Dive· Maui· Hawaii
Five Caves (Five Graves)
20° 39.3′ N · 156° 26.8′ W
Fingers of old lava running out from Nahuna Point form arches, swim-throughs and caverns where green turtles queue at a cleaning station and whitetip reef sharks rest under ledges; one of south Maui's best shore and boat dives, named for a small historic graveyard on the walk in.
Practical
Position is state day-use buoy Five Graves 1 (20°39.346'N 156°26.752'W, DLNR list); there are five buoys here (2.5-hour limit, no anchoring within 100 yards). Depths roughly 10 to 45 ft, with a turtle cleaning station around 40 ft; Bubble Cave is entered through a lava tube in about 12 ft and opens into a chamber where you can surface. Visibility typically 30 to 80 ft depending on weather. Shore entry over lava is tricky and parking is tight; many divers use Makena Landing park (restrooms, showers) just north and swim out. Best on calm mornings; avoid in south swell. Keep 10 ft from turtles.
Best for
Turtles, arches and caverns from a dive buoy
Season
Year-round on calm days; south swell Apr-Oct can close it
Nearby
- Makena Offshore Moorings0.2 NM away
- Makena Landing0.3 NM away
- Keawalai Congregational Church (Makena)0.4 NM away
- Makena Anchorage (Nahuna Point)0.4 NM away
- Maluaka Beach (Turtle Town)0.6 NM away
- Turtle Arches and Keawalai Reef Dive0.6 NM away
- South Maui Kona Storm and South Swell Exposure0.8 NM away
- Puu Olai Reef Dive (Makena)1.1 NM away