A sunken volcanic crescent three miles off Maui, with water so clear you see the bottom from the boat.
Pick your harbor, your boat and your morning; we set every trip side by side.
Two harbors, one choiceMa'alaea catamarans and Kihei rafts side by side
Honest about the seaEvery trip is weather permitting; we say what that means
Free cancellationOn every trip here, 24 hours or 2 days ahead
Secure checkoutBook on GetYourGuide, instant confirmation
Tours
Choose your Molokini snorkel day
In the centre, the classic Ma'alaea day on a triple-deck catamaran: two meals, two stops, slides
and lifeguards. On the left, a three-hour raft from Kihei that reaches the crater in minutes and adds Turtle Town. On
the right, a sailing catamaran that makes the crossing part of the day.
A three-hour raft trip from the Kihei Boat Ramp with about an hour at Molokini and an hour at Turtle Town. The listing plans a fast morning rather than a long day.
What's included
Safety briefing and fitted snorkel gear at the ramp
About one hour at Molokini, then about one hour at Turtle Town
Sandwiches, soft drinks, water, towels and sunscreen
Boarding is by a vertical ladder; the listing sets age, health and weight limits
A triple-deck catamaran from Ma'alaea with breakfast, lunch, two water slides and lifeguards in the water. Molokini comes first, then Turtle Town, conditions permitting.
What's included
Breakfast and lunch, with soft drinks, coffee and tea
Snorkel gear, flotation and an in-water lifeguard team
Onboard naturalist, two slides and a jumping platform
Leaves from slips 76-78 at Ma'alaea; parking and towels are not included
Online waiver before the trip; free cancellation up to 2 days before
A sailing catamaran from Ma'alaea that crosses the bay under trade-wind sail, with breakfast and a buffet lunch. One long stop at Molokini, and guests can help sail home.
What's included
Continental breakfast, buffet lunch and soft drinks
Two things decide a Molokini day before anything else: the harbor and the number of stops. Ma'alaea
boats are bigger and slower and fill a morning with meals; Kihei rafts are small and fast and get you back before
lunch. Two-stop trips add Turtle Town, because the turtles are rarely at Molokini itself.
Every trip listed cancels free: most up to 24 hours before, the Calypso and the Malolo trips up to
2 days before. Snorkel sites on every trip depend on the sea that morning.
What you actually get
A crater you snorkel, not visit: you never set foot on it.
Molokini is the exposed southern rim of an extinct volcanic crater in the 'Alalakeiki Channel, about 3 miles off
Maui's southwestern coast. The crescent shelters a shallow inner bay where the old crater floor lies under clear water,
and that bay is where the snorkel boats tie up. Since 1977 it has been a Marine Life Conservation District: no fishing,
no feeding the fish, no taking coral or rocks.
The islet itself is a state seabird sanctuary, and landing on it is prohibited. So a Molokini tour is a boat
trip with time in the water, usually about an hour at the crater. What changes from one trip to the next is how you get
there, how long you stay, and whether you go on to Turtle Town, where the turtles actually are.
3 miles
Roughly how far the crescent sits off Maui's southwestern coast, in an
open channel. No swimming out, no landing: every visit is from a moored boat.
Marine reserve since 1977Seabird sanctuaryBoat access onlyMorning sea
The boats moor inside the curve, where the old crater floor lies in shallow, sheltered water.
01
Will I see turtles?
Rarely at Molokini. Choose a two-stop trip with Turtle Town if turtles matter to you.
02
How long on the boat?
About 15 minutes each way from Kihei; much longer from Ma'alaea, which is why those trips run five hours.
03
Is Molokini guaranteed?
No trip guarantees it. Captains switch to sheltered backup reefs when wind or swell make the crater unsafe.
04
Who should rethink it?
Anyone badly prone to seasickness on a long Ma'alaea crossing, and anyone who cannot climb a boat ladder on a raft.
From harbor to crater
How a Molokini morning runs
Every trip follows the same four beats. The listings differ in the details: check-in time, the length of the
crossing and whether there is a second stop.
01
Check in early
Most operators want you at the harbor 30 to 45 minutes before departure, and the first boats leave around 7 AM.
Ma'alaea or Kihei
02
Briefing and gear
Masks and fins are fitted, flotation is handed out, and the crew explains the reef rules and the signals.
On the dock or on board
03
The crater
The boat ties to a mooring inside the crescent and you snorkel over the old crater floor, usually for about an hour.
About an hour
04
Turtle Town
On two-stop trips, a shorter hop to the lava reefs off the Maui shore where green sea turtles feed and rest.
Second stop, if included
Plan your trip
Plan your Molokini morning
Where the boats leave, which trip fits whom, what the water is like and what to pack.
Ma'alaea Harbor sits on the isthmus between West Maui and South Maui; the Calypso, Malolo, Sail Maui and Pacific Whale Foundation boats leave from here.
Kihei Boat Ramp, at 2800 South Kihei Road, is where the rafts load; the listings mention free parking at the ramp.
Parking at Ma'alaea is paid and limited; the Pacific Whale Foundation listing says it is paid by phone and to arrive early.
Staying in Wailea or Kihei? The boat ramp is minutes away; Ma'alaea is a longer drive north.
These trips start at the harbor: check your voucher for any transport, and otherwise plan to drive or take a taxi.
Families with young children: a big Ma'alaea catamaran, with stairs into the water, lifeguards and food.
Strong swimmers short on time: a Kihei raft, two or three hours, back before lunch.
Want turtles: a two-stop trip with Turtle Town, or the shore kayak from Makena.
Want to sail: the performance sailing catamaran from Ma'alaea.
Want the most variety: the five-and-a-half-hour raft with sea caves, La Perouse and Molokini's back side.
Inside the crescent the water is sheltered and usually very clear; the cove slopes to about 100 feet.
Expect butterflyfish, yellow tang, parrotfish and the reef triggerfish; more than 250 fish species are recorded here.
Whitetip reef sharks are sometimes seen resting deep below; they are not a reason to stay on the boat.
Do not touch coral, fish or turtles, and keep your fins off the reef: it is a protected reserve.
From roughly December to May, humpback whales may be seen and heard on the crossing.
Mineral sunscreen only (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide): Maui County bans the others.
A towel if your trip does not supply one, and a dry layer for the ride back.
Seasickness tablets, taken before you board, if boats bother you.
Your own mask if you wear prescription lenses or have a hard-to-fit face; fins and snorkels are provided.
Cash for crew tips, unless the listing says tips are included.
Since 1977Marine reserveNo fishing, feeding or collecting inside the Molokini Shoal conservation district.
No landingSeabird sanctuaryWedge-tailed shearwaters and other seabirds nest on the islet; nobody goes ashore.
MorningsThe calm windowCurrents around the crater get stronger as the afternoon winds pick up.
Dec to MayWhale seasonHumpbacks winter in Maui's channels; several trips mention sightings on the way.
Zinc onlySunscreen ruleMaui County has banned non-mineral sunscreens since October 2022.
2nd stopTurtle TownThe lava reefs off Makena where green sea turtles are usually found.
Molokini lies off the southwest corner of Maui, between the Makena coast and the island of Kaho'olawe. The Kihei Boat
Ramp is the closest launch on the trips listed here, so its rafts reach the crater in minutes. Ma'alaea Harbor, further
north on the isthmus, is home to the large catamarans; their crossing takes much longer, and they make it part of the
day, with breakfast on the way out.
Ma'alaea: catamarans and sailing boats, five to five and a half hours
Kihei: rafts, two to three hours, or a longer coast run
Check in 30 to 45 minutes early, as each listing asks
In their own words, from guests on the trips listed here.
★★★★★
The boat is clean, the stairs are easy to enter the water, and the crew are amazing.
★★★★★
We have never seen water so clear than the water at Molokini Crater and so many turtles at Turtle Town.
★★★★★
Captain Brandon and his crew were so easy and attentive. Sailing is such a cooler experience than a huge tour boat.
★★★★★
First time I had done snorkeling and I loved it. Saw so many beautiful fish and swam with 4 turtles.
★★★★★
The water was warm and clear, and yes, we snorkeled with sea turtles!
★★★★★
Fantastic spots across lava wall, ride into lava cave! Molokini was highlight.
★★★★★
The tour was wonderful! They provided plenty of time to snorkel at both locations.
★★★★★
The crew is so friendly and accommodating, we saw tons of turtles and other sea life.
★★★★★
The crew and captain were so accommodating with my 4 yr old.
Rather skip the boat?
Paddle out to Turtle Town
If seasickness or a long crossing puts you off, the turtles are reachable from the shore. A guided kayak
from Makena gets you to the same reefs most two-stop boats visit after Molokini.
Turtle Town Kayak and Snorkel Tour
3 hours · Makena Landing Park · GetYourGuide
No boat at all: a guided paddle of about 1.5 miles across Makena Bay to Turtle Town, with snorkel stops on the way. It is the turtle half of a Molokini day on its own, from the shore, for ages five and up.
Molokini is on almost every Maui list, and almost every snorkel boat on the south shore sells it. The crater
is the same for all of them. What you are really choosing is a harbor, a boat, a length of day and whether the turtles are
part of it. Here is how to choose well.
What makes Molokini different
Most of Maui's snorkeling is from beaches, where waves stir up sand and visibility comes and goes. Molokini is an islet
out in the channel, with no streams or beaches to cloud the water, and its crescent rim breaks the swell for the bay
inside. The result is water so clear that the bottom looks close enough to touch, a reef protected from fishing since
1977, and fish that are used to people floating above them. More than 250 species have been recorded around the crater,
along with dozens of kinds of hard coral.
Inside the crescent, the old crater floor lies in sheltered, very clear water.
The harbor decides the day
The trips on this page leave from two places. From the Kihei Boat Ramp, the rafts describe a ride of about 15 minutes,
so a whole trip fits into two or three hours, and the early ones put you in the water before most other boats arrive. From
Ma'alaea Harbor, the large catamarans and the sailing boat take much longer to reach the crater; they turn the crossing
into part of the outing, with breakfast on the way out, lunch on the way back and slides or sailing in between. Neither is
better. A raft suits confident swimmers who want time in the water; a catamaran suits families, first-timers and anyone who
wants shade, a restroom and a stable deck.
The honest small print: no trip can promise Molokini. Every listing reserves the right to switch to
a sheltered reef such as Coral Gardens or Turtle Town when wind or swell make the crater unsafe, and one afternoon trip
says outright that the captain chooses between Molokini and Coral Gardens on the day. Book a morning departure early in
your stay, and treat Molokini as likely rather than certain.
One stop or two?
Molokini is about fish, coral and clarity. Green sea turtles are seldom seen there; they rest and feed on the lava
reefs closer to the Maui shore, the areas known as Turtle Town. That is why most day trips add a second stop. If turtles are
the point for you, choose a two-stop trip or the shore kayak. If you would rather spend all your time at the crater, the
sailing trip and the two-hour raft stay at Molokini.
Turtles are the reason for the second stop: they are found nearer the Maui shore.
Making the most of it
Book an early departure, and book it early in your stay so a weather cancellation can be moved. Bring mineral sunscreen
only, or better, a long-sleeved rash guard. If you get seasick, take your tablet before you board and choose a short Kihei
trip over a long crossing. Float, do not stand: the reef is alive, and the fish come closer when you keep still. And look
down past the first layer of fish; the deep blue at the edge of the crater is half the show.
Straight answers to what people ask most about snorkeling Molokini.
What is the best snorkeling tour for Molokini?
There is no single best one; there is a best one for your morning. If you want a long, easy day with meals, slides and a second stop for turtles, take a big Ma'alaea catamaran such as the Calypso. If you want the most time in the water for the least time on the boat, take a raft from the Kihei Boat Ramp. Every option is set out in the Molokini snorkel tours guide.
How long is the boat ride to Molokini?
It depends on the harbor. From the Kihei Boat Ramp the raft operators describe a ride of about 15 minutes. From Ma'alaea Harbor the larger boats take much longer, commonly described as about an hour, which is why Ma'alaea trips last five hours or more. See Ma'alaea or Kihei.
What is the best time to snorkel at Molokini Crater?
Early morning. The inner crater is sheltered, but the state notes that currents around Molokini get stronger with the afternoon winds, and the first boats of the day share the crater with only a few others. Afternoon trips exist, but the listing for one of them says the captain picks Molokini or Coral Gardens on the day. More in the best time to snorkel Molokini.
Do you see turtles at Molokini Crater?
Not often. Molokini is famous for fish and visibility; the green sea turtles gather closer to the Maui shore, at the reefs known as Turtle Town. That is why most day trips add a second stop there. See Turtle Town or Molokini.
Do you see sharks at Molokini Crater?
Sometimes. Whitetip reef sharks are among the species reported around the crater, usually resting near the bottom or along the walls, and snorkelers mostly see them from far above. They are not known for bothering people. The crew briefing covers what to do in the water.
How deep is the water at Molokini?
Inside the crescent the snorkel spots are mostly shallow enough to see the bottom clearly, with the cove sloping to about 100 feet before it drops further. Behind the islet, the back wall falls away to well over 200 feet, which is a site for divers and calm days.
Can you go onto Molokini or swim there from Maui?
No to both. Molokini is a state seabird sanctuary and landing on the islet is prohibited, and it sits about 3 miles out in an open channel. The only way to snorkel it is from a boat, tied to one of the day-use moorings.
Is a Molokini snorkel tour worth it?
For most visitors, yes: the crater is a protected marine reserve with very clear water and hundreds of fish species. It is less worth it on a windy day, when boats switch to backup sites, or if seasickness or the time on the boat would spoil the morning; then a short Kihei trip or a shore kayak to Turtle Town may suit you better.
How much does a Molokini snorkel tour cost?
It depends on the harbor, the boat and the length. Short raft trips from Kihei and the afternoon trip sit at the lower end, and the five-hour Ma'alaea catamarans with two meals at the upper end. Each listing shows the current price for your date before you pay.
What should I bring on a Molokini snorkel tour?
Swimwear, a towel (some trips do not supply one), mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide (Maui County bans other sunscreens), a hat and a cover-up layer, cash for tips, and seasickness tablets taken before you board if you need them. Snorkel gear and flotation are provided on every trip here.
Can beginners and children snorkel at Molokini?
Yes, with flotation and the crew's help, on the right boat. The big Ma'alaea catamarans have wide stairs into the water and lifeguards; the rafts board by ladder and their listings set minimum ages and health limits. See first-time snorkeling at Molokini.
Can I cancel a Molokini snorkel tour?
Yes. Every trip listed here offers free cancellation, most up to 24 hours before and a few up to 2 days before; the listing states which. If the operator cancels for weather, you are offered another date or a refund.
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Short ride out
3 hoursKihei Boat RampFree cancellation
