The 6 Best Trips for Snorkeling with Dolphins in Maui

1.Ultimate 4 Hour Lanai Snorkel and Dolphin Encounter

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 927 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $175Our pick

Set out from Lahaina at 9:00 a.m. with a crew such as Jill, Casey, Lexi, or Chad for two snorkel stops near Lanai and Maui. You may see spinner dolphins, turtles, reef sharks, octopus, and, from December through April, humpback whales. Gear, flotation aids, reef-safe sunscreen, drinks, and snacks are included.

“This was so amazing! Great to see dolphins swimming right next to our boat. Saw turtles and sharks while snorkeling!”

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2.Eco-Raft Tour: Maui-Lanai Snorkel / Dolphin Watch (Semi-Private)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 259 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $96Best value

Ride from Lahaina on a semi-private raft with up to 15 people. Captain Jack, Jill, Darrell, and other crew members may guide you to Lanai snorkel sites, sea cliffs, dolphins, turtles, and seasonal whales. Choose a five-hour snorkel trip, a two-hour dolphin watch, or a winter whale-watch combo. Food, drinks, gear, and instruction are included.

“What a fantastic day on the water. Captain Jack was hilarious, informative, and a highly skilled mariner. Loved all of it! The best food we’ve ever had on a boat trip… and we have done many. Mahalo!”

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3.Lanai Snorkel and Dolphin Watch from Maalaea

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 235 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $183

Cruise from Maalaea Harbor to Lanai aboard a 65-foot catamaran for a 90-minute snorkel stop, dolphin watching, island views, breakfast, lunch, and drinks. Pacific Whale Foundation naturalists provide gear, safety help, fish identification, and a children’s Jr. Naturalist program. Dolphins and winter humpback whales are possible, not guaranteed.

“Great trip! Food, drinks for adults and kids! We saw dolphins and Captain Emily was awesome! She made our daughter honor Captain and let her sit up in the captain seat and engaged with her the hole time! #captainEmilyforpresident!”

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4.Lanai Deluxe Dolphin Adventure & 3 Snorkel Sites

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 102 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $200

You’ll cross from Lahaina to Lanai on a fast rafting vessel with a maximum of 26 people, stopping at two or three snorkel sites. Crews such as Emma, Hannah, Jill, Amy, and Casey have helped swimmers of mixed ability. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, drinks, gear, and flotation devices are included.

“The guides were super friendly and informative. It’s nice to see staff that really seem to enjoy their work. Very likable crew that was great with my kids!”

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5.Lanai Snorkel & Dolphin Watch with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 98 reviews · 5 hours · from $172

Set out from Maalaea Harbor on a 65-foot catamaran for Lanai’s reefs and dolphin waters. You’ll get breakfast, premium snorkel gear, a guided reef talk, barbecue lunch, unlimited soft drinks, and one alcoholic drink for adults. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but dolphins, turtles, whales, and monk seals may appear.

“The crew was fabulously efficient in how the whole trip was set up. We were lucky and came upon hundreds of dolphins along w about 1 1/2 hrs of snorkeling. An amazing trip!”

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6.Semi-Private Eco-Raft Lanai Snorkel & Dolphin Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 11 reviews · 4 - 5 hours · from $204

Join Captain Jack, Captain Mark, or another Hawaii Ocean Rafting crew for a four to five hour Lanai trip aboard a 37-foot raft carrying fewer than 18 people. You get breakfast, snacks, drinks, gear, and beginner instruction, with two or three snorkel stops chosen for the day’s conditions. Dolphins and whales may appear, but sightings are never guaranteed.

“Olivia, Nicole, and Mark (?) were great. It was expensive, but so are all the tours on Maui that I found. We got to see whales and dolphins. We headed to Lanai, but the water was too choppy, so Mark took us to another smoother water spot to snorkel. Olivia told us about whales. All in all it was a fun experience!”

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