Pride of Maui Snorkeling Blog

If you are in search of the best snorkeling in Maui, you will not be disappointed in your visit to this island of paradise. Maui is surrounded by hot spots for snorkelers and divers, depending on where you want to go and what you want to see. Snorkeling can be just about anywhere on the island, depending on where you go and what you want to see. These five diving hot spots are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to underwater adventure in Maui.

Molokini Crater

This underwater volcano has been listed as a Marine Life Conservation District Seabird Sanctuary. Within the volcanic walls you will find a host of tropical fish, manta rays and even the occasional shark. The clear water makes this one of the best Maui snorkeling locations, because you can easily see the underwater life that calls Molokini Crater home. It is a popular location for beginning and experienced snorkelers alike. Molokini Crater is located just three miles off the Maui coast and is accessible by boat.

Turtle Town

There has been some question as to precisely where Turtle Town is located, but the general consensus is that Turtle Town is located on the southern coastline of the island, between Nahuna Point and Black Sand Beach. This stretch is home to a particularly dense population of sea turtles, thanks to current government protection. Turtle Town is well known for providing some of the best snorkeling in Maui, particularly if these large lumbering creatures are your sightseeing target.

Coral Gardens

Coral Gardens is located in the center of the western Maui coast. This location is also home to a large number of brightly colored fish, as well as some breathtaking coral formations and the occasional sea turtle. Keep your eyes open for crabs, octopus and eels as well. The location occasionally provides a glimpse of humpback whales between the months of December and April, in the National Marine Sanctuary.

Honolua Bay

Honalua Bay is located on the northern end of Maui, and provides plenty of great underwater scenery for visitors. The bay offers a small, sandy beach where you can access the water directly. Because the area is a marine reserve, snorkelers can enjoy spectacular coral formations, sea turtles and large schools of tropical fish. Honalua Bay is not the best snorkeling on Maui due to North swells, when surfing becomes the preferred activity off of this beach.

Five Caves

If you are a good swimmer and relatively experienced snorkeler, Five Caves is another spot for some of the best Maui snorkeling. This area offers a host of caves and crevices where sea life can hide. Located just north of Turtle Town, Five Caves provides glimpses of harmless reef sharks as well as sea turtles. The beach at Five Caves is small and no facilities are offered.

Approximately three miles off the coast of Maui sits an extinct, but no less impressive, volcanic crater known as Molokini. This underwater volcano is now home to a plethora of sea life, as it has been converted to Hawaii’s only Island Marine Sanctuary. Molokini Crater snorkeling offers some of the best underwater viewing around Maui, with a host of tropical fish and marine animals available for your sightseeing pleasure. We have tips to help you make the most of your Molokini snorkeling adventure.

Finding a Location

There are many good locations for snorkeling at Molokini, particularly inside the crater where an abundance of sea life thrives in shallower waters. For example, the interior side of Reef’s End, where the top of the crater is submerged for about 200 yards, is an excellent place to spot Cauliflower coral, as well as a wide variety of tropical fish. Enenue, on the other side of the crater’s interior, is a good place to spot butterfly fish in the shallower waters. The exterior side of the crater is usually reserved for scuba divers, with deeper waters and plenty of ocean treasures to discover in the depths.

When to Snorkel Molokini

Anytime is a great time for Molokini snorkling, but the area is subject to weather conditions from time to time. When the winds become too strong, snorkeling tours often choose an alternative spot to Molokini. However, windy days are few and far between, and most visitors find at least a few days that offer perfect conditions for a Molokini snorkel cruise during their trip. It is also best to visit Molokini Crater in the morning hours, when the fish are most abundant. Many snorkeling tours don’t even offer an afternoon trip to Molokini, so book a morning tour to ensure your cruise includes a visit to the crater.

Marine Life to Look for at Molokini

Molokini Crater offers a glimpse into a huge variety of marine life, including about 250 species of tropical fish, manta rays and a few species of sharks. The crater is also home to some breathtaking coral formations just below the surface of the water. Along the shoreline of the crater, you might spot a monk seal or sea turtle. Because the crater has been labeled a Marine Life Conservation District Seabird Sanctuary, you can also catch a glimpse of a variety of birds flying around the area.

Molokini adventure tours are a wonderful way to make the most of your visit to Maui. With plenty of tours to choose from, you are sure to find the package that best fits your personal needs and skill level. A day of snorkeling is sure to make your tropical vacation complete.

While there are many sights to see in Maui, some of the best adventures take place in the waters surrounding the islands. Maui boat tours help you experience your vacation to the fullest, whether you want to spend you time whale watching, snorkeling or taking in a spectacular Hawaiian sunset. We have tips to help you choose the best boat tours in Maui for your needs, to ensure your tropical vacation meets all of your expectations.

Types of Boat Tours on Maui

There are many different types of Maui boat trips available, so you can find the tour that caters to your specific desires. Some of the categories of boat tours in Maui include:

• Whale watching tours that typically take place between the months of December and April, when the whales are in a migration pattern
• Snorkeling tours, which may go to a number of locations on the western and southern sides of Maui, depending on the time of the day and year
• Scuba diving tours that often mirror the paths of the snorkeling boats, but take divers to deeper waters where some of the biggest and best marine life lurk in the depths
• Glass-bottom boat or submarine tours, where you can get up close and personal with the marine life without ever getting your face wet
• Deep sea fishing tours, where you can set sail in search of Maui’s infamous blue marlin and a number of other tropical catches
• Sunset tours that provide little action other than sitting back with a tropical beverage in hand to enjoy a breathtaking sunset over the water

When you have a good idea of the types of Maui catamaran tours available, it is much easier to choose the tour that will provide the greatest enjoyment for your party.

In addition to the various types of boat tours available, visitors will also find a range of boat types and sizes to choose from. The most popular style is the catamaran, which is a multi-hulled boat that can either be powered by sails or engines. These boats are used for everything from boat diving to dinner cruises around the island. When looking for a boat trip on Maui, look for a vessel that will accommodate your full party comfortably.

What’s Included?

Many boat tours vary in their onboard amenities. Some boats are decked out in luxury, such as the vessels used for sunset dinner cruises. Basic boats are usually designed for a specific activity like snorkeling or scuba diving. Most tours will include snacks, refreshments, restroom facilities and required gear for their activity. When you book your tour, ask the company what will be included for your price.

Boat tours to Maui come in a number of sizes and styles, allowing every visitor to enjoy their excursion to the fullest. By shopping around for the best boat tours in Maui for your needs, you can rest assured your day at sea will reap a lifetime of memories.

When you are planning your tropical getaway to Maui, snorkeling or scuba diving might be on your to-do list for your vacation. But what about snuba diving? Although this underwater activity is not as well known as standard scuba or snorkeling, Maui snuba diving is quickly picking up steam as one of the most popular underwater adventures on the island. Check out this information about what snuba is and why you should consider adding snuba in Maui to your Hawaiian vacation.

What is Snuba?

As the name suggests, snuba is a cross between snorkeling and scuba diving. Divers use compressed air to breathe that is found on a small boat directly above them. A long hose and breathing apparatus allow divers to explore the underwater world unhindered by a heavy oxygen tank strapped to their back. Snuba divers can explore much deeper depths than snorkelers, opening up many more opportunities to see a variety of marine life for up to an hour at a time.

The Benefits of Snuba Diving in Maui

There are many benefits snuba diving offers over both snorkeling and scuba, including:

• Snuba allows divers to go much deeper than snorkeling, opening up a whole new world in terms of underwater scenery and marine life that lives in the further reaches of the waters.
• Unlike scuba diving, snuba does not require a set amount of training hours and certification to don the equipment. Many Maui snuba tours offer orientation classes in addition to equipment, so you can get into the water faster and begin enjoying your snuba diving experience.
• Snuba diving in Maui is considered a relatively safe underwater experience, with guides close by at all times to direct you to the ocean life and ensure you are safe in the water.
• Snuba is available to guests as young as eight years of age, so the entire family can enjoy snuba together.

Because snuba has grown in popularity, there are more and more diving tours that are offering these options to their guests. This gives you the opportunity to snuba dive at many of the locations that have typically offered snorkeling or scuba diving in the past, opening up even more possibilities for exploring the fascinating underwater world that surrounds Maui.

If you are tired of the same old snorkeling treks, but don’t feel quite ready to commit to scuba certification, snuba diving might be the perfect option. Even seasoned scuba divers enjoy the occasional experience, because it allows them to enjoy the underwater reaches at a significant depth without the hindrance of a heavy oxygen tank to tote around. If Maui snuba diving sounds like the perfect tropical adventure for you, contact a snuba adventure tour in Maui to find the right package for your needs.

Maui snorkeling offers some of the best underwater adventures across the globe, which is why many flock to this Hawaiian island to see the sights that lurk in the depths of the ocean. There are many different opportunities for snorkeling on Maui today, and each excursion offers its own version of marine life viewing. If you are considering snorkeling in Maui on your next tropical getaway, we have a few tips to get you started.

Choosing a snorkel spot

Maui is a plethora of heavenly snorkeling destinations, so you should be able to easily find snorkeling within a short drive from your hotel. The southern and western regions of the island are generally considered the best locations for snorkeling in Maui, although Molokini Crater, located just three miles from the Maui coastline, is considered one of the top spots for snorkeling and scuba diving in the world. When choosing a location for your snorkel adventure, consider the following:

• Your level of snorkeling ability and experience
• The types of diving you are most comfortable with (beach, boat, etc.)
• The marine life you are hoping to see

Once you know the type of snorkeling you are looking for, you can select a destination that will fit your needs best.

Finding a Time

Just about anytime is the right time for snorkeling on Maui, although it is important to determine when the swells are coming in before choosing the safest spot for your underwater adventure. As a general guideline, stick with southern snorkeling destinations when North swells come in (usually during the winter season), and head to the western destinations farther north when South swells arrive (usually during the summer season). However, this is a general guideline and swells can fluctuate throughout the year. It is important to gather current information about water condition immediately prior to your Maui vacation, to ensure you select the best spot.

Early or Late Risers

As you are planning your Maui snorkeling adventure, determine whether you would like to schedule your dives for first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon. The time of day you head out will in part determine the best destination for your needs. Early risers might enjoy a boat ride out to Molokini Crater, where the marine life viewing is best during the earliest part of the day. If you prefer to sleep in a bit on vacation, choose a different dive destination that works well for afternoon dives, such as Coral Gardens. Some divers may prefer a full-day adventure that includes additional activities and meals in addition to the diving time.

A snorkeling adventure in Maui takes your tropical getaway to a whole new level – quite literally. While the island offers some breathtaking scenery of its own, there is nothing like exploring the ocean depths to find an entire world of tropical fish and marine life lurking below.

Finding the best snorkeling on Maui isn’t hard; it’s paring down the choices to a single vacation that becomes challenging. Maui is one of the premiere snorkeling locations in the world, with a wealth of underwater adventure and sights to see. Whether you are looking for snorkeling opportunities right off the beach or further out via a charter, we’ve got the best snorkeling on Maui right here.

West Maui

The western side of the island offers a plethora of picturesque bays for snorkeling adventure. The tree-lined Honolua Bay is filled with brightly colored fish and a breathtaking reef. Makuleia Bay is another lovely spot, particularly in the morning when it is calmer and easier to view the reef and the tropical fish that live within its confines. For those who want to combine their snorkeling adventure with some beach activity, the fabulous coastline around Napili Bay is the perfect solution. This beach provides plenty of accommodations, with a multitude of condos in the vicinity. Kapalua Bay is one of the better known snorkeling locations in the western part of Maui, and offers a nice beach day on top of the snorkeling activity, with bathrooms, showers and food located in the area.

South Maui

Wailea Beach in the southern region offers some spectacular views and the occasional glimpse of a sea turtle if you are lucky. Both Wailea and nearby Polo Beach offer bathroom and shower facilities onsite, making for a more comfortable day of snorkeling and swimming. These locations also offer fabulous beaches for sunbathing, when you have had your fill of underwater adventure. Another popular place for snorkeling on the southern end of Maui is Molokini Crater, an underwater volcano that serves as a refuge for a multitude of tropical fish and sea life. In fact, Molokini Crater has been rated the best snorkeling in Maui by many snorkelers and divers today.

East Maui

To the east, you will find the unique Red Sand Beach, which primarily caters to snorkelers and nude sunbathers, thanks to the quiet cove that offers additional privacy. This location is good for snorkelers of all skill levels and offers a large density of colorful fish for your viewing pleasure. Hamoa Beach is another place for some of Maui’s best snorkeling adventures, as long as you visit in the spring, summer or fall. In the winter, the surf kicks up too much to make snorkeling at this location safe or enjoyable. At the other end of the eastern loop lies Koki Beach, which also provides a large amount of reef fish hiding within the picturesque reef below the surface.

No matter what type of snorkeling excursion you are looking for, you can rest assured that you can find the best Maui snorkeling nearly anywhere on the island. From the pristine beaches of the west, to an underwater volcano just south of the island’s shore, you can find a wealth of sight seeing and underwater adventure when you grab your mask and head down into the depths of the waters just off the Maui coastline.

Many visitors come to Maui every year with the express desire to experience Maui’s underwater adventures firsthand. However, snorkeling can be an expensive proposition if you don’t get savvy to Maui discount snorkel tours that help you pack more underwater activity into your vacation for a lot less money. Check out these Maui snorkeling tips that will help you dive for less money.

Snorkel Location

The first step to a snorkeling tour in Maui is to choose accommodations close to where you will be diving. For example, if your goal is to hit snorkeling hot spots like Molokini Crater, choose a hotel on the southern part of the island. A few of the premier snorkel tour companies offer transportation service. Check their schedule for hotel pickup times and points.

Shop Around

It’s true that most companies offering snorkeling excursions won’t necessarily offer really big discount snorkeling package. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t shop around to a few different companies to find out who is currently offering the best deal. Keep in mind that before you begin comparing prices, you want to locate companies that will provide an excursion that closely matches your skill level and the type of snorkeling experience you are looking for. You also want to find out whether the staff is well experienced and prepared to offer all the instruction you need to ensure a safe, productive experience.

Look for the right discount

When you begin surfing the Internet, you might be surprises at how many discount snorkeling tours in Maui you can find. This is particularly true during the off season, when companies are more interested in winning your business. Search under “Maui discount snorkeling” online to see what sort of bargains crop up. Read the fine print of the offer carefully so you aren’t surprised by hidden charges once you show up for your dive, and make sure you are working with a safe and reputable company before putting any money down. When you arrive on Maui you should also ask locals for their suggestions, or speak with your hotel concierge.

Look for Coupons

In addition to promotions and sales, you may also find some companies offering coupons online for their snorkeling excursions. Coupons will usually provide a code you input when you book your tour, or you can print out the coupon to take with you when you make your reservation. Some coupons may give you a percentage off your snorkeling trip, or even take money off of a snorkeling and accommodations package.

Snorkeling is one of the most popular activities in Maui, and fortunately, there are ways to find discount snorkeling so you can enjoy your underwater adventures without breaking the bank. Consider these tips before booking your snorkeling excursions, and you may find your Hawaiian holiday can be enjoyed for a lot less money.

For those who want more depth than snorkeling offers, but aren’t quite ready for the scuba diving adventure, snuba is the perfect compromise. This relatively new activity, which is a hybrid between snorkeling and scuba diving, has caught on not just in Maui, but in other areas of the globe as well. In fact, snuba has become so popular; there are a number of Maui snuba tours today. We’ve got the lowdown on snuba, including what it is, how it’s done and where to go to enjoy the best possible snuba diving in Maui.

What is Snuba?

Snuba is a cross between snorkeling and scuba diving. The activity takes you further into the depths of the water than snorkeling can, but is limited to shallower water than you might find on most scuba adventures. Like scuba, you breathe oxygen through a mask, which allows you to stay underwater for longer periods of time. However, instead of an oxygen tank on your back that you are responsible for managing, snuba utilizes oxygen sources on your raft, which you are attached to via a long hose. In most Maui snuba tours, divers can stay underwater for up to an hour at a time, so there is plenty of opportunity for underwater viewing.

Snuba offers a number of advantages over both snorkeling and scuba diving, including:

• The ability to go deeper than snorkeling, allowing you to see a wider range of sea life
• No heavy equipment to weigh you down, so you are free to explore your underwater world at will
• The safety of the activity in a controlled environment allows families to participate in Maui snuba tours together
• Less training is required, so you get underwater much more quickly than you can with scuba diving

With numerous benefits, it is easy to see why more and more Maui visitors are choosing Maui, Hawaii snuba for their underwater adventures.

Where to Go

There are many places that offer snuba options today, so you can select your destination based on the tour company you choose and the types of sights you want to see. One of the most popular locations for snuba diving in Maui is Molokini Crater, an underwater volcano that is also a marine preserve. Tropical fish abound at Molokini, and you might also catch a glimpse of a manta ray, octopus or shark while you are here. Another popular snuba spot is Turtle Town, which offers a particularly high density of large sea turtles; hence, its name.

Snuba diving in Maui has become a popular pastime. Instead of watching the sea life from afar, you can actually mingle with it in a safe, controlled environment. It’s no wonder so many tourists to this tropical paradise are in search of a snuba tour in Maui.