We hadn't planned on doing a snorkel trip before arriving on Maui, so I didn't look into the options in advance at all. We were taking a SUP lesson with Kyle at Maui Beach Boys on Friday and, because we were happy with his service, asked if he would recommend a snorkel tour to Molokini. He said he used to work for Blue Water Rafting and thought that we would love a trip to the crater. He recommended the 2 hour Molokini Express as we weren't interested in a long trip with hundreds of people and all the "extras" like lunch and, with 5 people and a list of things we had done/wanted to do, we were trying to keep our budget in check. My husband and I had also done a Zodiac boat whale watch in Victoria several years ago, so we thought the kids would enjoy the boat ride. I called that afternoon and signed us up for the Molokini Express snorkel tour. The following day, we walked from our condo to the Kihei boat launch where we met for check in. Unfortunately, the ocean conditions were such that the trip to Molokini wasn't possible, so we were offered the opportunity to go to an alternate site near Lahaina or to reschedule. Since we were leaving the next day, rescheduling wasn't an option. I was very disappointed as I had my heart set on Molokini and didn't want to go to the alternate site - it felt like going to a Broadway play and getting the understudy. :( So, we discussed it a bit and decided that well, we were here anyway and the day would be pretty much shot (hard to start something at 1130), so we would take a chance and just go. Best decision we made on the whole trip! We boarded the Zodiac with Capt. Scotty. Because of the way the groups broke down, we had the boat and the captain to ourselves. He gave us a very thorough safety run-down and we felt very comfortable on his watch. Since we were traveling with our three girls (9, 9, and 13), Scotty recommended that the girls sit inside the boat and not on the sides of the Zodiac floats. My husband and I contemplated both sitting on the outside, but I chickened out. Man, am I glad I did! Then he cranked up the hair metal on the iPod and we were OFF! My husband got the ride of his life on the outside seat. There were a number of occasions on which I truly thought he was going overboard. As a safely-seated observer, watching him take what looked like a 30 minute bucking bronco ride was HILARIOUS - I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in my life. But by the time we made it to the snorkel spot, his hands were rubbed raw from hanging on to the ropes and he had a huge bruise on his leg from getting bounced around. Needless to say, he opted for inside the boat on the way back. So, one piece of advice - unless you are a rodeo rider looking for the ultimate thrill ride, stay on the actual seats! The snorkel destination itself did not disappoint! We snorkeled with sea turtles and the cast of Finding Nemo. The equipment worked great, Scotty gave fantastic instructions, and we were off and snorkeling in no time. If you have younger kids like we do, they offer floatation belts which help the kids stay buoyant so they can enjoy the snorkel without getting fatigued (and you can relax and enjoy the snorkel without worrying that they're going to drown). I cannot recommend Blue Water and Capt Scotty highly enough. It was the absolute highlight of a highlight-filled trip to Maui. We will try again next year for the trip to Molokini, but it will be hard to rival this experience. If you're hesitant to go, don't be. You will LOVE it! Mahalo, Scotty! read more

Aloha Everyone! I went on the Blue Water Rafting Kanaio Coast / Molokini trip yesterday with a friend. Wow did we have a good time. This trip is amazing! It is not for the faint at heart! If you sit on the edge of the raft, you have to hold on to ropes secured to the raft so you don't fall overboard, my arms are so sore today! If you sit in the middle you do not need to hold on nearly as tight! I did both, but it is hard work (FUN) sitting on the edge. Captain Jake and Angela were great! The captain navigated those swells perfectly and gave us a great and thrilling ride! This is super adventurous! I do not recommend this trip for children, teenagers - yes! It's 5 hours of strenuous holding on in between 4 amazing snorkel spots. (That is just too much for the young ones.) I highly recommend this trip for 20-40 year-olds. (I'm 57 and enjoyed myself thoroughly but it was a little hard on me! ) You also get wet, cruising on the water with lots of waves splashing over most of the boat! The Kanaio Coast is a stunning display of Lava Formations a Caves. Capt. Jake gave all sorts of information, history and funny stories about the different locations he took us to. He also is a very funny guy, joke after joke, he kept us laughing the whole trip. The first snorkel stop was off of Makena after the Kanaio Coast tour. Lots of fish, nice coral and the biggest Triton shell with the animal in it that I have ever seen, at least 20 inches long! It was having an invasive species - crown of thorns starfish for lunch. It was an amazing sight! Then the second stop was the back side of Molokini which was just breathtaking! The color of the water and the sun shining through it was just magical! Lots of fish here too! Then the third stop, front side of Molokini. We got there just as most of the boats were leaving which is perfect. We almost had the whole place to ourselves. Molokini was better than I remembered it. The Covid shutdown must have given it some much needed healing time! The coral was pretty healthy and lots of fish! Also saw another giant crown of thorns starfish there! It is so funny, in my 20 years here I have never seen one before and I saw two in one day. Captain Jake says they are really bad for our eco system, they eat everything in their path... And then the final stop was a place for turtles. It was not turtle town, but better. So many turtles, everyone was happy with their Honu fix! This exciting trip is for the super adventurous and is a must do!!! They have juice and water all day, fruit and muffins in the beginning and then tasty croissant sandwiches for lunch. Of course snorkel gear is provided. All you need to bring is your reef safe sunscreen, towel and sunglasses! read more

Great experience with Mikey and Austin! We're really glad we did this tour and with this company. They're one of the smaller and less expensive companies, so we thought we would take a bit of hit in terms of quality, but we were more than impressed with the quality and our overall experience. Mikey and Austin deserve applause for how great they were. They are both very knowledgeable so the narration during our experience was super informative and interesting. We felt safe with them and they clearly knew what they were doing. Mikey (captain) was excellent at navigating the waters; I noticed that he would make small adjustments to the the way he navigated to make the ride as pleasant as possible. Despite being on a raft, the ride was super smooth. He also was so astute that as soon as he caught site of a group of dolphins (which everyone else missed), he slowed down and the dolphins swam next to us for a bit which was a cherry on top. Extra points to them both for having their boat out on the water and ready to go such that we were the first ones out there (= better snorkeling experience), while all the other companies were still getting their boats out onto the water. We were nervous about doing a raft rather than a boat, but the ride was wonderful and it felt like the boat was gliding on the water. In retrospect, I'm glad we did a raft rather than a boat because the boats have huge groups of people and as soon as they all start snorkeling the marine life gets scared away. We basically left Molokini as soon as the boats arrived because of that reason, so let that serve as an example. We had a bit of sea sickness (from the snorkeling since it was as soon as we got back on the boat after Molokini; not from the boat ride) and both Mikey and Austin were super sensitive, considerate, and patient toward us. They checked on us numerous times and it quickly passed, so we were able to enjoy the second snorkeling stop and rest of the trip. They also provided delicious sandwiches, cookies, and fresh fruit which made our experience that much better. Blue Water Rafting is one of the few companies that offers a shorter tour, which is great for those who don't want to give up as much of their day. This option was also very economical and BWR was certainly among the fairest prices across all the companies. We did the 3hr (2-stop) tour and we felt we got a very comprehensive snorkeling experience. We compared 10+ companies and BWR was among the top 3 rates we could find and with all of the above, the quality of their service exceeded our expectations by far. read more

Blue Water Rafting: An Unforgettable Adventure! If you're looking for an adrenaline-pumping, awe-inspiring adventure on Maui, look no further than Blue Water Rafting! Captain Brandon and Katy were absolutely fantastic, making our half-day tour the highlight of our trip. From the moment we boarded the raft, we knew we were in for a treat. Brandon's expertise and passion for Maui were evident as he navigated the stunning coastline, sharing fascinating insights about the island's history and geology. Here's what made our trip so special: * Cave Exploration: Exploring the sea caves along the Kanaio Coast was breathtaking! The power of the ocean and the unique formations were truly awe-inspiring. * Backside of Molokini: Snorkeling on the backside of Molokini was an unforgettable experience. The water clarity was incredible, and we saw a vibrant array of fish and coral. * Turtle Encounters: We were lucky enough to encounter seven/ eight sea turtles throughout the tour! It was magical to witness these gentle creatures in their natural habitat. * Thrilling Ride: Hold on tight! Zipping across the channel was an exhilarating experience, and we loved feeling the wind in our hair and the spray of the ocean. * Captain Brandon & Katy: Brandon and Katy were the perfect hosts! They were friendly, knowledgeable, and made sure everyone felt safe and comfortable throughout the adventure. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and they truly made the experience unforgettable. Tips for future adventurers: * Bring sunscreen and a hat that you can tied to your head: The sun can be strong on the water. Thank you, Captain Brandon and Katy, for an incredible day! We highly recommend Blue Water Rafting to anyone seeking an unforgettable adventure on Maui. read more

During my visit to Maui, our group decided to book a rafting snorkeling trip with Blue Water Rafting, and it turned out to be the best snorkeling experience I have ever had. I have been to Maui many times and tried various snorkeling tours, from catamarans to double-deckers, but this intimate and adventurous trip truly stands out. If you are someone who gets seasick on larger boats, this is the perfect option. Being closer to the water makes the experience more personal and less overwhelming. We chose the 5.5-hour trip, which I highly recommend because it includes the incredible sea caves. The shorter trips do not offer this, and the caves alone are worth it. Captain Charlie (a.k.a. Captain Jack) and first mate Angela (a.k.a. Margarita--inside joke!) were absolutely amazing. They provided fascinating historical details about the island, lava formations, and more. Seeing the lava flows in the lower south area of Maui was breathtaking. Captain Charlie made sure to get us as close as safely possible, giving us an unforgettable view of the rugged coastline. The snorkeling itself was spectacular. We explored five different locations, including both sides of Molokini and Turtle Town. The sea life was incredible, and while this wasn't a whale-watching trip, Captain Jack and Angela made the effort to take us near any whales they spotted along the way. I do recommend bringing your own snacks and packing them in a soft ice chest since storage is limited. Overall, this trip was a perfect mix of fun, adventure, and education. From the amazing sea life to the stunning lava flows, it was an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend Blue Water Rafting. This is a 10 out of 10 experience! #LahainaStrong read more

Ok so we decided to take a zodiac trip to end our Maui vacation. We took someone's adivce and went to blue water rafting. I looked out the ocean; it looked like it should've been canceled to us but it wasn't. So the guy told us safety tips at least and let us on board. The captain said to hold on the ropes do you don't fall off. So when we took off, my hands were already getting blisters and I was soaked from the water(not like any other zodiac trip.) When we got to the volcano, he took us up to the snorkeling area and the water was so rough I wanted to stay in the boat but I wanted to make it worth the trip so I got in. The snorkeling equipment didn't work because every time I took a breath, I sucked in a gulp of saltwater and had to put my head up the whole time there. And I had to get out on the next 2 minutes. The trip back was worse than getting there. My grandpa got cut from the rope and didnt even offer him a band aid when the captain said the had a first aid kit in the back. Not only that he started puking. And guess what the assistant and captain were doing? Oh, they were laughing when he started puking. After that, I was getting to the point where I was gonna vomit. Also I could barely hold on to the rope because my hand were full of blisters. Not to mention the super rough seas that make my stomach feel worse. After we got to dock, I was thinking if we got paid for going on this zodiac. Never again will we go on blue water rafting as long as I live. Lastly my mom and I were still sick from that horrible expirence. read more

Definitely check out the Molokini Crater with Blue Water Rafting! Captain Scott was so funny and had my family laughing the whole time. We were fortunate enough with great weather that we made four stops on our 3 hour tour. I will say, I don't think this is the norm! We checked out the left and right side of the crater then went to the back of the crater to see 200 feet down into the ocean. We saw plenty of Marine wildlife and Hawaii Fish! The waters were filled with Black Triggerfish. We also saw Milletseed Butterflyfish, Moorish Idol, Parrotfish, Pennant Butterflyfish, and one Trumpetfish to name a few! Then we stopped at Turtle town and saw one turtle which was great! We were so fortunate to have even see some Spinner Dolphins! They stated it was a long LONG while since they had seen dolphins. We sat and idled for a little while to enjoy the dolphins which was not part of the plan or package. I am truly grateful to have the experience we did! 10/10 recommend! We do ride in a small raft with about 20 people but I definitely preferred it over being on a full catamaran with 90 people. We had some fruit, juice on board in between our stops and then had a sandwich and cookie (which definitely hit the spot after we were tired from snorkeling) before we made it back to the dock. The views were breathtaking and the water was beautiful. Support small businesses and book your next snorkeling excursion with Blue Water Rafting! read more

A Memorable Adventure with Blue Water Rafting in Maui! Our family had an unforgettable experience with Blue Water Rafting in Maui! Thrilling, educational, and filled with breathtaking views. The highlight for us was exploring the incredible sea caves and lava tubes. It felt like stepping into another world--something you simply can't miss! Snorkeling clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and abundant marine life made it a magical experience for everyone in our group, from the adults to the kids. The captain and crew were knowledgeable and friendly, sharing fascinating insights about Maui's history, wildlife, and volcanic landscape. Their expertise and enthusiasm added so much to the trip. The smaller raft allowed us to get closer to the coastline and into places larger boats can't reach, making the whole experience feel unique and intimate. We also appreciated the care Captain Joey and his crew took to ensure everyone felt safe and comfortable, whether it was during the ride or in the water. This was hands down one of the best adventures we've ever had as a family. If you're visiting Maui and looking for an exciting, up-close encounter with nature, Blue Water Rafting should be at the top of your list. Thank you Blue Water Rafting for making our trip to Maui one we will never forget! read more