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Molokini Snorkel Tours

Molokini is an ancient volcanic caldera that offers some of the clearest water for snorkeling anywhere in the world. It is located about 2 miles offshore from South Maui in the Alalakeiki Channel (between Maui and Kaho'olawe). Molokini is a marine sanctuary below water and a bird sanctuary above water. There is no access to the island itself; only those with research permits are permitted to go ashore. The incredibly clear water is due to its location in the middle of the channel and the lack of any sand deposits around the islet. No matter the wind or wave conditions the visibility here is unparalleled. A variety of snorkel tours are available; below is a selection of the best ways to experience Molokini Crater.

Pride of Maui - our most popular trip

Pride of Maui Deluxe AM Snorkel		List Price	Our Price
Adults		$89.95	$79.95
Children (3-12)		$55.95	$49.95
Infants (2 & under)		free	free

Note: Pride of Maui has added a $3 per seat fuel surcharge for adults and children on all of their tours which will be added to the above rates.

This tour often sells out 3-5 days in advance so make your reservations now! The Pride of Maui will be out of service for one day of maintenance on 12/14/2009!

The Pride of Maui takes you to Molokini in comfort ... offering glass-bottom viewing, a fun water slide, continental breakfast, an excellent BBQ lunch, and a refreshing open bar. This vessel is spacious and stable; her sprawling upper deck features unobstructed panoramic viewing and outstanding photo opportunities of the majestic Maui coast and surrounding islands. First stop is typically Molokini Crater, famous for its clear water and incredible array of undersea life. After snorkeling at Molokini, the boat makes a second stop at "Turtle Town" where you can swim with Hawaiian green sea turtles!

This powerful catamaran offers a fast, smooth ride to Molokini, which lies in the middle of the channel between Maui and Kahoolawe. The Pride of Maui trip includes all your snorkel gear, as well as a variety of flotation devices (for those who feel more comfortable swimming in the ocean when they have a little help). The Pride of Maui AM Deluxe Snorkel is offered daily and has a check-in at the main loading dock at Maalaea Harbor at 7:30am; the tour is five hours long from 8:00am to 1:00pm.

On-board options (at an additional cost) include:

• SNUBA - this is a cross between snorkeling and scuba ... you wear a regulator in your mouth and a hose leads to an oxygen tank that floats on a raft above you at the surface. Snuba divers are able to swim 20 feet below the surface and stay down for about 30 minutes. The cost for a snuba dive is approximately $50 per person (in addition to the snorkeler rates listed above). No advanced reservations are necessary; just let the crew know you'd like to snuba when you get on board the boat on the morning of your tour.
• SCUBA - one or two tank scuba dives are available for CERTIFIED divers; advanced reservations are required. The additional cost for scuba is $42 for a one-tank dive and $66 for a two tank dive (including gear). If you have members in your party who would like to scuba, please call our office after making a reservation for your party using the form on the right side of this page
• WET SUITS - are included in the cost for scuba divers; snorkelers may rent them for $10

For those who prefer snorkeling in the afternoon, the Pride of Maui PM Snorkel is offered Monday through Saturday from May to December and has a check-in at the main loading dock at Maalaea Harbor at 1:00pm; the tour is three hours long from 1:30pm to 4:30pm. The afternoon tour includes snorkel gear and a BBQ lunch. Due to afternoon trade winds the primary snorkel destination in the afternoon is Coral Gardens, a spot tucked in along the seacliffs of the south shore of the West Maui Mountains. Afternoon trips rarely (but occassionally) visit Molokini Crater; if Molokini is your goal you should do one of the morning tours as the chances of going to Molokini in the morning are infinitely higher. Afternoon Pride of Maui tour is $39.95 per adult, $26.95 per child (ages 3-12), and infants 2 and under are free ($3 per person fuel surcharge applies to afternoon tour as well). Please note that the Pride of Maui operates an afternoon WHALE WATCH instead of an afternoon snorkel from January through April.

PC / V

NCL cruise ship passengers are able do the Pride of Maui AM Deluxe Snorkel on their second day in port in Kahului if your ship is scheduled to depart at 3pm or later. This is a 10-12 minute cab ride to Maalaea Harbor, or we can arrange a rental car for $39 per day.  Renting a car is easy; it will save you money in the long run and the rental car company will pick you up with their shuttle at the cruise ship dock. For more information see our rental car page. This can also work for Lahaina cruise ship passengers on their second day in port with either a 20-25 minute cab ride, or we can arrange a rental car.

Fourwinds II - most time at Molokini

Fourwinds II AM Molokini Snorkel		List Price	Our Price
Adults		$89.00	$79.00
Children (3-12)		$59.00	$49.00
Infants (2 & under)		free	free

Note: Fourwinds ll has added a $4 per seat fuel surcharge for adults and children on their morning tour which will be added to the above rates.

Often sells out 7-10 days in advance

Four Winds II is a 55 foot glass bottom catamaran, fondly referred to as "the boat for fun-lovers". Once onboard, you'll soon discover why Maui's visitors consider this trip to be one of the best to Molokini and why we have become a local favorite too. With a crew that is dedicated to your needs and providing you absolute fun, this trip is a family favorite. It offers something for all ages. Breakfast, BBQ lunch, waterslide, glass bottom viewing, open bar, all snorkel gear and instruction ... and snuba is available as an option (see snuba description above under "Pride of Maui).

The Fourwinds has one destination ... Molokini ... and they stay there for the entire morning. You won't get to snorkel with sea turtles on this trip ... but you will get more time at Molokini than any other boat. The Fourwinds II AM Molokini Snorkel is offered daily and has a check-in at Maalaea Harbor slip#80 at 7:00am; the tour is five hours long from 7:30am to 12:30pm.

For those who prefer snorkeling in the afternoon, the Fourwinds PM Snorkel is offered Monday through Saturday and has a check-in at the main loading dock at Maalaea Harbor at 1:00pm; the tour is three hours long from 1:30pm to 4:30pm. The afternoon tour includes snorkel gear and a BBQ lunch. Due to afternoon trade winds the primary snorkel destination in the afternoon is Coral Gardens, a spot tucked in along the seacliffs of the south shore of the West Maui Mountains. Afternoon trips rarely (but occassionally) visit Molokini Crater; if Molokini is your goal you should do one of the morning tours as the chances of going to Molokini in the morning are infinitely higher. Afternoon Fourwinds tour is $42.95 per adult, $36.95 per child (ages 3-12), and infants 2 and under are free ($3 per person fuel surcharge applies to afternoon tour)

MCC / V

NCL cruise ship passengers are able do the Fourwinds on their second day in port in Kahului. This is a 10-12 minute cab ride to Maalaea Harbor, or we can arrange a rental car for $39 per day.  Renting a car is easy; it will save you money in the long run and the rental car company will pick you up with their shuttle at the cruise ship dock.  This can also work for Lahaina cruise ship passengers on their second day in port with a 20-25 minute cab ride or a rental car. For rental cars with cruise ship shuttle pick-up see our rental car page.

Blue Water Rafting - Molokini and Kanaio Coast

Blue Water Rafting Rates		Adults	Children (age 5-12)
5.5 hr Molokini / Kanaio Coast		$119.00	$99.00
4 hr Kanaio Coast (no Molokini)		$99.00	$79.00
2.5 hr Molokini / Whale Watch		$55.00	$45.00
2 hr Molokini Express		$49.00	$39.00

Blue Water Rafting is raising adult rates by $1 for any dates in 2010.

Blue Water Rafting operates out of the Kihei small boat ramp, and offers a great alternative to people who are staying in a resort at Wailea, Makena, or one of the South Kihei condo properties.  They offer four different tours, three of which go to Molokini crater. These tours are operated on a 24 passenger zodiac raft; their tours are exciting and fun for the adventure-seeker; no pregnant women, no neck or back injuries, and the minimum child age is 5.

Molokini / Kanaio Coast - Their signature trip ...explore the sea caves and lava arches of Maui's remote and rugged Kanaio Coast, which lies miles beyond the end of the road at La Perouse Bay. Discover secret coves and amazing lava rock formations formed during Maui's last eruptive period several hundred years ago. Dolphins are frequently seen in this area, and on rare occasions snorkeling with them is possible. Next stop is Molokini crater, and a variety of snorkeling opportunities there, including a long snorkel inside the crater, a drift snorkel over "reef's end", and a brief but memorable snorkel along the abyss that is Molokini's back wall on the outside of the crater. Premium snorkel gear with dry snorkel and a deli lunch are included. This tour is 5.5 hours long and is offered daily at 7am.

Kanaio Coast - For those who have been to Molokini but haven't seen the rugged Kanaio Coast, this tour offers the chance to go where few other tours dare! This is the same tour as above without the stops at Molokini. Premium snorkel gear with dry snorkel and a deli lunch are included. This tour is 4 hours long and offered daily at 7am.

Molokini / Whale Watch Combo - All the great Molokini snorkeling offered on their longer 5.5 hour trip, plus an hour of watching Maui's winter residents, the majestic humpback whales. Premium snorkel gear with dry snorkel is included. This tour is 2.5 hours long and is offered M, W, F at 11am during whale season, which runs from January 1st through April 15th.

Molokini Express - This is the quick way to see Molokini Crater. Because these rafts are so fast, it only takes them 15 minutes to zip out to Molokini from the Kihei small boat ramp. This tour offers the same Molokini snorkel opportunities as their longer morning tour ... 15 minutes out and back and 90 minutes of quality snorkeling at Molokini. Premium snorkel gear with dry snorkel is included. This tour is 2 hours long and is offered T, TH, SAT, and SUN at 11am during whale season; during the rest of the year it is offered seven days a week.

BWR / V 

NCL cruise ship passengers are able do the BWR 4 and 5.5 hour tours on their second day in port in Kahului. Either the Molokini Express or the Molokini /Whale Watch trip would also be available on day 1 or day 2.. This would require a rental car as the drive from the cruise ship is about 30 minutes.  Renting a car is easy; it will save you money in the long run and the rental car company will pick you up with their shuttle at the cruise ship dock.  These tours are not practical for cruise ship passengers who are tendering in Lahaina.

Maui Magic - Molokini and Beyond

Maui Magic Rates		List Price	Our Rate
Adults		$112.00	$102.00
Children (12 & under)		$92.00	$82.00

Note: Maui Magic has added a $5 per seat fuel surcharge for adults and children on their morning tour which will be added to the above rates.

If you are an adventurer that likes the wind in your hair, getting a chance to see dolphins in the wild, and the thrill of discovering a side of Maui that only a few will see... the Maui Magic Molokini and Beyond tour is for you! The newly built 54ft. Maui Magic is a state-of-the-art, fast, comfortable, power catamaran equipped with BBQ grills, onboard waterslide, and an awesome sound system. The itinerary is similar to the 5.5 hour Molokini and Kanaio Coast tour with Blue Water Rafting ... only this vessel is larger, and has more creature comforts than a zodiac raft. The Maui Magic offers daily tours and has a 7:00am check-in at Maalaea Harbor slip #55. The tour is 5 hours in length from 7:30am to 12:30pm.

Your captain will provide you with a complete Hawaiian historical and cultural narration about the sites that you will pass along the coastline. During the narration a selection of Hawaiian music and chants is played to enhance the experience. This is a true Hawaiian cultural cruise and totally unique in every way! Best of all you can get a chance to see Spinner Dolphins and even Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins when nature permits. The Maui Magic has a great success rate at finding these magnificent creatures.

The weather dictates snorkel sites and destinations ... typically two and sometimes three snorkel stops are made. Weather permitting, Molokini is always one of these stops ... other possibilities include the Kanaio Coast, La Perouse, Turtle Arches, and the beautiful Coral Gardens. Whatever nature and her beauty have in store for us, you can be sure it will be exciting!

The Maui Magic is not a stroller-friendly vessel, and due to its more rugged itinerary this tour is not recommended for most children under the age of 5. However, parents are the best gauge of their child's capabilities. If you have a child who is 3 or 4 and is particularly "tough" for their age, they are permitted on the tour ... but all children pay the child rate regardless of age. Infants who require constant attention are not appropriate for this tour. We would recommend either the Pride of Maui or the Fourwinds instead.

MCC / V

NCL cruise ship passengers are able do the Maui Magic on their second day in port in Kahului. This is a 10-12 minute cab ride to Maalaea Harbor, or we can arrange a rental car for $39 per day.  Renting a car is easy; it will save you money in the long run and the rental car company will pick you up with their shuttle at the cruise ship dock.  This can also work for Lahaina cruise ship passengers on their second day in port with a 20-25 minute cab ride or a rental car. For rental cars with cruise ship shuttle pick-up see our rental car page.

Activity Tips

Molokini as a snorkel destination is somewhat weather-dependent ... while all of these tours that advertise Molokini as a destination will make every effort to provide guests with the experience they seek, a few days a year the tours get diverted to an alternate snorkel spot. All snorkel destinations are ultimately the decision of the captain of the respective vessel and that decision is always made with the safety and comfort of the guests in mind.

Morning is typically better snorkeling than the afternoon because our trade winds here in Hawaii are typically much lighter in the morning and the wind kicks up around noon or so. Many boats (and activity desks) advertise less expensive afternoon Molokini trips ... we don't find this approach to be an honest one. Because of afternoon trade winds most PM trips go to "Coral Gardens" which is near the tunnel along the Pali Highway between Maalaea and Lahaina. Coral Gardens is a nice spot to snorkel ... but it isn't Molokini. We do offer these afternoon trips, but we take the high road here at Adventuremaui.com ... since your chances of going to Molokini in the afternoon are less than 20%, we prefer to market them as Coral Gardens snorkel tours ... which occassionally get diverted to Molokini on really calm afternoons. If you want to be reasonably sure you are going to Molokini, you definitely want to book a morning trip when your chances of getting to Molokini are more like 95% instead of 20%.

The Pride of Maui is our favorite and most highly recommended Molokini snorkel tour for a variety of reasons. Personally, we prefer the two-location snorkel trips. While Molokini is a great place to snorkel, an hour and a half there is adequate to experience the crater. There is one thing missing at Molokini ... because of the incredibly clear water and lack of sand and algae, tutles find nothing to eat out there! You won't find any Honu (the Hawaiian word for green sea turtles) at Molokini Crater. The Pride of Maui goes to a spot called Turtle Town along the south Maui coastline that gives you the opportunity to snorkel with these very gentle giant sea turtles. We love the Pride of Maui's water slide (it's the best one of the Molokini boats), and it's the widest and most stable choice for anyone who is at all concered about motion sickness. We find the Pride of Maui to be a great tour at a great price, and our price is $10 off the list price for adults!

If you expect to snorkel with sea turtles during other tours during your vacation, then you might consider the Fourwinds since it will give you the MOST TIME at Molokini. The Pride of Maui and the Fourwinds are almost identical boats in terms of size and features ... the biggest difference is the itinerary. If you want two locations ... do the Pride. If you want to stay at Molokini longer ... do the Fourwinds. The one other difference ... the Fourwinds has the better glass bottom viewing area, which does tend to make this boat a magnet for little kids who are too young to snorkel.

Blue Water Rafting is a great choice for the adventure seeker, especially ones who are staying in Kihei and Wailea ... these rafts are small enough to enter some of the sea caves and lava arches along the Kanaio Coast (when the ocean swells permit). But you do need to be aware that high adventure also means low creature comforts. There is no rest room on board ... when you have to go ... then you have to jump in the water. Blue Water Rafting has a saying ... "NO WIMPS." If you are one, they really prefer you to go on someone else's boat. From experience we can tell you that these guys really are die hards. They will provide you with a thrilling ocean experience, and that means going out in a variety of ocean and weather conditions. You will get wet on their tours ... even on an otherwise dry sunny day. This is a bouncy ride and you will experience open ocean conditions that are much rougher than what you'd find on a typical Molokini tour. By now you should be able to tell if this is the right tour for you ... or not.

For those who want to experience the Kanaio Coast but maybe aren't up for the rigours of the rafting tour, the Maui Magic offers a great compromise. Their boat is larger than the rafts, but much smaller than the Pride of Maui and the Fourwinds. The Maui Magic handles the open ocean conditions experienced along the Kanaio Coast with a little more of a forgiving ride. You'll get to see the wild scenery that only a handful of long-time Maui residents have ever seen, but you'll get a little more forgiving ride. The Maui Magic is too large to enter any of these caves, but you'll get to see the wild volcanic coastline and enjoy the views (and the on board rest room and BBQ lunch).

We also offer scuba diving to Molokini Crater which is not found here on this page ... see our Maui scuba diving page for details. We offer both certified diving and introductory, no experience necessary dives. The tours featured on our scuba diving page are best if EVERYONE in your party wants to scuba dive. If you have some snorkelers and a few certified divers, the Pride of Maui found here on this page is the best choice.

On-line Molokini Reservations