Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The “beach” is more a collection of boulders. If you are facing the water, the right side
has a much larger snorkeling area and a greater concentration of marine life. The center
of the bay has a sandy bottom and is mostly devoid of marine life, so it's best to trace the
shoreline and snorkel around to the right. If it's between the hours of 9am and noon and
there aren't any charter boats tied up on the right side of the bay, it means that the condi-
tions aren't acceptable enough to bring paying snorkelers here. Also, if you see breaking
waves out toward the point and there are over 20 surfers in the water, it means that the
visibility is going to be less than stellar and conditions will be dangerous if you venture in
too shallow. If it isn't raining on the shoreline but the stream on the left side of the bay is
gushing with brown water, it means that it's raining farther up the mountain and all of the
runoff is emptying into the bay. This, of course, will also make for subpar conditions.
Turtles are a common sight when snorkeling in West Maui.
If, however, the sun is shining brilliantly, here's your guide to the best snorkeling area:
When you enter the water from the rocky shoreline, swim straight out for about 20 yards
and then turn right toward the shoreline. You'll want to hug the shoreline in 5-10 feet of
