Why snorkel and whale watch around Maui?
We make a point to find and retain Captains and crew that love their jobs and believe in the mission of our company. The highlight of a small company like ours is the intimate experience that small group tours with great Captains and crew can provide. Most folks come away from our activity feeling a bit more connected to Maui. We love to show our tours several different snorkeling spots that highlight the diverse geology of the island. The Marine life surrounding a lava cave is much different than that surrounding a shallow reef. Our guests that join us between December and May will undoubtedly say "the Whales!!". The Maui whale watching season just happens to fall smack in the middle of the high season and spots can sell out pretty fast. We suggest that you book early to secure your ideal dates and times. As a bonus you can also lock in 2016 prices by booking your tours by December 15th! We are a small company which is a big part of our charm, it also means that we can sell out quickly during high demand time frames.
What makes Hawaii Ocean Rafting Different
What sets us apart is probably our value. We specialize in taking small groups far from thr normal beaten path. Our rafts are fast which means we can spend a lot more time snorkeling and whale watching and less time travelling. Some of the most interesting times aboard our tours happen when the wildlife decide to check us out and reverse the roles a bit. during humpback season there have been a few very special days when a small group of whales basicall held us hostage. When a whale decides to approach our raft and swim back and forth right below and spyhop we have been unable to start our engines or move for more than an hour.
One more thing
Because of our adventurous excursions and faster vessels we do not reccomend our tours for pregnant women, people with back problems or small children (under 5 for snorkeling). We can be more flexible on our whale watches because nobody is getting in the water. One word.... adventure. We provide safe family friendly adventures.
Whale Watching trips
Hawaii Ocean Rafting also offers Whale Watching trips between december and May. Join us aboard our 30ft. hard-bottom inflatable raft. Enjoy comfortable seating for up to 16 passengers and spectacular views of Maui's gentle giants from the best seats in town. Choose from a Per Person outing or a 2 Hour Private Whale Watch. The Best Seats In Town! Avoid the crowds on a Maui rafting trip aboard Hawaii Ocean Rafting's 30ft. hard-bottom inflatable raft. Enjoy comfortable seating for up to 16 passengers. Unlike larger vessels our raft allows you to get that up close and eye level photo you wish for.
Snorkeling tours
On our half day snorkeling trip, we will depart at 8:00 am for the neighbor island of Lanai. Lanai offers some of the most pristine snorkeling around and is also home to spotted, spinner, and bottlenose dolphins. On this 4.5 hour trip we will visit (at least) 2-3 different and unique snorkel spots as well as dolphin watching opportunities. This experience will be aboard our ocean raft with our knowledgeable captain and crew, they are happy to answer questions and make sure you are comfortable before you hop in the water. The trip includes a continental breakfast, snacks, water, juice, and soda. We also provide all the gear and instruction you will need, including snorkels, fins and flotation (boogie boards, waist belts, and noodles). There are waterproof cameras for purchase at our booth before departure. Best of all you will have a full snorkeling and dolphin/ turtle watching adventure and be back in time for lunch on historic Front Street in Lahaina.