Fishes & Turtles Oh My! A Maui Snorkel Guide

This guide is meant to give you an insiders view on making the most of your snorkel adventures on Maui while staying safe and respecting nature.

Snorkeling when done properly, is a super fun activity that will make memories that last a lifetime. I’m out in the water ogling the sea life every chance I get when the conditions are right for it. Also how cool is it to swim with sea turtles?!

The Hawaiian word for the green sea turtle is ‘honu’ (ho-new).

😘 You would never touch, poke, stalk or harass a sea creature and I love that about you. More info on sea turtles in this post.

If a guided tour is more your style or you are totally new to snorkeling, check out one of the many snorkel boat tours on Maui. You’ll have a crew keeping an eye on ya plus all of the necessary gear and instruction. I’m a fan of Trilogy Excursions myself. Great crew, excellent safety record, and yummy food.

Preparation & Equipment

Gear: You will need a mask and a snorkel. I recommend fins as well because give you much more power and maneuverability in the water. Unless you plan to snorkel every day, renting your gear makes a lot of sense. Most of the rental shops provide you with info on snorkel spots as well as a bottle of de-fog for your mask (something you’ll be happy to have later).

What to Wear: Your swimsuit & sunscreen! I recommend a long-sleeved rash guard.

Sunscreen: As of January 1, 2021 only mineral sunscreens are allowed in Hawaii. Only Zinc and/or Titanium (not Titanium dioxide) sunscreens are available here. The best way to apply it is to put a glop on your hands ✋, rub your hands together so there is a thick coating and then hand-print yourself where you want protection then go back and rub the handprints in. This way you get a nice thin coating and won’t have the ghostly white look. 🙂 Tinted mineral sunscreens are also available.

When & Where To Go Snorkeling

Where: Maui has 3 regions that are good for snorkeling. Definitely, check the daily Maui Snorkel Report before picking a place to adventure. You’ll get a much better idea of where the safest / clearest place to go that day. I personally don’t go out if they score is 6 or below. Way better to be safe than sorry as ocean conditions can change fast and the old rule of “when in doubt, don’t go out” is 100% true.

1. North West – Honolua Bay, Napili Bay, Kapalua Bay
2. Near Ka’anapali – Black Rock & Kahekili aka Airport Beach
3. South – Kamaole II & III (has lifeguards), North Keawakapu near the Mana Kai resort (my favorite), Ulua Beach, White Rock Beach (north & south ends), Maluaka Beach (north end), Makena Landing, Ahihi Kinau (not the best place for beginners)

When: The best snorkeling is in the morning. Sun and calm waters are a must. Shorebreak picks up in the afternoon and the water can often be clearest on a sunny morning. I aim to be in the water by 8am if I can.

Pro Tips for Everyone

• Always go with a buddy and stay in sight distance of each other.
• A sizable shorebreak (breaking waves) can be dangerous. If the waves make you nervous, don’t go out or go with an experienced waterman/woman.
• Do be aware of the way the tide is going. If you are being pulled out to sea, swim diagonally to the shore a little rather than straight fighting the tide.
• Don’t touch the coral, fishes or other sea life. Eels are bitey when disturbed.
• Be mindful of your fins when swimming over reefs as it’s easy to do damage to the coral ecosystem.
• Don’t go into the ocean during or after a heavy rainstorm because: 1) high levels of bacteria from run-off water and 2) the water will be murky and sharks prefer murky water.
• There I said the ‘S’ word 🦈. This blog post addresses the question about sharks quite well.
• Do be mindful of jellyfish and spiky urchins. Although somewhat rare, they can be ouchy.

Be Safe & Have Fun

Photos from some of my snorkel adventures around Maui & Lana’i