Molokini Crater & Turtle Arches Snorkel Cruise

Pacific Whale Foundation

Central Maui, South Maui

Breakfast & Lunch Included

Snorkel Cruise

Naturalist teaching kids about marine life on boat

Highlights

Snorkel at renowned Molokini, a sunken volcano crater with incredible underwater visibility
Also snorkel at Turtle Arches off the South Maui coast
Onboard naturalist shares interesting info about marine life and leads reef tour
Breakfast and BBQ lunch, plus alcoholic drinks
Directly support a non-profit that studies and protects the marine environment

From
$160 per adult

Morning
Duration 5 hours

Pricing & Availability

Overview

One of the most famous snorkel spots in Hawaii, the sunken u-shaped volcano crater of Molokini is a marine sanctuary with stunning visibility of up to 180 feet, colorful coral, and plenty of tropical fish. On a half day cruise, you'll stop at Molokini (only accessible by boat) and popular Turtle Arches. You'll have a good chance of seeing large sea turtles, dolphins, whales (in season), underwater lava arches, and varied marine life. The friendly and knowledgeable crew will get you properly fitted with gear (included: premium snorkel gear and flotation devices such as noodles, water belts, large ocean mat, and life jackets), educate you about the marine life you’ll be seeing and the local geology, provide snorkel instruction as needed, give a guided reef tour, and give special attention to the younger ones with the Junior Naturalist Program. A free marine wildlife 8x10 glossy poster card is also given per person.

We also offer a more adventurous Molokini cruise on a smaller boat (max of only 16). This other cruise does have a minimum age of 7 and is not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or snorkelers. You can compare both Molokini cruises here.

Booking Tip

The booking calendar above shows real-time availability. If the date/time is available (including for tomorrow morning), just select it and finish the booking process as soon as possible to claim your spots. The cruise usually sells out, so don't wait too long!

TravelShack's Choice

Why we recommend this option over others

Onboard certified marine naturalists, most with science degrees, to provide context for what you are seeing
Learn from a prominent non-profit organization that has advanced marine life research and conservation efforts for over 35 years
Profits from your tickets support PWF's important work
Snorkeling conditions best in the morning when the water is calmer and clearer
Unlike sailing catamarans, plenty of indoor seating for those who like shaded seating (with spacious windows)
Max passengers was reduced in Nov 2018 from 130 to 110, which is less than similar sized large boats that hold 130-150

Traveler Reviews

TravelShack Customer rating:

4.8 out of 5 stars

Also rated on:

TripAdvisor

Yelp

July 2021

Such an amazing trip and the crew was incredible. Highly recommend!

July 2021

Myrna wrote:

My family had a blast. Too out of shape adults with a 16-year-old and 11-year-old boys. We all had so much fun. Breakfast and lunch were great serve just at the right time. We felt very safe in the water. We felt very safe with the crew on board they were very attentive.

June 2021

Karen wrote:

This was a truly fabulous trip. Everyone was friendly and attentive. The boat ride was well narrated and informative. The food was perfect. The snorkeling sight was out of this world. Shallow enough that you could see all the coral and fish clearly and calm enough to prevent any worries of swimming back to the boat or being out in open water. A definite highlight of our trip. We only knew in advance about all the shops and restaurants near the meeting place. We would have scheduled a later taxi and spent some time in the area exploring and enjoying.

Guidebook Reviews

Maui Revealed Guidebook:

One of the best snorkel spots in the entire state

Lonely Planet Guidebook:

Molokini: Hawaii’s Top 20 Attractions. 250 species of tropical fish.

Pacific Whale Foundation: These tours do it right

Fodor's Guidebook:

World-famous Molokini Crater is the most popular snorkel cruise destination in Maui. Visibility is generally outstanding and fish are incredibly tame.

Moon Guidebook:

Molokini Crater: Top Highlight. The water is some of the clearest in the world and the snorkeling is the best in the state

Location

Central Maui, South Maui

Departure Point
Ma'alaea Harbor

Distance
10-25 min from Kihei/Wailea
30 min from Ka’anapali/Lahaina

Frequently Asked Questions

Non-profit organization whose mission is to protect the oceans through science and advocacy. It conducts marine research, educates the public, and fights for marine life and ocean conservation.
Hawai’i Ecotourism Association Sustainable Tourism Certification
Part of the Dolphin SMART wildlife viewing and conservation program
Holds annual Maui Whale Festival to raise awareness about conservation and raise funds to support its important programs
Provides complimentary reef-safe sunscreen (onshore and onboard)
Boats use energy efficient, low emissions engines
Developed and outfitted all boats with whale protection devices, the first devices in the world for commercial vessels that guide whales away from propellers and running gear
Uses bio-compostable cups, and reusable plates and silverware
Sources locally grown fruits, vegetables, and meats to reduce carbon footprint

Terms and Conditions

Cancellation Policy

Refundable until 48 hours prior to activity time

Taxes/fees added at checkout

4.166% Hawaii sales tax (GET)
3% Harbor Tax
$4.50 fuel surcharge per person

Other

No sunscreen permitted that contains harmful ingredients for the reefs and marine life (oxybenzone, octinoxate, avobenzone, avobenzine, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, and ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate)
No full-face snorkel masks permitted due to safety concerns
In rare cases, conditions may prevent a stop at Molokini, and another snorkel spot will be substituted. Molokini is not guaranteed. Rescheduling/refunds will be treated on a case-by-case basis.