Snorkeling is one of the most popular activities in Maui. And the best snorkeling is done at Molokini Crater. This famous islet off the coast of Maui is considered the best snorkeling and diving location in all of Hawaii. Molokini is only one of three submerged craters in the world, and as such is a very popular tourist spot. Travelling with kids to Maui? Never snorkeled before? You are probably wondering if you can snorkel at Molokini Crater but apprehensive if you and/or your kids would be able to do it. Fret not. Keep reading for the ultimate guide to snorkeling at Molokini Crater with kids.
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Table of Contents
What is Molokini Crater?
Molokini Crater is a partially sunken crescent-shaped volcanic crater off the coast of south Maui and Kaho’olawe. Molokini rises from 300 feet below the sea floor, and has an area of 23 acres. It is half a mile wide with a diameter of 0.6 km. Its highest point is 161 feet above sea level.
Molokini has an interesting history. Much like the rest of the Hawaiian islands, Molokini was formed by a volcanic eruption in the Cenozoic era. During World War II, the crater was used by American troops for target practicing. Then from the 1950s to the 1970s, commercial harvesting of black coral was quite popular. Today, the islet is a federally owned seabird sanctuary. The reef and island were damaged due to the bombing but today only a few remnants of the previous military activities persist.
Can You Snorkel at Molokini Crater with Kids?
The answer is a resounding YES!
Molokini Crater is a big draw for families vacationing to Maui. The old volcano walls act as a shield from the trade winds resulting in calm waters away from rough waves and strong currents. Furthermore, Molokini boasts some of the clearest water in the state. Water visibility is 150 feet on average and it’s not unheard of to have visibility exceed 200 feet.
Due to its geography and fishing restrictions, Molokini is a terrific location to see marine life. There are about 250 varieties of fish present at the crater and on any given day, you are guaranteed several of them. As a bonus, the fish here are known to be less skittish. Our tour guide actually advised us not to move too much in the water so the fish can come to us. We were literally swimming among the fish and were able to watch them closely.
If you travel during the winter months, you might be able to encounter humpback whales on your way to Molokini. Whales migrate from Alaska every winter to escape the frigid waters. We were lucky to travel to Maui at the end of March. Our boat captain spotted a whale and made a little detour so we could see the whale and its baby a bit closer (keep reading for my review of our tour boat)
Tips for Snorkeling at Molokini Crater with Kids
Book a Snorkel Tour with Four Winds II Molokini
Molokini is 3 miles off the coast and only accessible by boat. Several tour operators offer tours from Maalaea Harbor and Lahaina. For a better experience, I recommend taking a smaller boat or catamaran. We chose to do a morning snorkel tour on the Four Winds II Maui based on glowing online reviews and do not regret it a bit.
What sets the Four Winds II apart? Well the Four Winds is a very family-friendly boat. The 55-ft catamaran features some great kid-friendly amenities:
- there is a glass bottom viewing room allows you to enjoy the views without getting in the water
- zero entry, on-board shower,
- waterslide
- sea-boards
- SNUBA
- kid tattoos
- fresh, yummy food cooked on board
Furthermore, the crew of the Four Winds II is simply amazing. The captain and crew are very attentive to all passengers’ needs but even more so to kids. They are knowledgeable, and so very patient especially with beginners and kids. The on-board photographer will take amazing underwater shots using cool tricks. Passengers’ safety is paramount to them and a lifeguard sits on a paddle the whole time guests are in the water.
And last but not least, I found that the rates were very reasonable. I felt like the tour was of great value and I definitely got more than my money’s worth.
Book a Morning Tour
Early morning tours are more kid-friendly as the water is calmer then. When we came back from our tour, the trade winds have started picking up making for a very choppy ride. Despite taking some Dramamine, my daughter and I were starting to feel a bit queasy.
Things to Bring on Your Tour
- beach towel
- rain jacket
- reef safe sunscreen
- waterproof shoes
- snacks
- binoculars
- waterproof Gopro with flotation device
Our Real-Life Experience Snorkeling at Molokini Crater
What to Expect aboard the Four Winds II
The Four Winds leaves the pier at 7:30 am and ask that you arrive 30 mins to check-in. After paying for our parking spot on the jetty, we made our way to the designated pier and waited to board with the other passengers (I should mentioned that we traveled during Covid and I must say that everybody was wearing masks and social distancing) Before boarding, the crew asked us which meal we wanted for lunch. Pulled pork, chicken, and hot dog were on the menu today. They also invited us to grab breakfast (pastries, muffins, fruits, juice and coffee) once we boarded.
After the Captain introduced the crew and went over safety protocols, we were soon on our way. The ride to Molokini can take about 45-60 minutes. The crew started going around handing mask, snorkel, and fins to all passengers. There was ample gear on the boat including enough for all the kids on board. In addition to the snorkel gear, they had life jackets, flotation devices for adults and kids, boogie boards and even flotation rafts. Wet suits were available to rent (cash only). As it was early morning and still cold enough out, I decided to rent some for myself and my daughter.
About halfway to Molokini, the Captain spotted a baby whale and decided to steer the boat in its direction, thinking the mom couldn’t be far away. Sure enough, we eventually saw a tail.
What to Expect at Molokini Crater
Once we arrived at Molokini Crater, the crew did a quick tutorial on how to snorkel for all newbies and those who needed a refresher. Since it was not my first time snorkeling, I decided to skip the tutorial. We headed straight to the water instead. When I first got in the water, I got a shock at how cold the water was and was glad I decided not to skimp on the wet suits.
Now it was time to get my daughter in the water. Knowing her pretty well, I saw she was very nervous and decided to ease her slowly into the water instead. At first she laid on the flotation raft and I towed her around with the rope attached to it. Before long, she begged to go in the water so we headed back to the boat to grab her snorkeling gear. She still wasn’t comfortable using the snorkel and used her regular goggles instead. But she eventually got frustrated at having to come up for air every few seconds that she decided to give the snorkel another try. As I was in the water this whole time, the crew helped her getting her mask and snorkel on and a flotation belt. They also gave her a boogie board for her to hold on or lay on.
I would like to commend the crew’s patience here as they helped her in and out of the water so many times. They were so supportive of her this whole time and I know it definitely boosted my daughter’s confidence.
Another fun feature of the Four Winds is their waterslide. Grown-ups and kids alike were having so much sliding down into the water.
We really enjoyed seeing all the fish in the water. In fact we had such a good time, we were among the last ones to get back on board and almost missed lunch!
After a couple hours at Molokini crater, it was time to head back to shore. On the way back, kids got temporary tattoos and the crew passed along delicious chocolate chip cookies.
A snorkel excursion is a must do on any family vacation in Hawaii. But in Maui, you simply must do Molokini Crater. Do you have snorkeling experience at Molokini? How was your visit there? I would love to hear about your experience in the comments below. Also please subscribe to the blog for more family travel inspiration.
Thank you for reading xx
FOR MORE KID-FRIENDLY MAUI IDEAS:
- Haleakala: How to experience the Haleakala sunrise with kids?
- Road to Hana: How to survive the Road to Hana with kids?
- 7-day Maui Itinerary: How to vacation to Maui with kids?
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