PacWhale Eco-Adventures — Attraction in Maui

I booked a snorkeling tour on Thanksgiving with the Pacific Whale Foundation (PacWhale Eco Adventures) through my cruise ship, Norwegian. The 6-hour experience titled "Molokini Crater and Turtle Snorkeling" sold for $279 USD.

Would I recommend this tour or this company? No!

We started with a bus ride from the ship's pier to PacWhale docks driven by Mr. Kim, a local. During the 20-25 minute ride, he pointed out sites to explain their history to us. This part of the excursion was pleasant. The bus ride was comfortable and Mr. Kim was a kind and gracious host.

When we arrived at the docks, that's when everything went downhill. We were met by members of the boat's crew. We were told they would take our photos to "help with the head count." It was not an ask posed as an option. These photos consisted of us holding a ring buoy and would be sold to us later.

For my own reasons, I asked to opt out. Me: (3rd in line) I am not interested in having my photo taken Young Female Photographer: It will only take a minute Me: (2nd in line) I am going to pass on the photo, but thank you YFP: Please don't make me look bad in front of my boss Me: (now its my turn) Let me be clear (as I walk onto the boat) I won't be taking the photo YFP: (mocking me like we're in High School, no 3rd grade with those waiting in line behind me and rolling her eyes) Wow. I promise this doesn't hurt folks. It's not even that big of a deal. It's really not that serious.

I board the boat. Now I'm upset, because I felt disrespected. My NO should have been respected, not mocked. After she's done taking photos, I hop off the boat to take my power back by talking to her - not her boss or management, just her.

She's young - a Gen Z and this could be a learning lesson for her, I think. I pull her to the side to explain why I didn't want the photo taken. She says she just wanted to "encourage me." Seeing that she still wasn't getting it, I say, "If I were indecisive then encouragement would be appropriate, but I was resolute. You just needed to respect the decision I made for myself as an adult."

Herein lies a running theme with PacWhale: I constantly felt like I was being treated like a child. It didn't stop with the photo. I was told I could not use my full face snorkel mask - my mask that I always snorkel with, have snorkeled all over the world with and never had an issue with - I was not allowed to wear it. I get they are assuming liability for me and some folks have actually died using faulty full face masks, but they made me sign that away as soon as I hopped on the bus. It was the first thing Mr. Kim handed us - a liability waiver to sign so they were not responsible for pretty much anything, so why did I need to be treated like a 5 year old on their first day of kindergarten?

Then, when we arrived to Molokini, a 2 1/2 mile long structure, all 94 of us - yes, almost 100 people, folks - were kept in a 30'X30' bullpen seeing just a very small fraction of the wall. The space was so small there was no room to swim. We were literally on top of one another.

We were treated like children, no cattle. For my $279, I was made to feel like an animal not a human, because we were herded like cattle. Just how a cow is pimped for its milk, I felt pimped for my money. Everything was extra. They made $26,000 off of our group, alone, yet they nickel-and-dimed us for everything.

Need a wet suit? That's extra! Want that photo you were forced to take? That's extra! Need sunscreen that won't put you in jail? That's extra! Want a second cocktail? That's extra!

Get this! When we arrived back at the docks, we were escorted (like children) to our bus to ensure we did not stop to buy anything from any other merchant except PacWhale.

This tour is very constricting. If you desire or need freedom when you snorkel, this is not the tour for you. I saw other operators with smaller groups allowing their guests freedom to explore. Google them and ignore this tour altogether. I had such a bad experience that I never wish to return to Hawaii, particularly...

PacWhale Eco Adventure: A Whale Watcher's Dream Come True! My wife and I have whale watched together for over three decades, embarking on countless whale watching tours. But on Tuesday, December 17th, 2024, we experienced something truly extraordinary with PacWhale Eco Adventures in Maui! Piloted by the skilled Captain ‘T’, and narrated by the astounding Richard W. Dolan, our PacWhale Eco Adventure was nothing short of breathtaking. In a mere two hour tour, we encountered numerous whale groupings in all directions, with their majestic flukes rising and falling into the beautiful blue waters of the great Pacific. The air was filled with excitement as the whoosh of spouts in the distance coupled with Richard’s extraordinary narration and guidance created gasps of excitement from everyone onboard. If you were to combine all of my wife and I’s whale watching tours for the past 30+ years into one, it would pale in comparison to this absolutely phenomenal day!

But the real showstopper was the whales’ acrobatic display. We witnessed some 10 back to back breaches within 50-75 feet of our boat – a truly heart-pounding spectacle of power and grace. And as if that wasn't enough, we were treated to half a dozen full fin slaps within 50 feet of the boat, the sound echoing through our very souls. The atmosphere on the boat was absolutely electric. Every person, from seasoned whale watchers to first-timers, and even the captain himself were captivated by the whales' performance. Laughter, cheers, and gasps of amazement filled the air. It was truly a shared experience of pure joy and wonder.

If you're planning a whale watching trip to Maui, look no further than PacWhale Eco Adventures. Their knowledgeable crew's commitment to conservation, and unparalleled whale encounters make them the clear choice by far. And by choosing PacWhale Eco Adventures, you're not only supporting a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting marine life but also ensuring an unforgettable whale watching experience. Our PacWhale Eco Adventure was more than just a whale watching tour; it was an experience of a lifetime that will forever hold a special place in our hearts. It was a reminder of the beauty and power of nature and the importance of protecting our precious marine ecosystems.

So, if you're ready for a whale watching adventure that will leave you awestruck, book your PacWhale Eco Adventure today. Trust me, you won't regret it!

@pacificwhalefoundation, @tailsofstellwagen,...

My family went on the Molokini and Turtle Arches Snorkeling Trip from Ma'alaea Harbor at 7am. Details include arriving at 6:15 to check in, but no one was there.  They start an introduction 15min before departure and I saw a huge party of 20 check in 5min before that. So if you think 6:15 check in is too early, it is, just remember to do the waiver online. When we got on the Guardian we headed for the crater, just out of the harbor they told us we couldn't go because of wind conditions. A naturalist told me they were having the same problem yesterday. First of all in the waiver it said the captain could cancel due to weather conditions, why this didn't happen and why couldnt the patrons be informed the day before they wouldn't see what they paid for. So we sailed to known locations, where the other tours go, Olowalu. I admit way calmer waters, but the captain believed it was still too choppy and sailed on. Next known location was Shark pit, where we were finally allowed to snorkel. 1.5 hr into the trip the crew started removing each party one at a time into the water. The last group escorted took 45min from arriving at the spot. The next spot was off Mala wharf, again another popular spot by the tourism companies. This time they said, "whoever wants to go make your way to the back of the boat one at a time", no escort. Yes, these are good spots with lots to see. As far as covid restrictions, we were made to wear our masks the entire time on the boat. Naturally people would forget and not social distance, but the captain made sure to point out those individuals. At one point he even stopped the boat to tell that same large party if you don't put on your mask we will go back. That was before any snorkeling and seemed to be only directed to those on the top deck, so if you are worried that the crew won't inforce, they will. Also arrived back in the harbor 45min early from scheduled time. So all in all I learned that just because a charter describes that they go to a location doesn't mean you will actually...