Day 03 Maui - Snorkeling Tour Molokini Crater & Turtle Town

July 25, 2022

The alarm clock rings at 5 o'clock. I am already awake just before, the kids have a hard time getting out of bed. They seem to have almost "digested" the 12-hour jet lag.

After a short 20-minute drive, we meet our German friends from Wolfsburg at the Maalaea Harbor at 6 o'clock on time. How funny, in the fall of 2020 we were sitting together and talking about Hawaii, and now, 2 years later, we are going on a snorkeling tour together in Maui / Hawaii 😜

How cool is that!!!

Considering that the boat we are going out on is not really huge, the organizer manages to pack it quite full 🙄

By rough estimate, there are definitely at least 50 people on board.

We secure a spot in the middle, in the shade and near the buffet 😁

There are soft drinks, tea, coffee, melon, cake, sandwiches, and croissants. So let's have breakfast before we arrive at Molokini Crater.

The journey takes a while, there is music playing, and those who need snorkeling equipment can borrow it for free (we have everything with us - my husband and son also have wetsuits with them).

Wetsuits can also be rented, but they cost $10!

When we arrive at Molokini Crater, there are already several boats anchored and we see a sea of swim noodles. Our boat also has swim noodles and swim belts. I treat myself to a swim belt, my son also gets a swim noodle, my daughter and husband do without both and jump directly into the water. The water is fresh (well, it's only 7:30 in the morning), but you quickly get used to it. My son and I enter the water through the stairs in the middle of the ship. However, the first view under water is sobering. Although it is crystal clear, there is really nothing to see.

Just rocks, a lot of rocks, and a few fish. There are almost no corals. We snorkel around for a while and then see a huge moray eel as a highlight. That was amazing - okay, that was a great sighting. Otherwise, there are only the usual colorful fish - but few in number. In comparison to Ahihi, there are hardly any fish swimming around out here...

But there are swim fins and swim noodles everywhere 🙈🙈

At around 9 o'clock, we leave the crater and head to the next snorkeling spot, called "Turtle Town". We realize that Turtle Town is north of Big Beach, which we can see from the boat.

A while off the coast, we stop and are allowed to jump into the water again. Based on the other snorkelers who have already come with other boats, it is easy to see where you have to snorkel to see a turtle. And indeed, just a few meters away from the boat, the first huge turtle is grazing right under us - unfortunately several meters below us.

I stay above it for a while and get lucky. It comes up to breathe just a few centimeters in front of me! Incredible!!!!

A bit further, in shallower water, there are even several turtles swimming around. I feel a bit sorry for them when they have to make their way through the pool noodles to breathe...

Well, we are definitely thrilled - we have seen huge turtles up close. One went unnoticed and snuck up behind my son to take a breath. He was terrified when the turtle head came out of the water right next to him 😆

While waiting for the last snorkelers on the boat - and the boat rocking back and forth very slowly - my son and I have to take a motion sickness tablet. Damn, I'm just not made for boats...

With a greenish complexion and not quite as much fun, I endure the end of the boat tour and hope that we will quickly return to the harbor through the waves (yes, now there's wind and waves 🙈).

At around 12 o'clock noon, we reach the harbor again. We arrange to meet our friends at our resort for an evening BBQ, but now I need a break. We are pretty tired after all.

We chill by the pool and in the condo until 5 o'clock, then we grill a colorful mix of burgers (veggie & "normal") with our friends, enjoy the sunset at Beach Park across the street, and say goodbye to our friends around 8:30. We have to get up early again tomorrow - VERY early!

What an eventful day!