Lanai Dolphin Snorkel Tour from Maui: 3 Sites & Manta Rays

Dolphins and Manta Rays Off Lanai: A 6-Hour Snorkel from Maui

You board a small group raft at 8am from Maui and travel to Lanai's snorkel sites, making 2-3 stops to see tropical fish, turtles, manta rays and dolphins over six hours. Snorkel gear, breakfast and lunch are included, and your ticket supports marine research and whale rescue efforts on Maui. You return by 2pm.

Step-by-step itinerary

Lanai snorkeling and dolphin adventure

• Depart Maui at 8am by raft
• Travel to island of Lanai
• Snorkel at 2-3 sites around Lanai
• Observe tropical fish and marine life
• Spot wild dolphins and manta rays
• Return to Maui around 2pm

The experience

The engine cuts to a low rumble as the raft slows near the first reef, and suddenly the water below shifts from blue to turquoise. You're six hours into a small group snorkel tour from Maui to Lanai, and the marine life here doesn't wait: tropical fish scatter across the coral, and if you're lucky, a manta ray glides past like a living shadow. The boat leaves at 8am and returns around 2pm, which means you're in the water during the hours when the reef is most active. Snorkel gear is provided, along with flotation devices, so you're not fumbling with rentals or worrying about fit.

What sets this Lanai dolphin snorkel tour apart is the commitment to staying small. Groups stay tight enough that the guide can actually see who's where, and the raft itself is built for safety in open water, quick, stable, responsive. You'll make 2-3 stops off Lanai, each one chosen for what's been spotted that week: sea cliffs rising behind you, turtles moving through the shallows, octopus tucked into crevices, and yes, wild dolphins if the conditions align. The tour is locally owned and operated, which means the crew knows these waters and the marine life patterns in a way that matters. Breakfast and lunch are included, along with water, juice and soft drinks. You can bring your own alcohol if you want, and plenty of people bring a GoPro to capture the underwater moments.

There's a practical detail worth knowing: every ticket supports active marine research and the whale entanglement response team here on Maui, so your booking funds real conservation work. During migration season (December through April), whale watching is part of the tour as well. The water off Lanai can be choppy, this isn't a calm lagoon tour, which is why the raft design matters and why you need to be comfortable in the ocean. You must be able to swim, and the tour isn't recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or certain cardiovascular conditions, but it's suitable for a wide range of fitness levels otherwise.

What’s included

Your day includes breakfast, lunch, snorkel gear and flotation devices, purified water, soft drinks (Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, unsweetened green tea), and Maui style potato chips. The tour operates as a small group aboard a raft vessel, with 2-3 snorkel stops off Lanai and a return to Maui by approximately 2pm.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 6 May 2027

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 26

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Ultimate Whale Watch & Snorkel

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to snorkel multiple reef sites in one morning without arranging your own boat or gear, and you're comfortable in open ocean water: the small group size and early departure mean you catch the reef at its most active, which is what makes the wildlife sightings possible.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What time does the Lanai snorkel tour depart and return?

The tour departs at 8am and returns approximately 2pm.

Is snorkel gear included?

Yes, snorkel gear and flotation devices are provided.

How many people are in a typical group?

It's a small group tour, designed to keep numbers low so the guide can monitor everyone.

What marine life might I see?

Tropical fish, turtles, octopus, manta rays and wild dolphins. Whale watching is included during migration season (December–April).

What's included in the price?

Breakfast, lunch, snorkel gear, flotation devices, water and soft drinks.

Can I bring my own camera?

Yes, GoPros and underwater cameras are encouraged.

Is this tour suitable for beginners?

You must be able to swim. The tour is suitable for a range of fitness levels, but the water can be choppy.

Can I bring alcohol?

Yes, BYOB is allowed.