It is best to simply fall in love with this water from afar while you spend time on the sand. If they are pushing you toward the beach, get past them as soon as you can. If you dont see any turtles at first, remember that many could be resting on the bottom of the sea. You are almost sure to see sea turtles, the Hawaiian state fish, cornetfish, and saddleback wrasses. Enjoy exploring the reefs that have built on the lava that cooled here so many years ago. When you are exploring underwater at Turtle Town, you will definitely see Hawaiian green sea turtles. Just get in where it is sandy (almost everywhere), and head left or right. The only way to get there is by boat, but it is some of the best snorkeling available anywhere in the world. Beneath the surface at Ahihi-Kinau, you will see brown surgeonfish, peacock grouper, parrotfish, black triggerfish, sea urchins, and large schools of manini. You will be happy to see trumpetfish, sergeant majors, unicornfish, brown surgeonfish, and saddleback wrasses here. When you get in the water here, you are sure to see Christmas wrasses, sea urchins, brown surgeonfish, Moorish idol, and at least two types of triggerfish. The beach at Mokuleia Bay is sandy, beautiful, and wild with no amenities, so if you like roughing it, youll enjoy spending time here after you swim. The waters are inhabited by a great diversity of colorful fish, such as the yellow tang, the yellow longnose butterflyfish, the Moorish Idol, the reef triggerfish (the state fish of Hawaii), and the ornate butterflyfish. Black Rock, known in Hawaiian as Puu Kekaa, or Rolling Hill, is Mauis jumping-off point. One set is near the parking lot, and the other is about halfway down the beach. Turn left into Makena Landing parking. While turtles are easy to see in Turtle Town, they are also very common in most other spots on this part of the coast. There is a small lawn on one side. Poolenalena Beach, Wailea Beach and Big Beach are particularly famous for spotting honu, the Hawaiian name for the green sea turtle. This is a fantastic snorkel and scuba site it could easily be described as the best snorkeling on Maui. CALL: 808-661-3333 orTEXT: 808-866-7814 US NOW! *Kid Friendly *Public Restrooms *Easy Access. Once you are finished in the water, youll love spending the day at one Kamaole Beach or all three! If there is a lot of surfing going on here, it is a great day for surfer watching, but not so much for snorkeling. Theyll also explain how to use the snorkel equipment and flotation devices provided, and theyll be happy to answer any questions you may have. There are also large schools of goatfish hanging out along the bottom, half asleep. If you are very lucky, you may spot an octopus! If you go left and swim around the point, make sure to keep some energy in reserve; youll need to swim back to the beach you started on. Launiupoko is a shady and comfortable expanse of ocean side lawn, with all the amenities you might need for hanging out. Turtles graze there.Old Airport is where the old airport used to was. If its encounters with marine life youre after, the left side of Napili Bay is more interesting than the right. There are many choices for taking a boat tour to Molokini, but we suggest the Malolo for a smaller group tour and the Calypso snorkeling tour for a fun, comfortable family activity. If you scuba dive the site, there are several caves to explore. At Puamana, there is a small sandy beach on the left, but the real draw is the larger grassy area its just perfect for hanging out. Entering the water at Charley Young Beach is pretty easy which makes it a great snorkeling location for families. The waves are gentler and the visibility is best in the morning. This is a sandy entry, but depending on what time of day you go snorkeling, the waves can be pushy coming in. Take with you a Fish ID Book, an essential tool to help you identify the fish you see underwater. The reef just offshore is part of the Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area, a partially protected underwater space since 2009. Avoid any scrapes by getting out of the water on the left side. Big Beach, as one suggestion, is close by and very comfortable. These beaches are a popular place to catch the sunset from South Maui. It is a beautiful spot to watch the ocean roll in as well as the surfers riding their boards. The coral reef here extends in all directions, and youll find it almost as soon as you get into the water. You will also be delighted to swim with Hawaiis state fish, the humuhumunukunukuapuaa, butterflyfish, and goatfish. In these waters, you will find Moorish idol, humuhumunukunukuapuaa, surgeonfish, teardrop butterflyfish, and large schools of goatfish. Honolua Bay, Kapalua Bay and Napili Bay are the most famous in the area. This is one of the most famous of Mauis incredible beaches for good reason. This site is decent for snorkeling. Charley Youngs is at the rocks at the north end of Kam 1.Kams 1, 2 & 3 on S. Kihei Road have facilities. This Japanese Buddhist temple is a beautiful sight to see, and the temple grounds are open to the public. Well worth the climb, this area was designated a Marine Life Conservation District in 1978 and is therefore a beautiful snorkeling location. You can encounter them from the beach or during boat trips, which is the only safe way to reach the areas located far from shore. When you take a boat out to see Molokini Crater, Turtle Town is usually your second awesome snorkel site for the day! Baby Beach is a perfect for the whole family and a great place to learn to snorkel. You will also see some beautiful fish including yellow tang, Achilles tang, chubs, saddleback wrasse, and sergeant majors. There are large schools of fish at 5 Caves. There is a lot to see just on the left hand side. The waves tend to run from gentle to medium strength here. Look for a light turquoise color, and walk in there. Talk to your snorkel buddy, choose a lava point, and head that way! You can enjoy some good snorkeling and swimming off this beach. Exit at Napili off Hwy 30, go down to the stop sign & then right for mile.Kapalua Bay is mile past Snorkel Bobs, Napili, on lower Honoapiilani Rd. Along with Big Island, it is one of the best snorkeling destinations in the archipelago. Enter the water on the left side. If you want a big mahalo, leave a tip for Uncle Jimmy on your way out; its a nice exchange for all the upkeep he does on the beach and trail, and for keeping an eye on peoples cars. If you want to check out the cove, too, keep some energy in reserve for your return trip. Once you are spent and you will be at Olowalu; there is so much to see! Both ways are gorgeous, with plenty of coral reef to explore. In Hawaii, coral can grow at most about one inch per year. Take the 1st left after Napili Kai Beach Resort. For more information click here! Shoreline access is on Kai Ala Drive off Hwy 30. A great place to swim with turtles on Maui, you may also encounter manini, goatfish, parrotfish, trumpetfish, and some really cool sea urchins. DT Fleming Beach is bordered by pine trees, palms, and naupaka plants. On this Molokini snorkeling tour, 300+ spots have been featured on Snorkeling Report with the help of people like you. There are a lot of sea turtles that frequent the area, and the beautiful fish are abundant. On this jagged and mineral coastline, you can get in the water at two great spots located in an entirely natural setting: The Ahihi Kinau marine reserve and, 1.4 miles further south, La Perouse Bay. This prolific reef will keep you busy. On the right side of the cove there is a natural little step carved into the rock, just big enough for one person to stand on. Puamana Beach Park and Lainiupoko Beach Park south of town, are some of the other options around Lahaina. All three of these beaches are perfect for families. Walking in, the sandy bottom is made of abrupt hills and valleys. Make sure you give the turtles plenty of space to swim and breathe just like youd appreciate, if you were a famous underwater icon! Its slippery, so stay safe! Look for blue Makena Landing sign on right. As on the left side, the far end of the right side has the best reef. The aina (land) surrounding Honolua Bay is maintained by a man named Uncle Jimmy. DT Fleming is one of the only west side beaches watched over by a lifeguard. There is a good chance youll run into some sea turtles, eels, and spotted eagle rays, as well. Go down the beach access path and take the far right fork. Slaughterhouse is a great spot to snorkel most of the year, but the waves can be rough in the wintertime. *Kid Friendly *Private Restrooms *Easy Access. Know your skill level and check in with your energy level before going in, and use common sense while exploring the beautiful reefs. You are almost sure to spot sea turtles here, whether you stand on shore or choose to take a dip and join them. This bay is known to play host to bodyboarders, surfers, paddle boarders, and swimmers. La Perouse doesnt have much of a beach, as the area is made of rough and sharp lava. The lava fingers that extend into the ocean between each beach are the foundation for the reefs here. If you are advanced, however, the time spent here is well worth it! Once youre in, pay attention to the current pushing north. The reef is extensive and spreads out in all directions. Both sides (to the right and to the left) house rocky reef habitat, while the center is mostly sand. Trees cover much of Launiupoko, and a perimeter of lava rocks touches down to the sea. This beach is rarely crowded, and the parking lot is rarely full. *Kid Friendly *Public Portable Restrooms *Turtles *Easy Access. The center of Kapalua Bay is all rolling sand that the waves pattern beautifully. The summer, from May to October, is the warmest, driest and sunniest season (with an average of 80F/26.5C, and maximum temperatures of 85F/29.5C). Dont bother swimming to the left at Mokuleia Bay; theres nothing interesting there. If you need to rinse off at some point, the outdoor showers are on the far right hand side of the beach when you face the ocean. The ramp and the rocks beyond are very slippery, so take your time. (If youre not comfortable, honor that. This reef is a fish nursery, so you are sure to see some cute baby parrotfish, along with other little ones. Mauis reefs, rich in fish, are among the most spectacular and best-preserved in the archipelago. Small lava boulders buried in the sand give this beach some extra character. Two areas in particular concentrate almost all of the local snorkel sites: the coasts of the western part of the island, between Lahaina and Kapalua, and the coastline which stretches from Kihei to Wailea, south of Kahului. There are two main seasons in Hawaii. Today, the bay is well known as a daytime resting place for a pod of Hawaiian spinner dolphins. (FYI: You can reach the clothing optional Little Beach by climbing over the ridge on the right hand side of Big Beach.). Canoe Beach and Wahikuli State Park, about 2 miles north of the port, are goo spots to snorkel in. Your best entry point is on the right side of the bay. For your convenience, there are two sets of outdoor showers. The fish congregate around the lava fingers located on the right side of Keawakapu. This breathtakingly gorgeous beach is right in front of the Makena Beach and Golf Resort. When you first get in, swim out about 10 15 yards past the concrete slabs youll find; that will get you to the good stuff! Youll get in and out here. Your boat crew will tell you the best ways to enter the water from the boat. In the northwest area of the island, the Kapalua region is home to some of Hawaiis most beautiful spots. There is a good chance youll have the chance to swim with a sea turtle or two, as well! Dont touch the coral, and definitely dont touch the turtles you can get a huge fine, and doing so is disrespectful. Road narrows along coastline. Canoe Beach is an eclectic mix: canoe clubs keep their outrigger canoes here, sea turtles are sighted frequently along the rocks on the left, and the beach park shares acreage with a cemetery. The warm, clear waters of the Solomon Islands offer year-round snorkeling in whats often referred as the Coral Triangle, the area that possesses the worlds highest levels of marine biodiversity. Get in at the start of a sand channel, and follow it out as far as you wish to explore. You are likely to see peacock groupers, butterflyfish, yellow tang, Moorish idols, and occasionally a manta ray or octopus! Sand channels show up as a light turquoise color, while the coral reef looks dark from above. For your comfort, float as soon as you can, and then push out to check out the fish! There, shallow coral gardens showcase an incredible diversity of reef fish, including angelfish, clownfish, butterflyfish, but also big marine (), Looking for some of the worlds most pristine and unspoilt snorkeling? Like many Maui beaches, it is bordered on the back edge by the bright green naupaka plant. There is no wider or longer expanse of sand on the island, and the water there is almost indescribably beautiful. Customer SupportContact UsFAQ'sGear Rental RatesGear CareFitting ChartsReservation Confirmation & Cancellation PolicyGuarantee & ReturnsShipping & Handling, Snorkel Maps 'n TipsSnorkel MapsReef EtiquetteSnorkel Safety & Health, Compleat Reef Systems | Snorkel Gear Packages, Seamo Betta (Rx-receptive) Snorkel & Dive Mask, The Campaign to Defend Hawaii Reefs from the Aquarium Trade, Reservation Confirmation & Cancellation Policy. For many people, it is the one of the most beautiful islands in the world. It would be easy to spend an entire day here playing volleyball, cooking on the grills, exploring the reefs, and lounging on the sand or lawn. There is a nice path and plenty of space on the lawn as well as the narrow sandy beach that lines the shore. can be found swimming around and resting along the Olowalu reef. You will love swimming through this thriving ecosystem! Once youre swimming, head out of the cove and go left as far as youd like till its time to come back again! You must be logged in to post a comment. The beach slopes down a little abruptly into the water here, but the entry is a pretty easy one. It is best to rent a beach umbrella to enjoy this location, as this end of Baby Beach has very little shade. This is a nice beach to hang out on, and the snorkeling is just great. You are also likely to see nudibranchs, whitetip reef sharks, pincushion sea stars, whitemouth eels, and even scorpionfish! Enter left and cruise out, like Ulua but left to 20 with turtles, fish, showers, changing rooms & parking.Makena Beach State Park (Big Beach) is beauteous but Danger! Molokini Crater is a volcanic caldera located three miles off the Maui coast. VIDEO, Photos, Directions, Facilities & More - click here, Photos, Directions, Parking, Facilities & More - click here, Snorkeling Equipment: All You Need To Know, Ocean Paddleboarding: Everything You Should Know, Maui Transportation: The Advantages of Electric Bikes. We suggest the Malolo Molokini & Turtle Town snorkeling adventure for the best all around time. The trash and recycle bins are halfway down the beach on the mountain (mauka) side of the flagstone path. There, youll find gently sloped sand perfect for taking your time putting on your gear and getting the kids ready. Mokuleia Bay is accessed by a staircase from the main road. Snorkeling in Kauai is not considered the best in the Hawaiian archipelago, but the is (), The Tuamotu Islands, a remote, pristine archipelago, scarcely touched by the outside world, offers some of the best snorkeling in the South Pacific. If you are staying in Lahaina, youll find decent snorkeling at Baby Beach, just north of the town. On the North Shore, especially in Honolua Bay, the wind and the swell makes snorkeling unsafe some days. The latter is known for its seabed, very full of fish. The Big Island is full of surprises and delights - maybe the best snorkeling destination i (), Oahu is the most visited of the Hawaiian islands. The water comes all the way to the edge of the park here. For calm days, there are picnic tables and BBQs, and plenty of gorgeous beach to lay out on. Once you make it through those entry waves, youre good to go. The best thing to do is find a sandy spot, walk in, and then float on your back while you get your gear ready. When you have finished snorkeling Keawakapu, or you want to take a break, hop out onto the sandy beach or the manicured lawn outside the resort, and relax. Many people have been taken by surprise by the strength and power of even small waves here, resulting in injuries and fatalities. The Sea House Restaurant rests beautifully at the north end of the bay, and several small resorts line the rest of the beach. The right side has a lot of fish, including needlefish, baby parrotfish, humuhumunukunukuapuaa, and several species of butterflyfish. Big Beach also known as Oneloa Beach and Makena Beach is one of the most fantastic sights on Maui. The bay is shallow when you get in, but it reaches depths of up to 80 feet. Its 120 miles of coastline are home to dozens of snorkeling sites for all levels, most of them with free shore access. It is usually easier to gear up once youre a few yards beyond those breaking waves. The air is cooler (an average of 75F/24C, with maximum temperatures of 78F/25.5C). If you do want to walk north along the beach, bring slippers to protect your feet from thorns that have dropped into the sand from the kiawe trees. Once you get past the waves, swim forward until the water clears up, then turn right to find the reefs. The best time to try is in the early morning, around 8:00 am. To reach the beach, youll need to follow a 5 minute path through a tropical rain forest and if you had any worries, theyll melt away as you gaze in awe at the giant plants along the path and listen to the murmurings of the resident chicken flocks. In calm weather, this bay hosts snorkelers and divers, but when there is a swell coming through, the surf goes off at Honolua Bay! Hanakaoo, known by locals as Canoe Beach, is a great hangout and Maui snorkeling spot. If youre lucky, youll be swimming when a Hawaiian green sea turtle passes by! There are between 20 and 30 good snorkeling spots in Maui, all located along the west coast of the island which is more sheltered from the wind and swells. A rocky enclosure has created a calm pool for kids to play and the small, consistent waves are perfect for surfing on Maui. In fact, it is not even connected to Maui but it is one of the best places to explore underwater and see marine life during a vacation to Maui. Sandy beach & blue water make it home for millions. If you like, you can swim around this entire point and back. If it is rough and you are comfortable snorkeling in such conditions, youll need to push out about 30 feet before you can see anything. In the south part of the island, the coast of Kihei and Makena is also home to awesome snorkeling spots. Both sides of the beach have excellent snorkeling along the nooks and crannies created by the lava rocks. When you are ready to head back to shore, keep those incoming waves in sight as you negotiate your way back onto Polo Beach. *Baby Friendly *Public Restrooms By Boat Ramp. Technically, you can bring chairs with you and hike to some sandy spots, but we recommend you visit a more comfortable beach for hanging out. Localize and discover the best snorkeling spots in more than 50 destinations worldwide. You are sure to see parrotfish, sergeant majors, black triggerfish, goatfish, and ornate butterflyfish, among others. Here, several coves with crystal clear waters follow one another along the coast. At this snorkeling site, you will find sea turtles, unicornfish (kala), butterflyfish, needlefish, trumpetfish, Hawaiian cleaner wrasse, yellow tang, soldierfish, goatfish, boxfish, and tobies. If you walk about mile along the shore, you will find the Lahaina Jodo Mission. When you exit, be sure to take note of the waves hitting the shore again. Napili Bay is one of the most beautiful sand beaches on Maui and perfect for families. If you hike, bring lots of water. Snorkeling at every Kamaole Beach is great. There is a good chance youll see sea turtles at this site. You can rent beach umbrellas, chairs, coolers, boogie boards, and other beach gear! Poolenalena Beach is a long, beautiful sandy beach great for hanging out and for intermediate snorkelers; the water can be pushy at times. Black Rock at the Sheraton Kaanapali is clear with a sandy bottom out to 30 deep. Several turtles (even the rare hawksbill turtle!) This is a very popular beach park for families. Keawakapu is a long sandy beach with fairly shallow waters just outside a popular beachfront restaurant and resort. You can enter Napili Bay almost anywhere on the beach, because the entire shoreline is sandy. When you do see one, it will be an exciting moment! enjoy spending time on the sand and fallen tree trunks of this narrow beach. This is also the hurricane season, but they are rare in the North Pacific. Frequently sighted all around the island; unmissable at Turtle Town, common in Molokini Crater, Common on all spots, occasionally in large schools, On all spots; present in large numbers at Ahihi Kinau and Napili Bay, Marine reserve with a fringing reef and many fish, Reef drop off and sandy beds with sea turtles, Immersed volcanic crater with coral, reef fish and turtles, Sheltered bay with coral reefs, colorful fish and sea turtles. !Okay, so this isnt actually a beach. The discerning swimmer can sometimes find eels and octopuses, and several manta rays are known to spend time here. A set of concrete steps lead down to the sand. Every island in the Hawaiian chain has a place where the ancients believed that souls leapt into the afterlife. Most of the snorkeling spots are concentrated there. There is also an excellent view of Puu Olai, the volcanic cinder cone between Big and Little Beach. You can see green sea turtles in many spots, especially in the Wailea region. If you are beneath those trees, watch out for fallen thorns in the sand. Many colorful red pencil urchins also live on the reefs. Both beaches are are easy to walk along, and comfortable for the whole family. Entering the water here is interesting. Share your favorite snorkeling spot and help us cover the world map. Enter about four yards to the left of Black Rock, in a sandy area. Because this reef system is so extensive, you can explore from left to right along the shoreline, and also out toward the open ocean and back again. It is too shallow there to be safe, and you can easily get pounded into the rocks by incoming waves. It is also home to a coral reef that is a lot of fun to explore. Go right, and you are likely to see turtles, large parrotfish, cornetfish, Moorish idols, and needlefish, among others. There are domino damselfish, pencil urchins, and boxfish, too! Polo Beach is a smaller stretch of sand just in front of the Fairmont Kea Lani Hotel. The generally calm waters are good for snorkeling, the parks offer all kinds of amenities, and there are many shops and restaurants nearby. A sandy entry can be found on the right hand side of the beach. Ahihi-Kinau doesnt sport a sandy beach and parking can be a challenge, so keep that in mind while you plan your entirely beautiful Maui day. *Kid Friendly *Life Guard *Public Restrooms *Easy Access. Although the big draw at Wahikuli Wayside is the high number of sea turtles, you will also see Moorish idol, Achilles tang, brown surgeonfish, yellow tang, and perhaps even a pearl wrasse! Most of them are edged by coral reefs. You are highly likely to find sea turtles on either side. Go past the fence there, and bear right. Even in spots where there are no fish around, the huge boulders make you feel like youre in an ancient underwater city. Hanauma Bay, a gorgeous turquoise bay located only a few minutes drive from Honolulu, is by far the most visited snorkeling spot in Oahu, but there some oth (), With its canyons, breathtaking cliffs beaten by the ocean and luxuriant vegetation, Kauai amply desserves its nickname, the Garden Island. A sand channel is also a great landmark for finding your way back to your starting point. This beach, right outside the Grand Wailea Resort is one of the most beautiful stretches of shoreline on Maui. There are wrasses, jacks, trumpetfish, cornetfish, large schools of goatfish, eels, and Moorish idol, too. There are plenty of other great beaches to enjoy.). When you get in and out of the water on either side of Polo Beach, make sure to give the scattered rocks a wide berth. Certain types of algae-eating fish cannot be taken in this spot, and the reef has enjoyed improved health because of it. A few miles further south, near the southern tip of Maui, the coast is shaped by lava flows from the Haleakala volcano. Take a boat Trip! The waves here are gentler in the early morning, but they become better for bodyboarding later in the day. This will take you to a tiny cove. At the shoreline, the bottom is covered with rocks. Go in as early as you can to enjoy the best visibility. Turn right on Honoiki St., then right at STOP sign. During whale season, Black Rock is a great place to hear whale song underwater; the incredible sounds bounce off the lava formations there. The right side is rocky and quite shallow close to shore, so be careful not just for your safety, but for the safety of the living reef, too. The coast here is bordered by a small, shallow lagoon, the perfect place if you are snorkeling for the first time. Youll love what you see underwater at Ahihi-Kinau. Facilities & parking with a sandy beach make this a good spot for watching fish while sucking air through a plastic tube.Napili Bay is behind me, Snorkel Bob, in Napili. You can walk there from Kam I, and there is a nice lava peninsula that you can snorkel. Enter at sandy inlet, snorkel right.The Makena Beach and Golf Resort reef fronts the hotel. The water temperature can fall to 73F/23C in winter, and reach a peak of 84F/29C at the heart of the summer (June to September). Nowadays, the Airport Beach pavilion marks the site of the old airport terminal, and the snorkeling off the beach is exceptional! You are sure to see goldring surgeonfish, butterflyfish, and the ever popular humuhumunukunukuapuaa. If you are very lucky, you will be approached by dolphins! Anywhere you see a lava point extending into the water from Ulua and Mokapu, that is where the wild things are. Sometimes the water can be rough, impeding visibility and pushing you quickly toward the reef. Snorkel the bay or at Dumps near parking.The Great Snorkel Byway is profuse. If he is there when you are, and you have the time to sit and talk story, he has some incredible tales and history to share. *Kid Friendly *Life Guard *Public Restrooms. Both sides of the bay boast a well established coral reef with great Hawaiian marine life. Exit in the same place.