Molokini Crater or Lanai Wild Dolphin snorkel

[wickiwicki]

Has anyone been to Molokini crater or taken the lanai wild dophin snorkle. They both sound great but would like to hear if anyone has done either of these. Any input is appreciated. Thanks

[irishtwins]

Hi wickiwicki

 

I've gone scuba diving and snorkeling at Molokini and snorkeling at Lanai. Molokini was rough on the surface but ok once you got under. On a glassy day snorkeling there is good. (Although it's over 60 feet deep). I wouldn't recommend Molokini if there are ANY whitecaps. We loved Lanai!! The Ultimate Adventure in Paradise with Trilogy was the best excursion from any vacation we've taken. Also for snorkeling and whale watching, Captain Steve's out of the Mala Wharf in Lahaina is great!

[Hilary]

Wow, are you sure you're thinking of Molokini Crater and not Molokai the island?? Molokini crater is a crescent shaped atoll open to the down current side of the ocean and famous for glassy, calm waters with over 100' visibility. Snorkeling on Molokini is in water that is typically 5' deep at it's shallowest, getting deeper from there.

[CleoChase]

Molikini can have white caps when the trade winds are blowing. We were there in early December. When our boat arrived, the other boats were already busy trying to get everyone out of the water. Our boat did not stay they took us to Lanai, which was supposed to have been our second stop and then we went to a spot just off west Maui were they knew that there were turtles. Both were terrific.

 

I have never been so glad to be told were were not going in the water as when the captain annouced we would not be getting to see Molokini. It was down right ROUGH in that crater! Someday I hope to go back and see it when the winds are cooperating. :)

[4minus1]

just booked the lanai dolphin tour through activityworld with the pacific whale foundation boat. cheaper online thru activityworld.com than thru pwf. Was told on the way to the dolphins, we would definitely see whales, great snorkeling at Lanai, bbq, bfast, open bar on board, plus a waterslide, what more could you ask for in paradise? happy hunting

[love2relax]

We snorkeled at Molokini in August of 2004, and it was the best visibility of anywhere that we have snorkeled in the world. We purchased a video that was taken of everyone that day, and you would swear it was a National Geographic program. We were so impressed that we recommended my brother's family go two days later. Guess what? They had terrible visibility! For us, Molokini was the best ever. For them, it was the worst. So you never know...no matter what time of year it is.

[Hilary]

Morning water excursions in Hawaii are the way to go, and it sounds like your PWF trip will be a blast. Remember that in Hawaii the trade winds pick up in the afternoon and the wave action gets pretty rough, which is why most boats go to Lanai and Molokini in the mornings and stay close to the Maui shoreline in the afternoons.

 

Bear in mind too that the water won't be "warm", so if you can rent a wetsuit it's a really good idea to maximize your time in the water and keep from getting chilled. Basic rule of thumb for water temperatures in Hawaii is 72-75 in the winter/spring and 75-80 in the summer/fall.

[simonv]

Go to Lanai. Molokini isn't what it used to be. Anchoring and fish feeding gone on way too long. Though they stopped the practice, I fear it'll take years before it's restored to what it was.