Maui: Molokini Crater 2-Tank Dive & Turtle Town Snorkel

Two dives, one boat, sixteen people max: why Molokini Crater fills up fast

You board a catamaran from Kihei with a maximum of 16 divers, descend to Molokini Crater for two guided dives where you encounter manta rays, white-tip sharks, and tropical reef fish, then move to a second site or Turtle Town depending on conditions. Juice, water, and snacks are provided throughout. Gear rental is available separately. The whole experience runs from early morning through early afternoon, with the crew handling logistics so you only have to show up with your certification card and dive history.

Step-by-step itinerary

2-tank dive at Molokini Crater

• Board dive boat in Kihei
• Travel to Molokini Crater
• Complete first tank dive
• Complete second tank dive at south side
• Explore marine life including manta rays and turtles
• Return to Kihei

The experience

The catamaran leaves Kihei early, and if you've never been on a dive boat before, the first surprise is how small the group actually feels. Sixteen divers maximum sounds like a lot until you're gearing up and realizing the crew knows your name, your certification date, your shoe size: they've already sized your wetsuit and tank before you stepped aboard. That attention matters when you're about to drop into water where visibility runs 100 feet on a good day, and Molokini Crater tends to have a lot of good days. The boat ride itself takes maybe twenty minutes, and you'll see the crater rising out of the ocean like a half-submerged volcano, which is exactly what it is.

The first tank goes down at Molokini's back wall, where the reef drops off and the water opens up in a way that makes you understand why this place is a marine preserve. Manta rays show up sometimes (not guaranteed, but the guide knows where they've been spotted), and white-tip sharks move through like they own the place, which they do. Tropical fish in colors that don't look real until you're actually looking at them. Between dives, the boat moves to a second site, either another part of the crater or along the South Maui coastline depending on conditions and what the group wants to see. If snorkeling is more your speed, the crew will work with that. The boat accommodates both divers and snorkelers, and they'll take you to Turtle Town on the south side where you can float above the reef and watch green sea turtles graze like they're in a garden.

Juice and snacks come out between dives, bottled water the whole time, and if you need full gear rental, that's available for an added fee: tanks, wetsuit, fins, the works. The crew has been doing this for over twenty-five years, and it shows in how they move through the day, how they check your gear twice, how they ask what you want to see before you even know you want to see it. Weather permitting is the honest caveat. The ocean doesn't cooperate every day, but when it does, you're in the water by mid-morning and back to the dock by early afternoon.

What’s included

• Guided two-tank scuba dive at Molokini Crater marine preserve.
• second dive at an alternate crater site or south side location based on conditions and guest requests.
• snorkel option at Turtle Town.
• juice and bottled water throughout the day.
• snacks between dives.
• hotel pickup is not mentioned, so plan to meet the boat at Kihei.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:15

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Under 10: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 12

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 today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Yonegan Pro-Diver Maui

Is this one for you?Book this if you're a certified diver who wants to see Molokini Crater without renting a private boat or coordinating with a large group: the 16-person cap and 25 years of local knowledge mean you get personalized attention and the crew's best judgment on where the conditions and wildlife are that day.

Traveler reviews

4.90★★★★★★★★★★

10 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 17 years). Under 10: they 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.

Do I need to be a certified diver to go?

Yes. All participants must have dived within the past two years and provide their certification level, date of most recent dive, and approximate number of lifetime dives before boarding. If your last dive was more than two years ago, contact the operator to arrange a refresher.

What's included in the price?

Juice, bottled water, snacks, and the guided dives themselves. Full gear rental (wetsuit, tank, fins, BCD) costs extra and must be pre-sized using your age, height, weight, and shoe size.

How long is the boat ride to Molokini Crater?

About twenty minutes from Kihei.

Can I snorkel instead of dive?

Yes. The boat accommodates both divers and snorkelers, and the crew will adjust the itinerary to include Turtle Town on the south side if that's what the group prefers.

What if the weather is bad?

Tours run weather permitting. The crew will assess conditions in the morning and may move to a different site or reschedule if the ocean is unsafe.

How many people will be on the boat?

Maximum 16 divers per tour, which keeps the group small and allows the crew to give personalized attention.

What marine life might I see?

Manta rays, white-tip sharks, tropical reef fish, and green sea turtles (especially at Turtle Town on the south side). Sightings vary by season and conditions.

Do I need to provide information before the tour?

Yes. You must provide your age, height, weight, shoe size, certification level, date of most recent dive, and approximate number of lifetime dives. This information is required to board the boat and to pre-size your gear.