How deep is Middle Reef?

Middle Reef has a depth range of 5–30 metres (16–98 feet). Check the dive site page for current conditions and any depth-specific guidance before planning your dive.

Can beginners dive Middle Reef?

Middle Reef is rated as intermediate difficulty, which may not suit new divers. A Open Water for scuba; suitable for supervised snorkel/freedive in calm charter conditions. certification or equivalent is suggested. Consider your experience level, conditions, and local guidance before planning.

What will I see at Middle Reef?

Divers at Middle Reef in United States commonly report sightings of Raccoon butterflyfish, Pyramid butterflyfish, Trumpetfish, Moorish idol, and Orangespine unicornfish. Marine life varies by season and conditions—check the site page for recent diver observations and photos.

Add the first photo

IntermediateBoat entry

Middle Reef

Q: When is the best time to dive Middle Reef?

The best time to dive Middle Reef is typically Best on calm morning charters before afternoon trade winds/current build; Molokini conditions can change quickly and operators may reroute.. Conditions vary, so check the latest reports and forecasts on the dive site page before your trip.

Hawaii, United States

Open Water suggested5–30 m depthBoat entryRash guard or 2mm shorty typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Middle Reef at a glance

Middle Reef is a intermediate boat dive site in Hawaii, United States with depths of 5–30 m (16–98 ft). Typically most favorable Oct · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Raccoon butterflyfish, Pyramid butterflyfish, and Trumpetfish. Recent reports put the water around 27°C (81°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 4h ago

1.4 mwaves — about a meter and a half expected

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 27°C · seasonal avg 26°C

Site hazards: Boat traffic, coral contact, current/wind increase later in the day, depth changes across the crater bowl, and MLCD no-take/no-feeding restrictions.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Wed

Sat—

Sun6:00–20:00

Mon6:00–20:00

Tue6:00–20:00

Wed7:00–20:00

Thu7:00–20:00

Fri7:00–20:00

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 5:34 · Sunrise 5:58 · Sunset 19:06

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 4.8 km from site · graded 4h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

What Divers Say

Known for: Raccoon butterflyfish, Pyramid butterflyfish, Trumpetfish

Best time: Best on calm morning charters before afternoon trade winds/current build; Molokini conditions can change quickly and operators may reroute.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

Jan53%25°C1.6 m
Feb26%25°C2.0 m
Mar43%25°C1.7 m
Apr37%25°C1.8 m
May29%26°C1.8 m
Jun27%26°C1.8 m
Jul35%26°C1.6 m
Aug35%27°C1.7 m
Sep49%27°C1.5 m
Oct70%27°C1.4 m
Nov48%27°C1.7 m
Dec61%26°C1.6 m

October hastypically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life recorded at this site, by month

Recorded observations — evidence of past sightings, not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

Raccoon butterflyfishCommonly seen
Pyramid butterflyfishCommonly seen
TrumpetfishCommonly seen
Moorish idolCommonly seen
Orangespine unicornfishCommonly seen
Yellow tangCommonly seen
Giant trevallyOccasionally seen
Bluefin trevallyCommonly seen
Flame angelfishOccasionally seen
Fire gobyOccasionally seen
ParrotfishCommonly seen
ButterflyfishCommonly seen
UnicornfishCommonly seen

Carcharhinus longimanus recorded here Jan–Mar, May, Nov (7 records)
most recent 2016
Arothron stellatus recorded here Jan (2 records)
most recent 2014
Forcipiger longirostris recorded here Jan, May (2 records)
most recent 2018
Heteroconger hassi recorded here Feb, May (2 records)
most recent 2016
Melichthys niger recorded here Feb (2 records)
most recent 2016
Seriola rivoliana recorded here Feb (2 records)
most recent 2016
Thalassoma duperrey recorded here Feb (2 records)
most recent 2016
Acanthaster planci recorded here Dec (1 record)
most recent 2021

Counts are occurrence records near this site from public biodiversity datasets (GBIF), grouped by calendar month across all sampled years. Sightings vary — past records are context, not a prediction.

Fills & rentals nearby

Facts from OpenStreetMap, corrected by the community — listed by distance only. Details change; confirm with the shop.

Boss Frog's12.2 km
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Snorkel Bob's13.6 km
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Boss Frog's13.7 km
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Boss Frog's17.5 km
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Shop facts come from OpenStreetMap and community corrections, shown nearest first. PickADive lists facts and contacts only — no listing is sponsored or ranked.

Site details

Middle Reef is a central inner-crater Molokini reef with hard coral and abundant tropical fish. It is one of the more broadly useful Molokini subsites for snorkelers, freedivers, SNUBA guests, and scuba divers. Divers should still treat it as boat-only protected-area diving with coral-contact discipline.

boatreef

Boat traffic, coral contact, current/wind increase later in the day, depth changes across the crater bowl, and MLCD no-take/no-feeding restrictions.

Reviews

No reviews yet — this site is waiting for its first. Dived here? Your rating and a few lines help the next diver.

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