Snorkeling in Maui

• The funnest and safest way to swim with the fishes

Snorkeling is an excellent vacation activity both on and around Maui. Things that affect how much you enjoy snorkeling are the fit of the mask and fins, the quality of the snorkel, and the tranquility and visibility of the water. The mask fits well if you can hold it up to your face, inhale through your nose, and get the mask to stick. Fins made of soft rubber tend to rub less against the skin. Good snorkels have a reservoir at the bottom of the tube below your mouth (where it makes the U shape) to catch water that goes in. Some snorkels come with a wave guard which can prevent salt water intake as well. Generally, if there are white-caps on the water it won't be good for snorkeling. There are lots of great places on and around Maui to snorkel.

MOLOKINI is a crescent-shaped island off the coast of Maui that can be reached by boat or kayak. Molokini is a wildlife preserve and is a protected area, so people are not allowed on shore. The reef here is a unique ecosystem and a very popular snorkel destination. Reef sharks, which are very small, are often seen here as well.

LANA'I is a destination island with a few very high-end resorts and beautiful beaches. Snorkeling trips from Maui often frequent popular Lanai'i snorkel sites, some of which have large coral formations with beautiful swimmable channels.

OLUWALU is very shallow and calm and a great place to teach kids to snorkel, however the reef offshore has been largely destroyed. The better snorkeling at Oluwalu is when it is approached by boat.
Image by Rtoodetoo via Flickr
TURTLE REEF is often included in snorkel sails but can be reached from the shore by the Maui Prince Hotel in Makena. The snorkeling here is great but you must be a good swimmer because the reef is a ways off shore. There are lots of turtles here, like the name suggests

ULUA is a good beach with great snorkeling offshore to the right side, Turtles are very commonly seen here also. Reef-safe sunscreen is provided free at the information desk.

HONOLUA BAY has great snorkeling with huge coral formations, eels, reef sharks, sting rays, turtles at the point off to the right hand side, and an amazing quantity of fish. There are rocks instead of sand here and water shoes would be a good idea, although it's not terrible without them.

AHIHI has good snorkeling but it only starts getting good pretty far off shore so again you should be a strong swimmer. Turtles are commonly seen here, and the red and black sea urchins make the coral landscape spectacular.

AIRPORT BEACH has plentiful coral and a very diverse selection of fish. This beach is located in Kaanapali by the new Westin Ocean Villas. If you go to the public beach park the best snorkeling is to the right. Turtles are common here too.

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Rainy Day on Maui

Image via WikipediaWe have very few rainy days on Maui especially during the summer. As we head into the winter we will see alot more on the east side and a bit more on the south and west side. As an activity concierge many people ask me what they can do on a rainy day.... I have made a list -

1. Visit the Maui Ocean Center. This aquarium does a great job of introducing you to the fishes of Hawaii. They have some great exhibits on the humpback whales that visit Hawaii’s waters each winter. (Admission fee is required.)
2. Tour the Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum. (Modest admission fee required.)
3. Learn about Maui’s whaling history at Whalers Village Museum in Kaanapali. (Free)
4. Shop at the Lahaina Cannery Mall. (Free) or the Maui Mall in Kahului.
   
5. Tour the historic Baldwin House in Lahaina. (Currently open daily from 10 – 4. Located at 120 Dickenson Street in Lahaina. Modest admission fee of $3 for adults, $5 for families, and $2 for children is required.)
6. Admire 100% locally made crafts at the Maui Crafts Guild in lovely Paia. (Free)
7. Schedule some pampering time at a spa. Maui has an abundance of top rated spas. (Be sure to check out our popular suggestions for maximizing your Hawaii spa treatments.)
8. Drive through Iao valley and take some hikes the rain is always warm and refreshing.
9. Watch the windsurfers or surfers at Hookipa beach park and then have an expensive, incredible lunch at Mama’s Fish House.
10. Take a tour of the Maui Tropical Plantation. The tram on the tour tour has a roof.
11. Drive up to Haleakala, it might not have clouds or rain at the top
12. 12. Visit Dan's Greenhouse in old-town Lahaina to gawk at tropical flowers, buy one of Dan's world-famous Fuku-Bonsai lava rock plants or play with miniature piglets and baby birds, 193 Lahainaluna Road

13. Take the family to see Kupanaha, the great Magic, dinner show, or Ulalena in downtown Lahaina….
14. Nab one of the umbrellas on the patio at Aloha Mixed Plate and stay dry while sampling local food.
15. Sample a red or white at the King's Cottage tasting room at Maui's Winery at Ulupalakua Ranch near the mountainside community of Keokea. (Tedeschi Vineyards)
16. where else in the world can you go to a Glow in the Dark, miniature Golf Course. Glow Putt in the Lahaina Center.
    

Molokini Snorkel

Image via WikipediaWe went on the Pride of Maui morning snorkel last week and had so much fun. They serve a nice breakfast with fruit and muffins and of course Kona coffee. Next up we get our snorkel gear and instructions for the beginners, then we are off to Molokini. Really beautiful snorkeling at this little caldera and the water is perfectly clear.
We left Molokini and on the way over to Turtle Reef we had a nice lunch hot off the grill. We had a choice of Chicken, hamburgers, or hotdogs and a great pasta salad. The next stop was Turtle Reef where I got this great image of the turtle coming up right next to our boat. Contact me at Maui_Vacations@yahoo.com for more information and to learn about more exciting activities on Maui.