Five Caves
Beach Location: The beach access path winds past the house at 5034 Makena Road, Kihei HI 96753
Amenities: None
Time to snorkel: Year round
Kid Friendly: No
Lifeguards: No
Parking: Park in the dirt lot across the street from the Beach Access sign. That sign marks the path to Five Caves. Do not leave valuables in your car. If there is no parking there, go left onto Makena Road and try the Makena Landing parking lot about ¼ mile down.
Five Caves is one of the best beach entry snorkeling and diving sites on Maui, hands down. Keep in mind that this place is for advanced water explorers only. Getting in is tricky, getting out can be more so, and getting to the good stuff takes quite a swim. Not only that, but the land aspect is challenging, too, as parking is quite limited.
If you are comfortable swimming for long distances and powering across sometimes strong currents, then we highly recommend checking out Five Caves. Most of the caves are too deep for snorkelers to get in and out of safely, but scuba divers will love investigating to see the marine creatures resting inside. (Think sea turtles, whitetip reef sharks, and pufferfish, to name a few!)
It is easy to spend more than an hour here, watching the sea turtles, and swimming next to large schools of fish. Although the ocean water on Maui may be warmer than what you are used to, if you plan to spend a lot of time in it, we recommend wearing something over your bathing suit to hold in your body heat. Because the water is cooler than your skin temperature, it will take the heat from you. For this reason, it can be easy to get cold and uncomfortable after awhile. We sell swim shirts (rashguards) and surf shorts, and we rent out wetsuit tops to help you keep warm and comfy, if you like.
By the way, if you are interested in a snorkeling tour by boat just perfect for beginners, board a vessel for Molokini Crater!
Five Caves Rating by Boss Frog's
Summary 7.9/10
This can be a great spot, but it is not recommended for beginners. Getting in and out of the water can be tricky here, and you have to swim quite far to get to the good snorkeling. You can expect to encounter turtles and a wide variety of marine life, as well as interesting lava formations.
See Maui's top 25 snorkeling beaches.
View Maui's complete 'quick look' beach guide.
If you have any questions, feel free to call us at 1-808-661-3333.
