Honolua Bay has some of the best snorkeling on the west side (and great surfing when a swell is in). Near shore, there are many fish and sometimes turtles. If you are experienced and go farther out, with luck you may see a manta ray! There is no sand, only large smooth stones, so the site is recommended for ages 7+. Use the lookout to ensure the water is clear, and walk through the forest to get to the shore. You can take a kayak tour of Honolua Bay, as well!

Mokuleia (Slaughterhouse) is a gorgeous snorkeling site found down a long flight of cement stairs. The sandy beach is nice, but it has no amenities. The water may be too rough to snorkel in the winter, but all other seasons, dive in to see turtles and fish galore! If you are a strong swimmer, you can keep snorkeling right into Honolua Bay.

DT Fleming is a beautiful hangout beach that is easy to get to, and a great spot to watch the surfers. You’ll find plenty of parking along with barbeques, picnic tables, and restrooms. Bring your camera!

Kapalua Bay is a lovely crescent of sand almost too beautiful to look upon. The snorkeling is fantastic because the water is usually gentle, and sea turtles abound! There are restrooms, walking paths, and outdoor showers here.

Napili Bay is a fairly sheltered crescent great for snorkeling, body boarding, paddle boarding, and surfing. Turtles are often sighted, and the warm sand is great for lounging. Bring an umbrella for sun protection on the sand, and a rashguard (water shirt) and board shorts for the same in the water.

Airport (Kahekili) Beach is a great spot for the whole family. There is an excellent and fairly large reef to snorkel here (to 15 ft/5 m), along with great parking and all the amenities you’ll need for a day at a comfortable stretch of sand – restrooms, picnic tables, trash cans, and outdoor showers.

Canoe (Hanakao’o) Beach offers gorgeous views of Lanai, good snorkeling and swimming, and barbeques, trash cans, restrooms, both sand and grass, and shaded picnic tables. There is plenty of parking next to the cemetery.

Wahikuli Beach Park offers some of the best turtle watching on the west side. The venue is noisy – you are right next to the highway, but when you are in the water, you hardly notice it. There are tables, grills, and restrooms at this sandy and grassy beach park. Be sure to give 10 feet/3 meters of space to any turtles you see, so they can do their thing.

Baby Beach is the best beach on Maui for toddlers, but everyone in your party is sure to love it. The beach is protected by a fringing reef offshore, so the water is like a bathtub with a sandy bottom – very shallow with normally gentle waves. There is a trash can at the entrance, but that’s it. Bring water to drink and also to rinse off with.

Puamana is a perfect spot to practice paddleboarding. When you’re done, barbeque up some lunch, play on the lawn, and hang out at the picnic tables.  There are restrooms and, facing the ocean, outdoor showers are on the far right.

Launiupoko is a lovely place to watch skilled surfers catch some waves.  There is an ocean wading pool for your little ones. Restrooms, outdoor showers, walking paths, shaded grassy areas, barbeques, and good friends complete this convenient beach park!

Olowalu is a sandy strip between Honoapi’ilani Highway and the ocean. It borders acres and acres of some of the oldest coral reefs on the island. This is a great place for snorkeling and kayak tours! Find a sand channel for entering and exiting the water, do not touch the reef, and wear a rashguard (water shirt) and board shorts for sun protection in the water. On shore, be mindful of thorns in the sand beneath the kiawe trees.

Kamaole Beaches I – III offer something for the whole family. These long sandy beaches sport great snorkeling along the points (sea turtles all day long), plus lifeguards to keep an eye on the swimmers. You’ll also find restrooms, a volleyball net, playground swings, grassy hills for the kids to run on, barbecue grills, and picnic tables! Shopping and restaurants are easily accessible, too.

Keawakapu Beach is a great place to relax and work on your tan. The snorkeling is good in the early morning (especially on the right hand side), but the water can get choppy as the sun climbs higher. You’ll meet a mix of locals and tourists on this stretch of soft sand, right outside the Mana Kai Maui Resort and 5 Palms Restaurant. You definitely want to bring your own shade here, as well as a Boss Frog’s rashguard (water shirt) and board shorts for sun protection while swimming.

You’ll find easy snorkeling off Mokapu and Ulua Beaches, with plenty of brilliant fish. Mokapu is just outside the Andaz Resort, and Ulua – named for the graceful predator fish prized by fisherpeople in Hawaii – is just south of Mokapu. The sand is lovely for lounging, and there are restrooms and outdoor showers.  Parking is best early in the morning.

Wailea Beach is directly in front of the Grand Wailea Resort. Maui’s marine life is a lot more plentiful off other beaches (this writing is in 2016), so this one is great for relaxing and reading. If you do want to check out the fish, the reefs are found in small patches about 30 yards out and 20 yards to the right. Be sure to snorkel this intermediate site with at least one buddy. There are restrooms and outdoor showers.

The Fairmont Kea Lani Hotel overloooks small, sandy Polo Beach, which is just perfect for getting a tan or playing frisbee! The snorkeling at Polo can be easy in the morning, and becomes intermediate level by afternoon. You are likely to see a sea turtle or two. Pay attention to the beach boulders when you enter and exit the water. There are restrooms and outdoor showers here.

Po’olenalena Beach hosts great marine life, and rough waves at times.  This is an intermediate site. You’re almost sure to find some sea turtles. There are two areas to explore. Both are comfortable and sandy, unless you’re beneath the shade of the thorn-dropping kiawe trees, so be careful there. There are portable toilets and trash cans here.

Besides Molokini Crater, 5 Caves/5 Graves is one of the best snorkeling and diving sites on the island. Unlike Molokini, you must be an advanced snorkeler to venture here. The entry and exit are difficult, and the swim before the good stuff is quite far. There are sea turtles, unicornfish, nudibranchs, white tip reef sharks, and caves.  The corals have grown beautifully, and they are stacked high! There are neither amenities nor a beach at this site.

Maluaka Beach sits just beautifully outside the Makena Beach and Golf Resort. There is some good snorkeling just off the shore, and you can cook up your favorite lunch using the grills provided in the grassy area nearby.  There are also restrooms, outdoor showers, and plenty of sand!

Big Beach, the longest and widest beach on the island, is considered one of the most beautiful beaches on Maui. Despite the beckoning of the aquamarine water, do not swim or snorkel here. Many have been injured by a seemingly gentle wave – one reason you’ll find lifeguards. There are portable toilets, trash cans, and picnic tables near the parking lot, but no amenities on the beach. If you climb over the right-hand ridge to the neighboring beach (“Little Beach”), do not be surprised by nude sunbathers.

The protected cove at Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve opens up into a beautiful bay. As this area is a marine reserve, colorful fish are abundant. There are portable toilets in the parking lot, but nothing else in terms of amenities. There is no beach here. In terms of difficulty, the snorkeling usually runs easy to intermediate, but be prepared for a slippery and rocky entry and exit – not easy for little ones.

La Perouse Bay is full of unique natural contrasts. A mile or so before the bay are lava fields as far as the eye can see. These fields are sacred to the Hawaiian people. The bay is home to all sorts of marine life, including spinner dolphins far offshore. This intermediate snorkel site is one of the first to catch the daily winds, so if you plan to explore it, go in early. You can hike along the coast – and if you do, bring plenty of water!  For vehicles, however, this is the end of the road on Maui’s south side.

Molokini Crater is the most popular snorkeling and scuba site on Maui. Because it sits in the open ocean 3 miles off the main island, the visibility usually exceeds 100 feet! There are all kinds of fish, and some open-ocean animals like whale sharks have been known to visit on occasion. This site is boat access only, so all the facilities, equipment, food, and drinks you need will be within arm’s reach! Take our Malolo and Quicksilver catamarans for an excellent day on the water at (808)661-3333. If you choose to go in the morning, you’ll stop at Turtle Town, too! You can wear a rashguard (water shirt) and board shorts for sun protection while swimming.