The winds are down and the sea is glassy, perfect for a little Maui snorkeling. Maui's snorkeling is one of the reason that the readers of Conde' Nast Traveller magazine name Maui the #1 island in the United States year after year. One factor that contributed to the spectacular and abundant snorkeling available is the fact that Maui and Lanai are islands. While the legendary surf pummels the coast of one side of the island the other side lay serene and protected. This protection from the giant swells arriving from thousands of miles of open ocean allows corals to grow and flourish. Both Maui and Lanai have so many little bays and cliffs that you can pretty much always find a protected spot to venture out for a Maui snorkeling experience. All of our trips leave from Lahaina harbor on the island of Maui and head across the channel to the island of Lanai. Our rafts are fast and fun. During whale season our snorkel trips are part whale watch. The channel between Maui and Lanai is dense with whales and we frequently stop to experience the whales, sometimes bu choice and sometimes because they get so close we must shut down our engines. Whales aren't the only marine mammals we encounter either. Lanai's waters are home to 3 different species of dolphins.