Top 5 Places to Snorkel with Turtles on Maui

there's one thing every visitor to Maui hopes to see in the water, it's a honu — the Hawaiian green sea turtle. They're graceful, unbothered, and surprisingly easy to find once you know where to look. These are my five favorite spots to snorkel with them, from Lahaina to the northwest coast.

A quick note before we dive in: honu are protected in Hawaii. It's illegal to touch or harass them — give them space, let them come to you, and never chase. Every turtle encounter I've photographed happened because I stayed still and let the turtle decide. It works.

1. Mala Ramp, Lahaina

The old Mala Wharf is one of the most reliable turtle spots on the island. The collapsed pier pilings have become an artificial reef, and the turtles know it — you'll often find several of them cruising between the pilings or resting on the bottom. It's also one of my favorite places to photograph; the wharf itself is the subject of my "Mala Remains" print, and both "Honu Wings" and "Honu Heaven" were taken here too. Shore entry is easy, and mornings are calmest. (Lahaina is still recovering — check local access before you go.)

2. Makena Landing

On the south shore, Makena Landing has a well-known turtle cleaning station — the same kind of setup where I shot "Olowalu Honu" and my "Hawaiian Trifecta" image. Turtles hover motionless over the reef while small fish pick them clean, which means if you're patient and still, they'll essentially pose for you. Get there early; the water is glassiest before the afternoon breeze picks up.

3. Honokeana Cove

A small, tucked-away cove that most visitors drive right past. The reef here is healthy and the turtles cruise through regularly. It's a quieter spot — fewer people, more turtles per snorkeler. Watch the entry on the rocks and time it for a calm day.

4. Napili Bay

The classic crescent bay in northwest Maui. Napili is calm, shallow, and sandy — perfect for less confident swimmers — and turtles are frequent visitors, often seen grazing or surfacing for air just beyond the swim zone. Great for families who want a relaxed snorkel with a good chance of a turtle sighting.

5. Honolua Bay

A marine life conservation district and one of the best snorkeling spots in all of Hawaii. The reef is pristine, the fish life is dense, and honu are regulars. No fishing and no taking — the protections show in how alive the bay feels. Go on a calm morning, especially in summer when the north swells are down.

Tips for snorkeling with turtles

Go early. Mornings mean calmer water and better visibility everywhere on this list.

Wear reef-safe sunscreen. Hawaii bans sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate — mineral-based is the way.

Don't touch, don't chase. It's the law, and honestly the encounters are better when the turtle chooses you.

Bring a camera if you want — but watch first. Some moments are better lived than photographed. (Says the photographer.)

Shop the prints in this post

Olowalu Honu: https://www.drewsulockcreations.com/purchase-photos/p/olowalu-honu

Mala Remains: https://www.drewsulockcreations.com/purchase-photos/p/mala-remains

Honu Wings: https://www.drewsulockcreations.com/purchase-photos/p/honu-wings

Honu Heaven: https://www.drewsulockcreations.com/purchase-photos/p/honu-heaven

Hawaiian Trifecta: https://www.drewsulockcreations.com/purchase-photos/p/hawaiian-trifecta