The Ultimate Guide to Shore Diving in Maui

If you’re heading to Maui and want an unforgettable underwater adventure, shore diving is one of the best ways to experience the island’s reefs and marine life. With warm tropical water, excellent visibility, and dozens of accessible dive sites, scuba diving in Maui is a must. Aloha Maui Diving is here to help you make it easy, safe, and memorable.

Why Choose Shore Diving
One of the greatest things about diving in Maui is that you don’t need a boat to reach incredible dive sites. Shore diving gives you easy access, flexible dive times, lower costs, and a relaxed pace that’s ideal for beginners and seasoned divers alike. With guidance from a trusted local dive shop like Aloha Maui Diving, you can dive with confidence and convenience.

Best Shore Diving Spots in Maui
At Aloha Maui Diving, we love introducing divers to some of Maui’s best-known and hidden-gem shore sites.
Kahekili (Old Airport) Beach
This site is famous for its sandy entry, easy parking, and stunning coral reef. Most divers descend in an area we call “the classroom,” a sandy channel about ten feet deep that leads into a shallow reef. From there, you can explore depths between ten and fifty feet. Beginners can follow the reef north and enjoy encounters with turtles, eels, and colorful fish. More experienced divers can head west to the deeper reef, about a ten-minute swim across sand dotted with coral heads.

Hazards: During large north or west swells, surf can make entry or exit dangerous. Conditions and currents vary, so always plan to dive into the current first and adjust your route as needed.

Black Rock (Kāʻanapali)
This popular site allows for a gentle drift dive from shore. Enter from the north side near May’s Beach and enjoy depths between fifteen and thirty-five feet. Currents often move north to south, perfect for a relaxed glide along the rock wall. You might spot schools of fish, eels, nudibranchs, eagle rays, or even dolphins.
Hazards: Surge is common along the wall—work with it, not against it. During strong tidal swings, head currents can develop. If that happens, stay low and move along the bottom until conditions ease near the cove.

Mala Pier
This old pier structure is a favorite for its turtles and reef sharks. Enter from the left side and kick out to the last broken pylon before descending into about twelve feet of water. Keep the pier on your right as you explore; maximum depth is around thirty-five feet.
Marine Life Note: Never touch or chase turtles. They’re protected by law, and disturbing them harms the reef ecosystem. Also avoid swimming over cleaning stations where fish maintain the health of the reef.
Safety and Etiquette

Motorized boats and jet skis sometimes pass near these sites. Stay low when you hear engines and always surface close to your dive flag or deploy a surface marker before ascending.
Finally, remember that Maui is home to a vibrant local community. Show respect and aloha, give space, be kind, and treat beaches and access points as shared places to be cared for.