Maui Fun - Best Snorkeling Spots

So we know you 'll have a blast with surfing and stand-up paddle boarding lesson here in Maui but what other activities might you do while on vacation on this beautiful island? Maui snorkeling is a favorite of both visitors and locals. Home to some of the most gorgeous beaches in all of Hawaii, Maui offers some great snorkeling spots with calm, clear waters, coral reefs, and a diversity of stunning marine life. You’ll definitely want to put snorkeling on your list of things to do in Maui. But you probably want to know which Maui snorkeling spots are likely to delight the most? Well, here’s a list of our favorites.

Molokini Crater

A partially submerged volcano crater just off the southwest coast of Maui and is likely the most popular snorkeling location in all of Maui. Some of the clearest waters in Maui are at Molokini (often with over 100 feet of visibility) making it a favorite snorkeling as well as diving location. As a State Marine Life and Bird Conservation District where no fishing is permitted, Molokini Crater is home to a wide assortment of marine life including hundreds of species of tropical fish, reef sharks,moray eels,manta rays, parrot fish, whale sharks living amid a stunning array of coral reefs. Molokini snorkeling is best next to the shoreline, within 15 feet, and the best time to snorkel at Molokini is in the morning before the trade winds start grow strong. You will have to take a chartered boat from Maalaea Harbor to snorkel Molokini, but this will likely be one of your most unforgettable Maui vacation spots (along with your favorite Maui surf spots of course).

Black Rock at Ka’anapali Beach

One of the top beaches in all of Maui, Kaanapali Beach in West Maui is known for its nearly 3-mile-long white sandy beach that ends in a wall of lava rock to the north known as Black Rock. This spot has great snorkeling with depths of up to 25 feet. The lava rock wall at Black Rock is home to gorgeous coral reef formations with a variety of marine life including Hawaiian green sea turtles,porcupine fish, butterfly fish, box fish, and an assortment of other tropical fish species. It’s best to snorkel at Black Rock when the waters are mild as there can be powerful currents near the point.

 Honolua Bay

Located on the northwest shore of Maui about 20 minutes from Lahaina, Honolua Bay offers an incredible snorkeling experience. This Marine Life Conservation District surrounded by rocky cliffs is home to an great diversity of marine life including a spectacular array of tropical fish and coral reefs that just abound in these protected waters. Most of the marine life and coral are located on the right or north side of the bay, but take care walking on the rocks because they can be very slippery. Honolua Bay is also known as a great Maui surf spot, especially when there’s a north swell, so the best time for snorkeling here is on a calm day. The famous Maui surf break at Honolua Bay is out on the far northern point.

Turtle Town

Located between Nuhuna Point and Black Sand Beach on the southern coast of Maui near Maluaka Beach Park, Turtle Town, as its name suggests, is known for its large population of fascinating Hawaiian green sea turtles. The calm waters of Maluaka Beach and Turtle Town make it great for snorkeling along with Maluaka’s beautiful white, sandy beaches. A beautiful diversity of tropical fish along with coral reefs also call Turtle Town home. See these amazing creatures in their natural habitat in the clear waters of Maui.

So these our some of favorite incredible Maui snorkeling locations on the Valley Isle. After your Maui surf lesson or SUP lesson with Hawaiian Style Surf, why not check out some of these amazing snorkeling beaches and locations to see all the wonder that Maui has to offer beneath the ocean’s surface.

Surfer's Appetite - Shave Ice Is Nice After Maui Surf Lessons

 

After finishing up a great Maui surf lesson and experiencing the exhilaration of riding the waves all the way to the beautiful Maui shoreline. What’s next?  Maybe about now, you need to find some refreshment – somewhere to relax and recharge before you get back out on the waves. To cool off and get a revitalizing treat, check out some of Maui’s best shave ice places.

Most people have had shave ice before, but maybe not Hawaiian shave ice. For example, have you ever had ice cream with your shave ice? Or topped with sweet cream? If not, you're going to have to try Hawaiian shave ice with all the unconventional extras!

There are quite a number of shave ice spots around the beaches we usually take our guests to for their Maui surf or SUP lessons. Here are a few of the best shave ice places in the area:


 Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice

A short drive up the coast from your Maui surf lesson at Kalama Beach Park on Kihei Road will take you to Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice, which by the way, is the top-rated shave ice store and restaurant in all of Kihei and Lahaina. Not only do they have a vast selection of delicious flavors, but you can also try their “favorite combinations” flavors like Haleakala or Sunset Beach and add macadamia nut ice cream or shredded toasted coconut for a real sweet treat you're sure to remember. Well known for their “extremely fine shave,” awesome flavors, and friendly Aloha service, Ululani’s is a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike. They have two locations in Lahaina you could also check out if you want a cold dessert after your Maui surfing lesson at Ukuhame Beach Park.

S & Q’s Coffee and Shave Ice Shack

If you’ve worked up a little bit of more of an appetite after your Maui SUP lesson and would also like to get a bite to eat with your shave ice dessert, check out S & Q’s Coffee and Shave Ice Shack at the Rainbow Mall on South Kihei Road. S & Q’s provides a diverse flavor selection (people love the shark’s blood flavor combo with ice cream and haupia, or sweetened coconut cream, sauce on top). S & Q’s is also renowned for their smoothies, teas, espressos, and breakfast selection with waffles, bagels, and parfaits. They also serve a selection of delicious sandwiches for lunch. So you can stop by S & Q’s before you go to our Maui surf school in the morning and then pop in later for some tasty shave ice treats after you perfect your surfing skills.

 Surfing Monkey Shave Ice

Naturally, we would be partial to this shave ice stand for its name alone, but Surfing Monkey Shave Ice does offer some flavorsome Hawaiian shave ice as well. Also located on South Kihei Road in Kihei, Maui next to Foodland, the Surfing Monkey has a fantastic selection of shave ice flavors and offers complimentary extras like azuki beans, vanilla ice cream, and delicious sweet cream. All of their shave ice syrups are derived locally from raw sugar cane. How fitting it is to try the Surfing Monkey after your Maui surf lesson?!?






 Old Lahaina Shave Ice

Since you’re in the Lahaina area for your Maui surf lesson at Ukuhame Beach Park, stop by the Old Lahaina Shave Ice store for a refreshing and sweet treat. Try the mango,passion fruit, or pineapple flavors with ice cream. Then you can take a journey down Lahaina Town’s famous Front Street with its variety of other great shops, boutiques, and restaurants. Or you could get back in the waves to try out what you've learned during your Maui surf lesson with Hawaiian Style Surf!