Plan your trip
Maui's top snorkeling spots you reach by boat
The short answer Molokini is the main boat stop, with Turtle Town, Turtle Arches, Coral Gardens, La Perouse Bay and the Kanaio coast as the other names on tour pages. Captains choose by conditions.
On this page
Molokini is the main stop on these trips, but many add a second one. Tour pages also name Turtle Town, Turtle Arches, Coral Gardens, La Perouse Bay and the Kanaio coast. Most of those are operator names, not official map names.
What makes a spot a boat spot
Molokini has no beach and no facilities. You can only get there by boat. Most of the other stops on this page are along the Maui coast, and the boats take you to them.
For shore options, see snorkeling in Maui instead.
The spots, one row each
| Spot | What it is | Who goes |
|---|---|---|
| Molokini | An islet with a shallow reef inside that is sheltered from big swells. | Every trip named here |
| Turtle Town | An operator name for a turtle stop on the Maui coast. | Many second stops |
| Turtle Arches | Pacific Whale Foundation's name for its turtle stop. | Pacific Whale |
| Coral Gardens | An operator name for a coastal reef stop. | Afternoon trips, some mornings |
| La Perouse Bay | A bay that two small-boat operators list as a stop. | Redline's five-hour trip and Blue Water's 5.5-hour trip |
| Kanaio coast | Sea caves, on Blue Water's tour. | Blue Water's 5.5-hour trip |
We found no government source that defines Turtle Town, Turtle Arches or Coral Gardens. Operators place them differently, so ask your company where it will stop. Our turtle guide explains the names and the rules.
Which boats go where
Stops depend on weather, and every company says so.
- Molokini, then a turtle stop. Blue Water's 3-hour trip adds Turtle Town to Molokini. Malolo's morning trip adds Turtle Town or Coral Gardens, with the captain choosing and no guarantee.
- Turtle Arches. Pacific Whale Foundation's Molokini and Turtle Arches trip. It says these sites are never guaranteed.
- La Perouse Bay. Redline Rafting lists it on the five-hour trip when conditions allow. See Redline's page.
- Kanaio coast. Blue Water's 5.5-hour trip adds sea caves along that coast, plus La Perouse Bay, Molokini and a turtle stop. See Blue Water Rafting.
- Coral Gardens. Four Winds runs its afternoon trip to this reef, and reaches Molokini on that trip only now and then. Malolo's afternoon trip is Coral Gardens or Molokini, captain's choice.
Departures are from the Kīhei Boat Ramp and Māʻalaea Harbor, plus Maluaka Beach in Mākena when Kai Kanani is sailing (paused as of Nov. 4, with no November dates and December on sale). See the full list on the home page.
Coral Gardens as the alternative
Most Molokini trips go early. Separately, the state says currents inside the cove may get stronger in the afternoon when winds pick up. The tips page covers current and timing.
Coral Gardens shows up as the alternative on several trips. Four Winds' morning trip page says it may go there instead of Molokini. Its afternoon trip, and Malolo's, are billed as Coral Gardens or Molokini.
If your boat cannot reach Molokini
Read the cancellation and substitute-site wording before you book. It varies.
- Blue Water's express whale trip says it typically makes it to Molokini and goes to another site if conditions are not right. Its phone is (808) 879-7238.
- Maui Snorkel Charters' two-hour trip page says you get to Molokini or it reschedules your trip. Its phone is (808) 270-8776.
- Redline Rafting's two-hour trip page promises a full refund if the boat does not get you to Molokini. Call or text us at (808) 698-5837.
Other operators word their substitute-site and refund terms differently, so ask yours by phone before you pay.
What to do with the rest of the day
Several morning trips, such as Maui Magic and Four Winds' morning trip, are back at the harbor around 12:00 p.m. or 12:30 p.m., so the afternoon is free for a beach, lunch or a shore snorkel. If you want to try shore spots, see how to choose between spots.
For the crater itself, read our Molokini guide.
Sources and corrections
The 12 sources for this page
- mauisnorkelcharters.com (Maui Snorkel Charters), read . Backs: Maui Snorkel Charters: Molokini or we reschedule your adventure (its 2-hour trip page).
- Maui – Molokini Shoal (HAR 13-31) (Hawaiʻi DLNR, Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR)), read . Backs: Molokini is reached by boat only; no beach, no facilities. · Currents and wind build in the afternoon.
- Filous et al. (2017), Marine Pollution Bulletin 121:274-281, study of reef predators and crowding in the Molokini MLCD (University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa + DAR Maui). Read in full as Exhibit 2 of BLNR Item F-4 (May 2023): https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/F-4.pdf (University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa / Hawaiʻi DLNR DAR), read . Backs: Inside the crater is a shallow reef protected from major swells.
- Protecting Marine Species (Hawaiʻi DLNR, DOBOR), read . Backs: Most tours add a second Turtle Town stop on the Maui coast.
- Maui Island Facilities (Hawaiʻi DLNR, DOBOR), read . Backs: Current Molokini departures are from Māʻalaea Harbor and Kīhei Boat Ramp.
- bluewaterrafting.com (Blue Water Rafting), read . Backs: Blue Water's 5.5-hour trip: Kanaio coast sea caves, La Perouse Bay, Molokini, a Mākena turtle stop; its 3-hour trip adds Turtle Town to Molokini. · Blue Water's express whale trip typically makes it to Molokini and goes elsewhere if conditions are not favorable; phone for Blue Water and Redline.
- redlinerafting.com (Redline Rafting), read . Backs: Redline's two-hour trip page: Molokini visit guarantee or full refund; five-hour trip stops at Molokini, Turtle Town and, weather permitting, La Perouse Bay.
- redlinerafting.com and its booking pages (Redline Rafting), read . Backs: Redline Rafting's two-hour trip page promises a Molokini visit or a full refund.
- pacwhale.com (Pacific Whale Foundation), read . Backs: Pacific Whale Foundation: Turtle Arches, sites never guaranteed.
- fourwindsmaui.com (Maui Classic Charters), read . Backs: Four Winds afternoon goes to Coral Gardens, occasionally Molokini; morning trip may go to Coral Gardens; Maui Magic and Four Winds morning trips are back at 12:00 and 12:30 p.m.
- molokinimaui.com (Malolo), read . Backs: Malolo: Turtle Town or Coral Gardens, captain chooses, not guaranteed; afternoon trip Coral Gardens or Molokini, captain chooses.
- kaikanani.com (Kai Kanani), read . Backs: Kai Kanani departs from Maluaka Beach in Mākena; sailing paused as of Nov. 4, no November dates, December on sale.