Makena Landing Snorkeling Tours

Makena Landing & Wailea Snorkeling Tours - What to Know

Makena snorkeling tours are almost all shore-based. You meet your guide on the sand, get fitted for a mask, snorkel, and fins, and walk or paddle out to the reef. That makes them a good fit for anyone who gets seasick, and it means more of your time is spent in the water. Before you start, guides walk you through how to breathe through the snorkel and clear your mask, and many lead a short breathing session to help nervous swimmers relax. Flotation belts, noodles, or boards are usually on hand if you want extra support.

The tour style decides how you reach the reef. Shore snorkel tours are the simplest: a short swim from the beach with your guide, usually 1 to 2 hours, sometimes followed by a beach picnic. Kayak and snorkel tours paddle along the Makena coast first, then anchor up to explore lava formations and turtle feeding areas – a longer, more active morning. Outrigger canoe and snorkel tours add Hawaiian paddling culture, with a short team paddle before most of the time is spent underwater. Private tours are available for families and couples who want a guide to themselves, and winter tours add the chance of whale sightings.

Whatever the format, the reward is the same. Makena Landing snorkeling tours – turtles, Maui reef fish, octopus, and eels hidden in the coral – make for a memorable first look at Hawaii's underwater life. Gear and instruction are included, and many tours add underwater photos. Group sizes stay small, so first-timers, families with kids, and confident snorkelers all get attention from their guide.

Why Choose Makena Landing & Wailea Beach Snorkeling Tours

Makena Landing and Wailea Beach, Maui snorkeling tours share the same advantage: they explore Maui's dry, leeward South Shore, where mornings are often calm and clear before the trade winds build. The reef starts right off the beach, so you can reach coral and turtles without a boat. Turtle Town, the stretch of coast around Makena Landing, has one of Maui's highest concentrations of green sea turtles (honu), which graze on algae along the lava and surface to breathe beside snorkelers.

The underwater scenery is shaped by old lava flows, with fingers, arches, and small caves that shelter octopus, moray eels, and schools of butterflyfish, surgeonfish, and parrotfish. Water stays around 75–80°F (24–27°C) all year, so most people snorkel without a wetsuit. And these waters are part of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, so from about December through April, whale songs often carry through the water while you snorkel.

Where to Go: Makena Landing & Wailea Snorkeling Tours

Snorkeling tours along this coast launch from a string of beaches between Wailea and Makena, each with easy access to a different section of reef. Guides choose the exact snorkel spot each morning based on wind, swell, and visibility, often heading toward Turtle Town, Wailea Point, Ulua reef, or the lava caves south of Makena Landing. Your meeting point is listed on each tour.

• Makena Landing Beach Park – The gateway to Turtle Town and the main launch for kayak and snorkel tours and Makena beach snorkeling tours. Paddle or swim south to lava fingers, caves, and turtle cleaning stations. The small free lot fills early.
• Polo Beach – In front of the Fairmont Kea Lani at the south end of Wailea. A favorite launch for kayak and snorkel tours that explore Wailea Point, Palauea, and the reef toward Turtle Town.
• Ulua Beach – A sandy Wailea beach with reef just offshore, used for short, convenient shore snorkel tours. Great for first-timers who want to be in the water within minutes.
• Wailea Beach – The wide crescent in front of the Grand Wailea, where Grand Wailea snorkeling tours set out by outrigger canoe to nearby reef and turtle areas.
• Mōkapu Beach – A small, calm beach next to the Andaz Maui at the north end of Wailea, used for outrigger canoe and snorkel tours.

Types of Wailea Maui Snorkeling Tours

From quick shore swims to half-day paddles, here are the main styles of Makena and Wailea Maui snorkeling tours you'll find:

Wailea Shore Snorkel Tours

The easiest way in. You'll swim from the beach with your guide, who points out turtles, fish, and hidden reef life. Tours typically last 1 to 2 hours and often include a breathing session and flotation. A great choice for beginners, families, and anyone short on time.

Makena Kayak & Snorkel Tours

Paddle the Makena coastline in stable sit-on-top kayaks, then anchor at a reef spot to snorkel. Tours run about 2 to 4 hours, with tandem kayaks for kids and couples. They're the best pick if you want to cover more coastline and see lava cliffs and caves from above and below.

Wailea Outrigger Canoe & Snorkel Tours

Paddle a traditional Hawaiian outrigger canoe with a small crew, then spend most of the tour snorkeling. These tours, usually about 2 hours, are a fun way to add a cultural element to your snorkel.

Private Wailea & Makena Snorkel Tours

Book the guide just for your group. Private tours let you set the pace and route, and they suit families with young kids, nervous swimmers, and couples who want a quieter morning.

Whale Season Snorkel Tours (Winter)

In winter, some kayak and snorkel tours watch for humpbacks on the paddle out, and you may hear whale songs underwater. Sightings are common from January through March but never guaranteed.

Benefits of Makena & Wailea Snorkeling Tours

A guide makes snorkeling easier and safer, especially on an unfamiliar coast. Guides fit your gear properly, teach you to breathe and clear your mask, and stay close to anyone who's nervous in the water. They know which spots are calm and clear on a given morning, and they'll move the tour if wind or swell picks up.

Guides also help you see more. They spot camouflaged octopus, eels tucked into crevices, and turtles resting under ledges that most snorkelers swim right past, and they explain what you're seeing and how the reef works. They also show you how to watch turtles and other wildlife without disturbing them. With gear, instruction, and often photos included, all you need to bring is a swimsuit and towel.

Top Tips for Snorkeling Tours in Wailea & Makena

• Go early. Most tours start between about 7:00 and 9:00 AM, when the water is calmest, visibility is best, and the reef is less crowded.
• Practice in shallow water. Spend a few minutes near shore breathing through the snorkel and clearing your mask before heading out. Put fins on in the water, not on the sand.
• Give turtles plenty of room. Green sea turtles are protected. Stay at least 10 ft (3 m) away, and never touch, chase, feed, or block one, especially when it's swimming up to breathe. Stay at least 100 yards (91 m) from humpback whales.
• Don't stand on the reef. Float, or rest on a flotation device, instead. Coral is fragile, and lava rock and sea urchins can hurt your feet.
• Use reef-safe sunscreen. Hawaii bans sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate. Use a non-nano mineral sunscreen at least 30 minutes before you swim, or wear a long-sleeve rash guard.
• Sort out your vision. You can't wear glasses with a mask, but contacts are fine. If you have your own prescription mask, bring it.
• Trim the mustache or use petroleum jelly. Facial hair can break the mask seal and let water in. A little petroleum jelly on a mustache helps.
• Wear water shoes and arrive early. Some entries are rocky, and the Makena Landing lot is small. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to park, check in, and get fitted.

To learn more, explore these TripOutside stories:

• Snorkeling for Beginners – Mask fit, breathing technique, and tips for staying calm in open water before your first Makena snorkel.
• Best Snorkeling Destinations for Beginners in US & Mexico – A look at beginner-friendly reefs, including Maui, to plan your next snorkel.
• Kayaking for Beginners – Ultimate Guide – Paddling basics and safety tips for kayak and snorkel tours.

Other Maui Adventures

Snorkeling is just the start on the South Shore. Paddle above the same reef, head inland to the volcano, or try something new. Here are more ways to explore Wailea and Makena:

• Paddleboarding – Glide over Turtle Town on Wailea SUP tours, learn with Wailea SUP lessons, or explore on your own with Wailea SUP rentals.
• Kayaking & Outrigger Canoeing – Paddle the Makena coast on Wailea and Makena kayaking tours, or try a traditional outrigger canoe tour.
• Molokini & Scuba Diving – Snorkel a volcanic crater on Molokini Crater snorkeling tours, or go deeper on Maui scuba diving trips.
• Surfing – Catch your first wave with Maui surf lessons and board rentals.
• Hiking – Explore lava coastlines and Haleakalā's volcanic landscapes on Maui hiking tours.
• Mountain Biking & Electric Biking – Ride the slopes above the coast on Maui mountain biking tours or with Maui electric bike tours and rentals.

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