#1 Maui Snorkeling Spot with Kids: Know where to go on your Snorkel Adventure

Please be aware that not all of the places on this list are currently accessible due to the tragic wildfires on Maui. Please check before you travel.

Snorkeling near the Hawaiian Island of Maui is unlike anywhere else on earth. It is a magical underwater experience that inspires awe and wonder. An opportunity to view the beautiful creatures who live just below the surface of the vast Pacific Ocean and become immersed in this underwater world. It is a privilege and a delight.

Before I give you all my top snorkeling spots, I want to mention that snorkeling is a strenuous swimming activity. It can be dangerous and you need to check the ocean conditions before heading out!

Always heed warnings from lifeguards and local authorities. Know your own skills and limits and ensure you have the appropriate gear to make your snorkeling experience a safe and enjoyable adventure!

There are some great resources you can check out that are linked at the bottom of this article, including all the recommended gear! I just want to mention that snorkeling in the ocean is very different than snorkeling in a lake or anywhere else where you may have tried on your snorkel gear. Use a floatation belt, pool noodle, or life jacket. My kids and I usually take out a boogie board so we can all keep a hand on it and stay together easily. Just some ideas to minimize your risk and maximize your fun!

Favorite Snorkel Spots for Beginners & Families with Young Children:

#1 Lahaina Baby Beach (Pu’unoa Beach): This place is the BEST for families with young kids and absolute beginners!

Every time my family goes to the Lahaina baby beach we see Hawaiian Green sea turtles. There is no guarantee, obviously, when it comes to wildlife….but this location has always worked out for us. I have never seen the turtles on the beach here…only swimming in the ocean.

There is shallow water at this beach that is protected from big waves thanks to the reef wall. There is a gradual, shallow, easy entry to the ocean that offers less stress as a parent. You can sit in the shallow water while your young kids or toddlers splash in the ocean and not worry about them getting knocked over by a wave. It is absolutely ideal for relaxing beach fun. The views are amazing, and if you have a kiddo who wants to give snorkeling a try, this is a perfect place to start. Even if you are unsure about snorkeling yourself, this beach offers you interesting underwater views, but less variables than the other beaches since it is so protected from the waves. With your snorkel goggles on you can put your face in the water and view the coral reef that is only a few feet from shore.

The biggest downside of this beach is the lack of restrooms and outdoor showers. Expect to leave sandy!

The kids playing at Lahaina Baby Beach (Pu’unoa Beach). You can see the waves crashing on the reef wall in the distance… far far away from shore!

#2 Ulua Beach in Wailea: This beach has it all. There are small waves for the kids to play (depending on the day), and there is reef on the north end of the beach that you can swim to easily. Since this is a very sandy beach with a gradual entry that has more shallow water the visibility is not as clear due to the sand.

Entry to the parking lot for Ulua Beach is located right after the Andaz Hotel when you are driving from Kihei along South Kihei Rd. The parking lot can get busy, but if you are patient or if you go early (i.e before 10 am), you will get a spot!

Ulua Beach offers some nice snorkeling from shore that is accessible for kids and beginners. The side of the beach closest to the Andaz hotel (right side when you are facing the ocean) allows you to start enjoying the underwater world within a few feet of shore. You are sure to see lots of fish, sea urchins, and maybe some Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles.

If you rent kayaks and go on a self-guided tour, paddling to the tip of the rocky outcropping between Ulua & Mokapu beach offers really beautiful snorkeling. You can also swim out there, just make sure your kids have a floatation device and everyone is a strong ocean swimmer.

#3 Ka'anapali Beach: The south end of Kaanapali beach has coral reef in shallow water that makes it amazing for snorkeling with kids. When the waves are small you can swim along the beach and see an abundance of fish. As you head north along Kaanapali the reef gets farther from shore. This is an extremely popular place to swim and snorkel due to the density of resorts. Since the reef is quite close to shore, be careful not step or stand on the reef. Once you start swimming be prepared to float when you need to rest instead of standing up (even though it is shallow and you can touch). Make sure you have a floatation device to ensure this isn't more strenuous than it needs to be.

Parking can be a challenge if you aren't staying at one of the beach front resorts, but if you are patient and willing to head out early it is definitely worth the effort to visit this beach!

Most Popular Snorkeling Spots:

Molokini Crater: This extinct volcanic crater is an epic snorkeling spot. The Land that you can see is actually a bird sanctuary and there is no land access. You have to take a snorkeling tour to get to this location since there is no land entry at all. However, taking a snorkel trip will allow you to see some of the incredible ocean life that you would never get to see from land!

The boat tour will leave from Maalaea Harbor and take you to this beautiful snorkeling location. The best part of taking a boat tour (for a mom of young kids) is that crew members will supervise in the water so you have an extra level of safety when you are snorkeling with your kids. We did the Four Winds Snorkel Tour and it was a great experience for the whole family (including young kids and grandparents).

The tour included a simple BBQ lunch, ample time for snorkeling, and whale watching since we went in February. It was an early start since we did the morning tour (7:30am departure) but since the morning is ideal for snorkeling conditions, it is worth it! There is also an afternoon tour, but with the trade winds in the afternoon you are more likely to have rougher ocean conditions later in the day. Rougher ocean conditions are not guaranteed though, so you can still do the afternoon tour if that works better for you family.

The kids loved the rafts with the viewing window. My husband and I could pull them on the raft and snorkel while they looked through the viewing window. It was ideal to let them be part of the snorkel experience and have a comfortable way to get out of the water when they needed a break without having to return to the boat.

The grandparents traveling with us had never ocean snorkeled before and we found the staff on the tour to be very thorough on their safety checks. They were patient and helpful with guests, making sure everyone knew how to use their equipment. Everyone wore a floatation belt (even if you're a great swimmer this just makes the snorkel excursion more relaxing and enjoyable), and they had life jackets for the kids.

We opted out of wearing a wet suit, but it was pretty cold once we had been in the water for 30 minutes...so if you want to be able to stay out longer, go for the wet suit!

Honolua Bay: Located in Northwest Maui, this is not a beach location, so it's not a bring the kids to play on the sand and take turns snorkeling kind of spot. It is a rocky entry with an abundance of underwater marine life. Since it's not a beach destination, it can be less crowded and the marine life is more pristine.

Kapalua Bay: This bay is also in Northwest Maui, but it has a great beach that is perfect for kids as well. You do have to swim out a little bit to get better snorkeling visibility, so your distance from shore comfort level will dictate how much you can see underwater.

Coral Gardens: This is accessible from Olowalu, or at mile marker 14. A beautiful spot. If you have a very windy day, your boat tour may not be able to get to the Molokini crater, so they will often anchor at coral gardens instead since it is such a beautiful place to snorkel.

Turtle Town: This is the turtle cleaning station near Wailea Beach! Many snorkeling tours will take you to turtle town to view the epic coral reef and marine life.

If you go on a kayak tour from Wailea you can expect turtle town to be a destination given the proximity to shore and Wailea. Some of my best experiences snorkeling in Maui have been from a kayak because you can access these snorkel sites on your own that may be beyond your comfort level for just swimming (in terms of distance from shore). The coral reef is incredible here, with huge outcroppings that reach almost to the surface. You can swim along and see the whole underwater structure, many fish, and vibrant colors. There are usually boats anchored nearby so depending on whether you prefer to be alone with the pristine wilderness, or if you're like me with water sports and being near others gives you a sense of security...it's just something to note that Turtle Town is a popular snorkeling spot.

Since we are based in Kihei, we often take kayaks to go snorkeling at Turtle Town. If you prefer to go on your own schedule with young kids, I would recommend renting clear bottom kayaks so the kids can enjoy the view of the underwater world, while the adults take turns jumping into the water to snorkel. Depending on availability, sometimes we'll just rent the regular double kayaks and the kids will get out to swim as well.

If you're not confident in a kayak, or just prefer to have the knowledge of a local guide, a group kayak tour is a fantastic way to get out on the water and snorkel in Maui.

Kahekili Beach park: This beach park is just north of Kaanapali on the other side of Black Rock. It is a great spot with a big public parking lot, restrooms, and a picnic area. This beach is also referred to as Airport Beach.

It is a steep beach down to the water (which is pretty typical on the west side of the island), but as soon as you enter the ocean the water is deep and clear with exceptional snorkeling right from the shore. It is still sandy so you don't have to worry too much about stepping on sea urchins!! As always don't walk or stand on the reef!

You will see scuba divers at this beach, as there are many lessons and tours that launch from Kahekili. I always enjoy watching the scuba divers as I snorkel! Just be mindful of their flags and give them lots of space. One thing to note is that Kahekili is more exposed to the wind than the south side of Black Rock, so it can be windy here in the afternoons. Make sure to secure your beach umbrella and always ensure it is down before you head into the water. Nobody wants a beach umbrella flying at them while they are relaxing on the beach!

Black Rock Beach: Black rock beach (in front of the sheraton) is the north end of Kaanapali beach. It is a very popular snorkeling spot and you will also see the young and brave cliff jumping! Avoid going out to the tip of the rocks because there are strong currents. These rocky cliffs make for excellent underwater viewing.

Kamaole Beaches- These are beautiful sandy beaches that are perfect for a beach day. If you get a really calm ocean day, this is a beautiful snorkeling location, but from my experience there is a really good day to snorkel at the Kamaole beach only once every few weeks The best time to snorkel is very early in the morning. If you go any later in the day, the snorkeling conditions will be very dependent on ocean conditions. Since these beaches are so sandy (which is lovely for swimming), the visibility is significantly reduced if the water is even a little bit rough since the waves throw the sand around in the water.

Snorkeling is best in the early morning when there are calm waters. You can find crystal clear waters in Maui, but the best location will vary based on the ocean conditions and the amount of rainfall. You will be able to see many tropical fish, and species of fish that you can only find in Hawaii. The marine life on the coral reefs off Maui create some of the best snorkeling spots in the world.

Make sure you do not stand of step on the coral reef! It is alive....and there are often sea urchins! OUCH!

The best time to visit a particular snorkel site changes based on the time of year. Generally speaking, during the winter months West Maui and south Maui offer excellent snorkeling conditions. Since December-April is whale season, you will have the opportunity to HEAR the humpback whales as you snorkel. Being able to whale watch is one of the best things about Maui.

Maybe you'll even get to see a whale. WOW!!!

In the summer months the south swell picks up and makes snorkeling conditions less consistent off this part of Maui, however the northwest zones (Kapulua Bay, Honolua Bay tend to improve and become excellent snorkel sites during the summer). These are not hard and fast rules since weather patterns like tropical storms can affect the conditions at any time of year.

If you decide to bring your own snorkeling gear you can head straight to one of these fantastic snorkel spots. Otherwise, rental snorkel gear is available and affordable on Maui, so there is no need to pack your own unless you are a very advanced snorkelers and you just love your own gear. I get that!

Snorkel equipment is pretty straightforward- Mask, Snorkel, and fins.

My kids love the U.S Divers Brand Snorkel Mask.

My youngest isn't ready for the snorkel yet, and wearing fins is just too much to manage for him, but wearing the snorkel mask allows him to view the underwater world.

My oldest wears the snorkel mask and snorkel, but prefers not to wear the fins. We are still practicing with all the gear in the pool and progressively working towards using them safely in the ocean.

I love the U.S Divers Diva Snorkel Set, and my husband loves his U.S Divers Admiral Snorkel Set. They are both great entry level sets. If you bring your own you don't have to worry about whether the one's your rent are properly cleaned and you can ensure you get a mask that fits you well.

I see a lot of people use the full face snorkel mask. Totally your call, but personally I find them claustrophobic and it makes it harder to call for help if you need to. I definitely don't feel comfortable with a child who needs assistance putting the mask on and taking it off wearing a full face mask!

I also noticed that friends who wore them struggled more with sun burns on their face because of the light refraction! Just something to note as you are doing your research.

There are so many beautiful places to visit, you are guaranteed to have a great time. maui is a great place to visit, and

As always, once you are on the open ocean, you are a guest to the sea life. Be respectful, explore, take your time, know your skill level (but be REAL....it's not worth over estimating when you are dealing with the ocean), and leave it the way you found it. Make sure your pockets are empty and everything on your in secured so you don't drop anything that doesn't belong into the ocean. ( I bought this on amazon to keep my phone/keys safe & dry while I snorkeled)

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If you want to learn more about the ocean life before getting in the water, head over to the Maui Ocean Centre first!

Have a great time!

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