Is Molokini the best place to snorkel in Maui? Or are there better, cheaper, lesser known places that are just as good?

If possible, we'd like to get great snorkeling without paying an arm and a leg, but we also don't want to miss the good stuff.

Thanks!

Check out www.shorediving.com. Has places to dive and snorkel right off the beach (for free).

I don't think Molokini is the best snorkeling on Maui. There are many places that have very good snorkeling from shore, so you don't need to take a boat trip. It all sort of depends on the weather, too, as conditions may change from day to day.

For us it was Ulua Beach. Great little jetty there and a pretty nice beach too. Limited parking so you prolly need to get there early. Bathrooms and outdoor rinse shower available.

Also Black rock at teh Sheraton on Kaanapali Beach. Free parking at the Sheraton. As you look at the back of the hotel it's on your left next to the path between the resorts.

We enjoyed snorkeling at the beach near the Maui Prince Hotel in Makena. To the left out around the rocks and beyond the point is where you will likely see a lot of turtles.

The beach to the right of the Makena Surf condos had good snorkleing too.

Our favorites were Po'olenalena Beach near Makena Surf condos (in South Wailea) and Kahekili Beach which is on the other side of Black Rock (Kaanapali). There are no facilities at the first, but it is as beautiful as any beach you will find (in fact we went there one evening to watch the sunset and found 4 wedding parties with the same idea). The visibility around the rocks to left of the beach was fantastic, lots of fish and a shy turtle. The coral was in great condition. The second beach has facilities and is not particularly picturesque, but I saw so many turtles I lost count. The turtles were everywhere, what a sight to behold.

Oh and Molokini was nice, but I thought the shore snorkeling was much better. And it's free!