Snorkeling in Maui

[Matt]

Now *THAT'S* FOWLR!

[Samw]

Those are great. Did you have to pay an entrance fee?

[Pansy-Paws]

ahhh ... the entrance fee

Let's just say that the blood, sweat, and tears of the lava rock walk is all the entrance fee that we could handle. When we were leaving one day, we met a guy carrying a child on his shoulders ... he had sweat pouring down his forehead and all he could manage to say as we passed was "is it worth it ...". I assured him it was, and he trudged onwards.

The smiles on the photo disguise the fact that we are about ready to pass out (this was on the way back on the 2nd day) ...

[sumpfinfishe]

Thanks for sharing those great pics Lyle, the raccoon shot is very beautiful!
I have never been to Maui, but I have snorkeled and dived in many "off the beat'n tracks" in Playa Del Carmen and Cuba and that seems to be the case-it's not just the underwater scenery that gets better, but also the trek makes a great adventure too!

P.S. next time you post pics like that maybe you could include a plane ticket or two

[bulletsworld]

Wowzers! Nice shots!

Thanks for sharing your pics. I just love seeing pics from all over the world and awesome hot spots.

Where in Maui was this spot?

[Samw]

Well, when I went to Maui, this was the first place that I tried to find. Unfortunately, I walked through the lava field South from the parking lot instead of Northwest and ended up at the Hanamanioa Light Point at the end of the Hoapili Trail in Perouse Bay. So for those who want to go to the "Aquarium" or the "Fish Bowl", don't do what I did. However, I'm sure the snorkeling in Perouse Bay must be pretty good as well. But there were no people around when I was there.

I found out that the "Fish Bowl" and "Aquarium" are both closed to the public now due to too many tourists trampling on the reef so I didn't miss much.

http://www.mauinews.com/page/content...89.html?nav=10

"Closed will be the unofficial trails to Kalua o Lapa (cinder cone area); Kalaeloa, known as the "Aquarium"; and Mokuha, also known as the "Fishbowl."

"The closure was approved by the Board of Land and Natural Resources in May, and it will remain in effect until July 31, 2010."

But here's a map to the "Aquarium" in case others want to go there and don't want to make the same mistake as I did.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...7079&z=14&om=1


The following are pics that I took after taking the wrong route.


La Perouse Bay



Miles and miles of lava



Hanamanioa Light Point at the end of the Hoapili Trail (About 45 minutes South from the parking lot)

[Delphinus]

Mmm. Too bad about the Aquarium and Fish Bowl but you know what, it wasn't my favourite place anyhow. At least when I was there the visibility was rather poor. La Perouse bay was better. Haven't been to Honolua Bay but I hear it's probably the best for visibility second only to the offshore spots like Molokini. Or so I've been told anyhow. Man I want to go somewhere nice soon. The rate things are going it will be well after 2010 for me anyhow so maybe I'll get to go to the Fishbowl again.

That lava field is something else. May as well be walking on the moon.

[Pansy-Paws]

That's a shame ... but understandable to allow regeneration.

I guess the listing in "Snorkel Maui", breaking the hush-hush status of the sites, signaled the start of the over-use and foot traffic.

It remains our most memorable snorkeling site from Maui or the Big Island