Maui Scuba and Snorkeling

Maui’s coral reefs are home to an incredible variety of tropical fish and marine life, including many species found only in Hawai’i. From colorful Butterflyfish and wrasses to frogfish, rays, reef sharks, and Hawaiian green sea turtles, there’s always something interesting to look for underwater. Banyan Tree Divers created this Maui Fish Guide to help…

Planning to scuba dive during your Maui vacation? A little preparation before your trip can make your diving days much easier. From choosing the right type of dive to packing your certification information and deciding which scuba equipment to bring, there are a few things worth thinking about before you arrive. Whether you’re trying scuba…

Getting scuba certified in Maui can be an unforgettable part of your vacation, but a little preparation before you arrive can make your training much easier. Choosing the right course, completing your online learning, reviewing the requirements, and allowing enough time in your itinerary will help you spend more of your Maui vacation actually diving….

West Maui has a variety of beaches and bays where snorkelers can explore coral reefs, tropical fish, sea turtles, and other marine life when conditions allow. From protected-looking bays to long stretches of reef in Ka’anapali, each snorkeling site has a different character. This guide covers six popular West Maui snorkeling spots: Kapalua Bay, Honolua…

Trying scuba diving for the first time can be exciting, but it’s completely normal to have questions about what breathing underwater will feel like, what skills you’ll need to learn, and what happens once you enter the ocean. A beginner scuba diving lesson introduces you to the equipment, basic underwater communication, breathing and equalization techniques,…

Good buoyancy control can make scuba diving feel dramatically easier. Instead of constantly kicking, adding air, venting your BCD, or struggling to stay at the right depth, a well-balanced diver can move through the water with much less effort. Neutral buoyancy means neither sinking toward the bottom nor floating toward the surface. Achieving it consistently…

Maui offers a variety of scuba diving sites that can be reached directly from the shoreline. From the reefs of Ka’anapali and Lahaina to coastal sites in South Maui, shore diving lets divers explore the island’s underwater world without taking a boat. Every Maui shore-diving site is different. Entry conditions, reef structure, depth, currents, visibility,…

Scuba diving is an incredible way to explore the ocean, but every dive requires preparation, awareness, and respect for changing conditions. Good diving habits begin before you enter the water and continue until everyone is safely back on shore or on the boat. Whether you are newly certified or have been diving for years, reviewing…

A foggy scuba mask can turn an otherwise enjoyable dive into a frustrating one. Condensation on the inside of the lenses reduces visibility and can make it harder to see your buddy, gauges, hand signals, and marine life. Fortunately, you can reduce most mask fogging with proper mask preparation and a simple pre-dive defog routine….

Maui’s coral reefs are much more than beautiful places to scuba dive and snorkel. They provide habitat for fish and other marine life, help protect shorelines from waves and erosion, support local livelihoods and recreation, and hold deep cultural importance in Hawaiʻi. Coral reefs are also living ecosystems that can be damaged by warming ocean…

Maui offers excellent scuba diving from both the shoreline and by boat, but the two experiences can feel very different. The right choice depends on your certification, comfort level, schedule, interests, and the diving you want to experience. Shore diving begins directly from the coastline, while boat diving transports divers to offshore sites that are…