Maui has plenty of
great snorkeling all over the island, but some of the best can
be found in the four marine preserves. Because of the laws protecting
these areas there is an abundance of life in these underwater
wonderlands. Go and feast your eyes and take a lot of pictures,
but remember that neither fishing nor collecting is allowed.
Please do your part
to protect these pristine reefs. Never walk or stand on coral;
it is a living animal that could be killed or injured even with
a whack of a flipper. Fish feeding has also been shown to be detrimental
to the reef ecosystem because it encourages more aggressive fish
species to proliferate, while crowding out the non-aggressive
species. Plus you'll see plenty of fish without feeding them!
The four preserves
are Honolua bay, Ahihi Bay, part of LaPerouse Bay, and Molokini
Crater. All but Molokini can be reached by car.
Honolua Bay (turtle
town) Is just north of kapalua on route 30. Look for a narrow
dirt road on the left as you travel north, It will take you to
an old boat ramp and very small beach. The snorkeling at Honolua
is best in summer, when the ocean is at its calmest; the winter
swells offer conditions better suited to surfing and boogie boarding
than snorkeling.
Ahihi Marine Preserve
is located just south of Makenas' Big Beach and offers something
for everyone. Just to the south of the Ahihi Marine Preserve is
LaPerouse Bay, another opportunity for primo snorkeling.
In 1786, the French
Navigator, Jean de Francois La Perouse became the first westerner
to set foot on Maui. His view of the area was very different from
what we see today; Haleakala erupted four years after his arrival,
and the lava flows that surround the bay are testimony to the
power of a volcano. Over 200 years later, the land is still barren,
but just offshore is a show of ocean life that is well worth seeing.
As you go in the water
to explore the reefs in this area, be very careful as sea urchins
abound. Their sting is very painful and should be treated with
vinegar. You can rent your snorkeling gear and more at our
"Auntie Snorkel"
shop in Kihei
(near Wailea) for a discount of 2 for 1 if you mention this ad. |