Honestly, this was one of the things on our trip to Hawaii we wish had done differently (aka, not done). What we got out of it versus what we paid did not add up. Also - especially during COVID - there were just too many people on the boat; it was crowded and everything felt rushed.
Snorkeling at the Crater was phenomenal and the water was clear, but there were also a dozen other tour boat groups there at the same time so, again, crowded and you were expected to stay within a small swim radius all while trying not to get kicked in the face by another snorkeler. The whole tour would have been better if we had just stayed at the Crater the entire time, but we were ushered off to a second location in the open waters where it was particularly rough so the conditions were barely visible. You spent about 20 MIN in the actual water and then the rest of the time was on the boat being transported to different places... We had also signed up for the additional SNUBA tour, which turned out to be a bust because (a) we had left the Crater by that point and waters were rough/unclear at the second location we were taken to, (b) there was very little instruction for this. It was very much a "get in the water and go" type of situation - completely fine for those who know what they're doing or have done it before, but rough for first-timers. And (c), by the time the second SNUBA group got in the water the overall tour was already behind schedule and the waters were so rough they pulled people out early - we spent less than 15 MIN in the water. A third SNUBA group did not get to go out into the water at all.
We were also not informed prior to arrival that spray sunscreen would not be allowed (website not updated); instead, you were offered the opportunity to purchase their small lotion bottle at $5 each before boarding...
We STRONGLY encourage people to consider renting/purchasing snorkel gear and then going to the various beaches around Hawaii. We saw more wildlife with less crowding in better water conditions, and the best part is it's FREE; we wish we had spent more of our time doing this and could have saved a lot of money.
Ответ от хоста
May 2021
Thank You for your sharing your experience. I am perplexed by your comments, considering we operate our boats at 50% of our Coast Guard rated capacity and operate the largest Maxi Power Catamaran on Maui. Pride of Maui has over 2500 square feet of space. She is spacious and stable, purpose built for Hawaiian waters.
Yes, Molokini is a very popular snorkeling destination, and there are other boats which operate at this location. Like you said, it is phenomenal.
There are no turtles at Molokini and the vast majority of our guests want to see the turtles. This is also why so many of our guests love visiting Turtle Town and the opportunity to swim with Green Sea Turtles. We spend a full hour snorkeling at each of our two snorkel locations, providing our guests with the exceptional underwater visibility at Molokini and the turtles at Turtle Town.
Upon arrival at Molokini, our Veteran Captains conduct a snorkeling class on the upper deck for novice snorkelers. This class covers all the basic safety precautions, use of equipment, overview of marine life, and use of the 3 different floatation options we supply.
Your safety is our number one priority, period! This is why we have a certified, licensed SNUBA Instructor with more than a decade of experience who conducts a very thorough SNUBA class with our guests who participate in the SNUBA experience, which is an opportunity to breathe from a scuba tank at a depth of 15 feet in a very safe and controlled environment for approximately 20 minutes, allowing another 40 minutes of snorkeling time, for those who SNUBA.
Maui has some of the best conditions for snorkeling in the Hawaiian Islands. Molokini Crater and Turtle Town are both epic locations to snorkel. Doing so aboard our spacious, stable, and UNCROWDED vessel, operating at 50% of our Coast Guard capacity, in order to provide more space per passenger, is a wonderful experience.
There are those rare times when the weather shifts and yes we have to leave before the wind blows out the crater. Thank goodness those days are very few and far between. It may be that your time at Molokini was cut short because of the approaching wind. However, at the risk of repeating myself, with conviction, there is nothing more important to us than your safety, and on those occasions where we leave the crater early to keep you safe, we are pleased that most of our guests appreciate our utmost attention to your safety.
Restricting your distance away from the boat and placing lifeguards on surfboards who keep a close eye on you while snorkeling, is another safety measure we incorporate.
I would encourage would be customers to read all of the reviews about these important components of our tours to develop a factual interpretation of the care we take of each and every guest we serve.
You will clearly read the extent to which our team goes to ensure the safety and comfort of our guests. We most assuredly provide thorough instruction, do not operate a crowded boat, and deliver exceptional service at two world class snorkel destinations, at a very relaxed pace.
Thank You
Scott Turner
CEO