Molokini Backwall

Molokini Backwall is a boat-access dive on the steep inner wall of Molokini Crater, featuring a vertical volcanic wall that drops to roughly 300 feet. Coral reef communities including hard corals, sea fans, and sponges cover the wall and adjacent slope, though coral is generally sparser on the deeper sections. The site is widely regarded as one of the most popular and frequently dived sites. The dive is typically run as a drift dive from the boat or a mooring buoy, with divers descending and drifting along the steep slope. Typical bottom depths are about 80 to 90 feet while the wall continues to much greater depth. Visibility is often very clear, commonly exceeding 100 feet, and water temperatures are warm, generally mid-70s to around 80 °F. The site is exposed to open-ocean conditions and can carry moderate to strong currents, so good buoyancy control is essential; divers should be prepared to descend and ascend without a guideline, use mooring buoys because anchoring is prohibited, and maintain a safety stop in open water.