Maui Submarine Tours
Atlantis Submarines Maui
Submerge yourself in a different world, where your air becomes ocean, your foliage is a coral garden, and your vehicle is one of the world's most sophisticated submarines. Explore Maui's underwater paradise to a depth of 130' aboard the Atlantis 48 passenger submarine. Spacious, air conditioned surroundings and extra-large viewing ports allow you to relax and enjoy the wonders of the deep in your one hour adventure.
The major underwater attraction on Maui is the sunken remains of the "Carthaginian," a replica whaling ship that was a sort of "floating museum" docked at the entrance to Lahaina Harbor for decades. The aging attraction became too difficult and too expensive to maintain, and its location just outside the harbor wasn't exactly a good spot for an unscheduled shipwreck. Atlantis Submarines proposed a plan to tow the ship offshore south of the Lahaina and to intentionally sink it knowing that it would attract a host of sea life. On December 13, 2005 after two years of preparation the plan was carried out, and it has done just that. The wreckage of the "Carthaginian" is seen on all the Maui Atlantis Submarine dives.
There is no minimum age, but the minimum height for Atlantis Submarine is 36". Each guest is required to independently navigate a nearly vertical 10-step ladder into and out of the submarine.
$148.00 per Adult, $66.00 per Child (12 and under) (plus 7.712% Hawaii sales/harbor tax)
NOTE: Payment for Atlantis Submarine dive is required at the time this reservation is made. Atlantis Submarines will charge your credit card in full for your seats when your date and time is confirmed by their office.
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Cruise Ship Clients
NCL cruise ship passengers are able do the Atlantis Submarines on the afternoon of the first day or the morning of the second day in port in Kahului. The drive to Lahaina takes an hour and we can arrange a rental car with shuttle pick-up at the harbor. The Maui Value Pass is also possible, but you should do the submarine on the first day so you have time to do the other events on day 2.
Lahaina cruise ship passengers can do Atlantis Submarines since it departs from the same harbor in Lahaina where your cruise ship tender arrives. We don't recommend the Maui Value Pass for Lahaina cruise ship passengers because all the other included events are in central Maui and require a drive of 45+ minutes.
If your cruise ship is making a call in Kona, we recommend you do Atlantis Submarines there instead as the check in location is right across the street from the dock where the cruise ship tenders arrive. See our Big Island Submarine page.
Reef Dancer Semi-submersible
- 75 Minute "Dive": Adults $49.95, Children (4-12) $21.95, Infants 3 & Under $5.95
(7.3% tax/harbor fee added to all tours)
Reefdancer will be in dry dock and unavailable for tours from January 26 to February 28 2022.
Maui's best shallow water reef tour is offered by the Reefdancer. You can enjoy the beauty of the West Maui Mountains on the top deck, or go down below where the reef will dazzle you. This is the family-friendly way to view the reef since children of all ages are welcome on these tours. All trips are now 75 minutes in length and offered daily at 8:30am, 10:00am,11:30am, 1:15pm, and 2:45pm.
The Reefdancer is considered a "semi-submersible." While the entire vessel never submerges, it is one huge step up from a "glass-bottom boat" because the downstairs compartment is always "one story down" from the ocean's surface and guests look out the large viewports for superior reef viewing. A scuba diver brings a variety of sea creatures to the windows for close-up views by guests, a feature that the kids love.
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Cruise Ship Clients
NCL cruise ship passengers are able do the Reefdancer on the afternoon of the first day or the morning of the second day in port in Kahului. The drive to Lahaina takes an hour and we can arrange a rental car with shuttle pick-up at the harbor.
Lahaina cruise ship passengers can do Reefdancer and there is no transportation required since it departs from the same harbor in Lahaina where your cruise ship tender arrives.
ACTIVITY TIPS
It is just amazing how different the world appears the moment you stick your head under the surface of the ocean. It's like exploring a different planet with a different atmosphere ... one made up of liquid instead of air. The beauty of the reef and the creatures that call it home are a must-see on your vacation to Hawaii.
The two vessels on this page serve a very different purpose. Atlantis Submarines is a TRUE submarine in every sense of the word. It is a pressurized submarine that descends to a depth of about 100 feet and explores reef and a shipwreck lying on the bottom. It is a remarkable experience to descend to that depth and it gives you a "Jacques Cousteau-like" adventure. There are access issues for the submarine. Children shorter than 36" are not permitted because they aren't tall enough to negotiate the rungs of the nearly vertical ladder on the way down into the sub. And this is not an excursion for those who are mobility-impared in any way. Because of this ladder all guests must be physically capable of descending independently into the passenger compartment. Oh one cool tip for video ... wear a red shirt on the sub, and while you are descending and ascending point the video camera at yourself. The color red just disappears as the sub descends into the blue and it is fun to watch this color change happen when you play back your video.
The Reefdancer doesn't actually submerge, but specializes in showing off the reef that is in 20 feet of water or less. Actually most of the fish and ocean critters are found in this range, and of course there is a lot more sunlight hitting everything. The Reefdancer is basically a "snorkel trip for people who don't want to get wet." It is a great choice for little kids who are too young to use snorkel gear, or grandma who doesn't want to get her hair wet. And access to the viewing area below is just a normal set of stairs with handrails. Guests are free to sit underwater and look out the window, or at any time they can go up the stairs and out onto the deck above the surface.