The best snorkeling beaches in South Maui

Are you a snorkeling lover traveling around Hawaii? Grab your mask and dive among corals at the best beaches for snorkeling in southwest Maui.

One of the wonders of the Hawaiian island known as the Valley Isle is that its underwater world is just a step away from the sand.

Ready to take the plunge? 🙂

Why south Maui?

Because what you have in front of you is firsthand information.

Isn't there any snorkeling in other parts of the island?

Of course.

Maui's west coast is dotted with plenty of great diving spots. For example, in the north, Kapalua Bay and Black Rock Beach are famous for their snorkeling.

However, due to its geography, the northwest and southwest are quite far apart. And if you don't believe me, take a look at the map at the end of the page.

So, due to lack of time, bad weather (I'll tell you about that later...), and "don't bite off more than you can chew", we only swam in the south.

Below, I've listed in order of preference the best snorkeling beaches in Maui that we visited during our trip across Hawaii.

Chang’s Beach

The crown jewel.

It's tiny compared to the other beaches in the area, but it has one of the most spectacular reefs in Maui. Honestly, it was the best snorkeling of our Hawaii experience.

It has barely 9 parking spots (watch out for the gate opening and closing hours) and is poorly signposted. Therefore, I recommend downloading the map I've put together at the end of this post or taking good note of where it is.

The reef right off this beach is packed with corals, turtles, and a thousand different types of fish.

If you're an experienced swimmer and the sea is calm, you can swim to Poolenalena (to the north) and 5 Caves (to the south), straight from Chang’s Beach itself.

5 Caves/5 Graves

This area is highly regarded for its diving, though it's also great for surface snorkeling.

It's not a beach per se, but rather an access point to the water (a bit tricky) with 5 underwater caves, where you can find turtles, reef sharks, manta rays, and octopuses, among others.

Much to my regret, I didn't get to see them. The sea was just too rough to swim over there from Po'olenalena, where we were spending our beach day.

You're totally out of shape, Celi… Ouch.

But you recognize your limits and know when to stop. Great.

You just witnessed a self-inflicted "mixed bag" situation. 🙂

Poolenalena Beach

Also known as Paipu, Pepeiaolepo, Loves, or Keauhou Beach. It's a gorgeous white sand beach divided in two by a cluster of volcanic rocks.

It has two parking lots: a fairly large dirt one (marked as number 1 on the map), and a paved one with only 10-12 spaces and set gate closing times (number 2).

Besides spectacular sunsets and shady trees for sunny days, it offers two distinct snorkeling spots:

• To the south, it shares the same type of reef and underwater fauna as Chang’s Beach.
• To the north, the snorkeling area connects with Palauea Beach.

My recommendation:

If you can only explore one, head for the end closest to Chang’s Beach and, if the sea and your fitness allow, make your way over to it while floating over the coral.

That was how I fell in love with this little corner of Maui.

Palauea Beach

I've never seen so many Hawaiian weddings together as I witnessed at Palauea Beach: 4 couples in a single afternoon sharing the magical sunset hours.

And the thing is, when it comes to sunsets on Maui's west coast:

Nobody beats them when it comes to romance.

At the southern tip of the beach, there's a snorkeling area that connects with Poolenalena. The coral is less spectacular than Chang’s Beach. However, its rich marine life will give you a great time.

To the north, it shares a reef with Polo Beach. We didn't dive at this end of Palauea, though we heard great things about it too.

It doesn't have a dedicated parking lot, but you can easily park your car on the shoulder of the road that runs right next to it.

Waimea Beach

Wailea Beach is an easily accessible, family-friendly beach. It features a free (paved) parking lot and public restrooms.

In this case, the snorkeling area is only at the southern end, separating it from Polo Beach.

Compared to the previous ones, this was the least impressive patch of coral. Still, diving is always fun and rewarding, so you know the drill: jump right in!

Other reef beaches

There were snorkeling spots along this coast that we didn't get a chance to visit.

The highlights are located south of Chang’s Beach:

• Makena Landing Beach Park.
• Maluaka (or Makena) Beach.
• Oneuli (or Black Sand) Beach.

I've marked them on the map.

Video

This is just a little teaser, I promise you.

By the way, if you listen closely, you might hear the song of whales in the background.

Tips

Watch out for the sun.

Take every precaution you can: sunscreen, hat, rash guard, beach umbrella…

Grab some snorkel gear.

If your accommodation doesn't provide it, rent one. We opted for 2 complete sets (mask, snorkel, and fins) for $9 per person per day at the Maui Dive Shop store located in 'The Shops at Wailea' shopping center.

If you decide to book it for 3 consecutive days, you'll get them for $25 each. The gear is good quality and very well maintained. Plus, they give you a waterproof guide showing the most common marine species you'll spot off the Maui coast.

It's super fun to compete and see who spotted the most colorful fish once you get out of the water.

The most striking thing?

A zebra moray eel. That was totally new for us, and we spotted it up to 3 times!

Keep an eye on the ocean.

Look, let's be clear:

You're on a Hawaiian island.

The beaches may be dreamy and the sunsets the most beautiful of your life. But,

Never underestimate the Pacific Ocean.

• Never turn your back on the waves.
• Be mindful of your swimming abilities and don't push beyond them.
• If the current pulls you outward, stay calm and swim diagonally toward the shore.
• When the ocean is rough, don't get in.
• If the water is murky, don't go in.
• Don't go into the water at night.

Capisci?

The Maui PDF guide

Want to download all the info from this blog on what to see in Maui and, even better, how to do it in a PDF?

54 pages to help you organize your custom route and enjoy Maui at your own pace.

Interested? Then click here and grab the guide for just €1.95.

Useful links

• Snorkel rental.
• Hotels in Maui.
• International flight deals to Hawaii: Trabber, eDreams and Momondo.
• 5% discount on your travel insurance with IATI.

Are you putting together your custom travel itinerary for Maui?

Then, you'll also be interested in this:

• 7-day Maui road trip.
• Guide to planning a DIY trip to Maui.
• Humpback whale watching off the coast of Maui.
• A nightmare before dawn at Haleakala.
• The full description of our experience at O’hoe Gulch and Pipiway Trail.
• 3 days and 2 nights exploring the Road to Hana.

Want to explore another Hawaiian island? My recommendation: take a look at Kauai:

• 9-day Kauai road trip, step by step.
• Practical guide to organizing your own trip to Kauai.
• Waimea Canyon, the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.
• Kalalau Trail, Kauai's most demanding trek.
• Kauai's most beautiful beaches: what are you in the mood for today?
• Awaawapuhi Trail, the Napali Coast at your feet.
• Fly over Kauai in a helicopter… with no doors!
• Discover the Napali Coast on a luxury boat.
• Queen’s Bath, forbidden beauty in the Garden of Eden.
• Mahaulepu Trail, hiking, temples, and pristine beaches in Kauai.

Oh! And as you know, if you have any questions left or want to ask me anything about my diving experience in Hawaii, drop a comment down below.

Map

The areas drawn in blue are the ones I visited during my Maui road trip. Unfortunately, the green ones are the ones I didn't get around to. 🙂