Did the 4.5 hr snorkeling & lunch tour yesterday and had an amazing time. Shasta and Makiya took great care of our family of 5! Shasta got in the water with the group at both stops and if you stayed with her, she told you about local ocean life and did a little show and tell. It was super informative! While it was the end of whale season, we did luck out and see a momma and baby whale. It was incredible! Snorkeled along side sea turtles and a million fish. I highly recommend this small group tour!! All gear was provided and the boat was very thoughtfully laid out. 10 stars! read more

The Magic Merman Snorkel Charters - Amazing to see sea turtles in their natural habitat! - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Kaanapali, Hawaii

Highly recommend you take a whale watch with this small company. The staff is very skilled in safety and getting less athletic folks onto and off the tender and then onto the boat. They are well educated about whales and happily answer questions. The captain maneuvers the boat so the sun is at your back for photos and comfort in viewing. You are closer to the water surface so you get a better feel of the water. read more

We had the best time. We went on the last whale watch of the season. We saw 5 whales. A mama and baby with an escort. The baby gave us a show. Rolling, waving breaching , and showing us its Flukes. Then the 2 adults breached together side by side. Later we saw 2 adult males cruising along and they crossed in front of us. I think it was called a fly by. And Shasta helped me with some sick sickness. read more

The Magic Merman Snorkel Charters - Male and female breaching - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Kaanapali, Hawaii

We had a great snorkeling boat trip with Magic Merman. On our way to the snorkeling spot, we saw a very large (200) group of dolphins that swam alongside the boat. Shasta also kept looking for whales, even though it was toward the end of the season. We did see several whales, and slowed down to watch them. We also saw a couple of flying fish, which I didn't know existed. The snorkeling was great. We saw many colorful fish and lots of turtles in both of the snorkel stops. We had a fantastic banana bread and fruit breakfast and turkey bacon wrap for lunch. It was a great time. read more

What an incredible experience! I called 2 weeks before our trip and they gave me a discount for my family of 5. We booked later in our trip incase we saw enough while we Snorkled from the shore we could cancel. While we did see what we thought was great from shore we decided to continue on the tour. And thank goodness we did! I can't rave about this experience enough. From the moment we met the team on the beach to the end when we parted ways they were kind, knowledgeable, inviting, and friendly. We held sea urchins, swam with 25+ sea turtles, saw eels and puffer fish, reef sharks and stopped to admire the spinner dolphins. Shasta was extremely helpful with my 8 yr old to ensure she had great experience with the rest of us. The food tasted wonderful and was filling. A snack to get started, banana bread between stops, and a wrap, chips, and drink to finish it off. I can't recommend this enough. read more

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10/17/25, 4.5 hour snorkel trip -- look no further and call to book! Amazing experience from booking to end of tour! You will not regret a tour with this crew. Safe, educational experts! Then through in the turtles, dolphins, Bruce the shark, and positive vibes throughout the whole tour! Shasta, shoutout to you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us in the water. Your support made us feel more comfortable as you set us up in the water for the best spots! read more

The Magic Merman Snorkel Charters - The best water tour guide, Shasta! - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Kaanapali, Hawaii

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10 stars if I could!! Top notch from start to finish. Arrive on the beach and they are there easy to locate. Easy conversations every time you ask questions, and when they are giving directions. Boat was comfortable, group was the perfect size. You can follow the guide or do your own thing. They know where to go for the best sights. We checked everything on our list turtles, every fish you can imagine, dolphins, octopus, and all the things. The food and drinks are plentiful. They will have anything you need for this adventure. When they say "we have everything on the boat" they mean it. We took a family with kids aged 17, 14, and 8. They made it perfect for the entire group and my kids. Shasta was very helpful in getting my 8 year old trained up to snorkel like a pro. My dad advice is to show up with a clean upper lip or use the Vaseline. Don't think it's an option to go without. Can not recommend enough. We did the early morning tour, don't know if they do two a day or not, my wife booked it. read more

Such an amazing experience. If you are visiting Maui this is a must do activity. The snorkeling is fantastic, Shasta was so knowledge about literally everything. Food was great and perfect for the boating and snorkeling, we even saw whales! Saw eels, octopuses, sharks, so many turtles and beautiful fish. Overall best experience on the trip read more

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I went on a whale watch with Magic Merman a few days ago and my wife went on a snorkel trip with them today. We have been coming to Maui for over forty years (yes we are getting old) we have taken numerous whale watch cruises and snorkel trips and we both agree that the best we have ever experienced is with Magic Merman. They have great crews and they really know their stuff. I saw two whales breach in the first 20 minutes of our whale watch and today my wife got a video of a breach today. She told me she snorkeled with 18 turtles surrounding her. I didn't go on the snorkel trip because I was under the weather. But you can bet I'll be one the next one. If you want the best experience you have to go with Magic Merman. They are nice people and they do the best for you. read more

We did the 5-hour snorkel adventure with The Magic Mermen. Hubby and I booked it due to the top-notch reviews and knowing that it would be a smaller group of people (maximum 20). We went with 7 couples total, and Emma and Malokai (so sorry if I'm misspelling) were great guides. Parking Tip: since the 5-hour tour meets at 8:30am at Whaler's Village (where the parking full day rate runs $50 currently, and $4 for every half-hour), I would look for "free public beach parking" for Kaanapali Beach. I recommend getting there a little before 8am to try to claim one of the free spots that all the hotels around Kaanapali Beach are supposed to offer free *limited* spaces. The closest would be the Westin (right behind Leilani's restaurant), but they only have about 15-20 free beach parking spaces. Hyatt has the most parking spaces, but is the furthest walk (about 15-20 mins.), or you can try Sheraton, which also has about 20 spaces I'm told. Google Maps directed me towards the Westin Valet, and I just ended up asking them how to get to their free beach parking. Check-in with green T-shirt Magic Mermen owners was smooth, sign a waiver, they point you to a restroom if needed & everyone takes off their shoes prior to taking a small raft to the bigger raft for our adventure. I was a little worried about being cold in the water, and one of the owners mentioned I could ask Emma (guide on boat) for a coworker's water-jacket, which worked out great for me! Mahalo! If you're looking for a more private snorkel experience, I highly recommend Magic Mermen. They're a small company and I felt like our guides were great! We got lucky that we saw Spinner Dolphins twice that day: once on our way out & on our way back! That was a wonderful sight. Our first couple of snorkel spots didn't work out due to the weather conditions, so we went to our original intended second spot first for the Sea Turtles that they stated were at the end of the Mala Wharf pier going through a "sea turtle car wash". We get about an hour at each spot. The second spot we went to was actually really close to the first spot, but with more natural coral reefs. Then we had lunch (yummy bacon-turkey wraps with two sauce choices; Hawaiian chips), and they offered beverages throughout (water, sodas, some light seltzers another party left from a couple days before, lol), and breakfast included some fruits (pineapples & grapes), and banana bread w/ chocolate chips. There is an emergency restroom on the boat, but they also tell you to go in the big blue if needed. They have floaty belts if you want to be in "vacation mode" while you snorkel, and Emma was great at fitting everyone with the flippers & masks. The only thing you need to bring is your own TOWEL, everything else including sunblock is available on the boat! They also check to make sure everyone can swim and whether everyone has snorkeled before or not and go through some information for everyone prior to going into the water. read more

The Magic Merman Snorkel Charters - View from boat - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Kaanapali, Hawaii

Highly recommend the Magic Merman Snorkel Charters! Derek & Austin provided detailed (&accurate) logistics, and greeted us on the beach before riding out to their specially designed tour boat. (Coast Guard Grade & accommodated a smaller number of guests for a more customized experience... perfect to tailor instructions and/or 1x1 assistance for 'nervous' first time snorkelers without shaming those of us challenged with adjusting gear no matter how many times we've snorkeled!). Shasta was a phenomenal mermaid in the water and Naturalist on board teaching about the behaviors. Exceptional hospitality included cold beverages, fruit, banana bread, and wraps for lunch (& peppermint towels to sanitize afterwards!). Derek piloted the boat expertly--navigating nimbly to identify and speed alongside spinner dolphins (leaving other bigger boats behind!) and yet very politely yielded to the position of other tour boats while cruising to/from and docking at both sites. We saw several turtles, an abundance of colorful varieties of fish, eels, and at least 4 octopus/octopi due to Shasta's keen eye and pointing patiently underwater until everyone could see. Derek & Shasta educated us in the water and on the boat with brief yet interesting explanations of different types of fish we saw and dolphin factoids. We've been on other large boat snorkel and dolphin tours...and the bigger the boat, the more people jockeying for limited seating, gear, and refreshments....and kicking feet in your face while trying to enjoy the experience. Definitely put 'the Magic Merman' at the top of your list--support a local small business with an exceptionally skilled, knowledgeable, and kind crew, differentiated boat, hospitality, and refreshingly personalized experience. We'll be back for snorkeling ..,and whale watching season with friends & family! (And in case you are wondering.... this TLTR review wasn't written by ChatGPT but a real couple that knows that the 'Aloha' and 'Ohana' spirit can't be replicated by AI) read more

If you are looking for a personal, authentic snorkel tour, I highly recommend. They offer small numbers and lots of attention with gear and pointing out sea life. Within minutes, they convinced my daughter who does not like the ocean to get in the water. Highly recommend. read more

Great experience! From the easy, friendly welcome to the crew on the boat, an extremely wonderful trip! My son said it was the best part of the vacation. They were very attentive to everyone's needs and took us to two excellent snorkeling areas. If you want to go snorkeling in Maui, this is the company to use! read more

Derek and Casey were PHENOMENAL. They were so accommodating and had everything that us snorkelers didn't have including sun glasses for the ride, extra pool noodles, wet suits if you got too cold, ginger tasting snacks for sea sickness etc. And the food and snacks they provided were so delicious! I was afraid to snorkel but Casey made it so fun by explaining well and telling us what each animal is and does. I want to do it over and over again now. read more

Today I went with the Magic Merman for a 2 pm Whale Watch. We boarded a small raft from shore in front of Whalers Village which took us to the larger raft waiting offshore. We were t even in our way when we saw whales close to the raft and a Honu drifting by. The trip began with close encounters with dolphins before we had close encounters with Mama and baby whales. Terrific staff and great wildlife encounters! Highly recommend this two hour trip! read more

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Awesome snorkeling tour with amazing service. The owner greets you on the beach for pickup and we were taken to two great spots for snorkeling. Snacks , light breakfast and lunch all provided and very tasty! Thanks to Austin, Shasta and our captain for a great day and my wife's first snorkeling trip while we were on our honeymoon! Please support this locally owned small business ! read more

Great captain and Shasta who helped everyone in the water. It was my first time snorkeling and they made everything go smoothly and were very attentive and on top of safety protocols. I would definitely do it again with them and I would recommend anyone to go here! read more

We were a large group of family and friends (10 of us ranging from 12 to 55 years old) and chose Mermen because it seemed different from the big "cattle boat" snorkeling experiences. It totally was! From the beach boarding process to the very end of the trip, they took such good care of all of us! They learned the names of every person on the boat and made sure everyone was taken care of. Their snorkeling gear was top notch (even had a variety of prescription masks) and the food and drinks were great (best banana bread I've had in a long time). They took us to 3 totally different spots, each one with great coral and marine life. By keeping the number of snorkelers low (there were 20 total on our boat), we were able to get into or out of the water in just a few minutes. It was a great experience from start to finish. We will always snorkel with Mermen on future trips! read more

Took my teenage daughter to snorkel (her first time) She absolutely loved it!!! Such an amazing crew!! We had the Veggie Wrap (Provided by Down the Hatch Restaurant) Literally the best Wrap I ever had! We got to see So Many turtles! Shasta was awesome! She took my GoPro down to get better footage for me! Got some amazing videos of White Tip Sharks and Honu's! Mahalo Nui Crew !!! We will be back read more

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We had a great whale watching trip in late January on Kanapali Beach. The team put us on many whales that were breaching and bringing calves up to the boat. What an amazing experience. We would highly recommended this boat. The owner Austin is a great guy who really wants his customers to be happy read more

Went out snorkeling w them yesterday. 6/27/22 2 pm. Had a great time. They were so informative, careful, and fun to spend the afternoon with. CAPT Jill was a fabulous boating CAPT. I felt her care and expertise in navigating, she was also good about snorkeling tips n general guidelines about wildlife! Emma was really kind , smart , and a joy to chat with. And our only ‍ merman (forgot his name) -was super enthusiastic and made sure we all saw the HUGE school of fish and the beautiful turtles in the water. Bring your own towels and cash for a post trip tip! Water bottles provided and a special after snorkeling trip of homemade bandanna bread. Yummy! Nice touch--cool scented towels to clean off your face from the salty spray. These guys work hard for your fun. So tip them well! read more

The Magic Merman Snorkel Charters - Turtles while snorkeling north west cove - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Kaanapali, Hawaii

I just got off the Magic Merman boat. I can honestly say they are the best. I have gone snorkeling and whale watching with many other companies in Ka'anapali and nobody does it quite like the Magic Merman. The owners Derek and Austin greeted us like old friends would. We then went on to the boat and met Rich and Shasta who were also so accommodating the entire trip. We went snorkeling in two wonderful areas and so many whales right next to our boat. The food was delicious and it was a super fun day. I can't wait to see them again next year! They are the best in Maui! read more

Absolutely fantastic experience and crew. We went out @2:00 on 2/7/24. Saw so many whales and spinner dolphins! The crew was informative and engaging. We got up close (respectfully) and really felt like it was the best choice in boats. Even fully booked it was not crowded. 10/10 recommend! read more

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This was the best excursion I have been on yet! I have been on quite a few excursions around the globe, and this one takes the cake! The staff are very attentive offering drinks and snacks throughout the 4 hour trip. We had plenty to eat for breakfast and lunch, which was catered by "Down the Hatch", a local restaurant featured on Diners Drive-ins & Dives. We went to 3 different snorkeling spots that were not overcrowded with tourists. The staff was very knowledgeable and skilled snorkeling instructors. My 16 year old had a hard time adjusting to the mask and gear. Brayden (hopefully I spelled it right) worked with her until she was comfortable and off on her own. We saw tons of turtles, many many fish, and I even saw a spotted eagle ray. We had plenty of time to snorkel or just hang in the water at each stop. This was such an amazing trip, and I felt completely safe with my 11 year old and 16 year old daughter off on their own exploring. I Highly recommend this excursion!!!! read more

The Magic Merman Snorkel Charters - My girls & I - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Kaanapali, Hawaii

Had an awesome day with Micah (sp?) and Shasta! They took amazing care of us and had keen eyes to make sure we saw great wildlife including an epic whale day! Thank you! read more

Absolutely LOVED our snorkel trip with Captain Will, Shasta, and Emma in Maui. Our family group of 7 (three adults with vast scuba and snorkel experience, three teen girls, and a snorkel-hesitant 6-year-old) had an amazing time. Captain Will's piloting skills are excellent - almost as good as his playlist! Seriously, sitting at the fore of the boat as CCR blasts from the speakers and we crash over the first set of waves... it's a vibe. Captain Will guided us through some rough waves and a brief squall with (relatively) minor bumps. At one point, my kiddo (the 6-yr-old) was experiencing some anxiety over the squall and waves and the Shasta and Emma were SO helpful in getting us to the back of the boat, handing us towels to cover up, loaning jackets, and checking on us. The weather is just part of the adventure and was totally worth it. We so enjoyed our time at Hanauma Bay - beautifully clear water with excellent wildlife viewing. The kiddo had her fill of snorkeling after about 10 minutes, and Captain Will was gracious in letting her hang with him on the boat so us parents could enjoy our time in the water. Uninterrupted time to snorkel in a beautiful and vibrant location, knowing our kiddo was being cared for by friendly and caring staff?! PRICELESS. Shasta and Emma - our guides - were knowledgeable and friendly as well. Super helpful in describing wildlife, sharing entertaining stories, and explaining some of the changes Maui's reefs have experienced over the years. We genuinely enjoyed hanging with them. We didn't get to stay at the second location - Mala Wharf - as long as we hoped, mostly owing to weather issues. What a magical spot to snorkel though! A well-known sea turtle cleaning station, Mala was blissfully uncrowded of other boats/snorkelers, and super fun. We saw a white-tipped reef shark, along with about 8-10 turtles, and also explored a bit of the undersea architecture left behind from the former pier. Refreshments and snacks on board were excellent - lilikoi cream cheese is my new favorite spread for banana bread. Tips for future guests: DO bring Bonine (less side effects than Dramamine IMO) to have on hand and take one a bit before you depart if the sea looks rough. DON'T bring a ton of stuff. DO bring a wetsuit if you don't like cold water. The water's cooler than you may think, especially out by Mala. DO tip the crew - they've earned it. I wish we could have gone out with The Magic Merman and crew for a second trip. My husband, brother, and I have been on dozens of snorkeling/scuba charters around the world, from Australia to Palau to the BVI, over the decades. Magic Merman ranks as one of our top 3 experiences for a charter and crew. Mahalo to Austin, Derek, Captain Will, Shasta, and Emma for lovely hospitality and a super fun experience. read more

The Magic Merman Snorkel Charters - Shasta from Magic Merman pointing out spinner dolphins off the coast of Ka'anapali, Maui. - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Kaanapali, Hawaii

My husband and I had the best experience. Shasta and Malokai were amazing and made the whole tour unforgettable. It was the perfect amount of people on the boat and we got to see whales, sea turtles, fish, etc. read more

Do it!!!! I have been to Maui several times, I even got married here. This has been my favorite activity so far!!!! The staff is knowledgeable, kind, and friendly. We felt safe the whole time. They fed us breakfast and lunch. Whether you are a beginner or have snorkeled many times, they have what you need. Seriously- book your adventure NOW!!! read more

The Magic Merman Snorkel Charters - Turtles - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Kaanapali, Hawaii

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Our family LOVED our day with the Magic Mermen! Bethany was super knowledgable and her enthusiasm for the ocean life is contagious! Our kids were inspired by her for sure! The day was set up really well and ran so smoothly. 2 snorkel sites, snacks passed a few times and a nice lunch on the boat. Being on the small boat meant a small group, so that was nice. we saw TONS OF WHALES! Bethany was able to tell us so much about the groups we were seeing. the whole crew was great, it was an amazing day! read more

The Magic Merman Snorkel Charters - One of the shots I got from the boat - Whale Watching Tours Near Me - Kaanapali, Hawaii

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I would highly recommend this crew. They were SO accommodating and knowledgeable. Outstanding day and adventure on the water. read more

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Best experience EVER! They explained at the beginning of the whale watching tour that breaching only happens 1% of the time. One mama & calf breached for a whole hour (Mama was about 3 times & the calf did it so many times we stopped counting). THANK YOU, especially to Bethany! read more

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Absolutely amazing snorkeling tour! We saw so many fish, sea turtles and even some baby sharks! It was an amazing experience with the best crew! Highly recommend! read more

This was so great! I took my 2.5yr old daughter out for the first time to whale watch! The crew was great and we saw SO many whales and had a great time on the boat! read more

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Had such a blast the first time I'm booking another next week! The crew is awesome as is Austin the owner. Class business. Highly recommend it if you want a great whale viewing experience. read more

A Top Notch Small Company Aces Whale Watch The Magic Merman provided my wife and I with a great day of whale watching on the 10:30 tour today. Our two hour trip was highlighted by tem or more close breaches including one that was no more than 20 feet off the stern. The naturalist and captain were professional and attentive to our needs. We have gone on dozens of whale excursions and The Magic Merman ranks among the very best! Highly recommended! read more

Amazing day. Great crew. Great food. The smaller size of the boat makes it even better. Much more personalized charter. Would highly recommend! read more

We are from Colorado and wanted a great experience on and in the water being in a boat and snorkeling. I thought I did my homework, and read reviews on TripAdvisor and decided to book with a larger outfitter for this excursion. When arriving in Maui and visiting Lahaina, my family and I ran into a local and told him how excited we were to go on a snorkeling excursion. When he asked with whom, he talked us into changing from the larger popular company to this smaller more personable company... "The Magic Merman" When he explained about the larger company versus the smaller private company, and what we would see, and the service itself, we immediately canceled and and went with his recommendation. I am so thankful that we did this because the experience was beyond amazing!!!!!!! The service from the crew to the staff was absolutely wonderful! We only had 9 on our boat (January 11, 2023) and I can't say enough how incredible our experience was! Epic to say the least. My two daughters 18 and 22 will never forget this experience. We saw many a turtles, fish, urchin, coral, and whales that breached so many times! We were able to get incredible pictures due to getting close to the whales. I highly highly recommend The Magic Merman.. you will NOT be disappointed! Thanks and Mahalo The Dozer Family from Colorado read more

I loved my snorkeling tour today. The crew was friendly, knowledgeable and kept us safe. I like how the zodiac boats are for small groups. The lunch wraps were delicious. We saw fish, a humpback whale and calf and three turtles. read more

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Went on October 22, 2019. Fantastic!!! Saw sea turtles, octopus, dolphins, eels, and a million types of beautiful fish. Boat is smaller than others which gives you a more personal experience. Derek and Austin, the owners, and Nate, the deckhand, were great. My wife and I went on a weekday and it was basically like a private excursion. They brought us to 3 great locations, all very different from each other. The third had multiple sea turtles. With the boat being smaller they were able to maneuver around schools of spinner dolphins that were jumping out of the water and put on an amazing display right near the boat. If you've booked a larger, older boat, you've done it wrong. Austin explained about the boat and how the business is new. Derek was knowledgeable about the marine life and a professional captain. Nate was like another fish in the water, often pointing out interesting things to view. You easily grasped that this business means everything to these gentlemen and they want you to have an amazing experience. You will. We would do this trip a million more times. Remember this: peppermint towel!!!! We got way more out of the trip than we paid for. read more

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The crew of Magic Merman, Derrick, Emma , Shasta and the other guy (forgot the name) is simply the best! You can definitely say this experience is one for the books! They made our snorkeling experience amazing. I know we only paid for the snorkeling services but since we went there during whale season, they went out of their way for us to see some as well. Talk about GREAT SERVICE! They wanted us to have an experience of a lifetime and we sure did! When I go back to Maui, I will make sure to book them again! To Derrick and your buddy, keep living the life! Cheers to not "working" and keep doing what you love in life! read more