Malolo Molokini Snorkeling Tours — Local services in Maui

SHAME ON BOSS FROGS for highly recommending this snorkel company. Paid for a 3 hour snorkel trip advertised and verbally explained to us by Boss Frogs that it would go to the Coral Gardens AND Molikini Crater. One of the crew showed up to our meeting spot well after our 1pm departure time, about 1:15pm. She was not friendly, she didn't even crack a smile on her face or greet us with a simple hello when she addressed all of us paying customers who had been patiently waiting for her or anyone to arrive. We had to stand in line to check in, more time wasted as we grew further from our start time on the boat. Captain Carlos arrived to give a few instructions and made a point to tell all of us the expectations of tipping the boat crew. Odd since we were now well past our start time & he was wasting our paid time on the boat barking out that we need to be tipping everyone. It was at this time he should have honestly informed all of us that we would only be traveling to the Coral Gardens and NOT to Molikini Crater due to the wind conditions. Either way, we lost out on our $85.00 per person already paid so good customer service and consideration of paying customers should have been exercised, ESPECIALLY IF YOU WANTED TO BE TIPPED!!! As we finally arrived to the boat, J.J. one of the crew stood there as we got on the boat. A few of us in our party said hello to him, he stood there and didn't say a word, no hello, no welcome to the boat, nothing. We all sat down and felt like the crew didn't want us on the boat, they seemed annoyed YET WE NEED TO BE SURE TO TIP THEM! We pulled out of the harbor well after 1:30pm. We were already discussing that with the distance we needed to travel, there was no way we were going to make the 2 stops, have lunch and be back by 4:00pm since we left over 30 minutes late. That was further confirmed by the speed that the boat was traveling once we were out of the harbor. We could clearly tell the Captain was going slow to burn up more time. Granted, it was windy this day so we looked on our phones at the live camera feed at Molikini Crater and there were no boats there so clearly due to the windy conditions, none of the boats were making that trip but again, we should have been given full disclosure of that beforehand when the whole trip was delayed by the Captain and crew. We likely would have opted to drive to a few of the less crowded beaches and gone snorkeling on our own and skipped the boat trip to Coral Gardens. We arrived at the Coral Gardens, once in the water, it was very underwhelming and boring. We sat and watched people getting back on the boat with no crew members in sight much of the time, the girl helping people kept walking away so no instructions on where to place the used snorkel gear and fins so we stepped in and helped guide people (MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR TIPS)! Lunch consisted of microwaved hot dogs and stale buns, totally gross and I do like hot dogs for the record. As we traveled back to the harbor, the girl who had been taking photos of everyone on the boat (not one of the crew members) and while we snorkled sent around a tablet so we could look at and purchase photos. You could not purchase individual photos but only a full package for $135.00. There was a family next to us that asked her if the price could be negotiated down a bit and she said no, I only get $"X" amount of the total fee so I cannot give you any break in price. We found this offputting as she gave a couple in our group a discount down to $100.00 right before they asked for the same thing. The biggest and most insulting part of this whole thing was the Captain and his constant reminder over the boat speaker of how it was traditional for us to tip everyone and then he not only told us that but told us expected percentages and the amounts that all of us should be tipping them repeatedly.

Updated: 7/2/2024: We were issued a full refund due to our unfortunate experience. This shows the owners do have integrity which I 100% respect. Thank you for doing the right thing...

Malolo tour to Molokini and Turtle town was absolutely amazing! The captain and 2 man crew were awesome. We set out on a perfect day, according to the Captain and both crew mates. They seemed excited about how great our snokeling day would be, which pumped up our tour members!! Check in is at Frog boss by the aquarium at 6 am, then you head to their slot for boarding. They seated us so we had space btwn each family asking front or back of boat. Boat was barely filled up. TIP: sit up front on the way out for an amazing view of the sunrise. BUT sit in the back on the way in, the winds are rougher and water splashes in your face up front! They had muffins, yogurt, and coffee for the breakfast ride out. We saw a beautiful rainbow over the watered! We got to Molokini around 45 mins after departure. The captain took us around the back side of the crater to see all of it, and man it is a beauty! We also got full instructions on our gear, $10 wetsuit rental, though I swam in a longsleeve spf dryfit and long boardshorts, once in the water you get use to the temperature and will only get cold on the boat. BRING TOWELS, they do not provide them and you will want them!!! They have pool noodles and waist floats that were awesome to help you float around. We used their snokel gear and it worked perfectly, we had no issues even though this was our first time snokeling! Lots of fish and coral, which they repeatedly tell you not to feed or touch! We saw a guy get pushed up against the coral and ALL the boat's crews started whistling and yelling and one of the guys on the surf boards went to help him, he had a hard time swimming that close to the crater. Be careful the water can be strong! And our guides told us how great and RARE the weather was for us! Off next to Turtle town, which was my FAVORITE. It was a bit of a swim from boat to reef where the turtles are but the floats help alot! We saw 4 swimming turtles and 1 holding onto coral deep under water. Many beautiful fish. We spent 45 mins at each location which seemed so much longer. Then they served us lunch, which was a turkey sandwich and chips. I brought my own snacks which I would recommend if you have picky eaters!! The ride back was more intense. The crew told us we would get back early due to the weather being so amazing. Usually the wind is so strong that water fully comes over the front of the boat SOAKING the riders. Our way back was not that bad but water did come up a bit and it was cold and the sun is bright and intense the whole 1 1/2 hour ride in. Again sit in the cabin on the way back!!!

Thanks again to this amazing crew, we had a lot of fun and they were very informative and answered ALL our questions!! Wish I remembered their names (only JJ) we took the earliest outing which was said to be the best...

Unfortunately we were very disappointed with this experience. The whole reason we purchased tickets ($160 each) was with the expectation of going to Turtle Town and they did not even attempt to go to Turtle Town. Molokini and Turtle Town are two different locations, and while we went to Molokini and swam with fish and saw the reef, we were informed that the water was "too murky" to go to Turtle Town and that we would not even attempt to visit.

Don't get me wrong - if it's not safe to go, that is fine and that's life. Conditions are not always safe and/or perfect. But at least make some attempt to rectify the matter, like with a partial refund or voucher to come back in a few days and try for Turtle Town again. Instead it was just like "tough shit."

They told us this within 30 minutes of leaving the dock that we would not be visiting Turtle Town. Honestly, if they would have told us before leaving the dock, we would have requested to get off the boat and request a partial refund or voucher to come another day (maybe 2 or 3 days later) to try for Turtle Town again when it's not so "murky." This was not offered as an option at all. There was no attempt made to rectify skipping Turtle Town, no refund (not even partial), no vouchers, nothing. Even a large corporation like Disney will make an attempt to refund customers when the park needs to close due to a hurricane or tropical storm. We spent 5 hours on a boat to just snorkel with fish, when what we really wanted was to see the sea turtles. If you are expecting to see turtles, do NOT book this experience. If you're fine just seeing fish for this price, then go for it.

Again, we are very disappointed the company made no effort at all to rectify the lack of attempt or prior notification of not going to Turtle Town. It's not even listed in the description that going to Turtle Town may not be guaranteed. At least with whale watching tours with other companies, they will usually say "seeing whales not guaranteed," or if it is guaranteed, then they "offer a voucher to come back another day to try again."

Again - very disappointed. Staff was friendly, but just not a great experience for us. It was a...