Seafire Charters

Capt Dan and the crew we had today were top notch! The surf has been rough and everything was stirred up close to shore so turtle watching wasn’t ideal. But Kelly and Brian (?) were great crew helping everyone in the water and on the boat. VERY friendly crew and excellent snorkeling experience at MolokinI!

You can book one of the larger companies for a snorkel trip to Molokini or you can get a more personal experience here. We are a family of 8 and hoped to have a smaller group on the boat. That’s just what we got with Seafire. You can call it no frills but we got everything that made the trip wonderful plus that more personal experience with the crew. You do pay in cash so be aware that you’ll need it. There are muffins and cookies to start and they took care of you if there’s any chance you’d be seasick (this was a very big deal to me since I always do). Ryan was the captain along with Kelly and Vanessa. These folks know their stuff — especially Kelly, whose effusive personality was such a pleasure! The day we went was really windy and cloudy, not the best conditions and quite a ride on the boat! So we went to the regular Molokini spot (too windy), then went around the back side (also too windy), then went off the coast a bit south of Makena where we finally got in the water. I thought we’d have to turn around and head back, but we ended up seeing a bazillion sea turtles and lots of fish and interesting sea life. They personally fit the equipment, they have blankets and jackets and wet suits if you get cold and they really do escort you while in the water — Kelly was diving and bringing up cool stuff and pointing out all kinds of things. There were more muffins and chips and soda, etc. on the boat. We ended up stopping at two different sites and thoroughly enjoying our trip. What could have been a disaster of a day turned out to be a fantastic experience. I highly recommend these folks.

We had an excellent snorkeling trip with Seafire. We totally lucked out, as we called Boss Frogs at the last minute, trying to book a snorkeling trip on one of the bigger boats. Those boats were all full, but Orron at Boss Frogs suggested that we try out the Seafire. We are so glad we did. A smaller boat meant that we could get in and out of Molikini much more quickly — plenty of snorkeling time, but far less travel/​waiting time. Don, Kelly and Melissa were a great crew — informative, friendly and totally accommodating. The Kihei boat ramp is very convenient for anyone who is coming from Wailea.

Snorkel Molokini with Cap’n Dan, Missy and the gang and Seafire because they are real PROS! I checked out all the other bigger more commercial snorkeling tour companies and after reading how Seafire departed from Kihei and the boat trip to Molokini was just 15 minutes compared to 45 minutes on other tours, I decided to book my tour with Seafire.
This is a no frills snorkel trip limited to about 15 people. It begins at the boat ramp at Kihei where there are restrooms and a shower. Check in, pay in cash, have a snack, then hop on the boat and you’re at Molokini within 20 minutes. The crew has wetsuit tops to keep you warm, flotation aids for folks like me who panic in the water, and they have one on one mask/​fin fitting so that your gear fits and works properly. Dan and his «girls» are so knowledgeable and personable– they make you feel right at home and very secure.
At each location we snorkeled, one of the girls was always in the water with us to point out cool fish and turtles and to make sure everyone remained safe and happy. Our tour made two additional stops– one at the ridge in front of Molokini (it was too rough to snorkel the backside) and another closer to shore to see turtles. They provide muffins, fruit and juice after the first two stops. There are no toilets on the boat, so use the facilities on shore before the tour sets sail. I’ve been on lots of snorkel excursions and this was an excellent value-​fun and easy on the wallet!

Seafire Snorkeling Adventures has without a doubt the best crew on Maui. If you are looking to experience Molokini crater (and the back wall) this is the most professional, educated team you would have the privilege to share your experience with. Don is a first rate captain who gets you to the locations with ease and has staffed his boat with the most knowledgable, excited crew who take the experience to a level you will not experience with other boats in Maui.
Kelly who led the group in the water is so knowledgable. She directed the group to the best spots to see amazing sea creatures and her excitement was contagious! As we traveled between snorkel locations Kelly and Melissa were available to take care of us and also answer any questions we had and provided us with the prefect snacks to fuel our adventure. Kelly had an extensive knowledge of not only the locations we visited on the trip but also provided great suggestions for where we should snorkel off-​beach in our remaining time on Maui.
If you want to experience the best snorkeling Maui has to offer look no further than the Seafire! I have never had such a great experience snorkeling off a boat and could not reccomend them enough :) I will definitely be back next time I return to Maui!

We took the 3.5-hour snorkeling tour to Molokini and the boat made three stops at the front of the crater, the back, and then turtle town. I thought the back of the crater was pretty cool. And we saw so many sea turtles at turtle town and had the best time! The girls on the boat (Kelly and Missy) were super friendly and helpful. At each stop one of them would jump into the water and snorkel with us. Great value also comparing to some of the other tours we looked at. I’m so glad we found Seafire and I would definitely recommend it!

We had a great whale watch with captain Don and Kelly on March 14 with a private charter of 8 people. The boat is great, very safe and large, and they provide water, sodas, chips and muffins for $ 35/​head. We left at 11am for a two hour tour and saw whales breaching, dolphins playing next to us for 10 minutes, sea tortoises and little birds eating from our hands. They operate by word of mouth and were easy to deal with. We were staying at condos across from the Kihei boat ramp so it was super convenient. Can’t wait to go again!

As a Kihei local I’ve taken several snorkeling adventures to Molokini. I must say the professionalism and enthusiasm exhibited by the crew 1^st class. They gave us way more time than expected. You must ask for Kelly… she is the best and LOVES what she does. Thumbs up to her and the entire crew!

Great boat! Great time! Great price!. We will definitely be back! Great crew too!

We snorkelled to Molikini crater, the open ocean and then swam with the turtles.
The girls and Don were amazing– complimentary pineapple, chips, muffins & pop/​water.
Nothing too fancy but we had the best time… they are soooo personable

My friend and I loved this tour! The crew was really friendly, informative and helpful. When my friend’s fins were bothering her they gave her socks. When we were concerned about sun exposure they gave both of us rash guards. They offered food and drink throughout and told us a lot about the fish and turtles we
saw. The captain also drove the boat smoothly which was great since I get seasick. Finally, they took us out 45 minutes longer than our tour was scheduled for and tried hard to find us safe, great sites to snorkel. I would highly recommend them!

Excellent snorkeling trip. They really treated everyone with care to make sure you were ok. The crew was very knowledgeable and took the time to remember your first name. I will definitely go back & recommend this snorkeling company to friends & family.

We booked this snorkelling trip based upon other reviews we’d read on Trip Advisor. Seafire Charters did everything right! It ended up being our entire wedding party on board with a group of 17 of us, which made it even more fun. We snorkelled Molokini Crater and then swam along the drop off, which was spectacular. Next, they took us to the Turtle Cleaning Station, where we were able to swim with lots of turtles. A magnificent morning spent in the ocean! Kudos to the captain + crew!

I am glad I picked sea fire for my trip to Molokini. They have very reasonable price– we paid $ 60 for each because we called them directly to book the trip. Many other top rated boats priced double of that. They have super high rating at Tripadvisor and was recommended in the book Revealing Maui.
We had around 20 people that day. The crew are super friendly and very helpful. I am four months pregnant and I felt very safe to snorkel with them. They gave sea band to those ppl who may be sea sick before they headed to the bay. And we had some really good pineapple and refreshment during the trip so we can keep our energy. Kelly is great –she swim like a fish in the ocean and she helped rescue other people who may get into trouble in the water. She dived into the deep water to show us and teach us the name of fishes. They took really good care of everyone.
It is one of my favor snorkeling experience in Maui. If you are going to Molokini, I highly recommended Sea Fire.

Best snorkeling choice to go with… My boyfriend and I recently went with Seafire to snorkel the Molokini Crater and visit turtle island. We departed at about 7ish (early, but worth it) and headed straight to Molokini. We were provided some cinnamon rolls and juices before boarding and brief safety instructions. Immediately getting on the boat, your names are learned and given a background on what to expect. They also help those who get sea sick with special wrist wraps and oil to behind the ears to lessen/​avoid sea sickness, even if it’s a decent 20 – 25 min boat ride. There was only about 20 people in our boat –compared to other boats with over 50 people in them and you can tell it was more personable on our boat… like getting called upon by your first name and making sure you were okay through out the trip.
We got to see the most colorful fish, an eel, and even a baby shark (don’t worry they won’t put you in harms way… these guys are pros!). Luckily we were also able to visit the back side of the crater where the waters were even bluer. The captain had been doing this for 20+ years everyday and knows when it’s ok to swim the backside or not due to waves and choppiness. We were given fresh pineapple, chips, muffins, beverages to snack on and help get the salty taste off our lips. On the way back, dolphins swam so close to us, we even stopped a couple times to watch and it was so much seeing fun how interactive they were. We get to turtle island and see lots of turtles. We snorkeled above their cleaning station and it was a sight to see.
I’m so glad we picked Seafire… the crew was professional, knowledgable, personable and catered to everyone’s needs making sure we had a memorable time. Pick Seafire!

I went on a snorkelling trip with Seafire while in Maui, and I could not have been happier with my choice. It’s a less flashy trip than some others on the island – a smaller boat and group means no buffet/​open bar, but that was fine with me as I’m not one for a 9AM Mai Tai.
Our trip departed at 7AM from Kihei (across the street from where I was staying) and headed right for Molokini after the necessary safety briefings. The crew was friendly, experienced, and put everyone at ease immediately. I’ve been snorkelling a few times before, but for a first timer I’m sure it made a world of difference to have someone out in the water with you to help, guide, and point out the must-​sees. The back side of Molokini is about 250 feet deep, but you get to see right to the bottom (yep, crystal clear water) as well a plethora of marine life. We even saw a baby shark! To put it lightly, it’s stunning.
The front end of Molokini was too choppy for us to visit, so after a quick bout of snorkelling near Big Beach we went over to try our luck with some of the endangered green turtles. Lady Luck was on our side – we saw a few big ones, and even a baby turtle! I got to swim up to 5 feet away from one of the adults and see its surprisingly cute little head bobbing up and down in the water – definitely one of the highlights of my morning.
All in all, the trip lasted about 3.5 hours and was well worth the $ 65 per person. The captain and crew are very familiar with these waters, constantly looking out for you and trying to make you more comfortable, and hoping to showcase as much of Maui’s marine life as possible. They also provide you with muffins, chips and soft drinks if you’re looking for something to munch on. I would recommend Seafire in a heartbeat to anyone looking to snorkel in Maui.

Had a great experience on the boat! Beautiful scene! Had fun snorkeling with the turtles and hearing the songs of the humpback whales underwater.
Offered a 3 hour excursion or a 5 hour one. I opted for a 3 hour ride. Went early in the morning but still got a bit sea sick. However once in the water, it was better.
Friendly staffs knew everyone by their names and made sure we were accounted for. Felt really taken care for. They were constantly checking to see if our masks were okay or if we needed some ginger candy/​ginger ale in case we were getting a bit nauseous. Made sure we had a good experience. Personally fitted our masks and flippers.
Snacks and soda/​water provided for on the boat.
Warning-don’t drink too much bc you might need to use the restroom. Unfortunately, no restrooms on the boat.
Wear organic sunblock bc regular sunblock is harmful to the coral reef. They suggested washing off sunblock on my face. I didn’t listen and it ran into my eyes. As a result my eyes were burning and had to take it off but ended up with a red sunburnt face after. Can’t win every battle. :)

I had the chance to take a molokini trip with this team and loved the experience. It’s a small boat limited to 20 customers and that makes the whole experience much more personalized. If you are considering them here are some things to think about.
* They depart and return from a boat ramp in Kihei– which means there is no place to shower until you get back to your accommodation or to a public shower in a beach. There isn’t a restroom on the boat but there is one in the boat ramp.
* smaller group means they will get to know everyone by name and ensure everyone is accounted and cared for. You won’t be lost in a big boat. This could be crucial if you are a first timer or if you’re not a good swimmer. Having someone with you when you swim in 250ft for the first time can make all the difference
* They don’t offer breakfast or lunch but they do offer snacks. They had mini cinnamon buns at check in and they also served pineapples, chips and muffins on the boat after snorkeling. I liked this option better because I was able to grab light breakfast before trip and had refreshments available after snorkeling. This also helped us to save money
* Last but not the least, smaller team means quicker movement for checkin, boarding and snorkeling. Our guide did a mini educational spiel after snorkeling talking about the things we saw and I loved it too.
I enjoyed the trip and I felt that this was a real value trip. I loved the whole experience and crew was just fantastic. They are cash only business and they are a family owned small business. I would highly recommend that you to book them for your next snorkeling trip in the area :)

If watching people throw up is something you find enjoyable, check out Seafire Charters on a choppy/​windy day. How’s that for an intro? Yes, you too can enjoy the high seas surrounded by people who are doing the opposite of that.
I was very impressed with the crew of the Seafire Charters boat. They were funny and knew a lot about interacting with tourists and locals alike. It helped that they were genuinely interested in what they do as well. They were the first into the water and they loved to point out things that a casual observer may not recognize upon first glance. They personally fit everyone with gear and they were also all over the sick people with equalizing wrist bands, herbal remedies, and food for upset stomachs. They were very good at what they do.
The snorkeling at Molokini was very comparable to other areas in Hawaii when it comes to the wildlife. The part that made this snorkeling adventure different was the scenery of the island. The front side was shallow and choppy, but the back side was deep and stunningly beautiful. The crater makes a steep drop into the abyss below and it gives snorkelers an interesting perspective of the area. The rock formations were large and the wildlife was different from the other side of the island.
Another highlight was the turtle cleaning station. This was closer to the dock and very shallow. Our group got to see 8 – 10 turtles of all sizes swimming and floating in the area. It was a great way to see some turtles.
This company was a great way to experience the waters surrounding Maui and Molokini. I was very impressed with the crew and the experience was uniquely enjoyable. I would highly recommend this excursion to anyone looking for a great morning activity in the water.

On our recent visit to Maui, we decided to give snorkeling a shot.
I did a little research and found Seafire to be a great option for us newbies. The charter is a smaller vessel, which is great going with a smaller group, since we felt like we got very personalized service. Dana, Michelle and Captain Dan were great and we felt like we were in great hands.
The whole crew was knowledgable and very patient. They walked us through every step and face us some pointers for fish sightings. We were able to see so many great underwater creatures while still feeling safe and secure.
They took us out to Molokini crater, both the front and back side and luckily we arrived well ahead of all the snorkeling and snuba tours. They also brought us down to Turtle Town, but the water was a bit murky so they didn’t want to let is out in case there were sharks out hunting turtles. We did see quite a few sea turtles, though. We also got to feed all the cute birdies.
I highly recommend Seafire if you’re ever on Maui and want to enjoy a snorkeling adventure. We had an amazing time and it was definitely one of the highlights of our trip.