West Maui Snorkeling Experience by Boat from Ka'anapali

This was by far the best snorkeling trip we’ve ever done. Loved the small, personalized attention. Shasta was an amazing guide - she was in the water with us pointing out turtles, fish, sea urchins, reef shark and more. She was so knowledgeable and obviously really loves her job. The crew made sure we did two great, different snorkel stops and even added time for some fun jumps into the ocean. The banana bread and wraps were delicious and the crew kept us well-hydrated with lots of good beverages. The photographer on board also took great photos (for an added fee but well worth it). This snorkel adventure was the highlight of our trip and so much fun.

We booked this after a recommendation from our hotel concierge. We’d taken a RIB boat before to Lanai so we were looking for something similar. This trip didn’t disappoint. We met the owners on the beach at Whalers Village. They were great. Once our entire group arrived, the captain met us on the shore and took our party of 5 on a zodiac out to the big boat moored 50 yds off shore. We were greeted by Christy and Jess. The boat had plenty of room for our party plus all the other groups. They don’t sell all the seats so there was extra space to move around. They have dry spaces under your seat to store any bags or other items. They provided snorkel gear for guests. We visited two sites on West Maui. One was north of our launch site and the other was south of it. The first was a calm cove, great for people new to snorkeling. Christy has experience in marine science and was a wealth of knowledge. Jess got in the water and pointed out an octopus and a giant starfish to handle. Our second spot was more to my liking. It had tons of turtles and a unique snorkeling experience. On our way back to shore, we took a little detour because there was a report of spinner dolphins in the area. Captain Will took over and sure enough, the dolphins were jumping and spinning. You could hear the dolphins squealing as the played in the water. Amazing bonus experience. Overall, super impressed and happy with our experience. We wanted a bit of excitement in the boat ride, versus a catamaran ride - they delivered. My mom didn’t come on the trip due to concerns about sea sickness. The boat handled the waves, wind and rain with no problem. The cover over the boat provided shade and was very comfortable. The captain and crew were great. It was very safe, educational, and fun. I’d do it again. Don’t hesitate on the experience!

It was a dream of mine to swim with sea turtles. Not only did we get to do exactly that, but we watched Spinning Dolphins play, saw a host of other reef life and had a splendid time with Captain Will and Guide Shasta. The two were a fabulous team who took care of everyone (great snacks and lunch) and enjoyed the day just as much as the rest of us. If you come to Maui- take this tour!!

Very intimate, great instruction and captain. Loved the smaller group size compared to other charters I’ve been on in the past. Shout out to Shasta and Will.

The whole experience was amazing!!the staff was very helpful and made the experience even better I’d do it again

It was our first time snorkeling, it was an amazing experience ! Thank you to Derek and Shasta who made the experience memorable. Both are very knowledgeable about the islands and sea life. I felt safe Both in and out of the water. The fruit, banana bread and lunch were very good! The playlist on the boat was also great !! I would definitely go again and highly recommend it, especially for those first time snorkeling ! 😃

The pontoon boat is only suited for older children and able-bodied adults. There is a terrible, emergency-only toilet on the boat, so make sure to take care of that before boarding! That being said, the trip was outstanding, in that the naturalist would actually dive down to the ocean floor and pick up sea cucumbers and urchins and things like that. The photographer was in the water and could take underwater shots of the family, for a $120 or something like that. In addition to the snorkeling, we also saw spinner dolphins and a few turtles. The banana bread and fruit were fresh and tasty, while the wraps were bland and devoid of any meat. Overall, a fun trip as long as you understand the limitations of the boat ahead of time.

We cannot recommend Magic Merman enough!! Amazing experience, guides and food! Book now… you will not be disappointed. We have snorkeled a lot but seeing a pod of spinner dolphins, turtles and reef sharks was an experience my family will never forgot.

what a great experience. The guides Will and Kristy were FABULOUS! The tour was great, beautiful coral and a variety of fish. Then the pier and the turtle- yes, you swim among them... Plenty of refreshments, snacks and sunscreen- use the sunscreen!!!!! Thanks Merman team.

One of the best tours we’ve ever done! Derek and Shasta provided an incredible experience from start to finish. The snorkeling was amazing, the food and drinks were excellent, and the small-group setting made everything feel personal and relaxed. Seeing dolphins in the wild was an unforgettable bonus. Great service, great vibes, and great memories. Easily one of the highlights of our Maui vacation. Highly recommend!