Mokuhooniki Rock

Mokuhoʻoniki Rock is a small offshore islet in the Pailolo Channel about one mile east of Molokai, featuring dramatic underwater topography with pinnacles, steep drop-offs, boulder fields and a coral reef that rises from deep water toward the surface. The site supports huge schools of tropical reef fish and is famed for large pelagic visitors; divers commonly see grey reef, whitetip and Galapagos sharks, scalloped hammerheads, spinner dolphins and spotted eagle rays. This is an advanced drift dive done from boat only, typically entering at the reef end known as "Fish Rain" and drifting along coral slopes; dive trips usually depart early morning after a one- to two-hour crossing. A prominent submerged pinnacle tops out around 30 ft and the bottom descends to roughly 100 ft. Visibility is generally very good, often well over 80 ft in calm weather, and water temperatures run about 75–82 °F in summer (around 70–75 °F in winter). Strong and shifting currents, exposure, the presence of large sharks, and WWII-era naval ordnance on parts of the reef are significant hazards; divers must be prepared for currents and must not touch or move any munitions.