Four Winds II Maui Snorkeling – Best Snorkeling in Maui
Maui snorkeling is a bucket list item.
Maui has several excellent snorkel and dive locations best reachable by boat. Maui snorkeling spots are teaming with diverse marine life, including tropical fish, whales, corals and green sea turtles. Here is a list of the best snorkeling in Maui. We highly recommend grabbing a friend or family member to share your Maui snorkeling experience.
Best Snorkeling in Maui
1. Molokini Crater
When snorkeling Maui’s Molokini, you can expect to find a sunken volcanic crater that drops off into the ocean. Molokini Crater consists of coral reef, sand patches, and rock boulder. Do not expect any sort of sand or beach area. Molokini Crater has an abundance of marine life and lots of tropical fish, which is quite impressive! Molokini’s unique crescent shape provides a natural barrier from waves and currents. Snorkeling Molokini is pleasant, the water is typically clear and calm. It is a safe-haven for all kinds of smaller fish and is particularly suitable for beginner to intermediate snorkelers. Molokini Crater is located a few miles off Maui’s rugged Makena coast and best reached by boat. Both of Maui Classic Charters vessels – Maui Four Winds II and Maui Magic have Maui snorkeling tours to Molokini Crater.
2. Coral Gardens
Snorkel Maui at Coral Gardens and discover fabulous coral formations. Coral Gardens is in naturally protected bay, proving excellent for Maui snorkeling, with limited winds and ocean currents. Coral Gardens boasts Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles, colorful tropical fish and occasionally endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals. Coastal Living Magazine listed Coral Gardens in their “World’s Top 10 Snorkel Sites.” This is one of the best Maui snorkeling spots, with visibility reaching 40 feet! This special Maui snorkel spot is only accessible by boat. Both of Maui Classic Charters vessels – Maui Four Winds II and Maui Magic have Maui snorkeling tours to Coral Gardens.
3. Turtle Town or Makena Landing
Turtle Town is a special Maui snorkeling spot! If you want to see Hawaiian green sea turtles, Turtle Town offers some of the best snorkeling in Maui. Turtle Town is a beautiful Maui snorkeling spot with unique lava formations that attract marine life, especially resident Hawaiian green sea turtles. Turtle Town waters are calm and protected from winds. Turtle are graceful in the water, even if they can be massive creatures growing up to four feet across and weigh as much as 400 pounds! It’s important to respect the turtles at Turtle Town, because Hawaiian green sea turtles are an endangered species. One of the best ways to get to Turtle Town is by boat.Maui Classic Charters’ vessel Maui Magic has snorkeling tours toTurtle Town or Makena Landing.
4. Pu‘u Ola‘i
Snorkeling Maui off the coast of Pu‘u Ola’i cinder cone is another of the best Maui snorkeling locations. The Maui snorkel location is named after the land formation, Pu’u Ola’i. Pu’u Ola’i was formed in the late 1700’s when volcano activity erupted, dramatically spewing lava from within to form a mounded cone shape. This area is rich in Hawaiian history and culture, with remnants of old Hawaiian temples (hei’au) and other structures. The shore edge has shear cliffs and are unstable, making this Maui snorkeling spot best accessed by boat. Underwater snorkeling is a great a wonder as the Pu’u Ola’i. As you are snorkeling Maui Pu’u Ola’i observe Hawaiian green sea turtles, eels, manta rays, and an abundance of fish. Maui Classic Charters’ vessel Maui Magic has snorkeling tours to Pu‘u Ola’i.
5. Olowalu
Snorkeling Maui at Olowalu, also known as Turtle Reef, is a treat! Olowalu is one of Maui’s best snorkel locations to encounter green sea turtles. Green sea turtles congregate at ‘cleaning stations’ where small fish eat alge from their shells. Two amazing encounters that Maui’s snorkelers can anticipate are the manta rays and black tip nursery sharks. Both harmless species, snorkeling with them is an adventure not to be missed! Turtle Reef is home to hundreds of manta rays and a nursery for the black tip reef sharks. If the oceanlife isn’t enough to entice snorkeling Maui, the reef itself features large coral heads, some dating hundreds of years old. Olowalu is protected from trade winds, making Olowalu generally calm and clear, and boasting visibility to 120 feet! While Olowalu can be reached from shore, the waters are quite shallow and the best snorkeling is several hundred feet offshore. Maui Classic Charters’ vessel Maui Magic has Maui snorkeling tours to Olowalu.