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Maui Snorkel Sites

Person snorkeling underwater above coral with flippers and mask.
Molokini Snorkeling Sites

Collage of six underwater scenes with various fish, coral, and a swimmer.

An aquarium in the Sea!

Molokini is a crater three miles off the coast of Makena, Maui, and offers excellent snorkeling! What is visible from above water is a half-circle crater which is a sanctuary for Hawaii’s seabird population. This unique site is a Marine Sanctuary that offers a wide variety of sea life.

The visibility is almost always 100-200 feet and water temps of 74-82 degrees. Even after 25 years of snorkeling there, we still see things we’ve never seen before. The Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles do not visit Molokini, but from time to time the rare Hawksbill turtle will be seen there. Manta Rays, Sharks, Moray Eels, and millions of tropical, colorful fish can be seen. The Humpback Whales come to Maui between Dec. and May and are always a treat.

 

Aerial map of Molokini dive sites with labels for reef areas.

There are several snorkeling sites at Molokini Crater; our favorites are:

• Enenu’i,

• Reef’s End

• Mid-Reef—Hard coral gardens,

• Back Wall (offered on Private Charters only)

How sites do we snorkel?

We typically snorkel at Enenu’i which is on the shallower side and full of tropical fish.

How long is the snorkel?

While there are always variables that may affect the length of the snorkel, we typically snorkel for 60-90 minutes.

 

A manta ray swimming underwater, viewed from below.
Molokini Reef's End

The part of Molokini Crater visible above water is shaped like a crescent moon. Out of one corner of that crescent is an underwater reef that extends the edge another quarter of the way around, as if a 3/4 circle.

 Underwater scene with sunlight filtering through seaweed and blue water.
Molokini Back Wall

The back wall of Molokini Crater is a spectacular snorkel site, as the sheer wall of the crater drops from 200 feet above the surface to over 300 feet below!

 Pufferfish swimming underwater near coral with small fish.
Molokini Enenu'i

The Enenu’i snorkel site at Molokini Crater is located on the opposite end of the crescent from Reef’s End.

This site offers a reef environment with crystal clear waters and an abundance of sea life.

 Colorful fish swimming in a sunlit underwater scene.
Molokini Mid-Reef

Molokini’s Mid-Reef is in the center of the crater while Reef’s End and Enenu’i are on opposite points of the crescent.

Multitudes of fish and eels dart in and out of the crevices and holes, treating snorkelers to a rainbow of colors.
Collage: Sea turtle swim, two rays underwater, turtles with snorkelers above coral.Turtle Town Snorkel Sites

The Makena Coast of Maui is the south coast of Wailea and Makena offers a very different terrain for snorkeling than Molokini and remarkably different sea life for being such a short distance apart.

The Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles live along Maui’s beautiful coastline making your snorkeling extra delightful. Spotted Eagle Rays, White Tipped Reef Sharks, Frog Fish, Octopus, and a myriad of other species are often seen at these snorkel sites. Of course, finding them is more likely when you have one of our expert team members leading you!

While we can’t guarantee specific wildlife on any particular site, we snorkel in two diverse areas to heighten your likelihood of seeing the desired aquatic life.

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