Molokini & Turtle Arches Snorkel with Pacific Whale Foundation
Pacific Whale Foundation’s Molokini & Turtle Arches trip is one of the most popular ways to see Molokini, and one of the easiest for families. Here’s what the day looks like, who it suits, and when another boat might suit you better.
- Leaves from
- Māʻalaea Harbor
- Length
- About 5 hours
- Snorkel stops
- Molokini, Turtle Arches
- Ages
- All ages
What the day looks like
You check in at the Pacific Whale Foundation Ocean Store in the Māʻalaea Harbor Shops, next to the Maui Ocean Center, and board a catamaran in Māʻalaea Harbor. Breakfast is served on the way out to Molokini, where you snorkel the sheltered water inside the crescent.
The second stop is Turtle Arches, a reef off the South Maui coast known for underwater lava arches and green sea turtles. A naturalist leads an optional guided reef tour there. A barbecue lunch is prepared on board on the way back.
What’s included
- Continental breakfast and a barbecue lunch
- Snorkel gear, including optical masks for people who wear glasses, plus fins and flotation
- A learn-to-snorkel class and a fish identification class
- Certified marine naturalists on board
- A junior naturalist program for kids, a water slide and a large floating ocean mat when conditions allow
Children 4 and under ride free with a paying adult. Full-face snorkel masks aren’t allowed on Pacific Whale Foundation trips; they provide standard gear.
Who it suits
This is a strong pick for families, first-time snorkelers and anyone who wants a relaxed, well-organized day with plenty of help in the water. The naturalists and kids’ program make it more of a learning trip than most.
When another trip might suit you better
Māʻalaea is the farthest departure point from Molokini, about 11 miles in a straight line, so the crossing is the longest of any option. If you’re staying in Kīhei or Wailea, or you’d rather spend less time on the boat, a trip from the Kīhei Boat Ramp or Mākena gets you there much faster. Redline Rafting leaves from Kīhei with smaller groups (ages 8 and up), and Kai Kanani loads from the beach in Mākena.
See all the options side by side in our Molokini trip comparison.
Check dates with Pacific Whale Foundation
Times and prices change, so the operator’s booking page has today’s details.