Sharks

Are there sharks at Molokini Crater?

Yes, there are sharks in the waters around Molokini Crater, although encountering one whilst snorkeling is a rare occurrence.

These are some of the types of sharks in the waters around Molokini Crater:

Whitetip Reef Sharks

The shark species seen most commonly at Molokini Crater, whitetip reef sharks are small, growing up to 5 feet in length. They are night hunters, and usually spend the day in caves or at the bottom of the reef.

While whitetip reef sharks are more common on the back side of Molokini Crater, they can sometimes be found in the waters within the crescent shape as well.

Whale Sharks

Whale sharks have occasionally been seen in the waters around Molokini Crater. They are much larger and can grow up to 60 feet in length, although most are in the range of 13 to 40 feet.

Whale sharks like to feed on plankton, small fish, crustaceans, and squid.

Shark Safety

Shark attacks in Hawaii on humans are extremely rare, and they generally tend to leave you alone unless they are harassed.

To read up on shark safety tips, visit this Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources page.

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