whale and turtle advice
 

We are going to Maui the first two weeks of April and want to see turtles and whales. Are the whales still there that time of year?(We plan on going on a whale watching boat and could use some recommendations.) Also, where is the best place to see turtles when we go snorkling?

Some whales will still be around. Trilogy is still the best company out there. Go to Turtle Town for turtles.

Hey, can I get to Turtle Town from the shore without taking a boat tour? Would like to see turtles without damaging shoreline (see Blue Bible contoversy) but don't want to take a boat tour this trip (going early June).

Can't help you with the whales, but when we were there in August I saw turtles (at least 2) each time I wnet out right from the shore! I snorkled off of Black Rock (saw 2), Baldwin Beach (saw 2 more), off of the strech where Westin is building a new resort between the Kaanaplai Shores Hotel and Black Rock (2 more). I agree, Trilogy may be a bit more expensive, but they are tops, and well organized!

I also saw turtles new the new Westin in Kaanapali.

We were in Maui the end of March and first of April 2003 and the humpback whales were spectacular. It was towards the end of the season and the males that had not yet mated were getting a tad aggressive. We saw more breaches, spyhopping, tail slapping, and chasing then we saw earlier that year in early February.

Pacific Whale Foundation as well as the smaller whale watching trips still operate in April. If you want the best experience, go on one of the smaller boats (America II, Ultimate Whale Watch, Seamist, or Captain Steve's rafts). Pacific Whale Foundation is excellent.

We had been to Maui about ten times before we saw a turtle. We finally saw them on a Pacific Whale Watch snorkle cruise that went to Turtle Town. We later found out from the captain of the SeaMist that oodles of turtles hang out and are almost always visible at the Lahaina Boat Ramp (not Lahaina Wharf). The Lahaina Boat Ramp is just off front street past Lahaina on the way to Kaanapali.

Good luck and have a great time.

crazy, pretty convinced that shore snorkling is fine for turtle town. It is not a good idea to visit the fishbowl and especially the aquarium on foot unguided, as you can cause damage to the protected ecosystem. The aquarium is so sensitive that even by boat you are asked to keep lotion at the most minimun and peeing is a huge no no.

Yes, Turtle Town is accessible from shore. It is located in south Maui. Just ask the hotel concierge or snorkel rental shops for directions. If you are staying on the west side, there are turtles near Black Rock and all along other beaches going north. Pacific Whale Foundation might still have their information booth truck parked at the Scenic Lookout. Trilogy is still the best among the whale boat tours.

Correction - it is the Mala Boat Ramp located in Lahaina where you can almost always see turtles.