Maui is accompanied by a few of the world’s top snorkeling and diving destinations. Suppose you spend any time on Maui’s trailing edge. In that case, you’ll certainly be drawn to Molokini Crater, a horseshoe-shaped island 3 miles off the area’s southern shore that offers the best Molokini snorkel tour in Maui, HI.
This lovely islet is located in Hawaii’s Alalakeiki Channel. It is home to one of the country’s three volcano calderas, a Marine Life Conservation District, as well as a seabird refuge
Over 250 different species of fish, birds, and mammals make this part of the sea home, protected by the desolate crater’s city walls, which extend 18.9 miles that rise 165 feet above the water.
So, are you planning a trip to Molokini Crater for an aquatic adventure?
Don’t be misled into believing it only has one site where you may appreciate the Pacific Ocean’s undersea delights. So, here are the four primary Molokini snorkeling and diving places, as well as why you should prepare to dive beneath the surface:
- Flats Tako
According to geologists, the world-famous Tako Flats are nestled inside the U that makes up Molokini’s “bay,” the “eroded relic of an ancient tuff cone,” according to geologists.
This flat sandy channel features many nooks such as boulders as well as coral heads and is named after the octopi (tako), which roam its sections.
In addition, Manta rays, nudibranchs, green lionfish, as well as barracudas are commonly seen in the lucid-watered depths.
- Reef’s End
Around the caldera’s western point, Molokini’s Reef’s End has a diving depth of approximately 130 feet. It has colorful cauliflower corals, which are one of the four most common species of reef-building corals in Hawaiian waters. The ancient Hawaiians utilized these corals to construct heiaus.
This remarkable site features terraced “steps” that drop 350 feet into the crystal blue water and therefore is suitable for green divers and advanced snorkelers.
Reef sharks, moray eels, bottlenose, bluestripe snapper, squirrelfish, spinner dolphins, damselfish, and migrating Humpback whales are all common sightings in the Molokini snorkel tour in Maui, Hi.
- The Reef in the Middle
Middle Reef, commonly called “The Aquarium,” is just a tropical fish’s Waikiki or, in other terms, a Shangri-La among marine life enthusiasts, thanks to a large mound in the northwestern mouth of Molokini.
White pyramids butterflyfish, wrasses of various sorts, unicornfish, crocodile needlefish, trumpet fish, garden eels, and Moorish idols, cohabit the waters alongside giants (or blue) trevally, a fish called Ulua that looks just like its title suggests.
Keep in mind that Middle’s Reef has a steep drop-off in which you might go over your dive profile.
- Enenu’i
Enenu’i is ideal for beginning to intermediate swimmers since it slants down around 60 feet, giving you plenty of room to take in its wonders, including more butterflyfish than you could ever count, rudderfish, ahi, chub, and yellow tang.
Most individuals will only have the opportunity to visit this beautiful island once or thrice. As a result, it’s a good idea to take your time selecting the perfect Maui snorkel trip. Meanwhile, there are so many possibilities that one can go insane or miss out on the best ones. But, these pointers will help you get the most out of your time underwater on Maui.
Paul Petersen