Best Snorkeling Sites??
 

Hi All,

Can anyone help with the best snorkeling sites in Hawaii?? We are going to Maui, Big Island in March '05 for our honeymoon.

Thanks!!

March '06 that is..

We were in Hawaii for our 25th Anniversary in July 05.Honolua Bay on West Maui was a great snorkeling spot(recommended by the locals). It was like a giant aquarium.Awesome-Tons of colorful fish, coral.It was so beautiful.Take an underwater disposible camera with a flash(in case of passing clouds)Newer models of the disposible cameras just replace the film,not the entire camera. We also loved snorkeling at the Black Rock next to the Sheraton in Maui. Lots of smaller fish. We also saw a ray, a 6foot sea turle eating seaweed , and lots of dolphons frolicking around.What great memories. By the way, congratulations & best wishes.

Here are some sites that may help:

www.snorkelbobs.com Scroll to the bottom. Click on Map'nTips

http://www.snorkeling-hawaii-insider...com/index.html

http://www.adigitaldreamer.com/snorkel/maps.htm

http://www.maui-vacation.net/snorkelmap.html

Thanks for the info. I've heard a lot of good things about Black Rock. Do you know if the Molokini snorkel/sail trips are worth doing?

Not sure about Molokini. Many travelers in July said it was a waste of money & that more fish were seen closer to the island's edge. We did rent our beachchairs & snorkle sets from Snorkle Bobs. Reasonable. But don't get taken for the most expensive package. The middle of the line set was adequate & comfortable(especially for a weekly rental)

Winter snorkeling can be dicey because of rough water, particularly at Honolua
Bay and Black Rock. The beach at Kapalua Bay Hotel is reef-protected, so there's a better chance of good visibility. The spot has excellent wade-in snorkeling.

IMHO the best snorkeling on the Big Island of Hawaii is:

1. On the east side at the Kapoho Lagoons in the Puna District.

2. On the west side, south of Kailua-Kona:
At "Two Step" just outside of Pu'uhonua O Honaunau or "Place of Refuge" National Historical Park off of the lava shelf,
At Kealakekua Bay where the Cpt. Cook Monument is (you will need to hike in, take a boat tour or rent a kayak to reach the monument where the best snorkeling is)
Or at Kahalu'u Beach Park at the south end of Ali'i drive in Kailua-Kona. This one has "facilities" and food and gear rentals.

The snorkeling at all three of these spots is wonderful, with lots of turtles at "Two Step" and Kahalu'u.

Congratulations and have a wonderful time - I love the Big Island!

Best for us has been off south Kona coast, near Capt Cook Monument (K-bay) and Honaunau Bay near Place of Refuge.

While on Maui, have found Molokini to be variable, with good snorkeling from Wailea area beaches, and north to good beginner snorkeling at Kapalua Bay, up to Honolua Bay. Maui Dive Shop (and Snorkel Bob <font color="blue">online</font>) have a free guide to snorkel spots and <font color="blue">www.wizardpub.com</font> guidebooks are very helpfull.:S-

You would have to be a good surfer to be in the water at Honolua in March. Head to south Maui, Perouse Bay, etc.

I went to a local beach on Maui and snorkeled with a lady and her 2 children. It was great because she had brought a little bag of food and pointed out all the fish to me and the kids.

Maui: Black Rock, Kapalua, Honolua, boat trip to Molokini.

Big Island: Hapuna, Place of Refuge, boat trip to Captain Cook Monument.

You will love these islands -- we are going back to them next summer!

The last time I was on Maui was in early March and Kapalua Bay had decent conditions, but Honuloa Bay was off limits because of the surge. Honuloa is best in the summer. The beaches in Wailea and Makena may be calmer that time of year.

-Bill

Great ideas...thanks everyone!

We took the Fairwinds snorkel cruise to Kealakekua Bay where the Cpt. Cook Monument is. It was beautiful. Where are you staying on the big island? The snorkelling in front of the Orchid is the best of I've ever done.

I will be in Maui in mid October, will that be good for snorkeling and whale watching?
Also how long does it take to drive from Kahului to Lahaina?

Thank you!

Reply to <font color="blue">brobes<font color="black">, snorkeling should be fine, but it is too early for whale watching. OGG to Lahaina is ~24 miles and at least 40minutes((o)).</font></font>

OGG to Lahaina was more than 6 hours yesterday because of a fire.

Link to above incident:
www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=31783