Maui has more than a few of the world’s most amazing snorkeling and diving sites. Looking for the best places to snorkel? Here are some of the island’s top spots:
Honolua Bay
A beautiful Marine Life Conservation District in northwest Maui, Honolua Bay has beautiful scenery under and out of the water. Surrounded by high rocky cliffs, the water here is typically calm and serene (except during the winter, when high surf conditions are typical). The best time to snorkel here is in the morning when visibility is the clearest. The majority of coral and sea life in Honolua is on the right side of the bay.
Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve
The coastline of this natural area reserve is composed mostly of lava rock and coral, giving it a wild, rugged beauty. Morning is the ideal time to snorkel here because that’s when the waters are still. It’s also a great place to snorkel with kids – there’s a variety of aquatic life making their home in the colorful coral formations in the shallow end. Turtles also frequent the Ahihi-Kinau coast.
Black Rock
Black Rock, a dramatic promontory that marks the northern border of Kaanapali Beach, looks down on waters that can go from about eight ft. to 25 ft. deep. The area is teeming with all kinds of aquatic life, from sea turtles to sea urchins, and the visibility is usually topnotch. Note that it’s best to take precautions if you’re planning on snorkeling here as Black Rock is also a popular spot for cliff divers.
Molokini Crater
Three miles off of southwestern Maui, Molokini is an islet that has become one of the most well-known snorkeling and diving sites in the world. It’s also a Hawai?i State Seabird Sanctuary. Once you get there, you’ll be in awe of the pristine waters, which have a visibility of up to 200 feet, letting you easily see the vivid corals, hundreds of species of fish, and even the occasional whale shark. The volcano walls serve as protection from ocean swells, making it the ideal spot to snorkel with the whole family.
Kapalua Bay
Kapalua Bay is a beautiful and tranquil white-sand beach found on the northwest side of Maui. It is very popular with beachgoers because of its accessibility and amazing scenery and its shallow depth and typically still waters also make it ideal for snorkeling beginners. If you have kids who want to try snorkeling for the first time, you can bring them here.
Napili Bay
Beginners and experienced snorkelers can have a great time in Napili Bay because of its varying depths. The right side of the bay usually has great visibility and the left side, which is a little more difficult to wade through, is best for the more experienced snorkelers. There you will find rocky alcoves and incredible reefs to explore.
Looking for Maui oceanfront rental homes that will put you close to great snorkeling spots? Give us a call at 808-214-0302 or email us at greg(at)isleluxury(dotted)com.