Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of the bay where the rocks extend out to the distant point. If you're a super-snorkeler and
the conditions are calm, you can even snorkel around the northern point into neighboring
Namalu Bay.
Napili Bay
A short walk from Kapalua Bay is neighboring
Napili Bay,
and you could easily snorkel
at both bays without even reparking your car. Whereas Napili Bay doesn't have quite as
many fish as Kapalua Bay, there is a higher likelihood of finding a green sea turtle. While
many snorkelers hug the wall on the right side of the bay, there is another reef in the center
of the bay that's almost exposed during low tide. About 20 yards farther out from here is
a second, lesser-visited reef, and although it's deeper at about 15-20 feet, this is the area
with the highest concentration of fish. This outer reef is far from shore, so if you're un-
comfortable in the water, stay on the inside reefs and enjoy the shallower waters.
Rental Shops
In Kapalua, the most comprehensive shop is
Kapalua Dive Company
(1 Bay Dr., 808/
669-3448,
www.kapaluadive.com
,
8am-5pm daily) on the northern edge of Kapalua Bay.
This is a full-service dive and snorkel operation that also offers guided snorkeling tours,
just a short stroll down the Kapalua beach path.
In Napili,
Snorkel Bob's
(5425 Lower Honoapi'ilani Rd., 808/669-9603,
www.snorkelbob.com
, 8am-5pm daily) has a shop in Napili Village next to the Napili
General store, with a second location down the street (3350 Lower Honoapi'ilani Rd.,
808/667-9999,
www.snorkelbob.com
,
8am-5pm daily). There is also a
Boss Frog's
(5059
Napilihau St., 808/669-4949,
www.bossfrog.com
, 8am-6pm daily) in the Napili Plaza
shopping center. All offer economical deals on snorkeling equipment. Snorkel Bob's lets
you return your gear on a different island if you plan on doing any island hopping.
DON'T STAND ON THE REEF!
At West Side snorkeling spots, signs warn against standing on the reef. While every-
one knows to avoid stepping on sea urchins and sharp rocks, the signs are meant to
teach about the harm to the reef as opposed to the bottom of your feet.
Unlike beaches which have rocky or sandy bottoms, reefs in Maui are made up
of living corals which are as fragile as they are alive. More than just pretty, multi-
