Six days and counting!

I've asked this already (one time in the wrong thread) and never got a real answer, but which beach is good for snorkeling yet is still secluded. If snorkeling is not possible, I would settle for just secluded for a romantic, quiet beach time for two?

We are at the Grand Wailea for two nights then to the North Shore. We don't mind driving (within an hour or so) to get to a good, secluded beach from the North Shore.

Any suggestions (here_today, I'm counting on you)?

Thanks,

DD

Sorry, I'm not a snorkeler. I can tell you where to find good beaches for surfing, body or skim boarding or for lazy chillin', but not so much on the snorkeling. I can only repeat the same info you will find in any guide book--beaches along south Maui, closer to the Grand Wailea, and some spots up in west Maui. Nothing on the north shore. If you are looking for a hidden "local" snorkel spot, I don't think there is such a thing.

I have read on these forums that the beach fronting the Grand Wailea (i.e. "Wailea Beach) offers good snorkeling, but it is not secluded, nonetheless it is one of my favorite swimming beaches on Maui.

Just north of Wailea Beach is Ulua Beach which has great snorkeling close to shore, though it also is not secluded.

The most secluded area with a rocky beach and great snorkeling that I can recommend was at Honolua Bay but this involves driving some distance from G.W.

In Wailea shops next to G.W. there is a Maui Dive Shop (and Snorkel Bob-I've read)that give free guides to snorkel locations on Maui.

Best wishes for your stay in paradise and please let us know how you fare snorkeling.

If you snorkel early in the morning you can almost count on the south Maui beaches being empty. We stayed in south Maui which has beach after beach of fabulous golden sand and great snorkeling. We went twice to Palauea Beach, early in the morning, and there was no one else there. No facilities, some shade, great snorkeling, and some lava rock outcroppings covered in palm trees at either side of the cove give it a nice Gilligan's Island type feel. It's not a tiny little cove but it's not a mile long...it does have a certain coziness to it. I should mention we got there around 7am, I don't know what it's like the rest of the day, but parking's funky and limited and it's a bit out of the way, so it may not draw a huge crowd. Maui Revealed tells you how to get there.

And there's some little beaches to be had along the Hana Highway, check Maui Revealed.

And by the way, you didn't ask on the wrong thread before, I saw this once on the US forum, which is where all the state posts go (no Hawaii forum, California forum, etc)!

love
roxy

I haven't heard of any major swells coming in, but keep in mind that this time of year the north side of Maui should have slightly larger waves than the south side - get plenty of snorkeling in during your Grand Wailea stay just in case!

But if you are willing to drive a full hour to find a good spot you should be fine - it probably wouldn't take that long to drive back to the south coast from Haiku!

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

Try this too:

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

www.shorediving.com

Thanks everyone, this is very good info. I appreciate your input.

DD

There is a very small public parking lot in front of the Makena Surf condos just south of Wailea. The path leads down to a gorgeous beach in front of the condos. The rocky outcrop on the left as you face the beach is where all of the Molikini boats stop ( called turtle town) great snorkeling,and uncrowded. If you walk to the right , you'll find the same beach, with no condos, and lots of shade trees, but the snorkeling isn't as good. There is a parking area in front of this beach also.Cheers, Al