Snuba at Molokini Crater
Snuba sits between snorkeling and scuba diving. Instead of carrying a tank on your back, you breathe through a regulator connected by a long air hose to a tank that floats on a small raft at the surface. That lets you swim down to about 20 feet with a guide and see the reef up close, with no certification needed.
How Snuba works
You wear a mask, fins and a light harness that holds the regulator and hose. After a short briefing, a guide takes a small group down along the reef while the raft with the air tank follows above. Because there’s no heavy gear, it feels a lot like snorkeling, just deeper.
Who can do it
- Comfortable swimmers who are already at ease snorkeling; it isn’t meant for first-timers.
- Usually ages 8 and up, though each operator sets its own rules.
- People without ear, heart or lung problems; you’ll fill out a short health questionnaire.
What it costs
Snuba is an add-on to a regular snorkel trip, typically about $65 to $80 per person. Spaces are limited, so add it when you book rather than waiting until you’re on board.
Molokini tours that offer Snuba
- Trilogy: Discover Molokini, a sailing catamaran from Māʻalaea; Snuba for ages 8 and up
- Four Winds II, a family catamaran that spends the whole visit at Molokini
- Pride of Maui, a large, all-inclusive power catamaran
- Aqua Adventures, a smaller group with Snuba as its specialty
Snuba or scuba?
Snuba is the easy introduction: no certification, a short briefing, and you stay fairly shallow. If you’re a certified diver, a scuba charter lets you go deeper at Molokini, including along the dramatic back wall. Either way, the clear water at Molokini makes it one of the best places in Hawaii to try.
See all the options in our Molokini tour comparison.