Molokini Crater had an explosive beginning ... In the same vein, be careful of swimming too close to reef sharks. They tend to stay on the sea floor and are not inherently aggressive, but they ...

Commercial tour operators are shown moored off Molokini in November. The state is seeking to limit the number of commercial vessels moored in the crater ... white tip reef shark, gray reef ...

A crescent-shaped volcano crater that is partially submerged, Molokini doesn't feature sandbars, meaning the water clarity is superior to some of the other snorkeling spots around the island.

Alan Friedlander (center, bottom), chief scientist of Pristine Seas and National Geographic Society, surveys Molokini ... of omilu, sharks and other predators inside the crater.

Situated approximately 3 miles off the southwest shores of Maui, Molokini ... whitetip reef sharks. And if you're lucky, you may see migrating humpback whales around the crater during whale ...