By Snorkeling tours are a great way to see the underwater world of Maui. These tours will take you to some of Maui’s best snorkel locations where you can see colorful fish, sea turtles and coral formations!
One of the most well-known snorkel spots on the island is Molokini Crater. It’s a designated marine conservation district, and is home to hundreds of tropical fish.
1. Ultimate Whale Watch
Snorkeling Maui’s pristine waters is one of the best ways to explore the island’s underwater life. And while many of the island’s best snorkeling spots are just a few steps off the beach, the most adventurous and rewarding excursions go deep into the Pacific.
Ultimate Whale Watch is a company that has a unique take on snorkel tours Maui, taking you beyond the usual sites to some of the most remote and wild places in Maui. Their 35-ft. customized rafts carry only 24 passengers, which means that they can reach these remote locations much faster than larger snorkeling tours.
Their snorkel tour gets you to the famous crater, then takes you off to the Forbidden Coast–a wild and secluded stretch of coastline marked by lava formations, grottoes, and pristine shoreline. They also stop by La Perouse Bay, a favorite hangout for spinner dolphins.
2. Paragon
Snorkeling off Maui is one of the top activities to do while in Hawaii. The island is surrounded by a vibrant underwater world that features stunning coral reefs, tropical fish, sea turtles and more.
Paragon offers a unique Molokini snorkel tour that focuses on the visually stunning aspects of Maui’s underwater universe. This sailboat tour takes you from Maalaea Harbor to Molokini Crater aboard a 47 foot sailing catamaran, allowing you to take in the ocean views and watch for whales that may pop up above the surface of the Pacific!
Aboard the boat, you’ll enjoy a continental breakfast on the way to Molokini and lunch after your snorkeling experience. Then, on the return trip, Paragon sets the sails and looks for Lanai’s famous spinner dolphins.
3. Four Winds
Four Winds is one of Maui’s most popular glass bottom boats. It offers daily snorkeling tours to Molokini Crater.
The crater is a crescent-moon shaped mini volcanic crater with a beautiful underwater reef located inside the crater. It is a beautiful snorkel location and has been named one of the best snorkeling locations in Hawaii.
On most days, Molokini is the captain’s first choice for snorkeling, however if visibility is poor due to the trade winds, they will visit another site called Coral Gardens, a beautiful coral reef that is sheltered from the winds.
The Four Winds is also one of the few snorkel charters that have a glass bottom viewing room where you can enjoy 180 degree underwater views. This is a great benefit for people who can’t snorkel or who are traveling with kids.
4. Lani Kai
Lani Kai offers a Molokini snorkel tour in the morning, and an afternoon option to the secluded Coral Gardens. They also offer whale watching during humpback season.
The snorkel trip to Lani Kai offers a great experience, including access to a naturalist who will tell you about the reef and sea life while you’re out there. Plus, it’s an all-inclusive package with lunch and beverages included.
It’s a small boat, limited to 40 passengers, so you won’t feel like you’re in the middle of a huge crowd. The crew is friendly and helpful, and they’ll point out sea turtles as you’re snorkeling!
5. Ocean Riders
Ocean Riders have been a favorite of Maui visitors for decades. Their steel hulled raft circumnavigates the entire island of Lanai, viewing WWII shipwrecks and landing on a remote beach.
This raft also visits Molokini crater and Turtle Town and zooms over to the Kanaio Coast and La Perouse Bay for snorkeling spots. You’ll spend time frolicking with tropical fish and green sea turtles, while your ticket supports active marine research and the whale entanglement response team.
You’ll travel in their 55 foot motorized catamaran and enjoy a continental breakfast and savory lunch served throughout the day. The Quicksilver has a water slide for splashing right in, kick boards with built-in portholes and an amazing glass-bottomed viewing room below deck.
