Snorkeling Maui is an excellent way to wake up for a beautiful Hawaiian day.
The waters are clear and teeming with fish, and many areas are protected marine
sanctuaries. You can rent snorkel gear very inexpensively from many vendors
dotted about the island. Some of these are listed at the bottom of the page.
Tips for great snorkeling
Go early, and we mean EARLY. Because the winds come up in the afternoon, the visibility
is reduced and you won't be able to see as many fish. Some areas are appropriate
later in the day, but it's difficult to tell unless you get right down to the
beach and check out the height of the surf. If you can head out before 8, you're
likely to find a more isolated beach, ample parking, and fish aplenty.
Rent a "dry" or "Impulse" snorkel. They might cost a couple of dollars more, but
it's well worth it as these have a special valve so you don't end up drinking
seawater. They also allow you to dive under the water without removing your snorkel
tube and clear it easily when you resurface (this takes a bit of practice but
allows you to get up close to the fish).
Bring or buy a disposable underwater camera. They are cheap and take reasonably
good pictures. We recommend Kodak or Fuji.
Respect the reef. Coral is very fragile and takes years to grow. Never step on
the coral, even in flippers. When snorkeling, be aware that a sudden wave might
move you against the coral, causing a scrape that can leave live coral in your
skin. Wash the scrape as soon as possible, treat it with antibiotic ointment, and watch
it carefully for infection. These are NASTY wounds and they take quite a while
to heal (and they hurt a LOT).
Please do not feed the fish. This encourages larger, aggresive fish to the snorkel
areas, driving away the more colourful, shy fish.
Know your beach. Get a guide book or some advice on where to snorkel (some dive
shops have these for free). Some beaches have a very difficult access to the water,
making them inappropriate for children. You should be aware of currents in the
area, and you should stay close to shore. Almost all the beautiful fish you will
ever want to see are found in shallower water in amongst the coral so there is
no need to swim far away from shore.
Sunscreen is a MUST. It's not uncommon for snorkellers to get severe burns on
their backs as you don't feel the heat in the water.
Most rental shops will provide you with a fish identification guide. Use this
to make notes of which fish you've seen so you can tell all your friends!
Have fun. Snorkeling Maui is a unique and memorable experience.
Favorite Snorkelling Spots
Fishbowl This was by far the best snorkeling spot we've ever been to. The visibility was superb, and we saw many species
of fish that were absent from other beaches. The cove is protected by lava and a manmade breakwater to create a round "bowl"
that is quite literally filled with hundreds of fish. From the shore you can see achilles and yellow tangs, and even getting
in you may have your toes nibbled by species of wrasse. The beach is small, but due to this spot's obscure location, it is one
of Maui's less frequented beaches. No facilities.
How to get there: From Kihei, drive south past Wailea and Makena until you see Ahihi Bay (marked as
a marine reserve). Continue travelling until you enter the lava flow of 1790 and watch the telephone poles which are
marked with numbers. Find a place to park between poles 16 and 18 and look for a trail heading off the road towards
the ocean (you'll be able to spot it as it is slightly lighter than the surrounding lava). This is a 30 minute
trek across the lava flow, so wear lots of sunscreen and comfortable shoes (not sandals).
Ulua Easy access from a beautiful sandy beach. The coral reef extends out from the shore quite a long way, but so long as
the waves are not choppy it is safe to snorkel out to the end of the reef. If you time it right, the Pacific Whale Foundation
will have an information booth set up to answer your marine life questions, and you can even go on a free guided snorkel tour
of the reef with one of their experts. Check out the calendar for dates/times here :
Pacific Whale Foundation Event Calendar. This beach has
public showers and restrooms. Parking can be limited.
How to get there: From Kihei, head south along South Kihei road until it veers to the left. Take a right
on Wailea Alanui and watch for the sign on the right for the turnoff to Ulua and Mokapu beaches.
Makena Landing Not too much beach here but enough to get you safely into the water. This is one of the "Turtle Towns" mentioned in
so many Molokini Crater tours. Snorkel out along the reef to slightly deeper water for a chance to see turtles. Restrooms
and showers are available.
How to get there: Drive south from Kihei, take a right on Wailea Alanui and continue until you are past
Wailea. Take a right on Old Makena Road to the beach.
Ahihi Bay One of Maui's Marine Preserves, Ahihi is a great spot to see lots of fish in shallow water. The beach is rocky so bring something
to sit on. Be cautious of surge bringing you too close to the coral. No facilities.
How to get there: Drive south from Kihei past Wailea and Makena. You'll find yourself on a small windy road by the coast.
Ahihi Bay is clearly marked with signs; continue just past the snorkeling area and you'll see the (limited) parking.
Black Rock (North Maui) Slightly less abundant fish populations are found at Black Rock, but the access is very easy from a beautiful sandy beach. If you
plan to spend the day there, you'll get to watch a cliff diver light torches along the rock and plunge off the rock at sunset.
How to get there: Drive north along the Honoapiilani Highway to Ka'anapili and take a left on the
Ka'anapili Parkway. Look for limited free beach access parking near the Sheraton Maui resort at the end of
the Parkway. There's a trail down to the beach.
You may have noticed that we haven't listed the all-popular "Molokini Tours" that are offered by countless activity centres. That's
because in five trips to Maui, we've never been on one. After hearing so many mixed reviews of many of the companies, we decided
against going. Once you snorkel Fishbowl, you'll be pleased you saved the money. All you need is just a drive away from wherever you
are staying, and great snorkeling shouldn't cost you an arm, leg, and a 2 hour timeshare presentation.
Snorkel Rentals : Make sure they include a fish ID card for you to use while you snorkel - this should be standard.
As for that "no-fog" goop, spit works just as well if they try to charge you extra or you run out.
Maui Dive Shop (recommended) - they
have a great free magazine with maps of the reefs at favorite snorkel locations.
Snorkel Bob Boss Frog
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