About Snorkel Bob's
Snorkel Bob's is a Hawaiian institution founded in 1986 by Robert Wintner, an avid snorkeler who bought four boxes of gear from a closing dive shop and started renting masks and fins for ten dollars a week out of a tiny Kihei storefront. There was a line out the door from day one, and the company has since grown into a multi-island operation with seven Maui locations—Napili, Kahana, Honokowai, Lahaina, Azeka, South Kihei, and Wailea—plus shops on Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island. Unlike generic rental chains, Snorkel Bob's designs and engineers all of its own equipment in-house.
Every rental package includes the proprietary Bubba dry-top snorkel, MOFLEX low-torque fins, No-Fog Goop, a fish I.D. card, and a mesh carry bag—gear that reviewers consistently rank above what competitor shops offer. Prescription-corrective masks are available in diopters from -1.5 to -10.0, and the optional MoflO2 fresh-air snorkel upgrade delivers 92 percent fresh air for guests who want maximum comfort. The standout perk is the free interisland return policy: rent on Maui and drop your gear at any Snorkel Bob's on another island at no extra charge, or use the five-dollar Inter-island Pick Up service if you'd rather not carry it.
Beyond gear, founder Robert Wintner is one of Hawaii's most prominent marine conservationists. His Snorkel Bob Foundation led the effort that made Maui 100 percent free of gill nets by administrative rule, and the company has stopped selling fish food and reef-harmful sunscreen across all locations. For snorkelers who want top-tier equipment, unbeatable convenience across multiple islands, and the satisfaction of supporting a business that actively fights to protect the reefs they explore, Snorkel Bob's is the clear choice.
