WAILEA POINT REEF DIVE
One of Maui’s best dive sites, WAILEA POINT REEF.
This Shore Dive begins on Wailea Beach with 3 different dive routes based on experience and conditions.
Open to Certified Divers, Refresher Divers, and Qualified Intro to Scuba Divers.
Explore the Reef on a Guided Tour for an average of 30-45 minutes of Dive Time.
2 Hrs. Ages 10 and Older.
PRIVATE RATES $270 pp
OPEN GROUP RATES $135 pp up to 6 Divers
Dive Profile: Water Temp 74 in winter, 83 in summer.
Viz: 40-100+ feet.
Average Depth: 15-30 feet, max 50 feet.
Average Bottom time: 60 minutes.
Current: none to moderate surge depending on wind and waves.
Procedures: Don BCD and Wetsuit at Dive Shop. Walk down path 20 yards to soft, golden sand beach entry, put on fins and mask in chest-deep water, kick out 20 yards and descend. Follow the reef contour 3-4 different directions based on conditions and abilities. Explore the reef to observe, identify, and discover the natural sea life as part of the dive. I will photograph and video your dive along the way. You are the star and I am the Paparazzi! Continue visiting the reef turning back towards shore, as air supply demands. Walk back up path to shop, remove gear and receive a fresh towel.
Wailea Beach has a rocky lava natural jetty on the south end of the beach, which marks the beginning of a five-acre coral and lava reef. The reef starts as shallow as 8′ deep and extends to the south to 20′, mid-reef and boat moorings at 30′, and finally the north extension out to 45′ deep. Multiple “satellite” reef formations are located beyond the reef in 50′-100′ of water and are accessed by a DPV scooter dive.
This reef is in B+ condition relative to Maui’s southern reef areas and reserves, but it suffered major damage during the 2014 coral bleaching in Hawaii. Water temperatures rose to 87 degree F. The reef has recovered up to 30% since then. More info on bleaching can be seen in NETFLIX “Chasing Coral” a movie documenting the bleaching episode here in Hawaii and in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
An easy dive for beginners with minimal current and mild to medium surge, this area is home to a large number of Hawaiian green sea turtles which transit back and forth daily. Advanced divers will enjoy the relief and small canyons that maze on the south side extending to the sand and beyond to “Helmet Rock” and “The Nursery”.
This 5-acre, hard coral over lava rock reef is a favorite for divers and snorkelers. Located off fantastic Wailea Beach, a safe and beautiful spot to spend the morning. A great representation of a variety of Hawaii’s endemic species can be observed here, Milletseed Butterflyfish, Hawaiian Dascyllus, Hawaiian Seargent Major, Chocolate-dip Chromis, Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse, Saddle Wrasse, White Spotted Pufferfish, Potter’s Angelfish and hundreds of other fish species! Calm and patient divers can spot these and more in many areas around the reef.
The main star is the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle found near shore, either feeding on the algae at the rocky waterline, swimming by offshore, or wedged between rocks or sleeping in the sand. (More info on turtles here.) Most of the turtles in South Maui are very social, and don’t mind sharing the water with friendly visitors to their ocean domain. I find a variety of ages, from around 5-6 years to very old, dinosaur-looking turtles up to 75-100 years old!
Medical and Physical Restrictions Apply, preview waiver here.
We found Blaze online and signed up for our first scuba dive with our older daughter, who had done it a couple of times in Mexico. He explained everything really well and had us try the equipment in the pool before we entered the ocean. Then in the water, he found us a baby octopus and let us touch and hold it, while he took amazing pictures for us. Then we saw a speckled ray and a baby turtle in a small cave area…so beautiful, and he was a fun and helpful guide.