By Mignon
Has anyone recently snorkeled Maui? We haven’t been there in seven years. We are going this fall and staying in Wailea. Can anyone recommend the best snorkeling spots? Are any of the snorkeling tours good and worth the cost?
Thanks for any info and suggestions you can provide. Aloha!
My partner and I visited Maui August 2024 and really enjoyed snorkeling Palauea on the left end. We saw several turtles, lots of fish, and interesting topography. The Maui eBook was very helpful for this hidden gem.
We also really enjoyed Black Rock north of Lahaina (off Ka’anapali).
A boat trip to Molokini offered fantastic snorkeling. We took Trilogy, and they were a good operator with an accessible boat. It was a rough, long ride back at high speed – motion sickness meds are your friend.
In Kihei, the Kamaole II and III beaches were a little better than Kamaole I for snorkeling.
We visited Maui in February 2025, June 2024, and June 2023. Snorkeling has gotten better, though winter currents were rough. Summer is much better; waters are calm and clear. If you’re staying in Wailea, we liked Ulua Beach. You’ll want to get there early if you want to find parking. The best spots are to the right of the beach from the parking lot.
At Wailea, we also did a tour with Maui Sailing Canoe. A bit pricey, but they were super nice and took us from Polo Beach to off Palauea. Incredibly clear waters; you can also swim out from Palauea Beach.
I’ll second Andi’s suggestion of Black Rock, felt like I was in an aquarium! I’d also suggest Kapalua Bay, about a 15-minute drive north of Black Rock. Turtles are almost guaranteed and the coral has gotten better too. Best spots are the far side of the beach as you walk from the parking lot. And also Honolua Bay, it’s a short, beautiful hike, but stunning spot.
Trilogy is our favorite operator on Maui. The crew is super nice and the catamaran is spacious. We did the Lanai tour, which is terrific. No turtles on Lanai, but tons of fish. I also recommend the sunset sail; nothing like a Maui sunset on the water. If you don’t feel like hiking to Honolua, they also have a West Maui snorkeling tour.