I’ve lived and snorkeled in Maui for 9 years. During this time, I’ve been fortunate to have friends whose lives revolve around the ocean as paddlers, swimmers and snorkelers. They own kayaks and one-man canoes. They’ve paddled out to whale watch and canoed the rough waters of the Molokai’i Channel. Their experience of the ocean is vast and they are generous with their information and advice. They are the Bowlegged Women with whom I’ve been swimmin’ and they’ve changed my life. They are Suzy, Paula, Lynn, Lea and Marian; I hope you'll add your two-cents worth to these posts.
This blog is dedicated to snorkeling in Maui waters and sharing what we know about the water and our snorkeling experiences. I hope it will inspire people to take part in the fun, help them increase their enjoyment and stay safe. Some of the beaches described in this book are off the beaten path and not often described in other sources. Some of them are unguarded beaches and you are on your own. Remember you’re playing in the powerful and awesome Pacific Ocean-always respect it. Never turn your back on the ocean and don’t assume that you are safe. Take safety precautions and prepare yourself adequately for the activity you are about to enjoy.
Safety Tips
Never snorkel alone; go with a buddy. Never turn your back on the ocean: there is such a thing as a freak wave. At Waimea Bay on the Oahu North Shore, five people were washed out to sea and drowned by a wave that swept them off the beach as they took a nighttime stroll.
Check ocean conditions before you go out. Your hotel may provide information on ocean tides and surf. The local TV stations’ weather reports include ocean, surf and wind conditions for the day. You can also get important information from The Weather Underground at www.wunderground.com by entering the appropriate zip code for the beach location.
Kihei / Wailea /Makena 96753
Lahaina / Kapalua /Kaanapali 96761
Best Time to Snorkel
Swim in the morning. The fish and other wildlife are more active then and weather conditions are usually better. In the afternoon, the wind tends to come up and makes snorkeling conditions less than optimum. The wind creates waves that stir up the sandy bottom, reducing visibility. The wind generated waves can also cause difficult swimming conditions.
If you get stuck off shore in a high wind, don’t panic, take your time and swim at a comfortable pace back to shore. You will make it. It will just take longer. Snorkel around some kind of structure-that’s where the fish congregate. Open stretches of sand won’t contain any reef fish and may contain faster, larger creatures, such as rays and reef sharks.
Equipment
Good snorkel equipment will make the difference between an enjoyable experience and an annoying one. Check your equipment before entering the water to swim. Your mask should be snug but not too tight. Make sure there are no pieces of hair or other debris in the mask seal. The snorkel should have a flexible mouth piece and fit comfortably in your mouth. Be sure the snorkel has a water drain. Position your snorkel at a ninety degree angle to the back of your head. Fins are a must for ocean swimming. Get fins that fit comfortably and don’t put a strain on your back.
Personal Comfort
Many Maui beaches are pristine and far from conveniences such as stores and restaurants. So, bring what you need to be comfortable. Pack a cooler with plenty of water and the food you’ll want during your outing. You can buy ready- made sandwiches and drinks at the ABC Stores all over the island or many other convenience stores and groceries.
Don’t forget the sunscreen and make it waterproof. Remember you are closer to the equator here than anywhere on the mainland US and the sun is stronger because you are closer to it. Be careful with your exposure, re-apply sunscreen after swimming and consider sitting in the shade for part of the day. That’s what the locals do and they’re experts!
Respect the Reef
The reefs of Hawaii are one of our most important assets and a treasure for all who visit them. We have a responsibility to care for them. Reefs are living creatures and should not be damaged by standing on them or breaking off pieces of them. They may look like rocks but they are really animals and can be killed by careless injury.
Wildlife
Snorkeling is a fun and relaxing activity. You will see many beautiful reef fish during your snorkel. You may also see the Hawaiian green turtle, a graceful swimmer and a joy to watch. The green turtle seems to like humans, too. They will tolerate your approach and stay while you are in the area. They may be a little too tolerant of us and Hawaii has laws for their protection. You mustn’t touch a turtle or swim above it. Like humans, the turtles breath air and have to get to the surface periodically, so don’t block their access.
Hawaiian waters are home to other creatures and you might see a few. There are Hawaiian monk seals that frequent some of the beaches we snorkel. If you are lucky enough to see a monk seal, enjoy the experience but don’t go too close. The seals are very friendly and like people but they are very large, up to 600 pounds, and could easily injure you inadvertently. There was a recent case of male seal that frequented the swimming beaches in Kihei and liked to hug female swimmers-it got to be kind of creepy. The authorities had to relocate the seal after a few of his amorous advances were reported.
You may also see a manta ray or an eagle ray or a reef shark if you’re lucky. These animals are largely harmless and are likely just passing by. I checked a few web sources on the frequency of shark attacks in Maui waters and got the statistics. According to The Maui Goodness website “Your chances are near to none (of being attacked by a shark in Hawaii. You’re more likely to win the lottery than be attacked by a shark. The following statistics come from over 125 years of reports. … Maui has seen 36 unprovoked shark attacks in the last 125 years, of which only 3 were fatal. Of the billions of people to visit our islands in the last century, the number of attacks becomes dwarfed leaving your chances of being attacked by a shark near to nothing.
Still, if you’re eager to not be the one in a million attacked by a shark, here are a few things to remember when in the ocean.
Sharks are more likely to attack:
• At night or when the sun is setting or coming up. (Sharks feed primarily at night.)
• Snorkelers and Surfers (Sharks like to attack objects at the surface.)
• Near stream and river outlets. (The murky water attracts smaller fish that they like.)
• Near a shoreline after or during heavy rains.
• Around heavy fishing areas. (Stay out of the water when fisherman are chumming.)
• People with open-wounds. (If you’re bleeding, don’t go swimming.)
• Further out in the ocean in deeper waters.
• People with little respect for the ocean.
Even if you do everything possible to attract sharks, you’re still not likely to be bit. Sharks don’t like to eat humans, and they usually only attack by mistake.”
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