Maui Snorkeling Guide
Palauea Beach
This hidden little Maui snorkeling beach provided us with some exceptional snorkeling. This is a fairly unknown beach that mostly locals use. It has super easy access. Just park, walk through some trees, and get in the water.
In the picture below, looking at the rocks we snorkel around on the left side of the beach, you can see the little island of Molokini in the background.
Site Snorkeling Details - Palauea Beach
Maui Snorkeling
We first snorkeled Palauea Beach early on morning, when the beach was still in the shade, and boy was it cold getting in the water! But the snorkeling was great. There is a fairly huge rocky point to the left that offers hours of underwater entertainment.
It can be a bit cloudy if the waves are up, but the amount of fish, beautiful coral, interesting reef and rock formations, and tons of turtles makes a little bit of cloudy water easy to ignore.
I had fun here taking pictures of the ever changing patterns in the sandy floor.
Driving Directions - Palauea Beach
Maui Snorkeling
Driving Directions to Palauea Beach from Kihei
Head south on S Kihei Rd. Towards the end of the road, there is an intersection where you can veer left onto Okolani Dr, do this and go to the intersection with Wailea Alanui Dr and turn right. Follow this through the big intersection with Wailea Iki Dr near The Shops at Wailea. Keep driving until you come to the intersection with Kaukahi St and turn right. Follow this until it ends and turn left onto Makena Rd and follow this a short way until you see cars parked on the beach side of the road by a bunch of trees. You can see the beach through the trees. Park towards the south end.
Explore the next fantastic snorkel spot - Po'olenalena
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