Snorkel Molokini Crater: Maui Day Trip Guide

Many guided tours are available when traveling in Hawaii. We chose a snorkel trip to Molokini Crater. Put on your swimsuit and come along!

I highly recommend a guided snorkel trip to Molokini Crater when visiting Hawaii

A guided snorkel trip supplies instruction and equipment for first-time snorkelers and offers the chance to explore deeper waters

Before we arrived in Hawaii, a snorkeling adventure with the Pacific Whale Foundation had been highly recommended to us. That’s the trip we booked.

They offer a variety of cruises, and we selected the Molokini Wild Side Eco-Adventure Snorkel. Instead of joining a crowd of 150, this boat carried only 35 guests, which made for a more relaxed experience. The vessel was comfortable, even if the brochure’s “on-board shower” turned out to be a simple garden hose.

We left early (about 7:30 a.m.), and within fifteen minutes we spotted our first whales. Photographing them is tricky, but seeing these animals so close is unforgettable.

The guides aboard were excellent: knowledgeable, friendly, and happy to share the area’s history. They explained vog — volcanic haze — and how it affects wind and sea conditions. On our day, the vog kept the wind down, which meant a much smoother ride.

We cruised out to Molokini Crater and, after a short snorkeling orientation, were set loose to explore the clear, protected waters. The underwater visibility was fantastic and the reef was full of color and life. We chose not to rent the $35 underwater camera, but the sights were memorable: striped reef fish, bright yellow tangs, and other tropical species.

After roughly an hour snorkeling at Molokini, the boat moved to La Perouse Bay, where we had the chance to swim with sea turtles. Watching turtles glide with effortless grace is one of those experiences that stays with you. One of our group swam with a turtle that came extremely close; though he could have reached out, he respected the animals and kept his distance.

The water, though warmer than where we live, felt chilly after the second swim. I headed back to the boat after about thirty minutes to warm up, while my partner stayed out longer to snorkel. The sky that day was tinged with vog, which gave the horizon a hazy, dreamlike quality that you can see in the photos.

An early-morning snorkel leaves the afternoon and evening free to explore Maui

Because our snorkel trip started early, we had the rest of the day to explore Maui. From our Papakea Resort base, we drove north to discover several beautiful bays and beaches.

Kapalua Bay in particular took our breath away with its clear water and sheltered shoreline.

As we walked along a coastal path we came across a small group gathered for a vow renewal ceremony. A man in formal attire played ukulele and blew a conch shell as part of the celebration — such local touches make beach gatherings on Maui feel intimate and memorable.

We chatted with a nearby woman who turned out to be related to the man leading the ceremony. She shared stories about the area and pointed out an artist’s painting that calls the spot “Wedding Chapel Beach.” Small encounters like this are part of what makes wandering Maui’s shorelines so rewarding.

We continued exploring and found Napili Bay, with its gentle sands and peaceful surf. Later, driving a bit farther, we discovered a dramatic stretch of coastline where waves crashed against a rocky point — a powerful contrast to the calm bays we’d visited earlier. Irwin captured several dramatic shots of the surf.

After an evening of beach wandering we topped off our rental car with gas and returned to the resort, ready for an early start the next morning. We were catching a 7:30 a.m. flight to Oahu and wanted to be sure we weren’t rushed.