Marine Biologist Guided Snorkel Tour From Shore At Turtle Town

It was exactly 2 hours of fun and adventure. Both my husband and I didn’t really know what to expect and we were a bit nervous. However, our trip advisor Paul was so kind and reassuring. He took pictures of our day and was so informative about the creatures we saw along the way. And the best part?? Swimming as near as 5 feet from sea turtles! Snorkeling with Paul is a “must do” in Maui!

We had a fantastic experience snorkelling on Maui with Paul. Not only he is knowledgeable about local marine life, he really cares about it, and provides a lot of insightful information. He is also very customer focused and flexible. In our case he offered to reschedule the tour because conditions on the originally planned day were not good and Paul wanted to make sure we had a great experience. He provides very good equipment, instructions and overall service. We could not recommend him enough!!

It was amazing!!! Paul is a great guy, he knows so much about marine life and told us so many interesting facts about the reef. You can truly see that he loves his job! At the start, he checked to see if all our gear was good and then we started to descend into the beautiful marine life. He took amazing photos of us and the environment. 10/10 experience. Totally recommend for EVERYONE!!

Super great experience! We really enjoyed seeing all the cool wildlife being our first time, it felt like an episode of “Wild Kratts” IRL! The guide really knew what he was talking about and made it all the better.

Amazing experience! As fairly novice snorkelers we felt completely safe and informed on this outing, led by a marine biologist who was an excellent guide and told us so much about the what we were seeing. The wildlife was incredible, and our guide had scoped out the best locations for the day prior to our arrival, so we went to the most active areas and saw so much more than we expected. Can't recommend this tour enough; it's definitely the way to go if you want to have fun and learn a lot. (He also sends photos after the tour, which is a real perk.) Book it! You'll love it!

Excellent guide. Knowledgeable and kind.

Paul was a great tour guide and very knowledgeable! He took us to some excellent viewing points to see a lot of wildlife, including sea turtles! Afterwards he had fresh water for us to rinse off in, fish identification cards, and he took photos on his GoPro that he shared with us for no additional charge! Would definitely recommend snorkeling with Paul 😊

Paul gave us the best snorkeling experience we had in Maui! We saw so many beautiful fish and even a bunch of turtles. He was incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and intelligent, and you could really tell how passionate he is about marine life. We learned so much while having an amazing time in the water. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Maui!

We had an amazing snorkeling experience with Paul. Our tour was both fun and educational. We got to swim alongside sea turtles and saw so many beautiful tropical fish and corals. I especially loved learning from someone who was both knowledgeable and passionate about marine life. The whole experience felt personal and comfortable. I was a little nervous about snorkeling but felt at ease with our guide and the entire group. He provided clear directions the day before on where to meet. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Maui — it was definitely one of the highlights of our trip! 🌺🐠

Great experience! Paul was very attentive and considerate of everyone in our group. He was very thorough with explaining the snorkeling process. We also got to see a few sea turtles and plenty of fish.

What an amazing experience!!!! One of the best snorkeling experiences we have ever had. Paul was so calm and knowledgable. A little girl on our tour was afraid as we started out and he towed her on a board to the final destination and once there convinced her to try again. We watched a couple of turtles being cleaned by little fishes and come up to the surface to breathe. Paul stopped regularly during the tour to share interesting facts. The equipment provided was top quality and on the new side.

Paul was well prepared, easy to find, and very knowledgeable. We enjoyed the two hours. It was exactly as advertised.

Amazing experience! I could not recommend a better activity for your trip to Maui. Paul was so knowledgeable and informative. The reefs were beautiful, and we saw lots of turtles at the turtle-cleaning station, with the fish cleaning them! One of the highlights was Paul educating us and letting us hold a pencil spine urchin. We learned so much and had a fun time. Truly a wonderful experience!

Paul was an amazing tour guide for an amazing snorkel experience! We had 3 inexperienced snorkelers and he was very instructive and patient with everyone. He works at the nearby Ocean Center full time and has so much knowledge of conservation biology related to the reefs you explore. One note: the trip does involve a good bit of swimming (nothing our out of shape group couldn’t handle), but you have a flotation device to assist! Paul included photos from the tour and they turned out beautiful as well. 10/10 recommend this snorkeling trip if you’re in Maui!

The snorkeling tour was absolutely amazing! It started with Paul giving everyone a thorough safety briefing, introducing us to the equipment, and explaining the marine life we were likely to see. We were under the impression that this would be one of those tours where you’re simply dropped off to snorkel and then picked up later, but wow, it was so much more than that! We swam out to where the sea turtles were, and along the way we saw beautiful coral reefs and so many colorful fish. Paul shared interesting facts throughout the tour, making the whole experience both fun and educational. His coworker, who was also a marin biologist, was in the water keeping an eye on everyone, making sure anyone who needed help got assistance and that no one got too close to shallow areas where they could get hurt. The entire team made us feel safe, and the experience was unforgettable. I would 100% recommend this tour to anyone visiting Maui!

My wife and I had a great experience with Paul today. 10/10 recommend! We are solid swimmers but had some nerves about swimming in the open ocean. But we quickly felt at ease, since you get a flotation device around your waist and Paul also offered everyone kick boards if they wanted them. We were glad we took him up on the kick boards because you’ll go out pretty far out and it allowed us to just have fun without any worries about getting tired. We especially appreciated the small groups — we came across a different snorkeling tour that had 12-15 people and it seemed pretty chaotic. We also had never tried snorkeling that didn’t start from being dropped off by a boat, so wading out from shore was a new and cool experience that we found we much preferred! The visibility was crystal clear once we got further out, and the way Paul takes you is the perfect depth to see everything. We saw 5-7 turtles, a lot of different fish, urchins, and so much coral. Would absolutely book this again. Mahalo, Paul!

This was such an amazing experience! We got to see lots of sea life, the guide was very knowledgeable and instructive, and he was very prepared. He even showed us a fish guide after the snorkeling so we could identify what we saw. I would recommend this tour to everyone wanting to snorkel in Maui!

This tour was AMAZING!! Paul was so nice, well-prepared, and professional. We were lucky to be there on a pristine day, and we were able to see so much. The tour was very informative. We saw coral, fish, urchins, and so many turtles! It is a little bit of a swim, but it was very manageable even for the not strong swimmers of the group. It was a comfortable pace and floaties, fine, and snorkel gear was provided. I would recommend this tour time and again!

This experience greatly surpassed expectations! Paul, our guide, was very knowledgeable and kind. He was patient with all of our questions and took the time to help us find special fish and many turtles! He took photos that he shared as well as guided us to so many cool spots on the reef. The gear available for use was very high quality, and he had so many helpful suggestions to allow us to get the most out of the experience. I had multi generations on the tour, and everyone had a wonderful experience. Highly recommend this tour. It was a big highlight of our trip.

excellent tour!!! Paul is very knowledgeable and super sweet. Well worth the money!

Paul was excellent!!! The tour of the reef was amazing!!! Not only was the reef beautiful, but the knowledge Paul gave us was very cool!! Thank you again for this amazing opportunity!!!

This was a remarkable experience. Paul is the guide and it’s a one person operation. That’s a good thing because his enthusiasm and dedication to the ocean and its living creatures would be hard to match. The group is limited to 8 people assuring that Paul can give his attention to any minor problems that someone might have. Things are well organized and efficient. I have 50 years of diving experience but still learned a lot and had a great time. Without a guide we would have had trouble finding this exact spot. The turtles are memorable and this will be one of the highlights of our Hawaii vacation.

We had an amazing time snorkeling with Paul, who is a marine biologist. He was so kind and friendly. He provided all of the gear and explained everything we needed to know. We were new to snorkeling but he was patient with us and helped us quite a bit. Paul was always checking in and making sure we were comfortable. He also pointed out lots of fish and helped us identify the marine life that we were seeing. A highlight was the turtle "feeding station" where we saw several sea turtles. Paul also includes a photo package with each booking and we received high quality photos later that same day! We will treasure the memories and the photos forever. I highly recommend this tour!

What an amazing way to experience Maui! We’ve done the crowded boat & snorkeled on our own, but chose this for our first family trip to the island. Having Paul take care of all the details, guide us & explain what we were looking at was such a treat. Having another set of eyes on my family & someone else to take photos made it so I could really just relax & take it all in. I highly recommend this tour for anyone really wanting a relaxing & informative way to experience the ocean. 100% worth it!

What an amazing way to experience Maui! We’ve done the crowded boat & snorkeled on our own, but chose this for our first family trip to the island. Having Paul take care of all the details, guide us & explain what we were looking at was such a treat. Having another set of eyes on my family & someone else to take photos made it so I could really just relax & take it all in. I highly recommend this tour for anyone really wanting a relaxing & informative way to experience the ocean. 100% worth it!

I was excited for a unique snorkeling experience with my family and Andi, our marine biologist guide, made this one of the best experiences of our trip. She was incredibly knowledgeable and amazing with our kids, pointing out turtles, fish, and hidden sea life we never would’ve spotted on our own. Her knowledge of corals and sea life showed her passion and education (masters in marine biology). We felt safe, supported, and completely immersed in the underwater world. A perfect mix of education, adventure, and fun. Highly recommend this tour for families. Thanks Andi!

Paul was an excellent snorkel guide. He was friendly, professional and courteous. We had the most amazing time. We chose Paul because of the educational aspect of the tour and he delivered with his knowledge about marine life and the ocean. His demeanor made for a comfortable environment especially for my wife who was not an open ocean-swimmer and for two snorkeling newbies. We both felt safe out in the ocean. The tour was about 2 hours and felt like plenty time for the whole experience. We got lucky the day we went out and saw several turtles and Paul pointed out several different species of fish and ocean life. We will definitely consider booking with Paul again over a larger snorkel excursion.

Great experience with such a knowledgeable person. He knows all the fishes and marine creatures in the ocean.

This was an amazing experience. We met Paul on the beach and he quickly got the group geared up and prepared for the snorkel tour including briefing on the area, safety, tips for wildlife viewing, and ensuring snorkel gear was on correctly. Once we headed into the water, very quickly we were surrounded by colorful reefs, fish, and turtles. Paul stopped several times to detail things about the ecosystem below us as we went. This trip was highlighted by swimming out to the sea turtle cleaning station and watching the fish clean the turtles. That felt like a once in a lifetime experience. We saw 7-8 turtles altogether. My wife and I snorkel 1-2x a year so we have a little experience, but some in our group it had been a long time and one person it was their first time ever. Paul did a great job at accommodating everyone and making sure everyone had the best experience. The photo package was included in the price and I thought that was a nice gesture you don’t see much on these tours. I could not recommend this tour enough for any skill level of snorkeler. You do swim a fair amount, this is much more of a swim tour than a float tour. But in my opinion that just makes it better as you get to see more landscape and wildlife. In the event my wife and I make it back to Maui we will certainly look to do this tour again. Great job, Paul!

This was an amazing experience. We met Paul on the beach and he quickly got the group geared up and prepared for the snorkel tour including briefing on the area, safety, tips for wildlife viewing, and ensuring snorkel gear was on correctly. Once we headed into the water, very quickly we were surrounded by colorful reefs, fish, and turtles. Paul stopped several times to detail things about the ecosystem below us as we went. This trip was highlighted by swimming out to the sea turtle cleaning station and watching the fish clean the turtles. That felt like a once in a lifetime experience. We saw 7-8 turtles altogether. My wife and I snorkel 1-2x a year so we have a little experience, but some in our group it had been a long time and one person it was their first time ever. Paul did a great job at accommodating everyone and making sure everyone had the best experience. The photo package was included in the price and I thought that was a nice gesture you don’t see much on these tours. I could not recommend this tour enough for any skill level of snorkeler. You do swim a fair amount, this is much more of a swim tour than a float tour. But in my opinion that just makes it better as you get to see more landscape and wildlife. In the event my wife and I make it back to Maui we will certainly look to do this tour again. Great job, Paul!

Very personal guided tour. Paul did a great job explaining and making sure the kids were ready to go out. Because we had three kids they added a guide to make sure we were able to be guided back to shore early if needed ( we did because it was one of their first time out.) . The other kids had an amazing experience. Highly recommended!!

This was a wonderful experience. We went out directly from the shoreline which was awesome, I avoided the motion sickness issues since I didn't have to go out on a boat or kayak. The equipment was very modern and worked great! Directions were spot on and I had no trouble finding the location. We swam so far and saw so much the time just flew by. He took photos as well which was a plus since I couldn't take any of my own. Great photos! I will definitely do this again if I am ever in Maui in the future.

Best experience, highly recommend. Our guide Paul was very knowledgeable and was helpful.

Paul was absolutely phenomenal! The weather wasn’t great on the day we booked, so he worked with us to find the best day to go out while we were there. The weather on that day was incredible, so we got to experience the reef as far out as it went! The provided gear (snorkel and flippers) was in great shape. Paul took the time to walk us through all the flora and fauna we saw, and he is extremely knowledgeable! The best part of the excursion was hanging out with around 10 sea turtles for around 30 minutes as they were getting cleaned by trigger fish! It was an absolutely outstanding trip, and we highly recommend booking this excursion with Paul!

Thoroughly enjoyed this experience. Our guide. Paul, was very accommodating and knowledgeable. I particularly enjoyed being able to walk into the water from the beach.

This snorkel tour was the highlight of our trip, and Paul is the reason why. From the moment we arrived, it was clear he runs a professional operation — all the gear was neatly organized and in excellent condition. He struck the perfect balance between safety and fun: knowledgeable, attentive, and clearly experienced, but also relaxed and quick with a joke. Within minutes of entering from shore, we were above a reef full of fish. The experience kept building as we followed the coral “valleys,” and the finale — swimming among sea turtles — was unforgettable. What truly stood out was how Paul took care of our 9-year-old daughter. She’s a strong swimmer but got tired halfway through, and he made her feel completely safe and supported. As parents, that meant everything. This tour is perfect for families and first-timers, and confident swimmers will love being able to just relax and enjoy the reef. We would absolutely book with Paul again. Highly recommended. Thank you, Paul!

Paul is the best. Right out of the gate, the sign-up was easy and communication on the day of our excursion was clear and easy to follow. His safety protocols are very clear as well. We’re beginners but we were also with seasoned snorkelers and Paul was effortlessly able to make this snorkeling experience one we’ll all never forget. He lives and breathes marine biology and knows where to find all the cool marine life! Such an exciting and unique experience.

We had the best experience with Paul, incredible views and lots of info and knowledge on the different species of fish we saw! We saw two adult sea turtles and two juvenile sea turtles which was the highlight of our trip by far! Most other tours didn’t allow pregnant travellers, so getting to experience this was such a treat on our first ever trip to Hawaii! Highly recommend

Paul was an excellent snorkel guide! He made sure everyone was safe and comfortable in the water. He let us out to the best spots and we saw 7 green sea turtles.

One of the best snorkeling experiences I’ve ever had — a must-do on Maui! My partner and I chose this snorkeling tour instead of Molokini Crater because my partner gets motion sickness on boats, and I’m so glad we did. We’d absolutely do it again. We saw an amazing variety of wildlife: multiple sea turtles (including a baby!), a puffed-up puffer fish (our guide said it’s a super rare sighting), a white-tipped reef shark, several kinds of sea urchins, and countless colorful fish. The visibility was incredible. Our guide, Paul, was the best—super chill, funny, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable about the reef. He also took fantastic photos of everything we saw and shared them with us afterward, which was such a lovely bonus. We were lucky to have exceptionally calm water that morning—truly lake-like. We were told mornings are generally calmer, and after this experience I’d definitely recommend booking an early morning slot for the best conditions and wildlife spotting.

We very much enjoyed our experience with Paul!! He is very knowledgeable and took his time explaining snorkel safety and technique as well marine facts about the reef, fish and turtles that we saw!! We would definitely do it again!!

Great for everyone, the seasoned scuba folks as well as those who are afraid of open water (we had both in our group). Paul was very informative, understanding and helpful with those less comfortable with being out in open water. He has everyone wear a belt which aides with floating, although some took it off, and offered yet another floatation board. We saw fish and turtles galore! The whole experience was 10 out of 10, from the communication before hand to the talk after our session to go over what we saw. Paul was a pro and I would suggest this adventure to everyone!!

Paul is wonderful, very informative, professional, I highly recommend it. The journey was unbelievable. Lots of adventures and made amazing memories I would never forget.

Educational and fun. My daughters loved this experience and were able to see so much marine animals and diversity. Paul was an excellent guide and explained so much more than one may get on other excursions without the knowledge Paul brings. My daughter had taken two marine biology classes in school so she was living her dream getting to experience this

We loved this snorkeling tour! Our guide Paul was super knowledgeable about the fish, turtles and coral. And he was helpful with getting us set up in the snorkeling gear so that we had a very comfortable and enjoyable experience out in the water. We saw so many fish and turtles. It was truly an amazing experience! I would highly recommend this tour!

Paul gave our family an incredible snorkeling experience. Helped our kids navigate using the equipment, familiarize ourselves with what we might see, and led us directly to where we could see so many different fish, coral, and turtles. We spent our time hanging out with turtles, engaging with wildlife in a safe and respectful manner, and he took amazing photos of our dive, included in the price of the excursion! Being guided by an expert, trained marine biologist was night and day different than the other excursions we took. We wrapped up by debriefing on the beach and looking thru a wildlife guide to identify the different fish we saw. Incredible experience and highlight of our week in Hawaii.

Paul was our guide and he was exceptional. He was extremely attentive to details, so much so that it exceeded a first class experience. Everything was very clean and instructions were easy for all levels to grasp and engage with. The most impressive experience was Paul’s knowledge, kindness, and thoughtfulness. Every member of our party learned, was engaged, and was cared for. We saw huge turtles up close and a plethora of fish. Paul also took photos and sent them to us the same day as part of the package. THIS IS WORTH EVERY DOLLAR!

We had such a great time and this experience was one of the highlights of our trip! Andie was so kind and knowledgable on everything that we saw while snorkeling so we learned a lot too. We saw a lot of sea turtles too, which was amazing.

Our marine biologist snorkel guide Paul was amazing! This is the snorkel tour you want to book when visiting Maui. Easy directions and great communication beforehand. Friendly and thorough instructions before snorkeling begins. I felt ready and prepared once we got in the water. All the gear is provided so all you have to do is show up! Paul is so knowledgeable on all the sea creatures we encountered including sea turtles and a variety of fishes. Amazing time and would definitely recommend snorkeling with Paul!!