Turtle Snorkel

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The green sea turtles are known as honu in Hawaii, and they are an essential part of the ocean environment. Fortunately, their population has increased significantly since their protection in 1978 from the harvest of eggs and turtles by humans. Green sea turtle shells can range from an live brown to black in color, and they can grow between 200-500 pounds. They primarily eat algae, and you will find them foraging along coral and rocks. Some Hawaiian families consider the honu as a aumakua (personal family diety), and the turtles should not be harmed or eaten. It is a very peaceful and beautiful sight to watch them in their natural habitat. If you see any laying out on the beach or swimming in the ocean, enjoy them from a distance and do not feed, touch, or change their natural behavior in any way.  Depending on how you’d like to spend your day, we have a turtle snorkel for you!

Aqua Adventures

Experience Molokini and Turtle Arches with Aqua Adventures! During you day on the ocean, avoid a crowded boat while zooming past other tours. Their 50 foot boat can hold up to 49 people, but Aqua Adventures limits their trips to 36 guests per day. Their vessel is powered by twin 350HP motors, and you will cruise at 22 knots!

Are you looking for something more adventurous than snorkeling? Check out SNUBA diving! It is similar to scuba, but without the bulky scuba gear which makes SNUBA a lot easier for first timers. You breathe compressed air through a regulator and you are able to stay underwater for up to 30 minutes, but instead of having tanks on your back, they float on a raft at the surface of the water. As you move around the water, the raft follows you effortlessly and a hose comes down to your regulator. You can explore and focus on the ocean world around you without the hassle of carrying and learning new scuba gear. They have the best dive instructors who will give you a guided tour of the underwater world. The on-board option of SNUBA is available on other boats, but Aqua Adventures has a specifically designed boat that has easy access in and out of the ocean. Also, instead of signing up on-board like other boats, you can pre-reserve your SNUBA.

Although Aqua Adventures specializes in SNUBA, it its also a great tour for snorkeling! SNUBA guests have 30 minutes of underwater SNUBA time and 30 minutes (or so) of snorkeling at one spot, and over an hour of snorkeling at the other location. Snorkelers who do not SNUBA will have about 3 hours of time in the water split between the two destinations.

Schedule: Daily at 7:15am

Duration: 4.5 hours

Check In: 6:45am at Maalaea Harbor slip #51. This is the boat harbor in Central Maui just behind the Maui Ocean Center Aquarium along Highway 30.

GPS: 101 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI 96793 Click to view map

Tour includes: The basic snorkeler rate includes continental breakfast on the way to Molokini, a really nice “build your own sandwich” deli lunch after you are done in the water, and an open bar for beer, Mai Tais, rum and cokes, soda and juice.

Gear Provided: The basic snorkeler rate includes snorkel gear and instruction, and two snorkel locations. Wet suits are available to rent onboard for a very modest fee of $5. Underwater cameras, T shirts, and souvenir boarding photos are also available for purchase.

Restrictions: While children of all ages may go along to snorkel, the minimum age for snuba is 8. All snuba divers must fill out a health screening questionnaire before participation. Occasionally someone will be disqualified from participating in snuba and in those cases we will refund the snuba dive portion of the ticket cost and only charge the basic snorkeler rate.

What to Bring & Wear:  Wear swimsuits and bring a towel and sunscreen.

Tour length: 4.5 hours

Vessel: High speed boat with Twin engine  350 horse Cummins

Capacity: 40

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations must be made at least 48 hours before the start of the event.

Note: Aqua Adventures often has an on-board videographer who will produce a DVD of your trip which is available for purchase.

Pride of Maui

Pride of Maui brings you to Molokini and “Turtle Town” in a spacious and stable vessel. The sprawling upper deck will give you panoramic views and breathtaking photo opportunities of the the Maui coastline and the surrounding islands. Their boat also features glass-bottom viewing and a water slide!

Your first stop is the pristine waters of Molokini Crater (typically) where you will encounter a plethora of sea life. The Pride of Maui’s powerful catamaran offers a fast and smooth ride to Molokini which lies in the middle of a channel between Maui and Kaho’olawe. Next you will stop at “Turtle Town” where you can swim and snorkel with the peaceful Hawaiian green sea turtles!

On-board options (at an additional cost):

SNUBA – This is between snorkeling and scuba. An oxygen tanks floats on a raft above the surface of the water, and it connects to a hose that is attached to the regulator in your mouth. SNUBA divers can stay underwater up to 30 minutes and swim 10 feet below. The rate is $50 per person in addition to the snorkeler rate. Let you guides know the morning of your tour that you’d like to SNUBA.

SCUBA – One or two tank dives are available for CERTIFIED divers only, and advanced reservations are required. It is an additional cost of $52 for a one-tank dive and $86 for a two tank dive (including gear). Please call our office after making a reservation if there are members of you party interested in scuba diving.

WET SUITS – Snorkelers can rent them for $10. For scuba divers, wet suits are included in the cost.

Schedule:  Daily at 8:00am

Duration: 5 hours

Check In: 7:30am at the north dock at Maalaea Harbor, Hwy 30 – Honoapi’ilani Hwy

GPS: 101 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI 96793 Click to view map

Tour includes: Continental breakfast, BBQ lunch and open bar

Gear Provided: Snorkel gear and a variety of flotation devices for those who feel more comfortable swimming in the ocean when they have a little help.

What to Bring & Wear: Bring your swimsuit, camera, sunscreen, sunglasses, and picture ID required to consume alcoholic beverages.

Vessel:  65 foot Maxi Power Catamaran

Capacity: 149

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations must be made at least 48 hours before the start of the event.

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Turtle Reef Introductory Kayak

Enjoy a leisurely paddle around Makena Bay with South Pacific Kayaks. The Turtle Reef Introductory highlight is snorkeling with Hawaiian green sea turtles. South Pacific Kayaks is the most respected kayak touring company and they have the best guides and equipment. Their guides are first aid and CPR trained ensuring your safety and security. They offer experience and knowledge, as well as aloha spirit. The guides will give you beach instructions and a safety briefing, and they will also assist with launch and landings. This tour is a excellent experience for all level kayakers!

Schedule: Daily at 7:30am

Duration: 3 hours

Check in: Makena Landing which is in South Maui a little beyond the Wailea area.

GPS: 5077 Makena Rd, Kihei, HI 96753 Click to view map

Paddling distance: 2.5 miles

Gear Provided: Quality snorkel equipment, personal flotation devices, and ocean kayaks.

Tour includes: Beverages and snacks

Restrictions: Recommended for over 5 years old

Note: There are no “children’s rates” on these tours, and the price is per “paddler.” The reservation form asks for the number of children under 12 just so that they know how many younger paddlers are in the party and so they can have appropriate equipment ready for them.

Cruise Ship Passengers

NCL cruise ship passengers in Kahului are able to do Aqua Adventures, Pride of Maui, and the Turtle Reef Introductory Kayak on their second day in port. This is a 12-15 minute cab ride to Maalaea Harbor, or we can arrange a rental car with shuttle pick-up at the harbor; rates vary throughout the year but start around $40 per day in low season; see our rental car page for more information. For the Turtle Reef Kayak we recommend renting a car, and the drive time is approximately 30 minutes.

 

Lahaina cruise ship passengers can do Aqua Adventures, Pride of Maui, and the Turtle Reef Introductory Kayak only on day 2 (assuming your ship is spending the previous night in Lahaina). Aqua Adventures and Pride of Maui would require a 20-25 minute cab ride, or we can arrange a rental car. The Turtle Reef Kayak is about an hour away and would require a rental car.

 

Only Pride of America passengers are able to do the Molokini Snorkel Sail on their second day in port and they will need to take a 15 minute cab ride.