Maui Snorkel Charters — Local services in Maui

One of the stand-out memories that I have from my brief sojourn in Maui was the day that I was within arms' reach of a bale of three sea turtles. It is Maui Snorkel Charters that I have to thank for the unforgettable and unprecedented experience. Upon arriving at the pier in the early morning sun, we were greeted by curly-haired Alex. He came bearing hot coffee and toothsome banana bread, all served up with an exuberant demeanor and boyish charm. His eager directions, accompanied by a white-toothed smile, quickly maneuvered everyone down to the dock and onto the boat in record time. There, we were introduced to our other snorkeling stewards: Captain Jen and Intern Anna. Both had the bubbly personalities and honed familiarity with the workings of the bay to keep up all of us feeling secure as we suited up. With Captain Jen at the helm, our journey to the first drop-off spot flew by with two blinks of an eye. No other vessels were in sight when we dashed and splashed into the water. Under the ocean's surface was a technicolor array of coral, fish, and seafaring creatures. It only improved with drop-off number two, where black rock formations held hiding spots for intriguingly finned, scaled, and tailed fish folk. Only a few sightings had really captured my full attention and interest up until then, though. It was the third locale that took the adventure to a new level with multiple sea turtles. Since I had been hoping for honu, this portion of the trip did not disappoint. My underwater adventure went on for so long that I was exceedingly reluctant to return to the boat...except for the fact that there was the promise of another destination location that would bring even more turtles galore. And to top it all off, our final snorkeling foray did indeed bring at least half a dozen distinct sea turtles into the fold. They were lolling in the waves, shimmying through the sands, and simply consorting amongst one another. I knew it was a special place in time and space when I was able to hover in the water above one turtle for what seemed like ages. The peace within and without truly took this trip to an entirely new level. I cannot thank Alex enough for sharing his windbreaker and snuggly towel on the gusty boat ride, Captain Jen for dropping me off in the best possible stretch of water, and Anna for getting us secured and anchored with all the skill of a seasoned sea dog. Most charter employees would consider this the extent of the experience. This was a different crew altogether. We crossed paths with Jen and Alex later that day at Cool Cat Cafe while finishing up root beer floats, and they were just as caring and affable as they had been on the charter. If your experience in Maui has not been vibrant enough for your eyes or soul, then this is the excursion to make...

Can't say enough about this excursion. Capt Doug and his crew were very efficient and friendly. The location was easy to find via Google Maps and everything was set up and organized when we arrived. They had some old shirts from the previous boat that they graciously handed out prior to boarding. They provided a zip up wet suit top and were able to accommodate all sizes. They then handed out masks and fins and again they were able to provide every size. The mask was excellent and provided a perfect seal on all three of us. They give you detailed explanation of the ins and outs of the mask and snorkel usage along with the do's and don'ts of snorkeling around the boat. The boat is a work of art, I haven't seen anything like it. It makes you feel safe and comfortable. It's a very personable experience with the crew and the people around you. You have a dry area to store your stuff under each seat. On this day it wasn't necessary to bring a wind breaker. Entering and exiting the water is a breeze. Once on the move they pass around a selection of muffins for a quick bite and make a second round after your first dive. We had 4 dives Molokini (reefs end, tako flats, & back wall) and the last dive I can't remember. These are some of the best snorkel spots in the world. The waters are calm and crystal clear with plenty to see. The staff is in the water to help and make sure everyone is safe. If you are a beginner snorkeler this is the tour for you. The staff has the time to teach you because there are only 18-20 people on board. If you want a floaty to hang on to they have those too. Unfortunately for us there was an unusually large swell that prevented us from diving Turtle Town due to a complete lack of visibility. They served an excellent wrap for lunch with a bag of chips and a Gatorade or coke. The way home takes you along the coast of Kaya and Captain Doug shares a few fun stories and sites along the way. All in all it's about 4 hours and your...

Best Molokini snorkel trip on Maui! Captain Cary and Allison were incredible! You can tell they love their jobs and wanted to give us the best experience possible. After many snorkel trips to Molokini this is the only boat I'll ever take again. If you want to get the most of your snorkeling, Captain Cary will put you on the best spots. They aren't locked into a mooring where you only see one spot of Molo. Since we got to start at Kihei instead of Maalaea Harbor we were the first boat to the crater. And since we were first to arrive Cary let us drift snorkel the whole inside of the crater from end to end, and picked us up on the far side. Then we got to dive the backwall of Molo where its a vertical drop off into blue water. It sounded like the whales were right behind us. Then he took us to Reefs End at where we saw sharks. We did all 3 snorkel spots in the same amount of time the other boats sit on their single mooring spot. After snorkeling we got up close and personal with some whales. A mom and calf swam right under the boat and stayed with us for 20 minutes. The smaller boat, closer to the water allowed us to see it the whole time. We could hear them singing above the water. After the whale show we went to one last secret snorkel spot with turtles, monk seals, spotted eagle rays, lobsters and octopus. The boat was perfect: very comfortable, plenty of shade, plenty of room, and being in a smaller boat with just 12 people made for an unforgettable experience. We agreed it was our favorite day on Maui. Our 4 year old still asks if we can go back on the boat with Capt Cary. Incredible boat, incredible captain and...