Snorkel Molokini

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Top 15 tips for snorkeling Molokini Crater

A little preparation makes a big difference on a Molokini trip. Here’s what we tell friends before they go.

A snorkeler with blue fins diving down into clear blue water at Molokini
  1. Go in the morning. The water is usually calmest and clearest early, before the trade winds pick up.
  2. Pick your departure point. Mākena and Kīhei are much closer to Molokini than Māʻalaea; the big catamarans from Māʻalaea trade a longer ride for more space and amenities. See how to get to Molokini.
  3. Match the boat to your group. Families with young kids do best on big catamarans with slides and flotation; adventurous groups love rafts. Compare every tour.
  4. Plan for seasickness. If you’re prone to it, take medication the night before and again in the morning, eat a light breakfast, and sit near the back of the boat looking at the horizon.
  5. Use mineral, reef-safe sunscreen. Hawaii bans sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. Apply it before you board.
  6. Wear a rash guard. A long-sleeve swim shirt protects your back from the sun better than any sunscreen.
  7. Leave the full-face mask at home. Many operators don’t allow them. The boat will provide a standard mask and snorkel.
  8. Wear prescription lenses? Ask about optical masks; several boats carry them.
  9. Use the flotation. A noodle or vest lets you relax and float rather than tread water, and nobody will think twice.
  10. Defog your mask. Use the boat’s defog or a drop of baby shampoo, rinse lightly, and keep the mask on your face rather than on your forehead.
  11. Look, don’t touch. Never stand on, kick or touch coral, and don’t feed the fish. Molokini is a protected Marine Life Conservation District.
  12. Give turtles room. Stay at least 10 feet away from sea turtles and never chase or touch them.
  13. Stay with your group. Keep the boat in sight, snorkel with a buddy, and listen to the crew’s briefing on where to swim.
  14. Try the back wall only if you’re confident. The outer wall drops into deep water and can have currents. It’s spectacular, but it’s for strong snorkelers on calm days.
  15. Bring a camera, a towel and a layer. An underwater camera or phone case captures the clear water, and a light jacket helps on the windy ride home.
Half-underwater view of a snorkeler holding an underwater camera below Molokini’s cliffs
An underwater camera makes the most of Molokini’s clear water.

Want to know what you’ll see down there? Read our Molokini fish guide and sharks at Molokini.