Known for its pristine visibility and unique geological features, Molokini Crater truly is a must see when visiting the island of Maui. The small half-moon shaped crater was once a vent for Haleakala and built up by layers of ash falling and compressing over geological time. The crater soon became the perfect refuge for stunning coral reefs and fish. While many boats offer snorkel and dive tours to the crater, it is strictly regulated. Commercial operators require a permit to use moorings, and private boats are only allowed to use the moorings visible on the surface. All boats are required to use provided moorings to eliminate the need for anchoring and damaging the reef. The underwater portion of the crater is a marine sanctuary and the above water portion is a bird sanctuary.
I was thankful to be able to venture out with the Maui Diamond, one of the last remaining dive boats out of Ma’alaea Harbor. We thankfully had calm conditions and a quick 45 minute drive to reach our destination. Our first dive at the deeper portion of the crater, known as Reefs End, did not disappoint. I got to finally practice getting a photo of Skeeter, a friendly yellow tailed wrasse who consistently comes to investigate scuba diving groups. Our second dive took us along the shoreline to the Makena Landing area where we moored on the “South Finger,” a thin stretch of an old underwater lava flow.
This was the first dive with my 35mm macro lens on my new Canon R5 Mark ii. While I had been practicing above water photos with the R5mkii, I was still adjusting to the new underwater housing and lighting setup. For this dive I decided to experment with my strobe position and keep them low, just behind the port and at outward 45 degree angles. The results were incredible. Most of the photo results required no editing, and some only needed adjustments in exposure. Only one photo needed color correction and that was a closeup image of a frogfish who had the perfect spot to make proper lighting incredibly difficult.
