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Maui: Molokini & Turtle Town Snorkel, 3 Hours & Small Groups

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/13

Duration3h

GroupUp to 24

Mobile ticketAccepted

Three hours, two reefs, and sea turtles that let you get close

You snorkel inside and outside Molokini Crater, then move to Turtle Town where sea turtles surface nearby. Equipment, fruit, juice, and a sandwich option are included. The tour runs three hours with small groups, so you see the reefs without the crowds that come with larger boats. Daily departures mean you can fit it into your Maui schedule whenever the conditions look good.

Step-by-step itinerary

Snorkel inside Molokini Crater
Snorkel outside Molokini Crater
Snorkel back side of Molokini
Snorkel at Turtle Town
See turtles and coral reef

The Experience

There's something about the moment you realize you're about to swim with endangered sea turtles — not in a tank, not behind glass, but in the actual water where they live. That's what pulls people back to this Maui snorkel tour, running daily since 1985. You get Molokini Crater first, the submerged volcanic crater that sits about three miles offshore, and then you move to Turtle Town at La Perouse Bay, where the turtles surface for air just a few feet from where you're floating. The whole thing takes three hours, which sounds short until you're actually in it and realize how much reef, how much life, and how many turtles fit into that window.

The boat stays small — that's the whole point. You're not crammed onto a 100-person catamaran where half the people are seasick and the other half are fighting for a spot to see anything. Most days the crew can snorkel you on the back side of Molokini too, which is where the coral gets thicker and the fish don't expect as many visitors. If it's whale season, you'll stop and watch them pass. The snorkel equipment is there waiting for you, the water and Hawaiian juice stay cold in a cooler, and they've got a fruit platter that actually tastes fresh — not the sad, pre-cut stuff that sits in the sun. You can order a sandwich beforehand if you want: turkey and provolone, ham and swiss, vegan, or gluten-free versions of any of those.

The turtles themselves are used to snorkelers, so they don't bolt when you show up. They surface, they breathe, they let you photograph them from a distance that feels real, not staged. You're seeing coral reef, other fish, the whole ecosystem — not just the turtles, though that's what you came for. The boat leaves early enough that the water is usually calm, and by the time you're back on shore, you've had a full morning in the ocean without having to arrange your own boat, your own gear, or your own timing.

What’s included

Your three-hour tour includes snorkel equipment for both Molokini Crater and Turtle Town, a fruit platter with chopped fruit, Hawaiian juice, and bottled water throughout the day.
You can choose your sandwich in advance — turkey and provolone, ham and swiss, vegan, or any of these as gluten-free.
The boat is small and departs daily, so crowds stay manageable and you get time at both snorkel sites without rushing.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Blue Water Rafting

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see sea turtles and coral reef without arranging your own boat or gear, and you prefer a smaller group where you're not competing for space or visibility — the three-hour window and two dedicated snorkel stops are what make both things possible.