© Mares

Diving in Maui offers an unparalleled marine adventure, blending stunning underwater landscapes with diverse marine life. Known for its incredible shore dives, Maui's leeward side is a diver's paradise. Sites like Black Rock, Honolua Bay, and Kahekili Beach along the Ka’anapali coast provide accessible, yet breathtaking experiences. To the south, the shores of Kihei and Wailea beckon with their clear waters and abundant sea life, perfect for both novice and experienced divers.

One standout feature is the Molokini Crater, a partially submerged volcanic crater that promises thrilling underwater exploration. The crater's "backside" offers a more challenging dive, with deeper waters and stronger currents, attracting those seeking adventure. Additionally, Lanai's dive spots, reachable by charter from Maui, present enchanting underwater scenes, including vibrant coral reefs and fascinating rock formations.

Maui's underwater world teems with life, from colorful reef fish to graceful sea turtles, and, during certain seasons, the majestic humpback whales. This diversity enhances the island's appeal, making it a must-visit destination for diving enthusiasts worldwide. Whether looking for a serene shore dive or an exhilarating deep-water challenge, Maui offers something special for every diver.

Dive Activity

Diving in Maui

Maui is a diver's paradise, offering a blend of stunning shore and adventurous liveaboard diving experiences. Some of the top dive sites include the Molokini Crater, a partially submerged volcanic caldera known for its clear waters and vibrant marine life. The Cathedrals, located off Lanai, offer dramatic underwater lava formations and are a favorite for their unique structure and light play. For wreck enthusiasts, the Carthaginian II, a sunken whaling ship, provides an intriguing dive into history along with an abundance of marine life. Night dives at Black Rock are popular for witnessing the curious behavior of nocturnal sea creatures. Maui's diverse dive sites cater to all preferences, from tranquil shore dives to more challenging adventures, making it a versatile destination for divers of all levels.

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Maui

Maui offers excellent year-round diving opportunities with generally favorable conditions. Water temperatures range from 24°C–28°C/75°F–82°F, ensuring comfortable dives throughout the year. Visibility is typically 15–30 meters/50–100 feet, providing clear underwater views of the vibrant marine life.

While diving is possible all year, winter months can bring stronger currents and large swells, especially on the north shore, potentially reducing visibility and accessibility. Summer months tend to offer calmer seas and more predictable conditions. Divers should consider seasonal changes in wind patterns and swells when planning their trips for the best experience.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Maui

Maui's waters are teeming with a vibrant array of marine life making it a diver's paradise. Common species include the brightly colored butterflyfish and parrotfish, often seen darting around the coral reefs. The Moorish idol is another frequent sighting, recognized by its striking black, white, and yellow bands. During the winter months, divers may encounter humpback whales as they migrate to Hawaii for breeding. Green sea turtles are a year-round staple, frequently spotted at popular dive sites like Turtle Town. Reef sharks and manta rays are also notable, with the former more commonly seen in deeper waters and the latter during night dives or around feeding stations.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Green Turtle

Green Turtle

3.3k Sightings
J
270
F
261
M
305
A
217
M
344
J
401
J
304
A
220
S
270
O
218
N
199
D
254

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

2.4k Sightings
J
180
F
170
M
202
A
143
M
275
J
296
J
260
A
194
S
181
O
164
N
156
D
192

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

627 Sightings
J
72
F
62
M
57
A
41
M
53
J
55
J
39
A
41
S
54
O
39
N
53
D
61

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

549 Sightings
J
17
F
47
M
58
A
30
M
48
J
67
J
65
A
36
S
62
O
51
N
39
D
29
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

400 Sightings
J
43
F
21
M
34
A
26
M
45
J
30
J
31
A
33
S
47
O
28
N
29
D
33

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray

367 Sightings
J
34
F
31
M
21
A
25
M
18
J
18
J
36
A
40
S
54
O
38
N
18
D
34
Humpback Whale

Humpback Whale

117 Sightings
J
30
F
18
M
43
A
4
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
20

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

100 Sightings
J
0
F
8
M
3
A
5
M
9
J
11
J
30
A
13
S
8
O
0
N
1
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

1.8k Sightings
J
121
F
118
M
167
A
105
M
188
J
261
J
228
A
123
S
150
O
120
N
94
D
135
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

1.6k Sightings
J
121
F
137
M
158
A
107
M
182
J
181
J
146
A
109
S
122
O
101
N
115
D
89

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

1.5k Sightings
J
104
F
99
M
130
A
71
M
161
J
213
J
163
A
115
S
138
O
100
N
102
D
118

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

1.4k Sightings
J
84
F
90
M
140
A
78
M
146
J
184
J
162
A
101
S
127
O
92
N
90
D
93

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

1.2k Sightings
J
68
F
80
M
113
A
53
M
88
J
146
J
159
A
87
S
124
O
74
N
74
D
93

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

1.1k Sightings
J
72
F
82
M
119
A
47
M
119
J
167
J
150
A
71
S
97
O
69
N
54
D
89

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

954 Sightings
J
76
F
75
M
102
A
59
M
107
J
109
J
107
A
62
S
73
O
45
N
47
D
92

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

762 Sightings
J
53
F
75
M
72
A
36
M
79
J
94
J
86
A
42
S
66
O
55
N
45
D
59

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

591 Sightings
J
21
F
59
M
77
A
21
M
67
J
100
J
75
A
23
S
54
O
33
N
30
D
31

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

557 Sightings
J
32
F
43
M
41
A
20
M
59
J
72
J
76
A
50
S
58
O
45
N
24
D
37

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

452 Sightings
J
19
F
39
M
52
A
24
M
36
J
74
J
42
A
32
S
48
O
36
N
17
D
33

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 50

Frogfish

Frogfish

400 Sightings
J
32
F
38
M
40
A
19
M
55
J
43
J
25
A
30
S
42
O
25
N
28
D
23

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

298 Sightings
J
14
F
33
M
32
A
8
M
22
J
55
J
36
A
32
S
20
O
21
N
7
D
18

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

274 Sightings
J
13
F
18
M
41
A
18
M
9
J
43
J
48
A
9
S
27
O
23
N
7
D
18

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

251 Sightings
J
23
F
42
M
27
A
13
M
31
J
9
J
17
A
1
S
37
O
18
N
18
D
15

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

244 Sightings
J
6
F
28
M
30
A
13
M
23
J
31
J
44
A
27
S
18
O
11
N
9
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

237 Sightings
J
22
F
37
M
13
A
11
M
20
J
22
J
21
A
21
S
31
O
2
N
13
D
24

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

222 Sightings
J
8
F
11
M
18
A
20
M
14
J
18
J
32
A
17
S
24
O
27
N
15
D
18

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

196 Sightings
J
23
F
19
M
17
A
13
M
11
J
6
J
31
A
26
S
16
O
9
N
15
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

186 Sightings
J
8
F
18
M
16
A
4
M
25
J
29
J
30
A
16
S
9
O
7
N
8
D
16
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark

180 Sightings
J
1
F
7
M
16
A
15
M
15
J
12
J
29
A
23
S
13
O
15
N
15
D
19

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

174 Sightings
J
11
F
6
M
14
A
14
M
6
J
34
J
20
A
22
S
16
O
16
N
3
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Cornetfish

Cornetfish

147 Sightings
J
14
F
10
M
24
A
4
M
6
J
21
J
15
A
11
S
16
O
8
N
9
D
9
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark

139 Sightings
J
2
F
14
M
2
A
0
M
5
J
34
J
14
A
16
S
25
O
18
N
7
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

131 Sightings
J
8
F
1
M
10
A
13
M
8
J
27
J
9
A
4
S
18
O
12
N
7
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

130 Sightings
J
2
F
13
M
13
A
7
M
8
J
18
J
35
A
5
S
14
O
9
N
4
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

112 Sightings
J
2
F
25
M
9
A
1
M
7
J
14
J
17
A
14
S
6
O
4
N
1
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 120

Flounder

Flounder

109 Sightings
J
17
F
9
M
19
A
0
M
18
J
4
J
2
A
8
S
13
O
1
N
9
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 55

Lobster

Lobster

99 Sightings
J
12
F
14
M
10
A
5
M
10
J
10
J
3
A
18
S
5
O
2
N
2
D
8

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

88 Sightings
J
15
F
4
M
4
A
13
M
5
J
12
J
7
A
3
S
5
O
2
N
12
D
6