Wailuku · RedAwning

Molokini CraterA half-submerged volcanic crescent, 250 fish species, and 150-foot underwater visibility

Molokini is a partially submerged volcanic tuff cone two and a half miles off Maui's south coast — a 0.04-square-mile crescent rising 162 feet above water and dropping 300 feet below. The protected inside curve is a Hawaii State Marine Life Conservation District home to 250 fish species and the clearest water in Hawaii (often 150+ feet of visibility), reachable only by boat.

Hours todayDawn – 12:00 PMSaturday hours
TicketsFrom $145Group snorkel tour (4–5 hr)
LocationWailuku, HawaiiMaʻalaea Harbor (boat departure)
Official sitedlnr.hawaii.govPlan your visit

2.5 miDistance offshore
162 ftCrater elevation
250+Fish species
100–180 ftTypical visibility

Molokini formed roughly 230,000 years ago when a Haleakalā lava flow met cold ocean and erupted upward in a phreatomagmatic blast — the kind that leaves a steep tuff cone instead of a shield volcano. Sea-level rise and erosion have since claimed the south wall, leaving the north wall standing as a 0.04-square-mile crescent shielding a calm interior bay. The crater protects the south side of the lagoon from trade winds and has the clearest water in Hawaii — visibility regularly exceeds 150 feet and tops 180 feet on the calmest mornings.

The interior was designated a Hawaii State Marine Life Conservation District in 1977 and a State Seabird Sanctuary the same year. No anchoring allowed (boats moor on permanent ball moorings), no fishing, no removing anything from the water. The reef supports 250 fish species — yellow tang, rectangular triggerfish (humuhumunukunukuapuaʻa, the state fish), Moorish idols, parrotfish, and a resident population of black-tip reef sharks visible on the deeper outside wall.

Boats depart Maʻalaea Harbor between 6:30 and 7:30 AM and reach the crater in 30–45 minutes. The trade winds pick up around 10 AM and water clarity drops with the chop, so most tours turn back by 11:30 AM. The most popular trips include 90 minutes at Molokini and a second stop at Turtle Town off the south Maui coast on the return leg. SCUBA operators offer two-tank dives on the outside back wall — a sheer 300-foot drop into open ocean with eagle rays, white-tip sharks, and the occasional pelagic.

Inside-the-crater snorkel
The protected lagoon is 10–35 feet deep, calm, and clear — yellow tang in giant schools, rectangular triggerfish on the rocks, and the green sea turtle that lives near the western mooring ball. Most tours give you 90 minutes in the water with snorkel, fins, and a mask.
Back Wall SCUBA dive
The crater's outside wall drops 300 feet straight down into open ocean — a wall dive with eagle rays cleaning at 80 feet, white-tip sharks resting in lava-tube alcoves, and pelagic fish drifting through. Two-tank trips run $195 for certified divers; not for first-timers.
Turtle Town second stop
On the return leg most operators stop at Turtle Town off the south Maui coast — a reef where eight to ten green sea turtles graze in 20-foot water. The contrast between Molokini's open water and Turtle Town's coastal reef makes a single trip feel like two.
Black-tip reef shark sighting wall
The deeper south end of the inside crescent regularly hosts black-tip reef sharks — non-aggressive, four-to-six-foot reef predators that ignore snorkelers. The dive guides know which mooring ball gives the most reliable shot; ask before getting in the water.
Hawaiian state-fish sighting
The rectangular triggerfish — humuhumunukunukuapuaʻa — is everywhere in the inner reef. Look for the angular black-and-yellow body with the blue snout near the rocks closest to the wall; they're territorial and stay within 10 feet of their home crevice.
Seabird sanctuary
Molokini is a state seabird sanctuary — wedge-tailed shearwaters, Bulwer's petrels, and brown noddies nest on the cliff face. Landing on the islet itself is prohibited; viewing from the boat at sunrise gives the best look at the colonies in the upper crater walls.
Sunrise departure window
Tours that leave Maʻalaea by 6:30 AM consistently hit the crater before the trade winds rise, with visibility 30–50% better than 9 AM departures. The premium small-boat operators (Kai Kanani, Pride of Maui) leave from Kīhei boat ramp and beat the harbor traffic.
Phreatomagmatic geology
The crater's tuff-cone structure is the result of a phreatomagmatic eruption — lava meeting cold seawater and exploding upward. Look for the layered ash bands visible on the inside wall above the snorkel zone; each band is a separate explosive surge in a single eruption sequence.

Open hours

Tour boats depart Maʻalaea or Kīhei harbors between 6:30 AM and 7:30 AM, arriving at the crater by 8:30 AM. Trade winds typically pick up by noon, so most operators turn back to harbor by 11:30 AM. The crater itself is a protected DLNR Marine Life Conservation District; visitors arrive only by permitted vessel.

MondayDawn – 12:00 PM
TuesdayDawn – 12:00 PM
WednesdayDawn – 12:00 PM
ThursdayDawn – 12:00 PM
FridayDawn – 12:00 PM
SaturdayTodayDawn – 12:00 PM
SundayDawn – 12:00 PM

Note · Afternoon "second snorkel" trips run later but Molokini visibility drops as winds rise — most guides recommend the 7 AM departure for clearest water.

Ticket pricing

Per-person admission. Buy in advance to skip the gate line.

Group snorkel tour (4–5 hr)$145Most operators — gear, breakfast, lunch included
Premium small-boat tour$22512–25 passengers; second stop at Turtle Town
SCUBA dive — certified$195Two-tank crater dive; cert card required
Discover SCUBA at Molokini$265Intro dive for non-certified divers; one-on-one with instructor
Children (5–12 with parent)$95Most snorkel tours; 4 and under usually free

Tours leave Maʻalaea Harbor or Kīhei Boat Ramp and the crater is 30–45 minutes by boat. Bring a light long-sleeve rashguard (sunburn risk is high in shallow water), reef-safe sunscreen only (chemical sunscreens banned), and dramamine if you're prone to seasickness — south Maui channels are calm by Hawaii standards but not flat.

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