Feature Adventure
The most unusual Snorkeling Adventure on Maui is my choice for our first Feature Adventure story. Most of the snorkeling boats take you to Molokini first thing in the morning. There are about a dozen of them. They can carry 50 or more passengers. They all drop anchor within the little sheltered cresent of the crater and the snorkelers tumble into the water. Do the math. A dozen boats holding 50 people each... that's about 600 snorkelers splashing around!

Blue Water Rafts leave first thing in the AM also, but take you where the other boats can't go... the inaccessible lava caves of the Kanaio Coast near Makena. After rafting through caves and under lava arches, you're off to La Perouse Bay or their "Secret Spot" for snorkeling. When breakfast is finished, it's over to Molokini... after the other boats have left. The rigid-hulled inflatables carry no more than 24 passengers, so you'll see more wildlife than wild snorkelers on this trip.

Scroll down to read about this exciting adventure, and if you'd like to experience it yourself, call me to book it, 800 981-5512.

Mahalos,
Clif Council
Activities Director
Golf-Maui.Com
(In case of emergency contact Clif at: (808) - 264 - 2350)

The Lava Caves of Kanaio
& the Molokini Abyss

Explore the sea caves and lava arches of Maui's remote and rugged Kanaio Coast on the most challenging and invigorating snorkeling adventure that Maui has to offer.

Discover secret coves abundant with coral, colorful tropical fish and exotic marine life. Visit Molokini "off peak" and uncrowded. Whale watching, swimming with dolphins, turtles, manta rays, monk seals, and whale sharks are all possibilities on this incredible Maui adventure.

The Kanaio/ Molokini Tour is one of our most popular adventures because it combines the opportunity to explore a rarely seen and uninhabited part of Maui, The Volcanic Kanaio Coast. Offering a variety of remote exotic snorkeling sites including both spinner dolphin and green sea turtle habitats and the famous Molokini Marine Preserve.

The Kanaio Sea Caves... Passengers can expect a rare treat as they tour along Maui's Gold Coast past Wailea and Makena to a remote and inaccessible coastline with spectacular views of the slopes of Mt. Haleakala. About 200 years ago at Kanaio, molten lava exploded from a side vent and poured into the ocean forming incredible lava arches, grottos and sea caves. The experience of entering a sea cave by raft or passing through a massive lava arch should not be missed! (conditions permitting) Photographers will delight with the array of unique formations that wait at every turn.

Dolphins Dead Ahead! Following Kanaio, you will cruise to the protected waters of La Perouse Bay, frequently encountering a school of spinner dolphins, including babies, along the way or in the bay itself. Named for their acrobatics, these playful mammals will frolic in the wave produced by our boat sometimes only an arm's length from the bow!

Most of the time we will find these dolphins resting and playing in an area where we can enter the water and snorkel with them! This experience has been described as spiritual and is a visual and auditory experience that one never forgets.

A continental breakfast is served around this time and a remote snorkeling site may be offered (time and conditions permitting) such as the La Perouse Pinnacle that is teaming with fish.

Molokini Crater... After departing La Perouse Bay, you'll head for Molokini, a short 20-minute ride from the bay. There we will generally offer up to three unique sites including the inside rim, the outer reef and the backside of the crater. By this time of the day conditions at Molokini are generally calm and most of the bigger boats have departed or are departing leaving plenty of room for uncrowded snorkeling.

Drift snorkeling the outer reef... is one of the many highlights of this tour. Imagine snorkeling one of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world drifting gently along with the current as your boat follows near by for your safety. Glide past a variety of butterfly fish, wrasses, black and pink tailed sturgeons all posing against a backdrop of beautiful coral only 3 feet below... truly a photographers dream!
For an exciting panoramic view, venture over to the edge to witness an awesome 200 ft. drop. It's like looking off the edge of the world!

The Abyss ... (Optional site) Time and conditions permitting, another drift snorkel may be offered on the backside of Molokini, a favored dive site for advanced scuba divers. The depth here is about 300ft. but the lighting and the view of the vertical wall of rock, coral and fish is phenomenal. This site may also be offered as an alternative to the inside under certain sea conditions.

Turtlely Cool! Departing Molokini, we make one more stop in Makena where we serve a delicious buffet lunch and snorkel with sea turtles and spotted eagle rays near pristine lava fingers. These turtles, although endangered and protected, are accustomed to seeing snorkelers and do not mind being photographed as they surface for air just a few feet away.

The variety of scenery and wildlife encountered both above the surface and below truly make this tour one of the most comprehensive snorkeling adventures available on Maui.  

Our Best Pick
5.5 hr. Kanaio/ Molokini
Departure Time: 7:00am (6:45 check in)
Adults $119 + tax & fees = $123.96
Child $99 + tax & fees = $103.12

More exciting Rafting Adventures
Kanaio Coast
The Kanaio Coast Tour offers an opportunity to explore a rarely seen part of Maui, The Volcanic Kanaio Coast and a variety of remote exotic snorkeling sites, including both spinner dolphin and green sea turtle habitats.

The Kanaio Sea Caves... Passengers can expect a rare treat as they tour along Maui's Gold Coast past Wailea and Makena to a remote and inaccessible coastline with spectacular views of the slopes of Mt. Haleakala. About 200 years ago at Kanaio, molten lava exploded from a side vent and poured into the ocean forming incredible lava arches, grottos and sea caves. The experience of entering a sea cave by raft or passing through a massive lava arch should not be missed! (conditions permitting) Photographers will delight with the array of unique formations that wait at every turn.

Dolphins Dead Ahead! Following Kanaio, you will cruise to the protected waters of La Perouse Bay, frequently encountering a school of spinner dolphins, including babies, along the way or in the bay it's self. Named for their acrobatics, these playful mammals will frolic in the wave produced by our boat sometimes only an arm's length from the bow!

Most of the time we will find these dolphins resting and playing in an area where we can enter the water and snorkel with them! This experience has been described as spiritual and is a visual and auditory experience that one never forgets.

One of several remote snorkeling sites may be offered (time and conditions permitting) such as the La Perouse Pinnacle, which is teaming with fish. Each site has a unique underwater terrain and a variety of marine life.

Turtally Cool! Departing La Perouse Bay, we make one more stop in Makena where we serve a delicious buffet lunch and snorkel with sea turtles and spotted eagle rays near pristine lava fingers. These turtles, although endangered and protected, are accustomed to seeing snorkelers and do not mind being photographed as they surface for air just a few feet away.

4.0 hr. Kanaio Coast
Departure Time: 7:00am (6:45 check in)
Adult $99 + tax & fees =  $103.12
Child $79 + tax & fees =)  $82.29

Book Now!
Or call the Maui Golf Shop Activities Desk
Toll Free - 800 981-5512

Molokini Express
The Molokini Express is ideal for those who wish to enjoy the crystal clear waters and abundant marine life at Molokini but prefer to limit their time on the water to 2 hours.

Express transport to Molokini via our high-powered rafts will take less than 15 minutes. Once briefed, fitted with top quality gear and in the water, over one hour of snorkeling time is available at prime locations away from the crowds.

By arriving at the crater just after most of the other boats have just departed, we find the area to almost empty allowing us to drift snorkel large areas of the rim if we choose to.

One of the most popular and spectacular drifts is over the outer reef formed by the rim of the volcano that at points is only two or three feet deep and then drops off on the outside to 200 feet. Gliding over the reef gives one the "feeling of flying" as you look off the edge of the world!

The backside of Molokini might remind one of "The Abyss" as the wall plunges to depths of 300 to 400 feet. If the wind picks up on the inside of the crater, this area is often the calmest water for snorkeling. Tropical fish are just about everywhere, but the shafts of light, awesome visibility, towering cliffs and sheer drop offs make this site unique.

2.0 hr. Molokini Express
Departure Time: 11:30am (11:15 check in)
Adult $49 + tax & fees = $51.04
Child $39 + tax & fees =  $40.62

New Tour!
Express Whale Watch/ Molokini Snorkel
The Express Whale Watch/ Molokini Snorkel is a great way to combine snorkeling at Molokini with a whale watching adventure on a fast and maneuverable rigid hulled inflatable. We almost always make it to Molokini on this one but if conditions are not favorable, a shoreline alternate may be selected. Your passage to and from Molokini will take you through waters laden with Humpback Whales with a high percentage of mother/calf/escort pods. Just today a whale surfaced less than ten yards from our boat and lifted her calf out of the water on her head to show us. Awesome!

About one hour is devoted to snorkeling, and 1½ hours to passage and whale watching. Beverages and gear are included.

2.5 hr. Express Whale Watch/Molokini Snorkel (Seasonal)
Departure Time: 11:30am (11:15 check in) Mon., Wed., Fri.
Adult $55 + tax & fees = $57.29
Child $45 + tax & fees = $46.87

DEPARTURE LOCATION
All tours depart from the Kihei Boat Ramp located just south of Kamaole Beach Park III and across from the Maui Kamaole condominium at 2777 South Kihei Rd.

THE RAFTS
Our fast, stable, unsinkable, rigid hulled, inflatable boats are all powered with twin outboard motors. CLOUD IX is a 27' ALMAR RAIV and carries up to 24 passengers. KANALOA is a 30' ALMAR RAIV carrying up to 24 pasengers. Both RAIVs are powered with twin 225 HP Mercury Optimax motors (smoke free), and are partially shaded. Our 6 passenger raft is a 19' Novurania powered with twin 60HP Evinrude motors. Parties wishing to guarantee the smaller boat may opt for a private charter. All boats have easy boarding ladders.

FOOD
Lunch is deli style consisting of turkey and roast beef, veggies & dip, cheddar and swiss cheeses, whole wheat buns and condiments with a delicious homemade style chocolate chip cookie. Beverages are Hawaiian fruit juices and bottled water. Breakfast on the Kanaio/ Molokini Tour consists of assorted fresh island fruit, muffins, Hawaiian fruit juices, and bottled water. Kanaio Coast Tour has a fruit and beverage break between sightseeing and snorkeling. (No alcohol allowed on board).

WEATHER CONDITIONS
Tours depart rain or shine. Inclement weather conditions are usually temporary and rain gear is provided. Cancellations due to weather are extremely uncommon and all parties are instructed to appear at the boat ramp no matter what the weather seems to them.

These tours are best reserved for those who are adventurous in spirit and in reasonably good physical condition. Destinations are weather permitting and alternate sites may be chosen. However, it's rare for us not to reach our destination whether it be Molokini or Kanaio. If the captain deems the conditions to be unsafe for departure, a full refund will apply. No-Shows are non-refundable.