Home / Snorkel Spots / Turtle Town
As you’d guess from the name, Turtle Town, located along Maui’s south shore near Makena Landing, is known for its large population of Hawaiian green sea turtles, called ‘honu’ in Hawaiian, making it a top destination for Turtle Town Snorkeling Maui.
While the area is accessible from the beach, it’s quite a swim from the shore but our boat brings you right where the turtles hang out, perfect for a Turtle Town Snorkel experience.
We get to show you so many more snorkel spots than you’ll see on other tours because of our unique approach to Molokini Crater and Turtle Town Snorkeling from Kihei.
We guide you through an area rich with beauty and wildlife during one snorkel ‘stop’. Our crew will be in the water with you, drifting from spot to spot, pointing out coral and other marine life along the way, as our boat floats along with you. Because you are not constantly swimming out to a snorkel spot and back to the boat, you get to see way more with less effort, making this a true Molokini and Turtle Town Snorkeling Adventure.
This guided experience is ideal for Turtle Town Snorkeling enthusiasts looking for comfort and safety.
Your Seafari™ of the Turtle Town region typically begins at the Pinnacle, also known as Five Caves, a highlight of Private Snorkeling Turtle Town tours. The pinnacle is a 40 foot tall mound of lava and coral that has five large openings into a small cathedral where turtles are often found resting. If you can hold your breath for about 45 seconds, you can dive down to swim through one hole, the cathedral, and then out the other side for the thrill of a lifetime. Swimming east we then explore the turtle cave wall with large inlets and caves that are home to several large green sea turtles.
Next we move on to Wash Rock, a cool area with an exposed lava rock that plunges down about 30 feet to an area with turtle caves at the base, another key stop on a Turtle Town Snorkel route. Our guides often lead guests from the north side of the lava tube to an area along the shore where shallower coral serve as home to an abundance of sea life.
Turtle Arches is a special area where underwater lava and coral formations leave holes large enough for turtles to secure themselves against tidal surge and currents, while exposing them to cleaner fish. This is a signature highlight of Turtle Town Snorkeling Maui experiences. Watching all the activity at the ‘turtle cleaning station’ gives you a glimpse of what life is like for these gentle creatures in their life under the sea.
One of the most majestic snorkel sites along the South Maui coastline is called the Sea Cliffs. These lava bluffs are often included in Turtle Town Snorkeling tours. This surging shoreline can be one of the more adventurous and thrilling spots of our tour.
Shark Fin Cove is a one-of-a kind location often visited on a Molokini Crater and Turtle Town Snorkeling from Kihei route. At the base of the largest cliff is a sand cave that is easily accessible to anyone who can dive and hold their breath for a little while. At 5′ high and 40′ in diameter, this sandy bottom cave is the hangout for a couple of unlikely roommates… a few harmless white tip reef sharks and turtles. This makes it a highlight of Private Snorkeling Turtle Town experiences.
Swimming past Shark Fin Cove we enter Makena Landing, which until the early 1900s was used as a shipping port for cattle being sent to the other islands and for receiving goods, often included in Turtle Town Snorkeling Maui trips. When the trade winds are blowing, Makena Landing remains calm, making it a favorite spot to relax while we look for turtles beaching themselves along the rocky shoreline.
on the Maui Snorkel Charters Molokini Tour
The #1 “must do” adventure on Maui provides world famous snorkeling and is home to more than 250 species of fish. En'e Nu'e Reef's End Tako Flats Flying Sea Cliffs The Notch Dark Side of the Moon
Also known as Red Hill, you'll explore a shallow area where you’ll see shells galore amidst the crystal clear water. Blue Lagoon Pu'u Point The Cove Coral Forest
Located along Maui’s south shore, this spot is known for its large population of Hawaiian green sea turtles and is ideal for Turtle Town Snorkeling adventures including Pinnacle/Five Caves, Sea Cliffs, Shark Fin Cove, Makena Landing, and Turtle Arches.
We always customize our tours to adjust for weather and ocean conditions to ensure we can deliver an incredible and memorable experience, including variations of Molokini and Turtle Town Snorkeling Adventure routes. Here are some of the spots we visit when conditions permit: La Perouse Bay, Makena Surf, St. Anthony’s Wreck, and Kihei Turtle Cleaning Station.
