Maui offers an abundance of marine sealife! Hawaiian sea turtles are definately a star (take the afternoon snorkel tour to Coral Gardens for the best opportunity to encounter sea turtles).
Maui’s pristine water is the perfect habitat for common reef fishes, like Hawaii’s state fish Humuhumunukunukuapua’a, brilliant tangs, the smoothly shy trumpet fish, and crazy-looking unicornfish. Large reef fish like the parrotfish and surgeonfish are common. Don’t forget Maui’s little fish, pencil urchins, octopus, and eels swimming in and out of the coral reefs!
Maui’s snorkelers can be treated to bigger, life impactful encounters with the stars of the ocean, such as manta and spotted eagle rays, the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, and the harmless white-tip reef shark. Dolphins and whales (seasonal whale watching tours available from Dec. to March).
Like all carers of the world, we ask that our snorkeling guests respect our precious sealife. Take some time here to get to know Maui’s sea creatures so when you snorkel Maui, you’ll know what to look for!
The Hawaiian monk seal is the only seal that is native to Hawaii and is one of the most endangered species on earth. This earless seals future is dependent on conservation for its survival. Many efforts have been in place…
Maui is blessed with its fair share of scenic landscapes, but the main beauty of the island lies beneath the water surface. From the brightly colored tropical fish and the Hawaiian Green sea turtles to the vast stretches of coral…
Found along the southern coast of Maui, lies a beautiful snorkel location called Turtle Town. Get ready to mark off one of your bucket list items by getting a chance to swim with Hawaiian green sea turtles! Hawaiian Green Sea…
Swim with the Sea Turtles of Maui Although we can never guarantee you will see Hawaiian sea turtles, it is quite likely that you will sight them during your snorkel trip to Coral Gardens! Some of the best snorkeling in…
What is Hawaii’s State Fish? The state fish of Hawaii is the beautiful, colorful Humuhumunukunukuapua’a. The literal meaning in Hawaiian is said to be “triggerfish with a snout like a pig”. This is one of many in the triggerfish family…
It’s a Maui 'Tang' While snorkeling in Maui you’ll come across tons of beautiful tropical fish called Tangs. They are bright, beautiful and easy to spot. Part of the Surgeonfish family, their features are oval and thin. They have a…
Maui’s Amazing Dolphins Aboard the Four Winds and the Maui Magic Adventure Snorkel, we often get the treat of seeing Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins in the wild. The Hawaiian word for dolphin is Nai’a (nay-ee-ah). These acrobatic creatures jump, flip, and…
Snorkeling at Coral Gardens Coral Gardens has some of the best snorkeling on Maui. Whether you’re looking for colorful tropical fish or a chance to see Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles, Coral Gardens has it all. Located just south of Olowalu…
Trumpet Fish Whether we realize it or not, the fishes in Hawaii (and elsewhere, world-wide) are quite remarkable. The Trumpet fish definitely not an exception …. It is actually quite an amazing species when you know the facts. The Trumpet…
The Conch Shell: What It's About The practice of blowing the conch shell, or "p'u", dates back to the ancient past and continues in many present-day traditions in Hawai’i. The popularity of the Triton's trumpet is due as much to…
The Hawaiian monk seal is an endangered species that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands andis one of two remaining monk seal species; the other being the Mediterranean monk seal. The Hawaiian name is ʻIlio-holo-i-ka-uaua, or "dog that runs in…
Frogfish When you join us for a snorkel tour to Molokini crater, Coral Gardens or elsewhere on either the Maui Magic or the Four Winds II, you never know what you might encounter! This very rare shot of a Frogfish…
Creatures that Live Under the Sea Among the many things you will see on a snorkeling tour to Molokini Crater or elsewhere from Maui, the Red Pencil Urchin is a very easy to see "bright spot"! They tend to remain in…
Hihimanu “Magnificent’ or “Elegant" Bird The Spotted Eagle Ray can be found in shallow coastal waters and bays, in depths down to 260 ft. They can be found globally in tropical regions, including the Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, Atlantic Africa,…
There are over 80 species of surgeonfish worldwide with 25 of these varieties living in Hawaiian waters. Although they come in many different color variations, they all share the same basic structure. The name “surgeonfish” comes from their hard spines…
We Love Monk Seals! The Hawaiian Monk Seal haul themselves to the warm, sunny beaches of Hawaii to rest. Exhausted after a night of hunting, they often sleep for and entire day in the sand just above the surf, then…
Bottlenose Dolphins The bottlenose dolphin is one of the most common of the dolphin species. They hang out in warm waters and are a very social animal. The can grow to be anywhere from 6-13 ft. and weigh 330 -…
Black Durgoen One of the most common fish at our snorkel sites is the Black Durgeon, a fish in the Trigger family. The Hawaiian name for this fish is Hu-mu hu-mu 'e-le-'e-le. It's said that the fish is very oily and not good to…
The giant manta, aka Pacific manta, is one of the largest of the rays and are closely related to sharks. These harmless, majestic creatures have short tails and no stinging spines. They are very acrobatic and are able to leap high…
Swim with a awaiian Green Sea Turtle Sea turtles are graceful saltwater reptiles, well adapted to life in their marine world. With streamlined bodies and flipper-like limbs, they are able to swim long distances in a relatively short time. When…