Aqua Adventures — Local services in Maui

We chose this outfit due to all of the good reviews, and perhaps we just caught them on a bad day, but our experience was not good.

Check-in procedure was pretty standard fare, all the CYA and housekeeping stuff. Breakfast was decent - fruit, coffee and bagels/muffins. Ride out to Molokini was fine, and we stopped once for a whale sighting.

Molokini itself was terrible - so overrated. While this isn't the company's fault, there are just way too many boats and people there, and the volume and diversity of the marine life is poor. I exited the water a bit early due to getting tired of having to navigate hundreds of other people in the water so I could catch a glimpse of basically nothing special.

The reason for my low review is the clear disdain that captain Daryll had for us tourists, which was thinly masked by scripted humor. My wife and I both noticed it and two other couples also made mention of it - to the effect of "we're trying to figure out if he likes us or hates us". Unfortunately, I've seen this before on these guided tours - just because people are visiting your island and in need of your services doesn't make them all inexperienced morons who need to be talked to like they've never stepped foot on a boat or in the water and have no clue what they're doing. For example, I overheard another guest being told in a condescending way that the burning they might experience in their eyes was going to be due to excessive sunscreen they applied and not salt water. The man was in his 60s, not a child.

When I expressed my opinion that Molokini was basically 'meh', rather than trying to understand a bit more about why I had that opinion and maybe offer up some local tips for finding better snorkeling (I happen to be a seasoned snorkeler who has snorkeled in many spectacular spots outside of Hawaii, if he cared to find that out), the captain got defensive and insinuated that I wasn't in the right spot (even though I'd been to the exact spot he pointed out) and told me there were 14 whole species of fish out there and I wouldn't see them if I was sitting on the boat. I just spent hundreds of dollars essentially to catch a ride to the crater (I didn't need assistance with anything else), found the destination disappointing, and I really didn't appreciate the attitude for simply being honest.

We then hit Turtle Arches and it was a bit better than Molokini, more marine life and a couple of turtle and octopus were sighted by the group.

We took a slow ride back to the marina and had some pretty good sandwiches and drinks to cap off the tour.

The rest of the crew was pretty friendly and attentive, but when the captain is clearly trying to contain his negative feelings toward the people funding his paycheck, it's a turn-off. I own two businesses and I pay very close attention to how customers...

Snorkeling Adventure in Maui: An Unforgettable Experience

Our snorkeling adventure in Maui was nothing short of spectacular. From the moment we set off, we knew we were in for a treat. The crystal-clear waters, teeming with vibrant marine life, provided an enchanting underwater world that exceeded our expectations. The tour started around 7am arrival and we pushed out close to 8am. Our guides were knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about marine conservation, the island, culture and history. They provided a thorough briefing on safety and snorkeling techniques, ensuring that even beginners felt comfortable and confident. The tour also included light breakfast and lunch (alcoholic beverages after snorkeling at the end of the tour).

We were offered a special experience on the boat that we didn’t know until we got there: @mattdbrah was going to be the photographer for the day!! Super knowledgeable, passionate and fun to hang with. Can’t wait till we get the pictures he took of us in the water, of the marine life and capturing our family moments! If you get a tour that Matt’s on board… you’re in for an added special day. 🫶🏻📷🐠🌊 follow him for his amazing photography and living island life.

One of the highlights was snorkeling at Molokini Crater, a partially submerged volcanic caldera. The visibility was incredible, allowing us to see the vibrant coral reefs and a plethora of tropical fish in their natural habitat.

The second memorable spot was Turtle Town, known for its large population of Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles. Our guides discovered an octopus that we also had the opportunity to experience up close, which was amazing!!

Overall, our snorkeling adventure with Aqua Adventure in Maui was an unforgettable experience. The combination of stunning locations, professional and passionate guides, and the incredible marine life made it a highlight of our trip. We highly recommend this adventure to anyone visiting Maui (book with the best crew for a smaller more personalized, intimate...

The female over the phone during booking was very professional and helpful, not such the case with the gentleman that was present at the harbor on the day of the trip. Upon check in my wife realized she had forgotten to take a very important prescription medication that would without a doubt alter the outcome of the trip. The hotel was only a few minutes away and we were checking in on the early side anyway. When we told the gentleman this he stated no way they would wait even a single minute for her to take this medication and suggested that my wife just stay back at the hotel or shop while our family of 5 leaves without her. In the end we felt he was very unprofessional and in-compassionate. As we sat in the car, with my wife in tears, we watched the boat set way and we realized that we had more than enough time to go back to get her medications and the gentleman knew that. He made the choice to take off for the trip sooner knowing that our family was the last of the count. There was still time. We spent almost $700 on this SNUBA excersion. We accept and own our faults in this unfortunate circumstance. However, the man had the choice to wait just a couple minutes and if not, then I know he had to choice to at the very lease be kind. We have never been treated with such disregard. We could have made it to our hotel and back in the time frame posted on our tickets. He chose to leave on the earlier side knowing that we needed to go back to get the medication. Ruined our family vacation. I plan to share this experience with any person or site that will listen. This is the kind of thing people want to know before they book anything. Again, I know, it is our fault we forgot the meds. BUT after watching the man leave the harbor we know we could have made it back with her meds before the 07:15am time...