Written by the Maui Snorkeling team, operating Molokini and Turtle Town tours out of Maʻalaea Harbor since 1985. We spend more days in these waters than on land!
Last updated: December 2025
Every year on the boat, we hear a lot of:
“WOW. Did that really just happen?”
In 2025, those moments came fast and often: surprise whale breaches on the way to Molokini, glass‑calm mornings, turtles cruising past snorkelers, rainbows over Haleakalā, kids taking their first-ever breaths through a snorkel.
The best part? None of those things are one‑time only. These are the kinds of experiences Maui keeps serving up, season after season, if you show up at the right places with the right mindset.
Here are 10 of our favorite guest “wow” moments from 2025 that you can absolutely still have in 2026—plus a few links if you want to dig deeper or start planning your own!
1. That First Turtle Glide-By at Turtle Town
You’ll hear it before you see it:
“TURTLE! TURTLE! TURTLE!”
One of the biggest “wow” moments of 2025—especially for first‑timers—was that quiet instant when a honu (Hawaiian green sea turtle) glides into view at Turtle Town, totally unbothered by the bubbles and flippers.
Guests went from nervous and clingy with their noodles to floating calmly, watching a turtle cruise by like they’d been snorkeling for years.
Still possible in 2026?
Absolutely. Turtles are year‑round residents, and Turtle Town remains one of the most reliable places to see them if you’re patient, respectful, and follow your guide’s instructions.
2. Glass-Calm Molokini Mornings
Some mornings in 2025, Molokini looked like someone had poured blue glass into the ocean!
No wind. No chop. Just:
- 100+ foot visibility,
- Sunlight slicing all the way down the wall,
- Fish shadows on the crater floor.
You could hear people laughing through their snorkels because it felt like snorkeling in a swimming pool—if your pool had parrotfish, yellow tangs, and moorish idols.
Still possible in 2026?
Yep. While conditions vary, early‑morning Molokini trips are designed to hit that calmer, lighter window. When the trade winds cooperate, those “glass” days happen multiple times per season.
👉 Book your Molokini Crater Snorkeling Tour today!
3. Surprise Whale Breaches on the Way to Snorkel
January–March 2025 gave us more than a few “ARE YOU SEEING THIS?!” moments on the channel.
More than once, guests booked a snorkel trip and accidentally got a whale watch as their commute:
- A humpback breaching in the distance while we were still pouring coffee.
- Tail slaps and pectoral slaps off the bow.
- Calves practicing spyhops while mom rested nearby.
We cut the engines, drifted, and just watched. Instant core memories.
Still possible in 2026?
Yes. Maui’s whale season repeats each winter—roughly December through April, with a sweet spot January–March. You can see whales from shore, but being eye‑level with a breach from the boat is on another level.
4. Rainbows in the Middle of a Sunshower
There’s something about Maui that loves to show off with rainbows.
One of our favorite 2025 “wow” combos:
- A brief passing shower,
- Sunshine blasting through behind it,
- A double rainbow arcing from Haleakalā to the West Maui mountains while guests were drying off during lunches.
Phones came out. So did the quiet “whoa.”
Still possible in 2026?
Rain + sun is practically a personality trait here. Short showers, especially in winter and spring, are super common—so are rainbows. You can’t time them, but you can embrace them: stay outside and look up.
5. Kids Snorkeling Confidently for the First Time
Some of our biggest staff “wow” moments in 2025 weren’t about animals—they were about people.
We lost count of the kids (and adults) who:
- Started the morning clinging to the ladder, refusing to put their faces in,
- Then ended the trip snorkeling independently with a noodle, pointing out fish to their parents.
Sometimes the breakthrough came after a quick mask refit. Sometimes it took a crew member holding their hand for the first 30 seconds. But the look on their faces when it clicked? Unreal.
Still possible in 2026?
Every. Single. Day. As long as guests show up willing to listen, breathe slowly, and take it step by step, these breakthroughs never stop!
Snorkeling for the first time? Check out our Maui Snorkeling for Beginners guide!
6. Getting Surrounded by a Swirl of Yellow Tang
If 2025 had a color, it might be yellow.
At Molokini and other reefs, we saw huge schools of yellow tang and other reef fish drift past like living confetti. One second you’re looking at coral; the next you’re in the middle of a bright yellow cloud.
Guests would pop their heads up and say, “I didn’t realize it would be THAT colorful.”
Still possible in 2026?
Yes. Reef fish populations do their own thing, but tangs are consistent residents when reefs are healthy. Choosing areas like Molokini’s protected marine life conservation district increases the likelihood of these scenes.
7. Spinner Dolphins Riding the Bow Wake
We never chase dolphins. But in 2025, we had several mornings when spinner dolphins chose to ride alongside us as we transited to or from a snorkel site.
- Guests sat on the bow watching dolphins arc in and out of the wake.
- You could hear their squeaks through the hull.
- Some people cried. (We will not name names.)
Still possible in 2026?
Yes—with the same caveat: it’s up to the dolphins. When it happens, it’s a pure bonus. When it doesn’t, you focus on the reef life at your actual destination.
8. Guests Laughing Down the Slide Into Crystal-Blue Water
Some of the loudest “wow!” moments in 2025 didn’t happen in the water at all—they happened on the waterslide.
We watched:
- Grown‑ups who swore they were “just here to watch the kids” end up taking three, four, five turns.
- Guests who were nervous about stepping off the back of the boat find that sliding in felt way easier than climbing down a ladder.
- Entire families lined up at the rail, cheering for Grandma as she whooshed into the ocean with both hands in the air.
The slide turned a regular snorkel stop into recess—and the photos and videos that came out of it might be some of our favorite memories from the whole year!
Still possible in 2026?
Absolutely. As long as conditions are right and the captain gives the go‑ahead, the slide is open for business. You can snorkel, warm up with a bit of boat time, then cool off with a big splash—no extra skill required.
👉 Please keep in mind that we don’t inflate the slide at Molokini!
9. The “I’m Actually Doing This” Moment on the Ladder
Some of the most significant “wow” moments from 2025 weren’t about whales or turtles—they were about courage.
We saw so many guests have a quiet victory on the ladder:
- People who’d been afraid of deep water their whole lives
- Folks who’d had a bad experience in the ocean years ago and weren’t sure they were ready to try again
- Guests who kept saying, “I’m not really a strong swimmer” or “I’m just here to watch.”
Then, one step at a time, they:
- Let a crew member help with their mask and fins
- Practiced breathing at the surface
- Slipped into the water with a noodle or float belt
- Floated, looked down at the reef, and thought: “I’m actually doing this.”
That tiny personal breakthrough often hits harder than any wildlife sighting.
Still possible in 2026?
Absolutely—and honestly, this might be the most reliable wow of all. You don’t need to be fearless or experienced; you just need to be willing to listen, move at your own pace, and let the crew support you.
10. Ending the Day Sun‑Tired and Salt‑Happy
One underrated wow moment from 2025: the afterglow.
- Hair still salty.
- Skin warm and tired (but not burned, thanks to rash guards and mineral sunscreen).
- Camera roll full of reef colors, turtles, and goofy boat selfies.
- That “I could eat anything” hunger when you hit a food truck or local spot after the trip.
It’s the moment it sinks in that you didn’t just look at Maui—you were in it.
Still possible in 2026?
Absolutely. Plan for it:
- Read our Maui Snorkeling Packing List so you’re comfortable, not cold or sun‑fried.
- Use our Reef‑Safe Sunscreen guide so your skin and the reef both win.
- Check Maui on a Budget 2026 if you want to link a perfect post‑snorkel food truck stop into your plan.
How to Make These “Wow” Moments From 2025 Your Own in 2026
You can’t script whales or rainbows. You can’t force a shy turtle to show up on cue.
But you can stack the odds in your favor:
- Pick good timing: use our Best Time to Visit Maui and Best Time to Snorkel guides.
- Choose a crew that cares: safety briefings, flexible site choices, and patient in‑water support matter.
- Respect the ocean: mineral-only sunscreen, no touching wildlife, no standing on coral.
- Give yourself permission to be a beginner.
When you’re ready, we’d love to help you turn your own 2026 “maybe someday” into a 2026 “wow, I can’t believe that just happened” on the water! 🤿
Maui Snorkeling Tours
Snorkel and slide into Maui’s crystal-blue waters! Turn the wow moments from 2025 into 2026!
