Great crew, great snorkeling, and great snacks/lunch. My expectations were absolutely exceeded.

My friends and I did the 4hr snorkel yesterday & it was one of the best experiences of my life. The crew was super informative & fun. Bella was the sweetest, best guide! I highly recommend. read more

So waking up at 5AM ti go on a snorkeling tours prob not sounding great. We'll listened here. Perfect day. Water 75 degrees. Saw a few turtles which were amazing. Saw a pod of dolphins. Few majestic whale sightings. Crew was a 10. Amazing day. Perfect. read more

Makena Coast Charters - Boat Charters Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Joe and Jess were awesome. Down to business with safety; laid back and fun; excellent instructors for new snorklers; lots of great information about the locations we were at. This was not our first tour to Molokini so it was nice to have a different experience. Great vessel and equipment. Cannot wait to see the professional photos from Kyle. We will be back and seek out this charter. Our crew had an amazing experience thanks to these folks. read more

We joined for the 4 hour turtle town and crater tour. We went through Airbnb to do that and that was really quick and easy for communication. They were very quick to reply to any questions we had. Bella the tour guide was very helpful, and knowledgeable about everything we were seeing including the fish, turtles, and crater. I would recommend this team to anybody. read more

So glad to be back in Maui during whale season, enjoying diving with Benja and Jonathan. While we don't get to dive the back wall, because there are snorkelers on the charter, there is less likelihood of a trip being canceled because there aren't enough divers signed up to go. The dive group is always small, and sometimes is just two of us, which is perfect! I always feel safe coming out with this group and keep coming back year after year. This is a quality operation all the way. read more

We did a scuba with them today and it was fantastic. We are medium-skill and felt very comfortable and well taken care of. Epic visibility, water temp, sea life, and a great guide to show us the way. The whole staff was great. We will be doing it again next year read more

For someone that doesn't do very well with swimming, the Getaway crew sure did make me feel comfortable and safe. Bella has so many facts and was so involved making us all feel like we were on a one on one tour! We stopped by Turtle Town first where there were many many turtles. The second spot was much clearer and had way more colorful fish, but was a little crowded with other boats (not that they were anywhere near our boat) but worth mentioning. We were givin sandwiches and a small tour before we headed back. Highly recommended! A kid on our tour was constantly stepping on live coral and killing it, SO PLEASE DONT DO THAT, you looked like a jerk. read more

The dive master and boat crew were great and super friendly and helpful. Made for a great dive in Molokini crater. Being notified the afternoon before the trip that BCs and regulators were Not supplied created a horrible rush to find gear and we had to beg another dive company to rent gear late in the day. Nothing mentioned this in the pre trip comms. Too bad too as this good have rated much better Thanks again to the boat crew read more

They were awesome guides. There were a ton of awesome fish that they dropped us in the middle of! I can't say enough good things about the crew I would definitely recommend to anyone looking to go snorkel! read more

An awesome experience and it was very fun as the crew were very open to share their experiences and answer any questions we had. They created a very positive environment for everyone and you can tell they enjoyed the conversations with people as much as their job. Great spots for snorkeling and they were always looking out for our safety as well. read more

We've used quite a few different dive charters over the years (we visit Maui annually). On this year's trip our friend chose Makena Coast Divers. Benja was our dive master and Gonzolo was our captain. It was an unseasonably windy day but the two of them worked together to get us tied up to a mooring ball at Molokini in spite of the difficult swells. Once we were in the water the dive was incredible. For a small fee Benja took digital photographs on both of our dives and his photographic equipment is super-high-end. We dove Molokini and had a great moderately-deep dive, then we motored to Nahuna Point and dove with turtles, saw a couple of eels, and had a nice, relaxing dive. Benja dropped by the condo where we are staying in Kihei later that afternoon and gave us a USB memory stick filled with amazing pictures from our dive plus some of his favorite dive pictures. Incredible service from a knowledgeable, well-traveled guy. I highly recommend Benja and Makena Coast Dive Charters. read more

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My wife and I went over the holidays in December 2022. Great crew and nice intimate interactions since there were only ~ 20 passengers. They made sure that we were all safe. We booked the 4 hours Molokini Crater / Turtle Town snorkeling. Unfortunately could not go to Turtle Town since conditions were unsafe and could attract sharks, but they did use the extra time to take us to different parts of Molokini Crater instead. Wonderful underwater world views. Snacks and sandwiches were provided, but there was no vegetarian option for the sandwiches. read more

Stop dreaming...start living! Book the trip, you won't regret it! Captain Jack and snorkel guides Bryan and Mikaela were well educated and accommodating. We snorkeled off Makena with sea turtles and an abundance of reef fish before heading to Molokini Crater where the water was cobalt blue and crystal clear with an abundance of reef fish and octopus. When in the water, two crew members were in the water with us, answering marine biology questions and offering encouragement to those who needed it. read more

Great crew, experienced and caring. Better experience than the big boats especially if youre in Wailea as they launch from Kihei, less driving and faster to Molokini. read more

We had a great time. The Captain and crew were friendly and knowledgeable. There was a gal that was having a hard time because she was afraid to get in the water. They were patient and kind and she did eventually get in and she seemed pretty happy about it. We got to see fish, turtles, a baby shark and a spotted eagle ray. It was nice being on a smaller boat! read more

The crew was superb . We were doing first time and don't know swimming and they way Ben handled it was amazing . My wife panicked but the instructor came in the water to guide her ...awesome experience read more

Awesome experience! Loved every minute of it. Guides were super cool and gave feedback on where the best places to look for cool fish. We saw at least 10 turtles while we were out. Highly recommend. read more

This was the best part of our trip. The captain and all the staff where amazing. It was exactly what they said it would be like and we had a wonderful time. If ever I return to Maui I would absolutely do this again. Thank you !!! read more

We had an amazing time! The crew was so nice and knowledgeable! I would recommend them again!

We have done at least 5 different Molokini snorkel tours. I enjoyed this one the most. The boat is small, so you are not dealing with 100+ people crammed in next to you. It also leaves from a boat launch that is much closer to Molokini, so it takes half the time to get there. As a result there is greater ratio of time spent in the water to being stuck on a boat waiting to get there. Also, less likely to be sea sick. The staff were pleasant. Bella pointed out all the local fish, octopus and turtles. Would definitely book this trip again. It was just the right amount of time at each location, with a return early enough to still do other things with your day. read more

I've lived in Hawaii for 4 years and this was one of the best experiences I've paid for. Easy to book. Clear communication by email. More intimate experience since there are only 18 to the boat. Most prominently though the crew were just good people. Laid back but excited by/passionate about the wildlife themselves. read more

Great group of sailors and guides! Know where the best spots for snorkeling are and how to get you there efficiently

Ruined our trip. Made a reservation on Tuesday morning and they called at 7.30 pm the night before a Friday am trip to say they overbooked and we were being bumped. I did not enjoy see my Daughter cry in complete disappointment. Do not use them or triple check your reservation to make sure they don't do the same to you. read more

I had the 4 hours crater and turtle bay tour and my recommendation is DO NOT DO IT. we never went to turtle bay because the water was "murky". My friend went to another charter on the same day and same time and they went to turtle bay. Guess what? The water was clear as glass!!! Instead, they took us 20 feet from the crater and told us this was their favorite place to dive and it's great and we'll see a lot. Which was bullshit because there was nothing. They just want to collect your money. NEVER AGAIN. read more

We took the 2 hour snorkel tour and what I can say is "you get what you pay for". We were far away from the actual crater and did not see many fish. The fish were the same ones you can see near the shore. Maybe you will see more fish near the crater. It is a good trip for beginner snorkelors but you have to stay with the guide and where we were there were not many fish. Save your 100 dollars. The guide was very nice but you never get close to the reef. If you are looking to see fish, you may not see many. The gove you a post ard at the end to view the fish you "could have seen". read more

Our family of four did the 4-hour Molokini/Turtle Town Snorkel trip. Unfortunately, on the day of our trip the water was too murky to do the Turtle Town portion. We were a bit disappointed but of course we understood the decision. After about a 15 min ride out to Molokini we arrived at our first snorkel spot. We were able to see quite a few fish and the guides were also helpful to point out different fish etc. Light snacks (chips, granola bars, Rice Krispie treats, water and juice) were provided after first snorkel. We then drove around Molokini and the guides shared many interesting details and answered questions as the boat slowly went around it. We then visited the second snorkel spot, I will say this one was a bit more busy with boats and people. Back on the boat they offered sandwiches, snacks and drinks. We arrived back at the dock around 10:40 ish which wasn't a full four hours but was enough snorkeling for my family. Our guide Bella was super friendly and eager to help. We really enjoyed our time. read more

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We had an absolutely amazing trip. Crew was knowledgeable about sea life and history of Molokini crater. We had the best time snorkeling and also got the chance to see some whales and dolphins on our excursion. read more

We did a private charter with Makena Coast Dive Charters and it was phenomenal. The boat captain - Jonathan, the remarkable dive master - Benja and our dive companion - CJ all contributed to making this dive and snorkel trip to Molokini Crater amazing. After the dives, we went whale watching and encountered several pods of humpback whales, some with calves. While diving and snorkeling we could hear the hauntingly beautiful song of the whale, something we will never forget. Truly an experience of a lifetime! We had two divers, 1 snorkeler and one "whale watcher" and the crew showed each of us individualized attention. It was a perfect trip with a perfect dive outfit. I highly recommend Makena Coast Dive Charters and hope to return to Maui for a repeat! read more

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Was awesome from turtles to exotic fish to incredible whale watching. Loved the small boat and intimate personal excursion. The team that guided us was very helpful and knowledgeable... and Ken was quite helpful with all of his knowledge and experience and engaging personality .... read more

Today was EPIC! Thanks to a great staff- shout out to Captain Spencer! Our Molokini snorkel and Turtle Town 4 hour trip did not disappoint! Our adventure included amazing whale watching (right season-February) and fantastic, knowedgable information from Captain Spencer. He could answer any question and drew from a vast bank of knowledge. He was funny and on point. This trip is perfect for the novice snorkeler or the experienced scuba diver. The snorkeling experience at Molokini was amazing. The area is in marine reserve and the protection it has creates an on spoiled aquarium-like experience. And then there was the turtles...Wow! What a morning. If you are on the fence about which charter to go with - choose this one. You won't regret it. read more

These guys are as good as it gets. Ben and Steve made the experience seamless from start to finish. Highly recommended!!!

The real deal. Steve, Shane, and Colten were all great. A seasoned crew that knows the local waters extremely well and use the hawaiian names for sites- instead of "Turtle Town" etc. . Captain Steve even films nature documentaries. We did 2 dives, leaving from the kihei Boat Ramp, which was conveniently right accross the street from our condo. Dive one was Molikini- shark and eels, check! I dove this crater about 10 years ago and it was as awesome as before. The next dive was to a wreck, just offshore from Wailea. Lots of turtles, and we got to go inside the wreck. Good times, I will deffo dive dith Makena Coast next time in Maui read more

Had a great experience with Capt. Steve, DMs Ben Ha and Dr. Michael! They had a modest breakfast of muffins and juice/water/soda meeting us @ the boat ramp @ 630am. First dive was Molokini crater (mid reef) about 70ft down. Saw 2 reef sharks, eel garden, and tons of fish! Second dive was St. Anthony wreck. Saw 3 turtles (one giant one inside the hull). Weather and visibility were fantastic! Overall had a great time with the guys and fellow divers. I stayed in Kaanapali, so it was a bit of a drive out there, but worth it! They even did a price match when another outfit recommended them. And don't worry if you don't a camera...Ben Ha is a dive photographer. I'll def. dive with them again when I go back to Maui! Cheers! read more

Had a lovely dive day with Steve and Benja. Benja is a photographer and I had him take pictures of me. It was so nice to just dive, and not fiddle with my own camera. Another person complained that their 'expedition' dive was not advanced enough. The idea of 'expedition' or 'advanced' diving is interesting when applied to a vacation destination. We dove the outer wall of Molokini crater as a drift drive. Is that 'advanced' diving? The bottom is 300 feet, and it could be easy to lose track of your buoyancy. But if you dive Northern California conditions than the lovely clear water, and almost flat water, isn't that 'hard.' But the diving was lovely! And I really liked having a professional photographer on board. read more

The crew are very experienced with beginner snorkelers and those who have been many times.

Guide; Ben Ha 4 stars. He definitely shows interest in his work. Very Enthusiastic. Skipper--Eric, nice guy Bring your own gear!! Gear provided was marginal, wrong size BC, poorly weighted by guide. O-ring leaked stalling divers already at depth waiting half their air waiting for new O-ring on deck. Octopus leaked repeatedly, and had to tap it repeatedly to make it stop. No dive computer provided. Ladder on boat---difficult---sticks out at awkward position. I requested two days in advance for 2 100 Nitrox cylinders 32 & 36 EAN, or at the very least a 100 cylinder of air because I go through air at a faster clip---completely ignored, and had to terminate my dives 10 minutes earlier than others. Also, requested back wall with eve. She was going to put experienced divers to do this. Though only 3 of four of us had skill to do this, so back wall was cancelled. No offer was made to make good on shortcomings, which after all that went wrong would have been nice. Many of clients were pleased with dives. I thought it was lacking. read more

We really enjoyed our trip, the crew was upbeat, informative, helpful, and very friendly. Would definitely recommend to others! Thank you for a good time. read more

Steve and Ricardo did an amazing job. Safety was #1, Steve knows his wildlife and as an added bonus he has a top notch under water camera and offers the raw footage, or edited for purchase. Excellent service, helping those that needed extra help, making everyone feel welcome and taken care of. I highly recommend to chose Steve and his crew when you want a great and safe du I got experience on Maui! read more

We have returned to Makena Coast divers year after year and are consistently happy with their service. The dive masters are well trained and professional, as well as personal. They are more than happy to give me the additional assistance I need entering and exiting the water. Benja did a great job this week pointing out all of the interesting fish. Over the last two days my family have seen three different kinds of sharks, various eels, and today we saw a huge manta ray ! First ever for my husband and me and we have been diving since the late 70s. I heartily recommend Makena! read more