Boat Tour Agency – We’re Family Owned and Committed to the Quality of Your Experience.

First things first: if you are planning on going snorkeling with our Maui charter, you should bring a bathing suit! Choose a bathing suit you will be comfortable swimming in for a couple of hours. If you are prone to sunburns, we recommend bringing a swim shirt to wear while swimming as well. Swim shirts rated UPF 50+ offer exceptional protection from the sun’s rays while you are above and below the water’s surface.

If you are going on one of our other types of Molokini and Maui charters, such as our sunset sail or whale-watching tour, swim shirts can still come in handy. But more generally, the clothing you should wear on these tours would be comfortable shorts or pants during the winter months. High winds, especially when we are under sail, can make dresses and skirts less practical. We recommend wearing leggings beneath either if you do choose to wear them. Those coming on a snorkeling tour should pack such clothes to wear before and after the in-the-water experience.

We also recommend all guests aboard our catamarans bring a light jacket or sweater. This is especially true during winter and for those who otherwise get cold easily. For summer snorkeling adventures, getting out of the warm water paired with the wind while traveling back ashore can cause chilliness and goosebumps. During sunset, late afternoon, and winter whale-watching sails, cooler winds out in the ocean likewise result in a desire to bundle up against the cold gusts.

Our final suggestion on this list of what clothing you should wear has to do with hair coverings. If you have longer hair, be sure to plan on needing a ponytail, headband, or hat! The same wind gusts that bring the “feels like” temperature down also frustratingly whip loose hair around.

Even though the idea of getting mugged doesn’t conjure up great thoughts, it is one of the best things that can happen when whale watching. During a trip, whale-watching boats are not permitted to get too close to the whales. However, there is nothing preventing the whales from willingly approaching the boat. That is what happens when mugging takes place on a tour.

The Boat Must Stay Put

During a whale-watching tour, a boat captain is not allowed to bring the boat within 50 meters of a whale. Once the boat reaches this distance, the captain may turn off the engine. Then, out of curiosity, the whales might approach to take a closer look. This behavior is called whale mugging, and regulations prevent the captain from moving the boat during this event. The boat is not allowed to leave until the whales swim away willingly. In some cases, this may only take a minute. In other cases, the whales may linger much longer.

What Passengers Should Do When Whales Approach

Getting mugged by whales is not dangerous. This is a sign that the whales are very comfortable with the boat, and it is often accompanied by another unique behavior. It’s called “spy hopping,” and it takes place when whales pick their heads up out of the water. They do this so they can see what is going on around them, including on the boat. This is the perfect opportunity for boat passengers to take pictures.

Have a Camera Ready When Whales Get Close

Passengers do not need to be worried when whales approach the boat. They would not get close if they didn’t feel relaxed. Simply get the camera ready and enjoy a unique experience!