Snorkel· Maui· Hawaii
Coral Gardens (Pali Coast)
20° 47.3′ N · 156° 33.7′ W
A small cove under the Pali cliffs west of the Olowalu tunnel, with sand channels and mini coral canyons in under 25 ft of water and occasional turtles; the classic bail-out snorkel when the trades blow 30 knots.
Practical
Coordinate is day-use mooring Coral Gardens 2 (20 47.288 N, 156 33.670 W; 25 ft, ball 10 ft, manta anchor) from the Maui DMB guidebook. Coral Gardens 3 is in 12 ft, Coral Gardens 4 in 29 ft; DOBOR also lists Drain Pipe, Pali 009 and Pali 010 moorings farther east along the Pali. To find it: round McGregor Point from Maalaea and follow the Pali toward Lahaina, past the tunnel and before the highway drops to sea level; the first mooring is about 100 ft off the small point in 30 ft. Expect every Maalaea tour boat here on windy days; light-wind mornings can be empty until afternoon tours arrive. Poor in south swell and catches westerlies. Day-use mooring rules: 2.5 hours if others waiting, no overnight, no anchoring within 100 yards.
Best for
Sheltered snorkel when it is blowing hard out of Maalaea
Season
Year-round in trades; avoid south swell
Nearby
- Lahaina Pali Trail0.3 NM away
- Ukumehame Beach Park1.2 NM away
- Great Whale Count2.2 NM away
- McGregor Point Light2.2 NM away
- Seascape Maalaea (Maui Ocean Center)2.7 NM away
- Coast Guard Station Maui2.8 NM away
- DOBOR Maui District Office and Maalaea Harbor Office2.8 NM away
- Lanai Ferry (Expeditions) from Maui2.8 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).