My husband and I are going to Maui in a few weeks; it is our first time traveling there. We are both experienced snorkelers and would like to take a snorkel tour to Molokini and perhaps to another location. Does anyone have any recommendations on who we should go with? Thank you for your help!

We went with the Pacific Whale Foundation on their Molokini & Lana'i Snorkel and Wild Dolphin Eco-Adventure. It was amazing! We saw dolphins from the boat and wonderful fish and coral at Lana'i, at Molokini we saw a Manta Ray too. Great lunch also. Here is the url to their site http://www.pacificwhale.org/adventures/molo_lanai.html On our site you can see some photos from our trip at http://tracipick.tripod.com Have a great time!!

On another note,since you are experienced---when you get there go to any Maui Dive Shop and pick up their free snorkel map. It has all the best sites that you can do from the shore(without the hassle and $$ of getting a boat. We've been going to Maui for 10 yrs and this map is our bible. It has all the best spots and rates them from beginner to expert. They also have snorkel and dive trips with smaller boats if you are interested. Good Luck !!

I would second the vote to go with Pacific Whale Foundation. One added plus is that one of their Naturalists or Marine Biologists will usually be on board (and sometimes snorkeling with you) to point out things...answer questions, etc. Also, they are non-profit, therefore all the money you spend with them will go back into saving the wonderful oceanlife.

We went on the Four Winds. Great crew, great boat and very yummy BBQ. They go to Molokini and then search out turtles on the way back. Though you can't actually swim with the turtles you see many of them. Since the Four Winds stays at Molokini for 2+ hours my advice is to let everyone push and shove into the water. Stay behind and enjoy the Mahi Mahi BBQ then when everyone gets out, after about 45 minutes and the Mahi Mahi is all gone, you go snorkeling. There is still plenty of time to see it all but you're not competing with very many other snorkelers.

Another great spot is Ulua Beach which is right next to the Renaissance in Wailea. There is bathroom facilities with showers and limited parking so get there early or late. We found this to be better than both Black Rock and Molokini.

We saw the Maui Magic and it looked like a great boat and travels to other locations depending on the time of year. You may be interested in that. We took kids so we wanted something they could handle easily. Here's a web site to llok into both of these trips.

http://www.mauicharters.com/

I took the Four Winds to Molokini two weeks ago and must give it a high recommendation. The snorkeling was superb. It was like swimming in an aquarium! The boat was very comforable and the crew was fantastic! Captain John must moonlight as a stand-up comedian. The food (continental breakfast and barbecue lunch) was excellent and there was an open bar (beer, wine, soda and juice.) The Molokini cruise was a highlight of my trip to Maui.

P.S. Four Winds sails out of Maalea (sp?), which is a bonus if you are staying in Kihei/Wailea/Makena.

I have taken snorkel tours to Molokini with Maui Dive Shop twice. They take a small boat with about 18 people or so (maybe less) out of the Kihei boat ramp. It's about a 15 minute ride to Molokini. They then take you to a spot where you can see and swim with lots of turtles. Since the group is relatively small, you get lots of personal attention from the crew. They get to Molokini earlier than the big cattle boats, and leave about the time that the cattle boats get there. I would highly recommend these folks. They will send you a free "Maui Dive Guide" which gives details on all the good snorkel spots. I personnally don't like the big crowds snorkeling that you get on the cattle boats mentioned here earlier, but to each his own.
I would also recommend snorkeling around milepost 14 between Maalea and Lahaina. This is in the Olowalu area. This is a huge reef, but pretty shallow near the shore. The reef goes way out and is pretty shallow for quite a distance from the shore. There is a different selection of fish here than you find at Ulua Beach and this location is right off the road.
I would also check out Ahihi Bay, but I would recommend some booties and open heel fins so you can enter the water with booties on, as there are a lot of rocks near the entrance. This area is south of Wailea - just keep going past Makena/Big Beach and you will enter the Ahihi Kina'u marine preserve area. The bay entrance is just past the octagon shaped house on the right. Parking is along the road.
Ulua Beach is nice as has been previously mentioned. I stayed at the Renaissance 2 years ago and spent a lot of time exploring that reef. I also did an intro dive there and it was equally nice..
If you are in the Kaanapali area, Black Rock near the Sheraton is a really nice snorkeling area - sandy beach entry and nice reef. Can be a little crowded at times and parking is a walk if you are not staying at the Sheraton.
Enjoy your trip.

As far as snorkle trips there are few that are bad. One little hint some of the smaller boats have no bathroom facilities or very limited. So make sure your does. signed cattle call nick ( some people think there special )

Molokini is great for first time snorkelers. There are lots of fish and the visibility is excellent, but the underwater topography is not too exciting.
Since you are experienced you might just use a guidebook and drive to some very good sites along the western shore.

There's one that is famous for their Mai Tais. Although usually I'm too tipsy to snorkel by the time we get there.

Four Winds II is great. Make sure that you take the morning snorkel trip - winds in the PM come up and it is not as enjoyable (in my humble opinion). Book online and save $$

Last year we did the "Pacific Whale Foundation" and the "Rainbow Chaser"...definately liked the RC...a catamaran with about 12 people - we were supposed to go to Lanai for the day, but the weather was too windy.
Also did the "Pride of Maui" about 6 years ago...had a nice time, but just like PWF a bit crowded on the boat (about 40-50 people) - went to Mololini (AM) and "Turtle Bay".
Did our own snorkeling at Black Rock, MP 14 and somewhere north of Kannapali...all very good locations.

http://www.sailingmaui.com/kapkai.html

We just went on this snorkel cruise on May 21st. It was great. We came up on a school of spinner dolphins on the way back and the crew lengthened our cruise to follow them. I've also been on the Gemini, which leaves at Kaanapali too.

The Kapalua Kai leaves from Kaanapalii and goes up past Kapalua to Honalua (sp?)Bay.