Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Shhh—don't' tell anybody, but Moloka'i has some of the best snorkeling and diving in all
of Hawai'i. The only reason you haven't heard about it is because—with the exception of
a few protected areas—the majority of Moloka'i's dive and snorkel spots are best accessed
from a dive boat or charter.
Dixie Maru Beach
on the west shore and
Waialua Beach
on
the east shore (accessible for snorkeling only at high tide) are the only two bays where you
could snorkel from the shoreline without getting caught in a rip current or scraping your
stomach on the shallow reef. Moloka'i is still home to the longest fringing reef in Hawai'i,
and dive outfitters have no less than 20 spots along the outer edge of the reef.
Moku Ho'oniki
on the eastern tip of the island is home to a population of scalloped ham-
merhead sharks, a vibrant coral reef, and occasionally some larger species with the ability
to get your heart racing. While it's for advanced divers only, Moku Ho'oniki is the crown
jewel in most charter boat offerings. The water is too deep here for any sort of moor-
ing system, so often divers will shave to flop backward off the drifting boat for a Navy
SEAL-style entry into the rough waters of the Pailolo Channel. At the rock's most popular
dive site—
Fish Rain
—divers usually descend 100 feet or more along a sloping reef where
myriad species of tropical fish appear to rain down from above.
Once at your bottom depth, your heart rate really picks up as you head out into the open
blue in search of scalloped hammerheads. Other sightings have included whale sharks, ti-
ger sharks, mahimahi, and even humpback whales during the winter season. Dive charters
visit the rock from both Maui and Moloka'i.
With an office right on the corner of Kaunakakai's main thoroughfare,
Moloka'i Fish and
Dive
(61 Ala Malama Ave., 808/553-5926,
www.molokaifishanddive.com
,
7:30am-6pm
Mon.-Sat., 8am-2pm Sun.) operates its own charter boat departing out of Kaunakakai
wharf and offers three-hour snorkeling trips for $79. Scuba diving trips visit either the
south shore's fringing reef for $145 or locations farther afield (such as Moku Ho'oniki) for
$295. This shop is the premier (and only) PADI operation on the island and can accom-
modate whatever snorkel or dive excursion you're hoping to sort out. Prices and times can
vary, so it's best to contact the dive shop directly about current rates and availability
