Maui County is made up of a group of four islands, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Kahoolawe. These islands were once a giant land mass called Maui Nui. As the last ice age ended the giant crater filled with water leaving the islands we have today. The area between these islands is a shallow 1600 feet deep, the ocean surrounding Maui County is anywhere from 10,000 to 18,000 feet deep. These safe shallow waters create a habitat that a diverse group of marine life to call home. Maui’s unique geography means that you will have a unique snorkeling experience also. You can see many fish that exist no where else on the planet. It is very common to come face to face with a Hawaiian green sea turtle. There are also fifteen species of wild dolphin that call Maui home or migrate through Maui County. There are 3 species of dolphin that actually live year round in the waters of Maui, the spotted dolphin, spinner dolphin, and the more rare bottle nose dolphin. There are many reasons that the readers of Conde’ Nast Traveler Magazine have voted Maui the “Best Island in the World” for ten consecutive years, the snorkeling in Maui is definitely one of them.