Swim with Maui's Turtles Turtle Town

Maui snorkeling will never be the same again once you have visited Turtle Town in Maui. This beautiful snorkel location is found along the southern coast, in the general area between Nahuna Point and Black Sand Beach.

Turtle Town is a unique series of underwater lava formations developed long ago by the eruptions of submarine volcanoes. Today, the coral reef at Turtle Town is abundant with the protected Hawaiian green sea turtle. This network of coral reefs at Turtle Town is also home to a wide variety of colorful tropical fish and other unique marine animals.

You will not soon forget the gentle and graceful sea turtles at Turtle Town. Curious by nature, these wonderful marine animals will gently approach a slowly moving Maui snorkeler, providing outstanding underwater photo opportunities. The sea turtles are a protected species. This is why Maui snorkel and SCUBA divers are reminded to respect their space. The law prohibits touching, chasing or riding the turtles.

Calmly observing and allowing the turtles to swim close, makes your Maui snorkeling adventure at Turtle Town truly unforgettable. Luckily, at Turtle Town, the close encounters with these beautiful animals are usually initiated by the turtles, as they gently approach within 10 or so feet to get a closer look at you. It is also your best chance to take a close look at the world’s largest hard- shelled turtle.

Green Sea Turtle
A close look will reveal that the Hawaiian green sea turtle is not green at all. The majority of these turtles have dark-brown hard shells or carapaces. The younger ones, called hatchlings, will have black hard shells. Then, as they grow, orange and yellowish tints appear.

Sometimes, the turtles can even develop olive, gold, and reddish brown shades, or swirls and other irregular patterns. While snorkeling at Maui Turtle Town, you may see a wide variety of patterns and shades of the carapaces of these turtles.

The Hawaiian green sea turtles (scientific name: Chelonia mydas) are named after the color of their body fat. The body fat is actually green. Numerous studies by marine biologists indicate that the green color is due to the algae that the animals eat. The algae, which is called limu (Hawaiian), is abundant in and around Maui’s coral reefs at Turtle Town.

Biology
One sea turtle expert has identified at least nine different species of algae that were the favorites of the Hawaiian green sea turtles. There is also a special seagrass that these turtles like to eat. The abundance of food is not the only reason why the sea turtles have called Turtle Town their home. The other purpose is the unique habit of turtles to return to the beaches where they were born.

There is no scientific evidence for this observation, but the sea turtles, according to marine biologists, have shown a strong site-fidelity. This fact means that if they found lots of food in a particular area, they will go back to that area again and again, especially if the food source is established in their area of origin or birth.

Turtle Town
The turtles at Turtle Town are in many cases residents of Turtle Town which tend to remain close to the sanctuary. This reason is why sightings of turtles are so abundant and why Turtle Town has become world-renowned. Maui Turtle Town is an established and secure area where food is plentiful. Which is the primary reason scientists believe the green sea turtles, called Honu in Hawaiian, have made Maui Turtle Town their home.

The Hawaiian green sea turtles were declared an endangered species in 1978 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Before the Endangered Species Act was implemented to protect these creatures, the sea turtles were hunted and captured for their skins, meat and shells.

One intriguing thing about the Hawaiian green sea turtles is that they don’t immediately swim away from humans. They appear to trust the presence of people. This is why, many decades ago, they ended up in soup pots and other dishes. And this is also why there is an existing Hawaiian legend about these turtles.

The Hawaiian green sea turtles will at times, swim to the shore, crawl towards the beach, and bask under the sun. Scientists explain this sunbathing behavior as the turtles’ way to regulate their body temperature.

Although they can stay underwater for more than two hours, the turtle’s tendency is to go to the surface to breathe air every few minutes. This might be the reason why some ancient legends claimed that the sea turtles led the first people to discover the Hawaiian Islands.

A Turtle Town snorkel tour aboard the Pride of Maui provides an opportunity to view and photograph these amazing sea turtles in their natural environment, with close observation and photo opportunities.

Touching, chasing, riding or harassing the turtles is strictly prohibited. As stewards of the turtles and marine environment, the Captain and crew aboard the Pride of Maui protect and preserve this unique opportunity to interact with the turtles. We know that you too will do your part, by respecting the sea turtles and giving them the space and comfort they need in order to carry on with their daily routine.

No Hawaiian vacation is complete without a Maui turtle watch snorkel tour. Imagine snorkeling at Turtle Town, observing these beautiful animals in their natural environment where they can reach up to 400 pounds. Maui snorkeling and visiting the Hawaiian green sea turtles at Maui Turtle Town is a memory that you will cherish forever.

While snorkeling at Maui’s Turtle Town, you’ll notice that the underwater world is a living, thriving, and delicate ecosystem. Approximately 23% of the species found in Hawaiian waters are endemic, and there are about 680 tropical fish species alone.

The most popularly seen tropical fishes at Turtle Town are the Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (they like to clean turtle shells), colorful Parrot Fish, Triggerfish, Hawaii’s State Fish Humuhumunukunukuapua’a (also a triggerfish), striped pufferfish, Moorish Idol, Raccoon Butterflyfish, Yellowtail Coris Wrasse, Yellow Tang, and Trumpetfish.

Here’s a breakdown of other tropical fish and invertebrates varieties found in Maui’s waters:

• Tropical Fish: Trumpetfish, Cornetfish, Needlefish, Cardinalfish, Damselfish, Chubs, Cornetfish, Frogfish, Goatfish, Hawkfish, Scorpionfish, Hawaiian Lionfish (Turkeyfish), and Sea Horses
• Butterfly Fish: Ornate, Threadfin, Multiband, Longnose, Saddleback, Reticulated, Fourspot, Teardrop, and Raccoon
• Parrotfish: Female & Male (there is a difference!)
• Triggerfish: Picasso, Lei, Reef (Humuhumunukunukuapua’a), Pinktail, Black and Checkerboard
• Surgeonfish: Spotted Goldring, Orange band, Yellow Tang, Sailfin Tang, and Eyestripe
• Wrasses: Yellowtail, Hawaiian Cleaner, Saddle, and Male Bird
• Pufferfish: Spotted Toby/Trunkfish, Porcupine, Boxfish, and Tobies
• Invertebrates: Sea Cucumber, Sponges, Lobster, Jellies, Crabs, and other Shelled Invertebrates varieties
• Octopuses: Hawaiian Day Octopus, Hawaiian Night Octopus
• Shrimps: Banded Coral Shrimp, Harlequin Shrimp
• Sea Urchin: Banded Sea Urchin, Collector Urchin, Purple Black Urchin, Red Pencil Sea Urchin, Pincushion, and Slate Pencil
• Sea Stars: Brittle Star, Crown of Thorns
• Eels: Spotted Moray Eel, Dragon Moray, Whitemouth, Snowflake, and Zebra

Besides viewing tropical fish at Turtle Town, guests have a chance to see some of Maui’s most famous residents: Spinner and Bottlenose Dolphins, Manta and Spotted Eagle Rays, Hawaiian Monk Seals, and North Pacific Humpback Whales.

As with the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles, many conservation laws and regulations protect Maui’s marine life species. Do not touch these animals or try to feed them. Just watch in wonderment and enjoy the ride!