Molokini Snorkeling

"Molokini snorkeling is one of the premier activities in all of Hawaii. Tropical fish are everywhere, and its sheer cliffs and rugged beauty are the focus of professional photographers from all over."

Molokini Island is actually the tip of an extinct volcano, barely peeking above the ocean surface between Maui and Kahoolawe, making Molokini snorkeling very unique indeed. Visibility is often 150 feet, tropical fish are everywhere, and its sheer cliffs and rugged beauty are the focus of professional photographers from all over.

The bowl of the crater is teeming with marine life and wild Molokini snorkeling stories are told over and over again to the folks back at the hotel after a day's outing. The colors and shapes of the fish are so beautiful and distinctive that visitors to Molokini Island find themselves returning year after year in what has become for many a pilgrimage of sorts.

Of all the Hawaii activities, none is more popular or has provided more positive feedback than the snorkel Molokini trips. People just love it! It's a perfect destination — only a forty-five to sixty-minute cruise out of Maalaea harbor.

The only way to get to Molokini is by boat and there are lots. Large boats, small boats, power boats, sail boats — you name it. There are so many choices it can become confusing. Here are a few of the key questions to ask yourself to help you sort out what trip might be best for you:

Do you want a large boat that is stable in the water?

Would you prefer a smaller, more personalized vessel with fewer people on board?

How about a zodiac raft trip?

Would you like to snorkel at Molokini and then go to a second location off the coast of Maui to snorkel again?

How about taking advantage of the late morning tradewinds and choose a sail boat for a refreshing sail home?

Would you like to leave from Maalaea harbor, the small Kihei boat ramp, or Lahaina harbor?

Is price a factor? Costs vary considerably.

HELPFUL TIPS

Molokini is best in the morning. Afternoon tradewinds make snorkeling impossible most days. Many boats advertise an afternoon trip to Molokini at an attractive reduced rate and will go if weather permits. When weather does not permit, which is most often, they maneuver to a protected spot off Maui's coast and snorkel there instead. If you want Molokini, book a morning trip.

If you're here in whale season and plan to go on a whale watch trip as well as a Molokini snorkeling trip, do the Molokini trip first. You just might see enough whales to last your whole vacation.

Book early. During busy times, boats book up days in advance.

An underwater camera will record your snorkeling adventure. Disposable underwater cameras that take great shots cost about $15. They can be purchased at many places on the island.