Best snorkeling in Maui: 12 spots, conditions and tours
Twelve of Maui's best snorkel spots with parking, entry points, best season and level, plus Molokini tours and how to pick the right coast on the day.
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On this page
Maui has two snorkeling coasts, and picking the right one on the day matters more than picking the "best" beach. West Maui (Kapalua to Kaanapali) is at its best in summer and on calm winter mornings. South Maui (Kihei, Wailea, Makena) is sheltered from winter swell but gets windy by late morning all year. Molokini Crater, three miles off South Maui, is the island's standout boat trip.
Map of Maui's best snorkel spots
West Maui
West Maui's bays are sheltered from the trade winds, so mornings are often glassy. In winter, big north and northwest swells can wrap into Honolua and Kapalua; check the surf before you go.
Honolua Bay
West Maui
- Level
- 3 of 5
- Entry
- Shore, rocky
- Depth
- 5–35 ft
- Visibility
- Good; poor after rain
- Best months
- May to September
- Facilities
- None
- Fees and permits
- Free
- What you'll see
- Turtles, parrotfish, eagle rays, healthy coral
How to get there
Park on the Honoapiilani Highway shoulder past Kapalua at the trail into the valley and walk about 5 minutes. Skip it in winter swell or after heavy rain.
21.014° N, 156.638° WDirections
Kapalua Bay
West Maui
- Level
- 1 of 5
- Entry
- Shore, sandy
- Depth
- 3–25 ft
- Visibility
- Good
- Best months
- Year-round, best in summer
- Facilities
- Restrooms, showers
- Fees and permits
- Free, small public lot
- What you'll see
- Reef fish, turtles near the points
How to get there
Public beach access off Lower Honoapiilani Road next to the Kapalua resort area. Arrive before 9 am for parking.
20.999° N, 156.667° WDirections
Napili Bay
West Maui
- Level
- 1 of 5
- Entry
- Shore, sandy
- Depth
- 3–20 ft
- Visibility
- Good
- Best months
- Year-round, calm mornings
- Facilities
- Showers
- Fees and permits
- Free; very limited public parking
- What you'll see
- Turtles feeding on the rocks, reef fish
How to get there
Two small public accesses off Lower Honoapiilani Road. Parking is the hard part: arrive early or walk from Kapalua.
20.995° N, 156.668° WDirections
Kahekili Beach (Airport Beach)
North Kaanapali, West Maui
- Level
- 1 of 5
- Entry
- Shore, sandy
- Depth
- 5–25 ft
- Visibility
- Good
- Best months
- Year-round, calm mornings
- Facilities
- Restrooms, showers, pavilion
- Fees and permits
- Free parking
- What you'll see
- Herbivore protection area: parrotfish, surgeonfish, turtles
How to get there
Kahekili Beach Park at the north end of Kaanapali, off Kai Ala Drive. Free lot. Snorkel straight out to the reef.
20.936° N, 156.693° WDirections
Black Rock (Puu Kekaa)
Kaanapali, West Maui
- Level
- 2 of 5
- Entry
- Shore, sandy
- Depth
- 5–30 ft
- Visibility
- Good
- Best months
- Year-round, calm mornings
- Facilities
- Resort area
- Fees and permits
- Free; paid parking
- What you'll see
- Turtles, reef fish, eagle rays
How to get there
Walk to the north end of Kaanapali Beach. Public beach parking is limited and paid. Do not round the point if you feel current.
20.927° N, 156.695° WDirections
Olowalu (Mile Marker 14)
Between Lahaina and Maalaea
- Level
- 2 of 5
- Entry
- Shore, sandy then shallow reef
- Depth
- 2–20 ft
- Visibility
- Good when calm; murky after wind
- Best months
- Calm mornings year-round
- Facilities
- None
- Fees and permits
- Free
- What you'll see
- One of Maui's largest reefs, turtles, manta cleaning station offshore
How to get there
Pull off Honoapiilani Highway (Route 30) near mile marker 14. The reef is shallow near shore; swim out through the sand channels so you do not touch coral.
20.808° N, 156.618° WDirections
Coral Gardens
Off the Pali coast, West Maui
- Level
- 2 of 5
- Entry
- Boat only
- Depth
- 10–30 ft
- Visibility
- Good
- Best months
- Backup site when Molokini is rough
- Facilities
- On the boat
- Fees and permits
- Included in tour
- What you'll see
- Coral heads, turtles, reef fish
How to get there
Visited by Molokini tours when the crater is too rough, and by some West Maui charters.
20.791° N, 156.567° WDirections
Olowalu has one of Maui's largest reefs, but it is shallow near shore. Swim out along the sand channels so you never stand on coral.
South Maui
South Maui gets the island's most reliable winter snorkeling. The rule here is simple: go early. By 11 am the wind usually turns the surface to whitecaps.
Ulua and Mokapu beaches
Wailea, South Maui
- Level
- 1 of 5
- Entry
- Shore, sandy
- Depth
- 3–25 ft
- Visibility
- Good
- Best months
- Year-round, mornings
- Facilities
- Restrooms, showers
- Fees and permits
- Free public lot
- What you'll see
- Reef fish along the rocky point between the two beaches
How to get there
Public access off Wailea Alanui Drive by the resorts. The free lot fills by mid-morning.
20.691° N, 156.442° WDirections
Makena Landing (Five Caves area)
South Maui
- Level
- 2 of 5
- Entry
- Shore, sandy and rocky
- Depth
- 5–40 ft
- Visibility
- Good
- Best months
- Year-round, mornings
- Facilities
- Restrooms, showers
- Fees and permits
- Free
- What you'll see
- Turtles, lava arches and caverns
How to get there
Makena Landing Park off Makena Road. Swim north toward the lava fingers. Kayak tours launch here too, so watch for boats.
20.654° N, 156.442° WDirections
Maluaka Beach (Turtle Town)
South Maui
- Level
- 1 of 5
- Entry
- Shore, sandy
- Depth
- 3–30 ft
- Visibility
- Good
- Best months
- Year-round, mornings
- Facilities
- Restrooms, showers
- Fees and permits
- Free
- What you'll see
- Green sea turtles, reef fish
How to get there
Public lot off Makena Road south of Makena Landing. Snorkel the rocks at the north (right) end. Afternoon wind makes it choppy.
20.633° N, 156.444° WDirections
Ahihi Cove (Ahihi-Kinau reserve)
South Maui
- Level
- 2 of 5
- Entry
- Shore, rocky
- Depth
- 3–20 ft
- Visibility
- Good
- Best months
- Year-round, mornings
- Facilities
- None
- Fees and permits
- Check DLNR for current reserve access rules
- What you'll see
- Very healthy reef, lots of fish, turtles
How to get there
At the end of Makena Road. Parking is limited and rules on reserve access change; check the state reserve page before you go. Wear reef shoes.
20.611° N, 156.437° WDirections
Molokini Crater
Molokini Crater
Off South Maui
- Level
- 2 of 5
- Entry
- Boat only
- Depth
- 10–80 ft
- Visibility
- Often 100 ft+
- Best months
- Year-round, mornings
- Facilities
- On the boat
- Fees and permits
- Included in tour
- What you'll see
- Butterflyfish, moray eels, whitetip reef sharks
How to get there
Tours from Kihei (15–20 minutes) or Maalaea Harbor (about an hour). See our Molokini tour comparison.
20.632° N, 156.496° WDirections
Molokini is boat-only and worth a morning. We compared eight tours by harbor, boat and price in Molokini Crater snorkeling tours. Here are the most popular:
| Tour | Leaves from | Time | Group | From | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Molokini and Turtle Town from KiheiViator: short ride | Kihei | About 3 h | Small boat | $194 | Check availability |
| Best 3-hour Molokini and Turtle TownViator: Back Wall when calm | Kihei | 3 h | Small boat | $216 | Check availability |
| Molokini and Turtle Town with waterslideViator: families | Maalaea | About 5 h | Large catamaran | $197 | Check availability |
| Molokini and Turtle Town (GetYourGuide)GetYourGuide: alternative booking | Kihei | About 3 h | Small boat | — | Check availability |
How to pick a spot on the day
- Check the surf forecast. North and northwest swell affects West Maui; south swell (mostly summer) affects South Maui.
- Check the wind. Trade winds above 15 mph make South Maui choppy after mid-morning.
- Check the brown water advisory after heavy rain. Runoff carries bacteria and kills visibility, especially at Honolua and Olowalu.
Our guide to Maui snorkel conditions explains where to find each of these and what the numbers mean.
Parking and access tips
- Public beach accesses are marked with blue "Shoreline Access" signs. Lots are small; arriving before 9 am solves most problems.
- Never leave valuables in the car, especially at roadside spots like Honolua and Olowalu.
- West Maui is open to visitors after the 2023 Lahaina fire, but Lahaina town itself is still recovering. Be respectful and do not stop to sightsee in the burn zone.
Rules on Maui
- Mineral sunscreen only. Maui County allows only mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide). See best reef-safe sunscreen.
- Turtles: stay at least 10 feet away. Monk seals: at least 50 feet.
- Do not stand on coral, even in the shallows at Olowalu or Kahekili.
Gear
Most of Maui's best spots are reachable from shore, so your own gear pays off quickly. A low-volume mask, dry snorkel and short fins pack into a carry-on; see best snorkel sets and best snorkel masks.
Questions people ask
Where is the best snorkeling in Maui?
Where can I see turtles in Maui?
Is it better to snorkel in West or South Maui?
Do I need water shoes in Maui?
Can I rent snorkel gear in Maui?
Keep reading
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SafetyMaui snorkel report: how to check today's conditions
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HawaiiBest snorkeling spots in Hawaii for beginners
GearBest snorkel sets of 2026: mask, snorkel and fin combos
GearBest snorkel masks of 2026