Molokini is a great place to snorkel year round! Our weather in Maui changes frequently and can also vary drastically depending on your location. It can be rainy in one area and all you have to do is drive 20 minutes and it is beautiful, calm and sunny. It tricks us every time! Main thing, it doesn’t matter what time of year you are visiting Maui, it is always a good time to snorkel Molokini. Each day is different and you won’t know what it's like unless you book your excursion and go for it! Here is a breakdown of what to expect.

December - February

These months have our lowest temperatures and are also our wettest months of the year. Average ocean temperatures are 74-76 degrees which is the lowest of the year. You may be thinking that doesn’t sound very promising, but it is! While it is our rainy season, many of the days are still perfect and it is also our whale season. Maui’s whale season runs December 15th-April 15th. In addition to snorkeling Molokini, you will usually get an added whale watch as a bonus.

March - May

March marks the beginning of the transition from winter to spring and is generally warm and sunny with occasional showers. As we move in to April, spring weather has become well established with less rain and increasingly warmer days. May is a comfortable month and is quite warm but not humid and hot. The average ocean temperature is 74-76 degrees.

June - August

These months are very hot and dry with an average ocean temperature 77-79 degrees. During these months you want to be extra careful to protect yourself from the sun and make sure you book your Molokini tours ahead of time. This is a very busy time for Maui because it is summer break and tours book up as far as two weeks in advance.

September - November

September is still very hot and one of the most humid months of the year, but we start to see a transition toward the end of the month. Molokini tours have more availability now that the kids are back in school. October and November are considered our transitional weather months as we see the heat and humidity give way to the rainy season. Average ocean temperature is 79-80 degrees.

A Few Things to Consider

Maui ocean temperatures range from 74 degrees to 80 degrees and really do not fluctuate all that much. It is easy to see why people enjoy Molokini year round.
All boats have a disclaimer that snorkeling Molokini is weather permitting. The captain will not take you there if they feel the conditions are not right.
The best time of day to snorkel Molokini is in the early morning. Some boats advertise afternoon Molokini trips at a discounted price, but they rarely get there due to Maui’s heavy afternoon trade winds."
Don't hesitate to book your excursion. The snorkel tour will get canceled if it is really rainy or too windy to snorkel and you will receive a full refund. If you don't book because you are worried about the weather, you could miss out!