Maui is known for having the best snorkeling out of all of the Hawaiian Islands, and in large part that’s because there are so many places that you can snorkel right from the beach making it super accessible.

But Maui also has two superstar off shore snorkeling sites that get a lot of buzz. Well, one is technically another island but it’s only accessed via Maui.

If you’ve done any research at all about the must do things on Maui, you’ve heard about snorkeling in Molokini Crater. It’s iconic.

But in recent years, it’s been making the rounds on the interwebs that the snorkeling at Molokini isn’t as good as it used to be. And people are recommending Lanai as the best snorkeling trip from Maui.

I’ve actually gotten this question quite a bit lately from people in my Hawaii trip planning Facebook group, and since I’ve done BOTH, I’m going to tackle the comparison.

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Molokini vs Lanai: Which is the Better Snorkeling Trip?

First of all, this isn’t a cut and dry answer. Molokini and Lanai are very different experiences.

But let’s hash it out.

Snorkeling Molokini and Lanai both involve booking a snorkel trip on a boat.

Since Molokini is closer to Maui (and such a big draw with the tourists), there are a lot of companies that do trips there and you’ll find a wide range of types of tours at different prices…from bargain to luxury.

Since Lanai is quite a bit further from Maui, there are fewer companies that do trips to Lanai for snorkeling and therefore they’re a bit more expensive.

We’re talking about a LOT of different options between the two that make it hard to do a direct comparison, so I’m just going to tell you what I know.

In my opinion:

The best Molokini excursion is Kai Kanani’s Sunrise Snorkel Trip.

The best Lanai excursion is Trilogy’s Discover Lanai Tour.

I’ve written detailed posts about each of them and I feel pretty strongly about each of them being the best option for Molokini and Lanai.

So, which one is best?

Molokini

Molokini is the most iconic Hawaii snorkeling experience. The crescent shaped volcanic crater has incredible visibility (there’s no sand so the water is crystal clear) and it’s honestly unlike anything you’ll experience anywhere else.

The actual fish I’ve seen at Molokini vary, but I’m always impressed with the crater itself.

Also, the added stop at Turtle Town on the way back is a big bonus for me. Yes, you could swim offshore from Maluaka Beach or Makena Landing on your own and have a good chance of seeing turtles, but I’m much more comfortable being in a group with the crew watching out.

And yes, Molokini can get really crowded, but doing Kai Kanani’s Sunrise Snorkel means you’ll be the first boat at the crater so that’s irrelevant. Plus the early start time means you’ll have a full day’s adventure and be back at the resort by 10!

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Lanai

There are several different spots around Lanai that are popular with snorkel tours, but the best overall experience is right off Hulopoe Beach.

The excursion with Trilogy is so great because they actually dock on the island and you spend most of your day on the beach and you can snorkel as much (or as little) as you want.

The snorkeling here is great to be sure, but it’s more similar to what you’ll find at Maui’s top snorkeling spots that you can access by beach.

So while it’s probably better than Olowalu, Black Rock, Ulua Beach, etc. it’s the same type of snorkeling. Whereas the Molokini experience is totally different.

It’s also worth noting that the Lanai excursion with Trilogy (and most other companies) is a full 8 hours. AND you’ll get to check visiting another Hawaiian Island off your bucket list.

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Molokini vs Lanai

Honestly, I think they’re both worth doing.

If you’re a serious snorkeler (like, you always snorkel when you’re on vacation and you like to go to top spots in different places), I think you have to experience Molokini. The visibility is unreal. Plus you can so easily snorkel so many spots on Maui from the beach that you’ll get your fill of the island’s tropical species.

Both Kai Kanani’s Sunrise Snorkel to Molokini and Trilogy’s Discover Lanai Tour are fantastic excursions that’ll be the highlight of your vacation, but for the money, Trilogy is a better value plus you get to experience another island, and a beach day instead of just snorkeling off the boat.

Kai Kanani’s Sunrise Snorkel to Molokini is $279/person for a 3.5 hour tour. Trilogy’s Discover Lanai Tour is $289/person for an 8 hour tour.

And the Lanai trip is the better way to go if you have a mix of people in your party (some who enjoy snorkeling more than others).

One last option – If you’d really like to do both but it’s not in the budget, you could do the Molokini trip with Kai Kanani and do Lanai on your own by riding the ferry over and taking your own snorkeling gear. Read this post for details on how to visit Lanai as a day trip.

Want to read more posts about Maui? I’ve got plenty!

Things You Can ONLY Do on Maui // 9 Things to SKIP on Maui // 4 Day Maui Itinerary // My Favorite Road to Hana Itinerary // Things to Do Upcountry // Tips for Sunrise at Haleakala National Park // Snorkeling Molokini Crater // Whale Watching

My Favorite Hotels on Maui // Where to Find Condos on Maui // Wailea vs Kaanapali // Every Resort in Wailea Ranked // Four Seasons Maui Review // Andaz Maui Review // Fairmont Kea Lani Review // Wailea Beach Resort Review // Four Seasons vs Andaz Maui // Andaz Maui vs Wailea Beach Resort

Best Restaurants in Wailea // Best Breakfast in Wailea & Kihei // Mama’s Fish House // Best Luaus in Wailea

My Favorite Things to Do in South Maui // Best Beaches in Wailea & Kihei // Road to Hana Tips // Driving the Backside of the Road to Hana // Where to See Turtles on Maui

Maui vs Kauai // Everything You Need to Know BEFORE you go to Maui