• ID the fishes of the Reef (PDF download)
• Snorkel Shops

OLOWALU

Launiupoko State Wayside Park

Launiupoko State Wayside Park has a sandy beach with good swimming. As a bonus, there is a large, man-made, wave-protected wading pool for the kids.

Molokini Crater

Molokini Crater is without a doubt the most popular offshore dive and snorkel location on Maui. Molokini crater is a marine santuary which was established in 1977 as the Molokini Shoal Marine Life Conservation District. It protects almost 200 acres of underwater area inside and surrounding the crater. Due to the protection granted by it's protected reef status, the marine life is plentiful and on the most part non weary of divers.

Molokini Crater is a extinct volcanic tuff cone which exploded thousands of years ago. The sea has eroded the face of the cinder wall exposing the floor to the ocean. The tuff cone forms a cresent shaped island. The depth at the center of the island ranges from 20 to 80 feet deep, averaging around 60 feet deep. The outer wall of the cinder is an excellent wall drift dive falling from the surface to the ocean floor below some 350 feet down. Best stuff is shallow as sun light enhances the colors of the fishes.

The inner crater region is home to "butterfly rock" a favorite hang out for yellow butterfly fish. Moving further from the inside wall is a broken coral and sand region. The coral damage occured before the 80's when the island was used by the miltary for training exercises, as well as recreactional boaters who carelessly dropped anchor. The center area has been recovering in recent years due to the special attention by dive operators which lead to the installation of permanet mooring bouys and other conservation measures to elminate or reduce damage at the site.

The east tip of the crater at the 125 foot mark is "Sharks Ledge". This is a series of outcroppings which whitetip reef sharks love to call home.

A drift dive on the east side is a real treat, but care must be taken due to the often swift current and rough topside conditons.

The west tip of Molokini is "Reef's End" its the shallow start to a good west wall dive. Like the east wall, care should be taken as currents can be swift.

One of the unique features of this dive site is its visibility. Visibility from 150 to 200 feet is the norm. Even when the shore locations have poor visibility, this location is all most always unaffected.

Polo Beach

This beach is located at the Fairmont Kea Lani, Wailea. It's very popular for swimming, but is large enough to accommodate other activities as well. (If you have reservations for Nick's Fish Market resturant, just walk up to the restaurant afterwards!

Polo Beach / Palauea Beach (19)

Just past Wailea at the turnoff next to the Kea Lani is Polo and Palauea Beach. The north side of the reef is the Polo Beach side. The south side is the Palauea beach side. Polo Beach has both restrooms and showers, however the walk from the parking lot with dive gear is a long one. The recommended entry is from Palauea beach. The entry is made from the beach. The reef is not dove often and is in very good shape. Currents and visibility can be tricky, so check with a local dive shop before making this dive.

This Beach is accessible down a short path from the street. Park near the Makena Surf Condos. Follow the lava to the left to Turtle arches and Five Graves.

South Maui - continued

Five Graves / Caves & Makena Landing (20)

This area is east of the Makena Surf Condos (see Map)

Five Graves has become the most popular dive sight on the south shore. The entry and exit on the grave side is a bit tricky as is rocky lava. For that reason this dive site is for the intermediate and advanced.

For the more novice or lazy try the Makena landing side. This area of Maui has a wider arraignment of lava formations. The archways, caves and lava tubes give divers a chance to find hidden marine life. Little white-tip reef sharks like to hang out in the sand cave. Turtles like to be around the the cleaning stations and in the archways. The nucks and cranies are difficult to find. About 0.1 mile down the road is the south end of Five Graves called Makena Landing. The landing has a sandy entry which follows the reef. This is a good beginner/intermediate dive with a maximum depth of approximately 35ft.

10 Olowalu, Mile Marker 14

This is a very nice place to snorkel, due to its reasonably safe and shallow area. Parking is a breeze just pull off the road. You'll probably have to go out about 300 feet for some of the best snorkeling, but it will be worth it. There are lots of coral and small reef fish here, and lots and lots of turtles. Towards the outside of the bay and heading west you will fine lots of black and white tip reef sharks. There are no facilities here to speak of, but you will find the Olawalu general store if you want a drink or snack.

An outer reef is at this area with diving to 25-30 feet. A favorite of the locals.

The is a popular spot for snorkeling with a lot of reef fish to be seen. On Route 30, 6/10 of a mile past the Pali Tunnel going north. Pull off to the side of the road and enter from the sandy beach. Watch for bigger waves that sometimes come.

This is a destination of charter snorkel boats

6 Black Rock

South Maui - continued

Oneuli Beach Makena Black Sand Beach

Because the turtles come so close to shore, it is easy to see turtles from the beach. To get there, head south on Wailea Alanui Road. About 1/4 mile south of the Maui Prince Hotel, you will see a red dirt road leading to a large red hill. Turning into that road you will see a sign reading "Makena Black Sand Beach". There is a dirt parking area at the end of the short road. This lava sand beach is near one of the snorkel boats "Turtle Town" areas. It is a great place to see the green Hawaiian sea turtles.

Less known than other beaches in the area since it’s not well marked and can’t be seen from the road. Those who do know about it usually call it simply Black Sand Beach. It’s on the north (right) side of that large hill in Makena called Pu‘u Ola‘i, and you access it from the short bumpy but usually passable dirt road shown on the map on page 135. Once at the salt and pepper beach it’s easy to see how it formed. Pu‘u Ola‘i is essentially a large mound of lava cinders created from an enormous lava fountain. Wave action has bitten into the cinder cone, causing the loose black cinders to fall into the ocean where they are ground into black sand. Over the years shells have been pulverized into sand and coral has been…well, p r o c e s s e d by parrotfish, adding salt to the pepper.

The water at Black Sand Beach is usually calm, but the sand gives way to a lava shelf at the water’s edge, making the swimming marginal. However, the snorkeling can be great. Visibility is usually cloudy near the shore, so head out and to the left for lots of coral, turtles and fish. If it’s calm, you can snorkel all the way around Pu‘u Ola‘i and it gets even better. Beware of any currents by occasionally stopping to see if you are drifting. Kayakers sometimes visit the beach, but it’s rarely crowded.

Po'olenalena Beach

This beautiful, mostly deserted, ½ mile sandy beach is paradise! The shoreline slopes gently for great swimming. There are lava rocks at each end of the beach for great snorkeling. There are two entrances to the beach with parking lots.

Take Makeana Alani south from Wailea. The first entrance to the beach is just past Wailea Gold Club Drive on the right. The second entrance is the next beach access south.

Swimming, snorkeling, diving, surfing, body surfing

• Showers are near the south entrance
• Sandy beach
• Porta-potties

Little Makena Beach & Big Beach

Little Beach aka "The nude beach" and Big beach has very good dive spots, but access is very difficult. If you don't mind walking a several hundred yards with your gear you'll find a good dive spot. The current at little and big beaches is often very strong, and is good for drift diving. To the north side of Little Beach the reef contains a good population of green sea turtles. Some people prefer to dive from the black sand beach located farther north at the beginning of "red hill".

AHIHI KINAÚ Bay

Past Makena landing is the beginning of a Marine preserve which encompasses Ahihi and La Perouse bay. Since the area is a preserve the fish life is abundant. Scarce parking along the road at the bay is just feet from the shallow water entry. The bay is shallow, less than 30 feet deep. Fish are very tame. This is a very good snorkel spot as well. Further out, large rocks a shelter to a diverse group of fishes on the East side of the Bay. The Marine preserve extends from here all the way down to La Perouse Bay. Locals fish the rocky shore just before the preserve.

At the end of Makena Road is a sheltered marine preserve called "La Perouse Bay". To the right at the end portion of Makena Road is a unpaved parking area. Those with 4WD vehicles can travel down even farther to get into the water at the sheltered end of the bay. The maximum depth of the bay is about 40'. Entry can be somewhat tricky due to a shelf overhang which tends to littered with boring urchins. Booties are definitely recommended at this location. In general the diving at La Perouse is either very good or very bad. Since the site is a Marine preserve, the fish life is abundant.