Maui, Hawaii, "The valley isle"
When I travel, island adventures are at the top of my list. One of my favorite ocean activities is snorkeling (and free diving!). I’ve been fortunate to travel to islands with some of the best snorkeling in the world, and I want to share them with you. Today’s post is all about the best snorkeling sites on Maui, and what you can do to protect these stunning ecosystems.
Let’s dive in.
MAUI NUI
Known as “The Valley Isle,” and the second largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, Maui is a popular destination for sun-seekers and honeymooners, and it’s not hard to see why. With warm sun, cool breezes, and stunning ocean blues, this Hawaiian island is nothing short of enchanting. “Maui Nui,” or “Greater Maui,” actually refers to four islands that were once joined over a million years ago. These are Maui, Moloka’i, Lana’i, and Kaho’olawe. Formed from seven shield volcanoes, as sea levels rose, spaces between these volcanoes flooded to form the distinct islands we see today. Each of these islands is unique: Lana’i is known for its exclusive luxury, Maui for its wide variety of tourist attractions and gorgeous resorts, and Moloka’i for having the highest sea cliffs in the world. Kaho’olawe, the smallest of the four, is used only for native Hawaiian cultural purposes today. When staying on Maui, you can access Lana’i and Moloka’i through helicopter tours and even some snorkeling tours. The snorkeling sites below are all accessed from the island of Maui.
Pu’u keka’a (BLACK ROCK)
molokini crater
honolua bay
mokulei’a bay/slaughterhouse
REEF SAFETY
Reef-safe Sunscreen
It’s no secret that traditional, chemical-based sunscreens seriously damage coral reefs. Many protected marine sanctuaries and some states like Hawaii have banned ingredients like oxtinoxate and oxybenzone. To make sure you’re using a reef-safe sunscreen that’s also effective, check out my blog post on Clean Sunscreen here. My favorite sport sunscreen is All Good Mineral Sport Sunscreen, which is a great option for face and body. It blends in easily and stays put. For water sports like snorkeling, I use All Good Sunscreen Butter on my face. It has SPF 50+ for extra coverage. Warm some in your hand before applying, and a little goes a long way. Remember that zinc sunscreen will “melt” in after applying for a more even look. I’ve worn All Good Sunscreen for snorkeling, running, surfing, you name it. Like any sunscreen, make sure you reapply per the instructions, which for this formula is every 80 minutes and after swimming or toweling off.
To protect these beautiful ecosystems, it’s so important that you follow all crew member and posted instructions. The guideline “take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints” sums it up best. Don’t touch the coral reefs or other sea life, don’t take anything from reef back with you, and be sure not to leave any trash or debris. Be extra careful when swimming close to shallow reefs; your flippers can easily brush into and damage the fragile reef. Coral reefs grow extremely slowly, so taking or bumping into a small section can turn the clock back on decades of growth. To preserve these stunning environments for future generations to enjoy, respect and protect the reefs!
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This income goes to supporting this website. As always, ideas and opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own.
