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Group of scuba divers exploring vibrant coral reefs in Sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia.
📷 Rocky Gendu · Pexels

Middle Reef

3.9 — based on 18 community signals
4.2 12 species 27 contributors

Year-round diving at Middle Reef inside Molokini Shoal Marine Life Conservation District, with 12 documented species and healthy corals.

⭐ Best for beginners.

🐢 MPA · Molokini Shoal Marine Life Con… updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
MPAMacroFocusPhotoFriendly

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Best months
Year-round
Marine life
Green sea turtle

Map

This spot Airport Nearby spots
Middle Reef location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
12 kn
Wave
1.6 m
Water
28.1°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: NNE (26%)
Now: ENE (75°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.66m

Today: High 11:00 (+0.81m), Low 01:00 (+0.39m)

+0.9 m+0.3 m
▼ 01:00 · +0.39m ▲ 11:00 · +0.81m ▼ 20:00 · +0.43m ▲ 23:00 · +0.45m Now +0.4m
Fri 18Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24
UV8.6 · very high Air PM2.56 · good 06:14 18:26
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-18 12 1.62 9 0mm
09-19 10.7 1.74 8 0mm
09-20 12.8 1.66 9 0mm
09-21 9.3 1.54 9 0mm
09-22 9.3 1.7 8 0mm
09-23 7.9 1.72 8 6mm
09-24 16.4 1.84 8 8mm

About this spot

Middle Reef sits within the Molokini Shoal Marine Life Conservation District, a protected zone off Maui. The reef benefits from marine conservation status, which helps maintain its ecosystem health. Coral conditions show no stress, indicating a stable environment for divers. The site draws interest from the local diving community, with 3 community-contributed videos available for reference. Species observations total 12 documented encounters, giving you insight into what marine life frequents the area. This data comes directly from community reports, so you'll get a realistic picture of what to expect. Middle Reef operates year-round, so timing flexibility is a major advantage. Being inside a marine protected area means stricter regulations apply—respect all posted guidelines and conservation rules. The protection status reflects Maui's commitment to reef health, which benefits every diver who visits.

📖 Guide: Diving in the United States: 87 Sites From Springs to Open Ocean

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Marine life

Green sea turtle

Dive types

Reef

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type A/B · 120V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 48%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 11664km · ~2683kg · €48

FAQ

When is the best time to dive Middle Reef?

Middle Reef is diveable year-round. No seasonal closure or weather window restriction is documented, so you can plan your trip based on your schedule rather than the calendar.

What is the difficulty level and depth at Middle Reef?

Specific depth and difficulty data are not available in our records. Contact local dive operators in Maui for current conditions, depth ranges, and recommendations based on your certification level.

What marine life will I see at Middle Reef?

12 species observations are documented at the site. Check community videos and local dive shop reports for current sightings. Coral conditions are healthy with no bleaching stress reported.

Do I need permits to dive Middle Reef?

Middle Reef is located inside the Molokini Shoal Marine Life Conservation District, a protected marine area. You must follow all conservation district rules and regulations. Confirm current permit requirements and restrictions with local authorities or your dive operator before your trip.

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

Verified marine species observations

161 records · 16 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale
Mammalia · Balaenopteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
14 Apr 2026
×34records

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale
Mammalia · Balaenopteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
27 Dec 2025
×22records

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale
Mammalia · Balaenopteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
26 Dec 2024
×15records

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale
Mammalia · Balaenopteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
6 Dec 2023
×14records

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale
Mammalia · Balaenopteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
14 Dec 2022
×23records

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale
Mammalia · Balaenopteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
11 Dec 2021
×6records

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale
Mammalia · Balaenopteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
12 Feb 2020
×3records

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale
Mammalia · Balaenopteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
3 Mar 2019
×2records

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale
Mammalia · Balaenopteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
18 Feb 2018
×1records

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale
Mammalia · Balaenopteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
25 Dec 2017
×6records

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale
Mammalia · Balaenopteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
20 Jan 2016
×1records

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback whale
Mammalia · Balaenopteridae
OBIS
Last seen:
16 Feb 2015
×1records

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Close Encounters and Middle Reef, Pemuteran, SCUBA Diving, Reef Seen

ABOUT North - Explore The Northern Territory
💬 1 top comments
  • Great Video💖

    @jay_pete · 👍 0

Middle school SCUBA Diving group A, The Nerrings

Glasshouse Christian College

Dive 472: Middle Reef Meander 360 View

Wayne Grabowski

Local knowledge

OpenStreetMap Notes
  • "is this like a putting green? i cant really tell. it has a big tent on it though so i am not sure"

    maddog107 · 2025-12-16
  • "is this actually tourist lodging like the nearby hotels, or would it be better tagged as building=apartments?"

    freebeer · 2023-09-23
wind peaks Jun-May-Jul, calmest Oct-Dec-Jan, dry Jan-Dec.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: Mar (100/100) Worst: Jan (0/100) Now: Sep (87/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

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