Reefdancer

I was on Maui for work. My trip coincided with two friends and their kids who were on vacation. We decided to do the Reef Dancer (similar to a glass bottom boat) since one of the kids was too short/​young for the submarine. It seemed like a good way to see some of the sea life while staying dry!
The Reef Dancer leaves from downtown Lahaina. I met my friends there as we were coming from different parts of the island. I found free 3 hour parking near the marina. There was a parking attendant chalking tires… so make not of the time!
We had a 10am departure so I was able to avoid most of the island traffic going into and out of Lahaina. However, if you choose a departure later in the day… be ready for hefty traffic in the area. As you may know, traffic on the island moves at a snails pace!
On my walk from parking, I was able to stop and check out the Lahaina Banyan Tree. It is apparently the largest Banyan tree in the Hawaiian Islands? The nearby courthouse was also kind of cool to duck into.
I found my friends happily waiting for me at the marina at slip 6. There were decent public restrooms off the marina. We took advantage of those as we knew there were not any restrooms aboard the Reef Dancer.
My friends handled all of the ticketing… So I am not exactly sure how that all worked with pricing, discounts… or what have you. I believe she booked them online in advance?
About 15 minutes prior to our scheduled departure a staffer appeared and asked the group of milling about tourists to form a line with our tickets in hand. We did as we were asked and quickly found ourselves in one of those photo op lines while they collected our tickets to board the vessel. I played along knowing I likely wouldn’t be buying the final photo print out in the end… what harm could it do posing for another pic lol.
After the photo op we were ushered onto the vessel and sent to the lower deck. The lower deck is where the viewing windows are and where you’ll be for a majority of the sailing. It was first come first served seating. So maybe get in the front of the photo op line if that’s important to you. It seemed quite spacious while were onboard, but I assumed there were some open slots not sold? Anyhow, we found some seats and began peering out the windows while we waited to depart.
There must be some sort of air conditioning system in the lower cabin as it didn’t seem hot. I noticed a few fans attached to the ends of the cabin which circulated the air… it seemed comfortable even with the warm temperatures above.
We soon set off for the reef while a deckhand went over safety information and began narrating. The water in the marina is murky. So don’t expect to see much at the start. However, once we ventured further out we began to see sea life… turtles, fish, octopus, and other creatures of the deep!
Eventually, you end up at some sort of coral reef. Two scuba divers left the upper deck and appeared alongside the viewing windows. The divers explored the reef below and brought some of the sea life closer to the windows… An urchin, octopus, etc. I wasn’t too sure about this because I thought it was best to avoid touching the animals or the reef to prevent stressing the animals or damaging the fragile environment? Nonetheless, the divers showed us some of the sea life up close through our viewing windows. A lot of fish surrounded the vessel as fish food was dropped from the upper deck. A tactic I saw used on Catalina Island… making it a nightmare to snorkel anywhere near these types of vessels lol. The narrating continued in the background, but I think most people were just enjoying peering out of their windows.
Anyhow, I digress… We viewed the sea life for a while before the vessel turned back towards the marina. The crew invited us to the upper deck to enjoy the views of the harbor and island on our return sailing. The views were stunning. The divers were available to answer questions… but we mostly just enjoyed the views and took some more photos! I have to admit, diver Paul was a bit hunky lol.
Upon reaching the marina, the crew thanks everyone and suggests a cash tip. I happily handed one of the kids a $ 20 bill to hand to the crew as we were disembarking. After all, it was a fun and easy way to explore the harbor’s marine life. Sure enough, I glanced at the photo op picture and moved right along.
Back in the marina… there are tons of shops and restaurants. So off we went!

Great alternate to Atlantis Submarine. Reef dancer got kinda shaky being in the water so not recommended for those that get sick easily. Divers bring marine life up to the windows which is nice. We got to see all sorts of cool things that weren’t available on Atlantis.
We took the 90 min tour to see green sea turtles, unfortunately there were none spotted that day, they provide snacks for the ride, I like that they provided whole fruits instead of just store bought crackers.

Had a great time :). My wife and I visited Maui for our 5^th year anniversary and a friend recommend we try the reef dancer. It’s a semi-​submarine which means it has a lower deck that has windows you can see out of underwater into the ocean. They have divers they send out that bring back marine life right up to the windows it was pretty cool… laid back yet exciting. You can also stay on the top deck and get beautiful views of the coastline. Great thing is its cheaper than many other sailing options and the underwater viewing experience really puts it in a class of its own. We highly recommend.

Great day for kids. Good window viewing downstairs. Our grandson thought he was really on a submarine. Very friendly and knowledgeable crew. Brought starfish, octopus and other sea creatures up to the Windows to share. On the way back you can sit up on top if you wish

My kids (6 & 11) liked it well enough for the majority of the ride. The divers make it as exciting as they can and bring sea friends to the window of the vessel. And the Naturalist in the cabin with you was very friendly and informative.
Unfortunately it was just too slow and too rocky which made 2 of us nauseous being in the belly of the boat. And we had visited the amazing Aquarium two days prior so there wasn’t a ton of anything new outside of seeing them in their natural habitat. I ended up aborting and going up top for some fresh air and the rest of our family came up a short time after. To be fair we weren’t sitting near the fans at the ends of the boat. So maybe that would have helped.
Wouldn’t go back but the staff was nice.

My past employment brought me on this boat numerous times. So much so, that I got immune to it, and bored. But here’s my review anyway!
LOCATION:
They’re moored in the Lahaina Harbor amongst the other numerous small boats and businesses. Parking in this area is a pain, so I’d advise you to find a public lot that has all-​day rates which usually run about $ 10 — $ 15.
THE BOAT:
The Reefdancer is not a submarine, but a boat with an air conditioned compartment full of seats and windows that sits below the waterline, fits about 25 people, and is tall enough to walk about in comfort. All of the seats are single with 2 personal viewing windows each, so everyone has a great view. For those that get sea sick, you’re able to retreat to the outdoor deck. No food/​beverages are sold.
THE TOUR:
We always took the 60-​minute tour which was plenty enough, or there’s a 90-​minute one too. The boat ventures in calms waters, about 20 feet deep, so the views are very good. You experience coral life, different reef fish, gorgeous colors and seascapes. Some fish swim up to the windows and pick the algae off the boat. They have a scuba diver that brings up certain ocean life forms from the ocean floor up to the viewing windows for an up-​close peek which is a nice touch. A staff member does play-​by-​play so you know what you’re looking at. I’ve never experienced rough waters or sickening rides.
OVERALL:
Excellent for the kids, good for the non-​snorkeler, fair pricing.

If you’re looking for a kid/​budget friendly tour, Reef Dancer is a must for you. For less than $ 40 a person (depending if you purchase your tickets directly or through an agency), you get a mini trip out to the waters and get to see a decent amount of marine life.
What was a huge perk for us was that the submarine didn’t fully submerge into the waters which makes it super convenient for people who are either claustrophobic and/​or families who have littles that need to move around. Our 16 month old (and very mobile) daughter enjoyed being underwater for all but 15 minutes of the tour before she wanted to wander around. Luckily, we were able to go up to the deck and check out the scenery without having to deal with a screaming, antsy child.
Another cool thing about the Reef Dancer is that they have their own divers who bring various marine life up to the windows so you’re guaranteed to see something during your trip. We took the 1^st morning trip and had no problems seeing a variety of fish even without the divers. I think the crew throws out food during the trip to attract the fish and to ensure that their guests are getting a good show! The crew is super friendly and made our trip even more enjoyable.
All in all, the Reef Dancer is a worthwhile trip for those who can’t snorkel but still want to check out what’s lurking in the Maui waters.

The price is well worth it. The kids (2 and 4) loved it. The crew were nice and would bring animal life up to the windows and pause at your window so you could really see/​take pictures. M was super excited about seeing the octopus.

If you enjoy looking at mostly dead coral and empty water of fish and very little plants and sea life this is the place. Reefdancer manages to keep uneducated tourists coming. Do yourself a favor Ask the locals where to go and what to do. Dont waste your time here.

It was a blast !!! some people complained about sea sickness but I didn’t. I had a good time people complained in other posts about the sub needing a make over guess what go back to your life of scripted reality shows and as far as the boat being slow it a show device not a dragster and hey you’re in maui relax you don’t need to be there yesterday. sorry venting off because these individuals have no idea how to live
far as I, it was wonderful. wished I could have seen more but you don’t get to order nature around she will show when she wants. thumbs up guys you’re doing a great job don’t let the «OTHERS «tell you otherwise love you guys !!!#

Pretty cool for what it is, a submarine ride to the coral reefs =) we saw a bunch of different varieties of marine life and coral, and the divers and the tour guide were funny and gracious, on top of being very informative! We got to go on the top deck for the ride home, and while we didn’t see any sea turtles, we were delighted with the views of the island! Add to the fact that we drop off and pick up in whalers village, and it made for a pretty great afternoon! Well worth the money & great for both adults and kids alike!

We did this because our kids were too young to snorkel so this was an awesome way for them to see fish. The people who do the tour were great and this was great fun for the kids. But if you can snorkel, you’ll see way more fish that way.
Also, if you tend to get sea sick, I’d suggest taking something before doing this tour. I was a little quesy, but everyone else I was with was fine.
In short, great fun for young kids or people who don’t snorkel/​scuba, etc.

Could be a good idea if you have little ones but definitely not very exciting for adults. The guides were nice and we got snacks but I could have done something better with my time.

The lady at slip was really rude and she ended up charging me $ 43 more. I don’t know if it’s just cause I looked young or what, but if she thought I was an opportunity to scam me more money. No. It wasn’t until my dad came by and cleared things up. She was A total different person to him.

What a great Trip for little one’s. They have two divers go down & bring up Starfish, Octopus etc… both of the divers super friendly from Cali, imagine that! We got some cool Peeps too! Ken the Guide was very knowledgable about the fish & reef Eco system. Every adult should know what he was talking about how life works down there. There is a starfish eating our reefs at an incredible rate. Learned something new today! Our 2 ½ year old Loved it!
We went on the early trip at 10am out of Lahaina it was a perfect day out! I have seen the seas get rough in the afternoon in Maui just about everyday it gets a little windy. So you will want to do the earlier trips. Snorkeling for adults is better for the real life exp. But if kids are too young to go this is perfect. Or if your scared to snorkel this is perfect then.
It was like a 20min boat ride out 20−30mins at a really cool reef. While divers are out showing the kids stuff. Schools of different fish cruising around. Then 20 mins ride back to the harbor. Which most of us went on top deck to ride back. Right before my little guy lost attention we were heading back about an hour all done. Lunch time in Lahaina.

Not great. The boat drives out for about 20 minutes, during which you don’t see much. You have about 20 minutes where divers bring sea life right up to the glass windows, then 20 minutes back. If you get claustrophobic or even a little sea sick — this is NOT for you. About half of the adults in our group did not enjoy it because they did not care for the boat motion of being underwater. My 3-​year-​old LOVED it but I feel like for the cost there probably would have been better activities that we would have enjoyed more.

This is the semi-​sub excursion. We did the one hour, which is a one stop (reef) without any snacks. Water is provided and you are not allowed to bring your own drinks aboard.
I didn’t expect much as I’m partial to snorkeling, but this is a decent activity for the little ones in the family to get them excited about the ocean and comfortable with what’s underneath.
We chose the 60 minute journey, because it’s all that was available the day prior. Lesson to learn: make reservations 48 hours or more in advance for anything out here if you are particular about the experience. Honestly, we were not disappointed to be limited to a 60 minute reef ride, since that’s about the attention span of our 6 year old.
The sub is air conditioned, but we chose to sit at the front and beside the water cooler in the event it got stuffy. It did and it was a wise choice.
As we left the docks there was nothing to see below deck as it was cloudy from a south swell and thus they offered us to go up top. Deck space is limited and tight and the sub sways considerably with the wake and ocean movement. We stayed on top long enough to capture a panoramic photo and dart back to our seats below.
Upon arriving at the reef the view cleared up, but it was far from as clear as the brochures portray. I provided a few pictures, so you can get an idea.
The crew were very young and fairly knowledgeable, but I felt it was less of a learning experience than what it should have been. They did have 2 crew members scuba below us and retrieve a few specimens: a starfish and a few sea urchins were in the mix. They provided the opportunity to snap a few pics as they displayed their finds in front of each window.
All in all it was a good experience for the boy. If you have children or aging parents who have never seen the bottom of the ocean then it will be enjoyable. If you snorkel or better yet dive then the only reason you do this is to use it as a stepping stone to ease into diving. I do recommend finding the most affordable deal for this activity, so you’re not left feeling slightly short changed.
Aloha!
— Chris Birchby
A simple point of view with a fusion of style and tek.

*I’ve been on this twice now*
I wanted to wait a second time to give an accurate review and the Reedancer another chance to «wow» me. It didn’t happen. The reason I’ve gone twice was mainly for my 2 kids. The Reedancer seems like a real cool idea and a fun thing to do but I’d say it’s more a novelty than anything else.
It’s exciting to hop on a boat, go 20 min out to sea and be able to watch different sea life from below a boat…
B U T
You honestly don’t see much. You boat about 20 min out and you’ll see some schools of fish here and there on the way to the reef but your only up close encounter is when the divers go into the water and bring sea life up to the window. They bring, at most 5 different sea life. You’re out at sea at the reef for 20 min at most then you have to trek another 20 back.
In my opinion it’s not worth the time and the money.
If you’re looking to sea sea life on Maui you’re better off going to the aquarium Maui Ocean. I’ve been there a few times w the kids and it never disappoints.
If you like the novelty then go on Reef dancer

Pros:
–nice, spirited tour guide kept me awake. Loved her.
–scuba divers along the side brought fish to view.
Cons:
–was told there was air conditioning. I felt none. There were 3 fans on a 90 degree humid day and everyone was sweating profusely. Ridiculous. I wanted out as soon as I went in.
–lukewarm water available in old water tank with small cups at one end for refreshment. Go fetch
–the submarine quarters are dirty, cramped, and old. Major cleaning and upgrade needed.
–where are the fish? I saw very few. This could have been due to current conditions but the water was murky and I saw 3 of the 12 shown on pamphlet.
–it’s an old boat and very slow. You’ll get seasick. One person had their head down in vomit position. Maybe not the boats fault but still a con.
–overpriced

GREAT FOR LITTLE KIDS WHO WANT TO SEE CORAL and FISH.
This vessel never completely submerges… it’s more like half glass bottom boat, half submarine. If you have little kids who can not swim or snorkel but want to see fish in their natural habitat, this is great. If you want to see lots of exotic saltwater fish, sand snakes, flounder, sharks, and octopus, go to the Maui Ocean Center.
I’ve only been on the Atlantis in Honolulu so I don’t have much to compare but I like the Reefdancer better than the Atlantis submarine. Why?
ONE HOUR TOUR!
1. $ 34.95 adult/​$ 18.95 (children 6 – 12) and FREE for kids under 6. This is cheaper than the Atlantis.
2. If you have a HI drivers license, it’s $ 30 kama’aina adult, $ 15 child.
3. They have a ONE HOUR tour. Why submerse yourself longer than that? That’s plenty enough time if you have little kids. (There are no bathrooms on the boat.)
4. The divers will hunt for sea stars, sea cucumbers, urchins, and other marine life and bring them right in front of your window IF THEY FIND THEM. This is nature and every trip will bring different surprises.
5. You can view from both sides of the boat since the windows are angled downward.

6. The BEST part of the tour (to me anyway) was being able to go up on deck to catch some fresh air while we were still out in the ocean. The views were incredible and I think the kids were getting bored looking at the coral and fish after a while anyway. Change of scenery was exactly what we needed halfway through the ride. How can you not love this?
If you don’t have kids, you get motion sick or claustrophobic, or you like to be in control of everything, you might be disappointed. As for me, I’ll dance with you anytime, Reefdancer.