Molokini Crater

Verified2026-09-24 checkedReefWall

The rim of a sunken volcanic crater three miles off Maui: a sheltered inner bowl, and a back wall that drops out of sight.

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Depth: 3–40 m10–131 ft
Difficulty: Intermediate
Entry: Boat
Typical current: Moderate
Coordinates: 20°37.902′N 156°29.736′W
Activities: Scuba · Snorkelling · Freediving

Molokini is a crescent of rock standing out of the water between Maui and Kaho’olawe — the exposed rim of a volcanic crater. Inside the crescent is shallow, sheltered and startlingly clear: 3 to 20 m of reef with visibility that routinely passes 30 m, which is why the snorkel boats go there. Outside is a different dive. The back wall falls from the rim past 100 m with pelagics along it and current to match, and it is only run when conditions allow. The whole crater is a marine life conservation district, so the fish are unbothered and the numbers are high. Take the first boat; by mid-morning the inner bowl is crowded.

Forty-five minutes by boat from Ma’alaea or Kihei on Maui’s south coast.

Best season

ExcellentApr–Jun
ExcellentSep–Oct
GoodNov–Mar
GoodJul–Aug

Before you get in

Past 30 m, where no-stop time and gas both go quickly and nitrogen narcosis starts to show.
A wall. There is no bottom in sight to judge against, so depth is kept by the gauge alone — and it is easy to end up deeper than intended.

Taken from this site’s recorded depth, type and current, and nothing else. An empty list is not a safe site — the sea on the day, the local geography and the boat traffic are not in it. The briefing on the spot comes first.

Conditions

Water temperature: 27.3°C81°F
Wave height: 1 m3 ft
Air temperature: 25.1°C77°F
Wind speed: 15.2 km/h9.4 mph

Updated 2026-10-07 15:45 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0)

Conditions are reported for information only. Assess the site yourself and follow your guide and your training.

No live conditions for this site yet.

We only show numbers we can attribute to a source.

Sea state and tide

On a date

Tide · 10/7

High01:200.76 m
Low06:550.38 m
High13:150.96 m
Low19:470.32 m

Forecast heights against mean sea level. Real tides in a bay, a harbour or over a flat can differ — check an official tide table before you get in.

Pick a day to see its tide

Only wave height and wind are scored, because those are what close a boat ramp or a shore entry. Water temperature is reported and never scored: 12°C is an ordinary dive in a drysuit and punishing in a 3 mm, and a number that cannot see your suit has no business marking it down. Stars do not decide whether you get in — you and your guide do, on the day.

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0)

Marine life you may see

Green turtleChelonia mydasCommon
Bigeye trevallyCaranx sexfasciatusCommon
Giant morayGymnothorax javanicusCommon
Whitetip reef sharkTriaenodon obesusSeasonal
Spotted eagle rayAetobatus narinariSeasonal
Spinner dolphinStenella longirostrisCommon
Humpback whaleMegaptera novaeangliaeJan–MarSeasonal
Raccoon butterflyfishChaetodon lunulaCommon
TrumpetfishAulostomus chinensisCommon
Moorish idolZanclus cornutusCommon
Bluestripe snapperLutjanus kasmiraCommon
Yellowfin tunaThunnus albacaresRare

From divers

What people who were in the water reported. Not a forecast, and not a judgement about whether the site is safe to dive.

No recent reports from divers. If you dived here in the last two weeks, you can say how it was.

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