Maui Snorkel Adventure: Molokini Crater and Turtle Cove
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
Join us for a HIGH QUALITY, small group snorkel aboard the all new REEF EXPLORER, Maui's only luxury SUPER RAFT and snorkel the world famous Molokini Crater. Enjoy a full hour of snorkeling in this partially submerged volcanic crater, and view over 250 different species of reef fish and coral formations.
REEF EXPLORER is a state of the art, 60 ft Super Raft, which arrives to Molokini Crater in less than 30 minutes. This allows guests more time to snorkel in a private setting, away from crowds.
Our second snorkel stop is at our favorite "Turtle Cove", where we swim and observe the abundant population of Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles that make this cove home.
Tour includes breakfast pastries, Maui Gold Pineapple, freshly made lunch sandwiches, chips, granola bars, bottled water, sparkling water, Aloha juice, soft drinks, all snorkel gear and flotation devices. Our friendly captains and crew members make this the most personalized, memorable snorkel trip in Maui!
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Check in time: 30 MINUTES PRIOR to departure for all tours.
Minimum age is 4 years old
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
All seating is first come, first serve.
Public Parking is available in Ma’alaea Harbor. PAY AT THE SECURE PARKING SIGNS VIA QR CODE AND ENTER YOUR LICENSE PLATE NUMBER.
The boat cannot be held for late passengers, so please be on time and check in at 7:30 a.m.
No large backpacks or luggage allowed on board
Not recommended for non swimmers
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Snorkel the world famous Molokini Crater aboard Reef Explorer - Maui’s newest custom built Super Raft. This ultra smooth ride arrives to Molokini Crater in record speed, staying away from crowds while gliding effortlessly above the water! Once in Molokini, snorkel with over 250 species of reef fish and coral inside this partially submerged volcanic crater, and enjoy a leisurely lunch. From there, our friendly and knowledgeable guides will take you to a secluded turtle cove, where you will swim with graceful Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles. Our favorite turtle cove is not accessible to large tour boats, which allows a completely private experience where we often see up to one dozen turtles at a time! All snorkel gear, lunch, snacks and flotation provided - All you have to do is hop onboard and have fun!
What‘s Included
Assorted Snack Chips & Granola Bars
Professional guide
Use of Snorkelling equipment
Turkey Wrap or Veggie Sandwich
Local taxes
Beverages
Gratuities
Hotel pick-up and drop off
Towels
Sunscreen/Sunglasses
Options
Molokini Crater 8am - 12pm
7:30am check-in: 4 hours: Visit Molokini Crater & Turtle Town. Snorkel with beautiful Sea Turtles, 250 species of reef fish & 100's of coral species. Lunch/Drinks/Snacks
Reviews
1,450 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Miserable for Most Part
josephnM4521BU,Mar 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00We did the “Molokini Crater and Turtle Cove” snorkel excursion and had mixed feelings overall. The check-in at 8am was smooth and the crew was friendly. We were one of the first on the boat and were directed to sit along the back edge of the pontoon. The first stop at Turtle Cove was great. Visibility had just cleared up after the recent weather, and we had a solid 45 minutes to an hour of enjoyable snorkeling. This part of the trip was exactly what we were hoping for. Things went downhill after that. The captain mentioned ahead of time that Molokini might be “interesting” due to choppy conditions, which in hindsight felt like a big understatement. On the ride out, passengers in the back (including us) were getting absolutely drenched from waves slapping the boat. One guy across from us had a rain jacket with a hood and still looked like a weather reporter standing in a hurricane — not an exaggeration. When we arrived at Molokini, it was clear immediately that conditions were not safe. The crew even said something along the lines of: “Usually there are 30 boats here, but as you can see there aren’t any.” The water was far too rough to snorkel safely, so we didn’t even get in. That left a pretty obvious question: why go all the way out there in those conditions in the first place? The ride back was the worst part of the entire trip. Heading into the wind and current, we were continuously blasted with saltwater for an hour and a half. It genuinely felt like being waterboarded at times. Not exactly how you want to spend the final day of your honeymoon — especially on the first sunny day after a stretch of bad weather. The guy next to us thought was the worst experience of his life, but I’m not sure if I’d go that far. To their credit, we did see a whale breach, which was a cool bonus. But it didn’t make up for how brutal (and avoidable) the second half of the trip was. I usually don’t write reviews, but I found that I was led astray by the positive reviews here.
Family adventure
Rachel D,Mar 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Wonderful experience! Very personable crew members! Wonderful memorable experience for the family, can’t wait to go again!
Great experience
Julia Y,Mar 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great snorkeling here! We went to several locations and were able to see so many turtles and fish. Really enjoyed it!
Safe, amazing
brendasO381UQ,Mar 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Unforgettable excursion!! Turtles galore!! Molokini is a must do, but this takes you around the back which is breathtaking! Lunch was good, snacks and beverages plenty! Crew attentive, informative and safety is #1. Captain Ryan was nice & safe.
Family Fun Activity
Phuong H,Mar 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was a really fun experience. Although we didn’t sign up for a whale watching by trip, they stopped a few times when they spotted whales and explained to us about whales’ behaviors. That was an added bonus!!
Wonderful half day excursion
Jon C,Mar 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Wonderful! Very hospitable crew. They even stopped and gave us whale watching info and showed us homes of celebrities on the island. Plenty of food and drinks!
Jen and Ryan were so...
Peter K,Mar 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Jen and Ryan were so informative, funny and made sure everyone was having a great time! We saw so many whales, turtles and fish on our trip, that we felt so spoiled! Such a memorable trip!
Great trip!
R4727SDjoshuah,Feb 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful trip. Crew was excellent and snorkeling at the crater was beautiful! Lunch was simple and everything ran on time. Leave plenty of time for parking at the marina!
Bad weather great staff!
Q1581EGjanicen,Feb 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Thanks to Chloe & Ryan for making a difficult weather day the best we could hope for!
Amazing Experience!!!
Ivey W,Feb 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a wonderful experience from start to finish! The team anticipated every one of our needs, educated us, took care of us, and made sure that we had the best Maui snorkeling experience ever! Highly, highly recommend🎉🎉🎉
From US$198.00
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Operated by Maui Reef Adventures