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Dive sites are always determined when we get out on the water in the morning depending on wind, current, visibility, surf, and the requests and abilities of the divers. Typically one of the two dives is someplace at Molokini, unless it is very rough or unless no one onboard is requesting Molokini. There is no way to predict a particular dive site even a day in advance because the wind might not do what is predicted, we could get to a spot and see that the current is too strong or that visibility is horrible, etc. What we've found over the years is that divers are much happier diving sites that are good for that particular day, than they are diving a "guaranteed" site in unfavorable conditions. We have learned over the years that dive sites change over time. An animal may stay for a few months and then disappear! So, rather than dwell on exactly what is at a particular site at the moment, we've described what is common to general areas instead. Who knows what will be at what particular site when you visit?
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Molokini
Marine Life Conservation District
Maui
is similar to diving off of Lanai or the Big Island, diving at Molokini
is distinctly different. Fish that have seen numerous divers and
snorkelers for years and have been protected in the marine preserve
will let divers approach more closely than usual. There are several
species of fish that we do not commonly see except at Molokini. And,
like we said, we've been lucky to see many big animals such as whale
sharks and manta rays here over the years. This is truly Hawaii's
Premier Marine Preserve. 
The
Back Wall of Molokini
undersides of large
overhangs. Whitetip reef sharks can also be seen here with more
frequency than most of the other sites we dive. 
The sinking of the St. Anthony, a 65-foot longliner, in
October of 1997, marked the latest addition to Maui's only official
artificial reef. Construction of the reef off Mokapu Beach in Wailea
began in 1957 with the sinking of 150 old automobiles, but the
combination of thin car metal and salt water reduced this potential
reef to axles and plastic parts within 25 years. The State's next move
was to deposit hundreds of concrete forms embedded with rows of tires.
These resulted in tubular holes for marine animals to take up
residence. As the tires 
"seasoned," corals began to grow
on them and the reef subsequently has become home to over 50 species of
fish. When the St. Anthony was added, green sea turtles were drawn to
the site in numbers, and are now the main attraction on the boat
itself. They tuck under the hull, inside the holds and, most fun for
us, rest in all kinds of humorous positions on the cabin, using the
vertical and horizontal bars to hang from and wedge themselves between.
This area, south of Wailea, is part of a huge
bay created by the shape of the island of Maui. The bottom is generally
a very gradually sloping sand bottom with many volcanic outcroppings,
ridges, small caves, archways and pinnacles. Some of our dive sites in
Makena are home to green sea turtles. Here they feed and find shelter
from tiger sharks at night under the ledges and in caves. Hawaii's
green sea turtles have been protected since 1973, and the Hawaiian
population is in better shape than green sea turtles off Florida and
the Pacific coast of Mexico which are considered endangered. The Makena
turtles have seen enough divers to be unafraid, so divers can approach
within touching distance. Makena is also the home to many frogfish,
different species of eels and beautiful lionfish. 
85
ft. pinnacle