A trip to Molokini Crater grants visitors the chance to take in scenic ocean views from a catamaran and discover the world below the surface while snorkeling at the underwater lava formations of Turtle Town. The calm water and bountiful marine life make this an ideal snorkeling spot for everyone from first-timers to long-time snorkeling enthusiasts. Plus, a guide provides security and instruction for beginners.

Enjoy a catamaran trip to the Molokini Crater and snorkel in Turtle Town
The all-inclusive trip provides meals, snacks, and drinks (alcohol included) on board
Learn about the surroundings from your guide
The area is known for its great visibility and plentiful marine life—especially sea turtles

What's Included

Use of Snorkeling equipment
Breakfast
Lunch
Soda/Pop
Alcoholic Beverages

Departure & Return

Departure Point

233 Maalaea Rd
233 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI 96793, USA
Check-in 7.30am. Google Maps 233 Maalaea Road, places you in front of US Coast Guard building. The pier is to your left. Walk onto the pier, turn left and go to the very end. Look for the large white boat with black and gold trim that says Pride of Maui on its side.

Departure Time

8:00 AM

Return Details

This activity will end right where it started.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
Check in at 7.30am, 30 Minutes Prior to start time
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 74 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

about cancellations.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

Q:What is the policy on face masks and attendee health during Maui Snorkeling Molokini Crater and Turtle Town aboard Pride of Maui?

A:The policies on face masks and attendee health are:

Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Temperature checks for travelers upon arrival

Q:What is the policy on sanitization during Maui Snorkeling Molokini Crater and Turtle Town aboard Pride of Maui?

A:The policies on sanitization are:

Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized

Q:What is the social distancing policy during Maui Snorkeling Molokini Crater and Turtle Town aboard Pride of Maui?

A:The policies on social distancing are:

Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons

Q:What measures are being taken to ensure staff health & safety during Maui Snorkeling Molokini Crater and Turtle Town aboard Pride of Maui?

A:The policies on staff health & safety are:

Guides required to regularly wash hands
Regular temperature checks for staff
Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms

Traveler Photos

Traveler Tips

BOOK THIS TOUR DIRECTLY WITH THE OPERATOR TO SAVE MONEY.

Reviews

4.5

364 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 364 reviews

Great boat and staff

Beth_S, Aug 2022

We had a great day on the water! Everyone was s super friendly and helpful which made for a fun trip!

Response from Host, Aug 2022

I am so glad you had a great day on the ocean with us. We are super friendly, because we love sharing the beauty of Maui from offshore, and snorkeling at some of the most wonderful reefs in the world.

Five Star Staff, snorkeling just okay

Stephanie_D, Aug 2022

The staff were super friendly and helpful which made the trip worthwhile. You spend the majority of the trip (3 hours) traveling on the boat. You are forced to use the reef friendly sunscreen which is ineffective for preventing sunburn. I applied it religiously all over, several times during the trip and was burned. As for the snorkeling portion, you get a total of two hours in the water, one hour at each location. The Molokini Crater was pretty to see up close. It was overcrowded with other snorkelers and boats, and there were not many fish. I was told ahead of time from someone who had been there previously (a couple of decades ago) that it was like swimming in an aquarium. It is no longer like that. Even another guy on the boat made a comment that there used to be more fish in that area in past years. We did not go to turtle town due to the water conditions. The second location was similar to the first as far as the type and amount of fish we were able to see. Perhaps my expectations were too high especially for the cost of over $250. Again, the staff was awesome, food and drinks were fine and what you would expect, equipment was good (there are a few add-ons- I would recommend the wetsuit top), but the snorkeling portion was just okay. For those reasons, I would not do this snorkeling trip again but I would recommend Pride of Maui for other activities.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Quite a lot of inaccuracy in this review, I must say. Travel time to Molokini Crater and back is a little less than 2 hours round trip, which leaves 3 hours of time to snorkel, which is the ideal amount of time to spend in the ocean. We do not force anything on anybody. The State of Hawaii (thankfully) banned the use of sunscreens containing chemicals which are harmful to the coral and marine animals. Applying the reef safe sunscreen that we provide on the boat throughout the day and especially after swimming or sweating is important. Several times over the course of the day in the tropics is not enough. The State of Hawaii (thankfully) limits the number of boats permitted inside Molokini Crater, unlike years past when there were no limitations on the number of boats permitted. There are plenty of fish and colorful coral varieties, including species endemic to Molokini and found nowhere else on the planet. Molokini is a unique opportunity to swim in an ancient offshore volcanic caldera, teeming with wonderful marine life, but yes, an aquarium it isn't, and yes if that is what you expected in the wild, then perhaps your expectations were a bit high. There is a very distinct uniqueness to the snorkeling at the crater which is much different on the reef closer to shore, which is why we and most the other boats visit both. While I do think you are being far too critical of the quality of snorkeling, we do appreciate your business and your five star compliments about the unmatched level of personalized service we provide.

1 traveler found this review helpful

Wonderful staff!!!! … and snorkeling!

Anthony_L, Aug 2022

What an absolute wonderful staff! The trip was a blast, the staff was extremely friendly and accommodating, and of course the snorkeling was amazing! Got breakfast, lunch and mai tais! I can’t stress enough how great the captain’s fun facts about the island was and how nice everyone was! Highly recommend this trip, worth every penny!

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Pride of Maui is the most spacious and stable tour boat on Maui. She’s also the only Maxi Power Catamaran operating at just 60% of our US Coast Guard capacity. This allows us to provide very personalized service at a very relaxed pace. The snorkeling at Molokini Crater and Turtle Town truly is amazing and we thank you for sharing. Comfortable yacht, delicious food cooked right onboard, amazing snorkeling indeed. At the end of the day,, you are right, it’s my awesome team of expert watermen and women who make your day so special! They are the very best of the best!

Definitely recommend!

Carrie_S, Aug 2022

The crew was great! The crater was ok, but the 2nd stop had amazing corral. Definitely recommend though. Well organized and friendly!

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Indeed, Pride of Maui is a 5-star experience. Her expert crew are passionate about sharing their knowledge of the ocean and excellent snorkeling. Maui's coral reefs offer a variety of colorful corals and marine animals.

The snorkeling was great the crew was even better

Stephen_G, Aug 2022

Awesome experience with a family. Everything was great the entire crew didn’t amazing job they were so professional nice and welcoming would recommend this 100%

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Thank you for your enthusiastic recommendation. It doesn't get any better than 100% We love to see this, and we love our customers. Thank You so much for joining us and sharing your experience with others.

Friendly Staff

Anne_S, Aug 2022

Saw lots of different fish, especially at Turtle Town. There I saw 3 turtles. The staff is extremely friendly and professional. My family and I had a blast.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Aloha and Mahalo for joining us. I’m so happy you had such a great day on the ocean with us. The clear water, colorful reef and marine animals are a big part of what makes snorkeling on Maui so special. Three turtles is definitely a nice gift. I’m glad your entire family appreciated my extremely friendly and professional team. They truly are the best of the best and I’m one lucky boss to have such a great team!

Great time. Can't wait to do it again.

Kenneth_R, Jul 2022

Loved the diversity of fish and the clear water. The service was great and the crew was super friendly.

Response from Host, Aug 2022

It’s nice to hear that you had a great time. Molokini Crater offers some of the best snorkeling anywhere. The clarity of the water is particularly impressive. Thank you for sharing.

Great experience

Nick_P, Jul 2022

Friendly staff, great snorkeling. Very convenient and family friendly. It was perfect for our family. Mahalo

Response from Host, Jul 2022

I am so glad your great experience was perfect! Thank You for joining us and taking time to share.

1 traveler found this review helpful

Worth it!

Jennifer_N, Jul 2022

Great trip! The service from the crew was awesome! The grilled lunch tasty and hot! Had choices too! The snorkeling was amazing in Molokini! Turtle town was bit disappointing.. murky water and someone saw a turtle. Not us:( overall fun trip! Recommend renting The $10 wet suit jacket to keep warm

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Thanks for joining us and taking the time to share your experience. Molokini is a unique and wonderful snorkel destination. I’m glad you and your family had such a great time. Nothing better than burgers, chicken, and hot dogs served hot off the grill. I’m really glad you felt the uncrowded boat and experience was worth it! We operate at just 60% of our Coast Guard capacity, providing lots of open space to comfortably move around.

Great for families

Andrea_D, Jul 2022

My husband and booked the trip 5 years ago and had an absolute blast. So much so, that we decided to being our kids back to experience it. There were a few differences that I was somewhat dissapointed about: no "pre-board" picture or Snuba diving option despite mentioning it in the confirmation. Outside of that, the kids had a great time and I'd recommend for families.

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Aloha and thanks for joining us again this year. You are right, we have made a few changes since COVID. We stopped taking the pre boarding dockside photos while the state required face masks to be worn and social distancing. The process of checking guests in improved so much, that we decided not to bring it back. As for SNUBA, we do still offer this activity aboard the boat on the same basis as before, which means you must still reserve it, when making your reservation. Another very important change we have made is that we now operate at just 60% of our Coast Guard capacity, which allows us to elevate the level of personalized service we provide, and run the tour at a very relaxed pace, with plenty of personal space to comfortably enjoy the boat.

Over priced excursion

Paulette_C, Jul 2022

For the price, the sunscreen and wet suits should be included. Instead they charge you for both. The post snorkeling drinks are low grade. We also saw zero turtles.

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Our goal is to protect the reef, while making sure you are comfortable, which is why have “reef safe” sunscreen available on the boat. We also offer wetsuits to protect you from the sun and keep you warm. The nominal cost of $5 for sunscreen and $10 for a wetsuit allows us to continue to provide them. We serve Coke, Diet Coke, sprite, orange juice, pineapple, guava and passion fruit juice, coffee, and osmosis filtered water throughout the day. The post snorkeling adult beverages include 3 micro brewed beers from Maui Brewing Company ( lager, IPA, and an ale), served ice cold on tap. We also serve Chardonnay and red zin wines from NAPA. You can also order up a freshly made mai-tai, from the bar. All of the 13 different beverages we serve are provided at no additional cost. There are numerous turtles at Turtle Town, which is why it’s called Turtle Town. Fortunately we do see them at this location with great regularity., although they are wild animals in a big ocean and while plenty of our guests have gotten to swim with them, there are the occasional days when you may not. Most of our guests, like the one below your review who was on the same excursion, understand that we do not have control of the sea turtles, and still have a great time. Our site selections each day are chosen by where the wind and ocean conditions offer the safest conditions and best overall snorkeling experience.

Great time!!

Logan_J, Jul 2022

My husband & I had an amazing time. We truly enjoyed the snorkeling trip. The crew on Maui Pride was phenomenal. They went out of their way to ensure everyone had a great time while be safe! Definitely recommend them. The Molokini crater was gorgeous. We didn’t see any turtles in turtle town but still cool!

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Aloha and thank you for joining us and sharing your great experience. The snorkeling at Molokini is fantastic and though you didn’t see turtles at TT, I’m glad you took in all the other wonderful colorful corals and marine life. The crew aboard Pride of Maui are second to none and I thank you for saying so. Your safety, comfort and enjoyment are very important and I’m so proud of my guys!

No underwater life

DARRICK_E, Jul 2022

1st Snorkeling was awful. 2nd stop for snorkeling was non existent. Crew, drinks & food was amazing!

Response from Host, Jul 2022

We appreciate the opportunity to read these reviews to better understand our guests. I believe the number of great reviews we receive from nearly all of our guests speak volumes. Reviews with titles such as “Best Snorkeling Ever”, and a long list of others, tell the true story of how beautiful the reefs are and how much there is to see. What you say above about the crew and food is true and appreciated.

The first stop was...

Tiffany_G, Jul 2022

The first stop was actually wonderful. I would suggest that the company finds a new location for their second stop. Every person I heard complained that the tide was too strong there was no visibility and it was a waste of their time & $

Response from Host, Jul 2022

While I’m not sure where we went for the second stop on this particular day, I will say that the snorkeling locations we visit are coral reefs which offer the safest overall conditions for the day. These are the same locations the other operators go to as well, with names like Turtle Town and Coral Gardens. These locations were aptly named because of an abundance of colorful coral, turtles and other interesting marine animals. I’m glad you loved the snorkeling at Molokini Crater. I’m sorry that the conditions were less than ideal at the second stop. As evidenced by the plethora of 5 star reviews we have received and having been in the business over 40 years, our mission is to take you to the best locations offering the best snorkeling of the day. Sounds like Mother Nature was less than cooperative on this particular day.

Maui snorkeling with Pride of Maui first rate experience!

Joanne_C, Jul 2022

Awesome experience. Fun trip. Sorry we missed Turtle Town due to high waves. Crew was great and very helpful and friendly.

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Pride of Maui (our flagship), is the largest Maxi Power Catamaran on Maui, which operates at just 60% of our Coast Guard capacity. Her Captains, First Officers and crew are some of the most experienced in our field. What truly makes the most difference is the passion they have and the lengths my team go to, in order to provide the first rate experience you describe in your 5 star review. I have been in the business for 40 years here in the islands, though it is my hard working team of highly skilled, helpful, friendly passionate watermen and women, who create exceptional memories not soon forgotten. It is they whom I owe the credit for the success of our flagship, “Pride of Maui”. Thank you for appreciating all they do.

Best excursion in Maui

Ben_L, Jul 2022

The staff was amazing. They worked sp hard to make sure we were fed and happy. They even had a prescription snorkel mask for my husband who wears glasses so he could snorkel comfortably.

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Nice to be appreciated as the best excursion provider on Maui. Thank You for sharing!

Book this trip now!

Piers_C, Jul 2022

The staff on this trip were incredible. The water was really choppy on the way to and from the crater so a few of our party felt pretty sea sick. The staff were so caring and really went out of their way to keep checking on everyone and bringing whatever they could to try to help (the ginger drink was great in settling unsettled tummies!). They were also really fantastic with helping anyone who was nervous about going into the water for the first time. Overall it was an amazing experience. The snorkelling was brilliant (beautiful clear blue water, loads of colourful and interesting fish etc) but it was the staff who really made the overall experience a great one. Thank you!

Response from Host, Jul 2022

We had some pretty high winds last week and the boat ride out to the crater was unusually bumpy. Though these conditions are not the norm, I’m proud of my team whose decades of experience shines, as they go above and beyond for the safety and comfort of our guests. Molokini Crater is fabulous with crystal clear water and a wide variety of colorful corals and marine animals. The crater is truly a snorkeling paradise. You are right, at the end of the day it is the Captain and crew who really make the experience so special, in the way they care for our guests and provide memories to cherish.

Amazing experience!!

Frank_P, Jul 2022

What a great day!! The crew of the Pride of Maui was phenomenal! Everything was fabulous…the boat ride, snorkeling in the beautiful waters at Molokini Crater, and snorkeling at a Turtle Bay (not sure if that’s the correct name)! My husband even saw a reef shark, which may be the highlight of our entire trip for him! Lol! Highly recommend this adventure! ☺️

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Amazing and lasting memories are a big part of what we offer. I’m glad you guys had a great time and thanks for recognizing my crew. They truly are phenomenal because they love what they do and appreciate our guests.:

Snorkeling at Molekini was sick!!

Teresa_B, Jul 2022

Loved snorkeling at Molokini crater!! We saw all kinds of beautiful fish! The Captain and crew were all super friendly!!

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Thank You for sharing your love of the crater, fish and of course our super friendly Captain and crew.

Amazing crew on the hot!

Debbie_S, Jul 2022

The staff is as amazing! They were all kind and very helpful. They checked in with us multiple times during the trip to make sure we were having a good time.

Response from Host, Jul 2022

Not to sound repetitious, “They are the best team on Maui”, hands down! I know this because of guests like you who take the time to recognize the unmatched level of service they provide. Thank You.

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Maui Snorkeling Molokini Crater and Turtle Town aboard Pride of Maui

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Overview

What's Included

Departure & Return

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Return Details

What To Expect

Additional Info

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Frequently Asked Questions

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