Molokini Crater Snorkeling And Diving Spots – Guide To Best Underwater Adventures in Maui

Maui is surrounded by some of the best spots for snorkelers and divers. Spend some time on the leeward side of Maui and chances are your eyes will be riveted by Molokini Crater, a horseshoe-shaped atoll located three miles off the island’s southern coast that boasts some of the best snorkeling in Maui, Hawaii.

This magical islet lies in the Alalakeiki Channel of Hawaii. It is one of three volcanic calderas in the world, a Marine Life Conservation District, and also a seabird sanctuary.

Over 250 types of fish, birds, and mammals call this corner of the ocean home, nestled as they are by the protective walls of the barren crater which spans 18.9 miles in length and rises 165 feet above sea level. If you are a sharp-eyed swimmer, you can even spot vestiges of ancient Hawaiian fishing practices, such as old sinker stones.

Happen to be journeying to Molokini Crater for a voyage underwater?

Don’t be fooled into thinking it possesses only a single spot for enjoying the underwater wonders of the Pacific ocean. Here are 8 main Molokini snorkeling and dive spots—and why you should gear up to plunge below the surface:

1. Tako Flats

Nestled within the U that comprises the “bay” of Molokini—the “eroded remnant of an old tufa cone” (as geologists report), rests the world-renowned Tako Flats.

Dubbed as such for the octopi (tako) that roam its parts (including sand octopus, white-striped octopus, and day—or he’e mauli—octopus), this flat sand channel contains myriad nooks such as rocks and coral heads. Besides, the lucid-watered shallow frequently encounters Manta rays, nudibranchs (soft, seafaring gorgeous slugs—if ever there’s an oxymoron), green lionfish, and barracudas.

Don’t spot an eight-limbed creature? Search for discarded shells outside holes in the reef – this may be a sign that you’re drifting near a lair that belongs to an octopus!

2. Reef’s End

With a diving visibility of up to 130 feet, Molokini’s Reef’s End is located near the caldera’s western tip. It is home to reefs flourishing with colorful cauliflower coral – one of the four most prevalent types of reef-building coral in Hawaiian waters. Ancient Hawaiians used such corals to build heiau (sacred temples dedicated to fishing).

Accessible to green divers and intermediate snorkelers, this special spot has terraced “steps” that descend 350 feet into the clear blue water.

Sightings here include reef sharks (grey and white-tipped), moray eels, squirrelfish, damselfish, bottlenose and spinner dolphins, bluestripe snapper, and, when in season, glorious, migratory Humpback whales.

On especially auspicious days, you may witness a whale shark: a solitary, slow-moving, often-elusive creature that reaches 40 feet or longer (rendering it the largest fish on the planet)!

3. Middle Reef

Thanks to a sizable mount in the northwest mouth of Molokini, Middle Reef, also known as The Aquarium—is a tropical fish’s Waikiki (read: buzzy and crowded)—or, in other words, a Shangri-La for marine life enthusiasts.

Giant (or blue) trevally—a fish, known as Ulua, that sounds precisely as its name suggests—share the waters here with white pyramid butterfly fish, wrasses of several varieties, unicornfish, Moorish idols, trumpet fish, garden eels, and crocodile needlefish.

Keep in mind, however, that there’s a formidable drop-off at Middle’s Reef, where you may exceed your dive profile.

4. Enenu’i

Ideal for beginner to intermediate divers, Enenu’i slants down approximately 60 feet—which is ample space to absorb its miracles, including more butterflyfish than you can readily count, rudderfish, yellow tang, ahi, and chub.

Located at the eastern point of Molokini Crater (closest to Maui), it also holds colonies of antler coral—a brown-hued species with thick, pipe-like branches.

5. Shark Condos

We may fear sharks—and, let’s face it, even spiny-handed lobsters—but both are found in relative seclusion at these 130-feet-in-depth underwater apartments, where they (who are harmless, by the way) chill in caves next to the exquisite and mysterious boarfish.

Bonus: On exceptionally clear days, you may see the underwater terraces dropping off in the distance.

6. Flying Sea Cliffs

Hanging ocean shelves, brilliant red sponges, tube coral—there’s nothing not to love at this favorite of scuba divers, which is located along the back side of the crater.

7. Back Wall

Avid scuba divers consider the backside of Molokini Crater darn close to heavenly: Here, an underwater wall descends 350 feet, bringing them in close proximity to one marine marvel after another, including eels, butterfly fish, humuhumunukunukuapua’a, cornetfish, epaulette soldierfish, and reef sharks, as well as cauliflower, black, and Elkhorn coral.

Not an advanced scuba diver? You can still relish the sights from your boat!

This area is not recommended for beginner divers (unfavorable conditions are notorious here, and divers must have buoyancy control aced).

Some boats do allow snorkeling at the “backside water elevator.” This spot allows snorkelers to pear down into the abyss while surges in swell allow elevator passengers a wild ride up and down the cliff face. This can be a lot of fun, but it’s really not for everyone. Those prone to seasickness might want to stay on the boat.

Don’t despair if you must stay dry—there’s plenty to potentially see, including Humpback whales in season, spinner dolphins, and the caldera’s magnificent birds, which range from Bulwer’s petrels to wedge-tailed shearwaters.

8. Edge of the World

The name says it all. Located on the back end of the caldera, Edge of the World possesses the deepest drop in the region. Indeed, it offers the deepest dive in Hawaii! Given that it falls in the shadow of Maui Nui’s abundant sun, the creatures here are downright exotic.

Is it any wonder? The islet that houses them is older than Maui’s own Haleakala Crater.

Know Before You Go

• Molokini Crater can only be accessed by boat. Most tourists end up booking a charter boat tour (check tips in the section below).
• Federally protected, fishing (spear and line) is prohibited. So is feeding, capturing, and touching the atoll’s marine life (and altering the coral and sand).
• It’s best to get in the water in the early morning when the water is calm and clear. Visibility diminishes as the day wears on and later hours also tend to bring in a lot more boat traffic. During the afternoon, sometimes trade winds can lead to unfavorable conditions.
• Last but not least, do your part to keep Molokini’s aquatic world safe! Wear eco-friendly reef-safe sunscreen (chemical-based sunscreen contributes to coral bleaching). Don’t stand on coral and it ought to go without saying, don’t litter anywhere in Hawaii—particularly the ocean.

Tips To Choose The Right Molokini Crater Tour

Most people will only get to visit this gem of an island only once or twice in their lifetime. So, it’s wise to spend some time choosing the right Maui snorkel tour.

There are usually so many choices that one may go nuts or end up missing out on the available options. These tips will help maximize your overall underwater experience at Maui.

How To Reach Molokini Crater

Most Molokini vessels leave from Maalaea Harbor, which is a convenient spot to depart from if you’re staying on the west side, Central Maui, or the North Shore.

Maalaea is also very close for those staying on the south side, but there are a few options even closer.  Some smaller boats leave from Kihei Boat Ramp. One catamaran even leaves from the shore at Maluaka Beach, in Makena. 

A few boats will depart from Lahaina, but we don’t recommend this.  It’s a very long trip to Molokini, and you’re better off driving to Maalaea and leaving from there.

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Molokini Crater in Maui offers one of the best underwater adventures in Hawaii. We hope you’re able to experience this someday soon! Let us know about your experience in the comments below! ALOHA!

Don’t forget to pin this Maui snorkeling guide for later!

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