Molokini, a crescent-shaped volcanic crater rising from the channel about 4 km off South Maui, has been a Marine Life Conservation District since 1977 and pairs a calm, exceptionally clear inner reef with a sheer back wall that drops more than 100 m. Maui itself adds turtle-packed shore dives, a wreck, lava arches, and humpback whale song on winter dives.
Destination info
Conditions, highlights, and the resident marine life.
Conditions
Water and air temperature across the year.
WaterAirDryShoulderWet
Description
Molokini is a 77-acre crescent of volcanic tuff in the Alalakeiki Channel roughly 4 km off Maui's southwest coast, protected as one of Hawaii's first Marine Life Conservation Districts since 1977 — taking marine life is prohibited and access is by permitted commercial day boats moored inside the crater. The destination offers two very different dives in one place: the sheltered inner reef slopes gently from 3 to about 25 m with visibility regularly exceeding 30 m and more than 250 recorded fish species, while the outer back wall plunges over 100 m straight into the channel and is dived as a live-boat drift for experienced divers. Hawaii's isolation gives the fish life a distinctive character — about 25% of Hawaiian shorefishes are endemic, the highest proportion of any marine region on Earth — with Potter's angelfish, milletseed butterflyfish, and bandit angelfish all seen here. Around Maui, staples include Turtle Town's green-turtle reefs off Maluaka, the collapsed 1922 Mala Wharf pier in Lahaina (an artificial-reef shore dive), the St. Anthony wreck off Keawakapu, and the arches of Five Caves at Makena Landing. Water temperatures run roughly 23–27°C year-round; from November to May, North Pacific humpback whales fill the Maui Nui basin and their song is audible on most dives — federal law prohibits approaching within 100 yards, including in the water.
Highlights
What makes this dive worth the trip.
Molokini was established as a Marine Life Conservation District in 1977 — one of Hawaii's first — and drew over 360,000 snorkelers and divers in 2018. State studies underpin its management: a 2010 carrying-capacity study found over 60% of visitors felt crowded when too many boats were in the crater, and a 2016 telemetry study found 50% of omilu (bluefin trevally, a key reef predator) were displaced out of the shallow crater when boat numbers exceeded 12.
The sheltered inner crater holds more than 250 species of tropical fish and 38 species of hard coral, with visibility up to 150 feet (45 m) on clear days — taking marine life, feeding fish, collecting coral, and landing on the islet are all prohibited.
Molokini's back wall drops about 350 feet (107 m) sheer into the Alalakeiki Channel and is dived as a live-boat drift with no mooring line: divers must descend and ascend independently, hold a mid-water safety stop, and carry a surface marker — visibility of around 150 feet is common, with pelagics, reef sharks, and the chance of anything wandering in from open ocean.
Marine life
26 species you’re likely to encounter on a dive here.
Dive sites
7 signature sites at this destination.
Molokini Inner Crater (Middle Reef)
The sheltered reef inside Molokini's crescent, sloping from a shallow reef flat at about 3 m down sand channels and coral ridges to around 25 m. Protected from prevailing swell by the crater rim, it offers calm, exceptionally clear water and dense fish life accustomed to divers after decades of protection: yellow tangs, butterflyfish, parrotfish, endemic Potter's angelfish, moray eels, and the occasional whitetip reef shark or turtle. Standard first dive of Molokini two-tank trips and an easy, high-reward site for newly certified divers.
3–25 mbeginnerDay boatLightVisibility 30–45 m
Molokini Back Wall
The outside of the crater's southern rim, a sheer wall dropping about 350 feet (107 m) into the Alalakeiki Channel. Dived as a live-boat drift dive — there is no mooring line, so divers descend and ascend in blue water, drifting along the wall typically between 10 and 30 m while scanning out for pelagics: grey reef sharks, eagle rays, occasional manta rays, barracuda, and spinner dolphins, with humpback song filling the water in winter. Deep-dwelling Hawaiian endemics like the bandit angelfish appear on the wall's ledges. For experienced divers only; many operators set minimum logged-dive requirements.
5–30 madvancedDay boatModerateVisibility 30–45 m
Reef's End (Molokini)
A submerged ridge extending from Molokini's western tip, where the inner reef's sand channel at about 3 m runs out along shelving ledges before dropping toward 350 feet at the great drop-off. The transition zone between sheltered crater and open channel concentrates life: garden eels colonize the sand slope, juvenile whitetip reef sharks rest under ledges, and spotted eagle rays cruise the edge. Typically dived as the more advanced half of a Molokini two-tank trip, working the ridge and shelves before crossing back over the sand channel.
3–40 mintermediateDay boatModerateVisibility 25–40 m
Mala Wharf
Maui's signature shore dive, off the ruins of the 1922 Mala pier in north Lahaina. Hurricane Iniki collapsed much of the structure in 1992, and the fallen pilings and concrete slabs now form a coral-covered artificial reef on a sand bottom of about 8–10 m. Green turtles rest among the wreckage in numbers, whitetip reef sharks shelter in the shaded hollows under collapsed sections, and frogfish, eels, and dense schools of snapper work the structure. Entry and exit are easy via the adjacent boat ramp; it is also a popular night dive.
3–10 mbeginnerShoreLightVisibility 8–20 m
St. Anthony Wreck
A 65-foot longliner intentionally sunk in October 1997 off Keawakapu Beach, Wailea, as part of one of Hawaii's official artificial-reef programs — the surrounding bottom is dotted with concrete forms and older reef modules dating to the 1960s. The wreck sits upright on sand at about 21 m with its structure topping out near 17 m. Green sea turtles habitually rest on the cabin, and the hull shelters frogfish, nudibranchs, eels, octopus, and schooling snapper, with occasional whitetip reef sharks under nearby modules. Usually dived as a day-boat trip from Kihei, often paired with a South Maui reef.
17–21 mintermediateDay boatLightVisibility 12–25 m
Five Caves / Five Graves (Makena Landing)
A lava-formed maze of caves, arches, and ledges off Nahuna Point at Makena Landing, named for the small graveyard at the shore trailhead. Depths run from about 3 m over the inner reef to roughly 14 m on the outer reaches. Green turtles rest under the arches in numbers (the area doubles as 'Turtle Town' for boat tours), and 'Shark Cave' regularly shelters several whitetip reef sharks at once; eagle rays, octopus, and nudibranchs round out the cast. The caves and occasional surge push the site toward divers comfortable with overhead-adjacent terrain — it is dived from shore or by boat from Kihei.
3–14 mintermediateShoreLightVisibility 12–18 m
Turtle Town (Maluaka)
The shallow lava-flow reefs off Maluaka Beach in Makena, the heart of the area marketed as 'Turtle Town'. Ancient lava fingers foster the algae growth that Hawaiian green sea turtles graze on, making encounters near-daily; the reef also holds butterflyfish, parrotfish, and goatfish over a sandy, beginner-friendly bottom of roughly 3–12 m. Calm mornings give the best light and turtle activity. Popular with both snorkel and dive boats from Kihei and Maalaea, and accessible from the beach for confident swimmers — Hawaii guidance is to keep at least 3 m from turtles and never touch them.
3–12 mbeginnerDay boatLightVisibility 15–30 m
Where to dive & stay
Local dive centers, resorts, and hotels.
Featured operators coming soon
Verified dive centers, resorts, and hotels around Molokini (Maui) will list here — pricing, photos, and direct contact.
