax and breathe without worrying about all of that heavy equipment.
With Pride of Maui, SNUBA® is offered during morning snorkel tours. The duration of a SNUBA® experience is generally 20-25 minutes, depending on the guest. SNUBA® is an activity available per snorkel location as an add-on to a regular snorkel booking (per person). Contact our reservations department at 808-242-0955 for more information about SNUBA® with Pride of Maui.
You will wear a pair of fins, a mask, a weight belt (to neutralize your buoyancy in the water), and a SNUBA® harness that connects your air line to the raft on the surface.
On a Pride of Maui SNUBA® adventure, guests can dive to a depth of 15 feet. The SNUBA® tank is attached to a raft on the ocean surface and connected to a long hose that always remains with you.
SNUBA® has a lot of the upsides of snorkeling and scuba diving, without most of the downsides. The most common cause of ear pain from swimming or snorkeling occurs because the ears have not been equalized before entering the water. To equalize your ears, block your nostrils and blow to open your ears (or “pop” your ears). This is the same action you might take on a flight right before the plane lands. If you have concerns about ear pain from being underwater, please make sure to check with your general doctor before booking any ocean activity.
No, SNUBA® requires basic swimming skills. While you don’t need to be an expert swimmer, you must be comfortable in the ocean and able to swim short distances on your own.
There’s a minimal chance that a person could get the bends, also known as decompression sickness (DCS), from SNUBA® diving. Unlike scuba, guests cannot reach a depth further than 15 feet with SNUBA®. As a general recommendation, guests should refrain from taking helicopter tours, driving to Haleakala, or flying on an airplane for 4-6 hours before or after SNUBA®.
Where we will snorkel
Visit Maui’s top snorkeling destinations like:
