Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ment will scare away the fish. If you float on the surface (particularly easy with a
flotation belt), you'll see more of them.
4. Don't panic.
When water ends up in your snorkel, don't panic! To clear the
snorkel of water, your two options are to either say the number “TWO” loudly to
shoot the water out the top of your snorkel or pop your head out of the water, re-
move the snorkel from your mouth, and turn the mouthpiece upside down to drain.
Similarly, if water gets in your mask, instead of removing the whole mask pull the
bottom of the mask away from your face and let the water drain out.
Keep an eye on where you're swimming, don't overexert yourself, and most im-
portant, have fun.
Namalu Bay isn't as crowded as other snorkeling spots because you can't see it from
the road. Accessing the bay can be challenging. The more practical way to reach it is via
the dirt pathway that traces the coastline from the closest public parking at the Kapalua
Bay Villas. To find the eight public spots, turn into the parking area for the Kapalua Spa
and make an immediate right toward the Kapalua Bay Villas. You will then make a left,
following the sign for beach access parking, and will notice the small public parking area
seemingly orphaned among a family of private, residential lots. From here it's a short walk
down to the shoreline and the access for the Kapalua Coastal Trail. Alternately, if all the
spots here are taken, you can park in the lot by Kapalua Bay and then walk on the paved
portion of the Kapalua Coastal Trail before reaching the junction where the pathway turns
to dirt. Now that you've found a spot for the car and the trailhead, to get to the actual
snorkeling area you will make your way past two brown “Trail” markers and then notice
the trail goes in three different directions. The trail to the right is the continuation of the
Kapalua Coastal Trail, the gravel trail leading straight heads out to Hawea Point, and the
grassy trail that bends off to the left is the one that leads toward Namalu Bay. Follow the
trail as it wraps to the left, and when you see the signs that say “proceed at your own risk,”
understand that that's exactly what you're doing. In 30 seconds you'll find yourself stand-
ing atop the cliffs overlooking hidden Namalu Bay.
Kapalua Bay
Kapalua Bay
is a sandy cove that is a favorite for those who are snorkeling with small
children. The relatively small size means it's easy to scour the entire bay, and you can ex-
pect to see colorful parrotfish, lots of goatfish, and even the occasional green sea turtle.
Although depths rarely exceed 20 feet, the best snorkeling is found along the right side
