Maui Ocean Adventures — Local services in Maui

Like some other reviewers, I've been on a lot of whale watch trips over the years, most of them with Ultimate Whale Watch. Ultimate is a very good company, but the quality of their captains varies a bit. Most are great, but a few are pretty aggressive pilots, driving at maximum speed, even in rough waters. Earlier last week I did a Pacific Whale Watch Foundation tour, which was on a large and quite-old boat. I would not do that one again. Based on the recommendation of a friend, I decided to give Maui Ocean Adventures a try, and it was a fabulous experience. Captain Emma was one of the best captains for Ultimate, and she and her partner now have their own woman-owned company. The boat was very comfortable. Captain Emma is extremely knowledgeable and very pleasant, and she's an excellent pilot. She travels fast, but not crazy fast for the conditions. Most important, she has a very sharp eye for whales. We stopped and floated at 4-5 different locations, and I got some great photos in every location. Twice on the trip, Emma took off across the ocean, and I had no idea where she was headed. I didn't see anything on the horizon that looked like a whale. Then all of the sudden she slowed down, and lo and behold, we had whales right in front of us! We even had one surface within 20 feet of the boat. That gets your attention! Every whale watch trip is different - sometimes they are good, and sometimes they are great. The more trips you take, the greater the odds of seeing something spectacular like a breach. An expert captain with a sharp eye and a fast boat increases the odds. Emma is one of those people, and I'm booking more trips with her this week....

Hidden gem! Great company! I did 2 whale watches this past week. The first, with Pacific Whale Foundation, was a disappointment (review posted). Through word-of-mouth, I heard about Maui Ocean Adventures and decided to give them a try. It was truly one of the coolest experiences of my life! This little company has made their boat comfortable and beautiful - no bad seats! They have heart. I did some research about this company before booking and I learned that their original boat was lost in the Lahaina fire. They wanted to give up but we're inspired by the fighting spirit of their community so they dug in and they worked hard and now they are back. I love me a good comeback story. Maui Ocean Adventures reserves spots for Lahaina fire survivors on all of their trips. Through happenstance, I discovered a small family of survivors were sitting next to me, and because of that I got the joy of sharing our whale watch with the cheekiest little exuberant blue-eyed-girl who spotted monk seals, turtles, and every whale out there! The crew was more than sufficient for our small group! They were kind and fun and so smart and knowledgeable and passionate about whales, the ocean, and everything within it. I'm ruined for anything else now. They were great. Do yourself a favor and...

linitially booked a whale watching tour with another company, but it was canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. Fortunately, I managed to rebook with Maui Ocean Adventures, which turned out to be a fantastic experience. This unexpected change was truly a blessing, prompting me to share my positive review. I recently had the most incredible experience whale watching with Maui Ocean Adventures, and I can't recommend it enough! From start to finish, the entire journey was both fun and educational. The captain (Emma) and crew (Heidi and Bailey) were absolutely fantastic - their knowledge and enthusiasm made the trip truly special. We were treated to breathtaking views and learned so much about these majestic creatures and their environment. The crew's passion for marine life was infectious, making the educational aspect of the tour engaging and enjoyable. It was a perfect day filled with beauty and wonder. If you're looking for an amazing and unforgettable adventure, whale watching with Maui Ocean Adventures is an absolute must! Oh and if you get the chance to meet Macy (the dog, not the boat) that is just icing...