Is Molokini Crater Worth It? Honest Thoughts After Snorkeling It

When planning a trip to Maui, I always want to prioritize the very best snorkeling on the island. Molokini Crater kept popping up in my searches for must-snorkel Maui spots, but the reviews were mixed. Some people called it the best snorkeling in Maui, while others said it was overrated and crowded.

If you’re like me, you’re picky about snorkel spots. With only a limited number of mornings on the island, I want to make sure we’re spending our time at places that are worth it. We skipped Molokini on our first Maui trip, but decided to book a tour on our second visit, and I returned again this year when I visited Maui with my sisters.

This post is for fellow picky snorkelers trying to decide whether Molokini Crater deserves a spot on their Maui itinerary.

Molokini Crater

Molokini is a partially submerged volcanic crater located about three miles off Maui’s southwestern coast, accessible only by boat.

The crater is both a Marine Life Conservation District and a state seabird sanctuary, with strict rules against fishing, touching wildlife, or feeding marine life.

Molokini is best known for its exceptionally clear water and calm snorkeling conditions. Tours typically depart from either Ma‘alaea Harbor in central Maui, or the Kihei boat ramp in south Maui. Some offer two hour express tours, others pair a visit to Molokini with stops at other destinations, like Turtle Town or La Perouse Bay, making it a half day experience. 

Molokini Crater Snorkeling

Getting There

We booked a tour with Blue Water Rafting that departed from the Kihei boat ramp at 7:00 AM.

Tip: If possible, choose a tour departing from Kihei rather than Ma‘alaea Harbor. Tours departing from Kihei reach Molokini faster than tours leaving from Ma‘alaea Harbor — usually around 15–25 minutes versus roughly 35–50 minutes from Ma‘alaea.

We arrived around 6:30 AM just as the sun was rising. Even with lots of other tours departing that morning, finding a spot to park in the large lot wasn’t a problem.

Around 6:45 AM, groups started gathering with their tour companies near the picnic tables by the water.

One thing that surprised me was how different the group sizes were between our two trips. The first time, our raft only had six passengers total. The second time, the boat was packed with about twenty people. The smaller group definitely made the experience feel more relaxed and personal, but the tour with more people was still positive.

The ride out to Molokini was smooth for us, but if you’re prone to seasickness, it’s probably smart to take medication beforehand. Crossings can occasionally be rough.

We arrived at the waters inside of the crater and tied up to a mooring line on the east side.

There were several other boats, and quite a few visitors at Molokini Crater. It’s a large enough area that I wasn’t bumping into anyone, but it definitely didn’t feel remote or wild like snorkeling at Honolua Bay.

Snorkeling Inside Molokini Crater

The first thing I noticed after jumping in was the water color. It was an unreal shade of vibrant blue, with visibility that felt almost endless (probably 100+ feet).

There were black triggerfish everywhere, and unlike at many snorkel spots, they didn’t seem one bit afraid of people. Some swam within inches of my mask. Seeing them up close actually made me realize they aren’t truly black at all, but dark brown with subtle iridescent blue tones.

The water was fairly deep where our boat was moored (maybe 40 feet), but became shallower as we swam closer to the crater wall.

We saw plenty of fish species, including parrotfish, trumpetfish, and porcupine fish.

I especially enjoyed snorkeling alongside the crater wall itself. Being right next to the steep volcanic rock made the experience feel unique compared to Maui’s shore snorkeling spots.

Snorkeling Molokini Crater Backside

After about 40 minutes inside the crater, Captain Joey called us back to the boat. We climbed onto the raft and headed to the backside of Molokini. This side felt quite a bit different.

The water was so deep I couldn’t see the bottom at all, and the crater wall dropped almost vertically into the open ocean. While the inside of Molokini felt calm and sheltered, the backside felt exposed and slightly intimidating in the best, most exciting way. 🙂 The sheer volcanic wall dropping into deep blue water made this side feel more adventurous and adrenaline-inducing than the inside of the crater.

There was only one other boat on this side, which was leaving as we were approaching. Since not all tours visit the backside, it felt quieter and less touristy.

We saw huge schools of sergeant major and schooling bannerfish, along with a teeny tiny reef shark. There wasn’t as much to explore on this side, but the dramatic vertical wall made it memorable.

Molokini Crater Pros

• Exceptionally clear water with incredible visibility
• Vibrant blue water unlike almost anywhere else we’ve snorkeled
• Good variety of fish
• Unique volcanic crater setting
• Easy, organized experience with no planning stress
• Possible whale sightings during whale season (December through April)

We visited in early November and actually saw a whale breaching on the ride back to the Kihei Boat Ramp. Captain Joey said it was his first whale sighting of the season.

Molokini Crater Downsides

• Expensive compared to Maui’s excellent shore snorkeling
• Can feel crowded, especially during peak season
• Most tours require an early wake-up (although getting up early to snorkel in Hawaii is something I recommend anyway!)
• Less freedom to explore at your own pace compared to independent shore snorkeling
• No sea turtles during our visits
• Slightly colder water than most shore snorkeling spots (not dramatically cooler, but I was definitely happier wearing my wetsuit top here)

If You Only Have Limited Time in Maui…

Molokini is probably worth it if:

• You want the clearest water possible
• You prefer easy, reliable snorkeling conditions
• You enjoy organized excursions
• You want to see a variety of fish

You might skip it if:

• Seeing sea turtles is your top priority
• You prefer independent adventures
• You’re comfortable snorkeling from shore
• You’re short on time and trying to maximize variety

Alternative Maui Snorkeling Spots

Honolua Bay

Compared to Molokini, Honolua Bay feels wilder and more adventurous, with more area to explore and a greater variety of marine life. It’s also free. The downside is that visibility can be much more variable depending on conditions. If you’re visiting in winter, visibility here is typically not good due to its location on the north side of the island.

Maluaka Beach

Easy, accessible, and free. Sea turtles! The snorkeling at Maluaka Beach is great for a quick shore entry, although the visibility usually isn’t as spectacular as Molokini.

Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve

This was probably the closest comparison to Molokini in terms of water clarity. The rocky shoreline makes entry more difficult, but snorkeling at Ahihi-Kinau is cheaper since you only pay a small fee for parking. Like at Molokini, we didn’t see any sea turtles here.

Olowalu

A great spot for finding sea turtles. The water at Olowalu is shallow and easy to access, and we encountered very few people. Visibility and fish variety weren’t anywhere close to Molokini’s level, though.

Final Verdict

Molokini lived up to the hype when it came to water clarity, which is where it really is the best in Maui. But whether it’s “the best snorkeling in Maui” depends on the kind of experience you’re looking for.

If you love easy, beautiful, organized excursions, Molokini is hard to beat.

But if you only have a few mornings in Maui and prefer quieter or more adventurous snorkeling, we enjoyed several shore snorkeling spots — especially Honolua Bay and Ahihi-Kinau — just as much. Still, for me personally, Molokini would rank in my top three snorkel spots on Maui.

Book a Tour with Blue Water Rafting

Both times I visited Molokini Crater, I booked a tour with Blue Water Rafting. If you book their 2-Hour Express Molokini tour through the link below, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s an easy way to support the blog if you found this post helpful. 🙂