Can you snorkel in Kapalua Bay today?

Conditions look marginal right now. No good model window is forecast in Kapalua Bay over the next 72 hours. Check the hourly table and local advisories.

What is the best time of day to snorkel in Kapalua Bay?

Snorkel in daylight, if possible in the morning before the wind picks up. Currents are often weaker near high slack tide. SnorkelForecast scores each daylight hour for Kapalua Bay.

What is the best tide for snorkeling?

High slack tide, within about an hour of the high-tide peak, often has weaker currents. Strong low tides and tidal flow near channels or headlands reduce the score.

Where are the best snorkeling conditions near Kapalua Bay today?

The best nearby spots right now are Ulua Mokapu, Ahihi Kinau, Maluaka Turtle Town. Check each spot page for hourly wind, wave, tide and water temperature detail.

Kapalua Bay Snorkel Report Today

USA · Updated Tue 20:30 (HST) · Source: Snapshot

The skinny

Marginal Report Tue 13:23

Kapalua Bay looks marginal today. The least-bad daylight window is around Thu 08:00, but waves is limiting the forecast.

Score: 3.3/10

Best time: Thu 08:00

Main risk: Waves

No useful morning window is showing yet.

No useful afternoon window is showing yet.

Email me when it is good Compare nearby spots

Best nearby spots

Ulua Mokapu 5.3/10 Fair · Thu 18:00 Ahihi Kinau 5.2/10 Fair · Fri 18:00 Maluaka Turtle Town 5.2/10 Fair · Fri 18:00

Read the Maui snorkeling guide for coast, access and best-month guidance.

Plan your visit

These notes help with planning. Rules and closures can change.

Open map

AccessSandy shore entry with reef along both points. Start in the water only when the bay is calm.

ParkingParking near the bay is limited. Arrive early, use marked spaces, and never block residents or access roads.

ReservationsNo bay-wide snorkel reservation is listed. Check current beach signs and county notices.

ClosuresSkip the entry when waves break across the bay or local officials post a closure.

Marine lifeReef fish and green turtles are common reasons people visit. Keep distance and do not touch wildlife.

Hawaiʻi beach and marine notices

Sunrise

06:10

Sunset

18:41

Water

27.3°C

Max air

29.0°C

Sky

Partly cloudy

54% cloud

No good model window in the next 72 hours

Use the best-available section for the least-bad times.

3-day planner Best available Show data

3-day planner

Tuesday

❌ Poor conditions

Main blocker: Waves

Wednesday

❌ Poor conditions

Main blocker: Waves

Thursday

⚠️ Fair conditions

Main blocker: Waves

Best available hours

Thu 18:00: Fair (0.36) · still limited by waves, wind
Wed 23:00: Poor (0.33) · still limited by waves, wind
Thu 23:00: Poor (0.33) · still limited by waves, wind

Why this verdict

Main blockers across the next 72 hours:

Waves (68 hours)
Wind (68 hours)
Tide/current (62 hours)

Jellyfish drift risk

Drift estimate from wind, swell, current and warm water.

Low · 34/100

Low peak drift risk around Tue 17:00.

warm water supports seasonal jellyfish activity; surface drift/current is noticeable; local shoreline exposure is not mapped yet.

Sightings override the model: if you see small purple jellyfish with long trailing tentacles, treat them as sting-capable and give them space.

Upcoming high tides

Next early morning high tide: Thu 18:00

Wed 02:00, Thu 18:00

Nearby snorkel spot map

Compare nearby spots by score, forecast window and exposure before choosing a beach.

Ulua Mokapu Fair · Thu 18:00 5.3/10 Ahihi Kinau Fair · Fri 18:00 5.2/10 Maluaka Turtle Town Fair · Fri 18:00 5.2/10 Molokini Crater Fair · Thu 19:00 4.7/10 Kaanapali Beach Fair · Thu 17:00 4.5/10 Kaanapali Black Rock Fair · Thu 17:00 4.5/10 Honolua Bay Fair · Wed 17:00 3.7/10 Napili Bay Fair · Wed 17:00 3.7/10

Forecast spot map

Use the map to see where the compared spots sit. Open a card for the hourly forecast.

This is a location diagram, not a marine chart. Check the shore and local signs in person.

Nearby alternatives in USA

Napili Bay

0 km away

❌ Poor

Honolua Bay

3 km away

❌ Poor

Kaanapali Beach

9 km away

❌ Poor

Kaanapali Black Rock

9 km away

❌ Poor

Advanced forecast data

Viewing current forecast

Tue 23:00 – Fri 23:00 (HST)

Previous day Yesterday

Snorkel Score (next 24h)

Best snorkel score is 0.33 around Wed 13:00; 0 of 24 hours are good, fair, or excellent.

Score trend, higher is better. Excellent ≥ 0.72, good 0.55–0.72, fair 0.35–0.55.

Conditions (24h trends)

Tap a chart to load just that series.

0/24 sampled hours stay at or below 0.36m (range 1.24m to 1.42m).

Wind is at or below 5.4m/s in 0/24 sampled hours (range 5.54 to 8.29m/s).

Tides range from 0.22m to 0.79m; 1 of 24 hours are in or near peak slack windows.

72-hour forecast overview

Wed 00:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 01:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 02:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 03:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 04:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 05:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 06:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 07:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 08:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 09:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 10:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 11:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 12:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 13:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 14:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 15:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 16:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 17:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 18:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 19:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 20:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 21:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 22:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Wed 23:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 00:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 01:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 02:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 03:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 04:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 05:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 06:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 07:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 08:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 09:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 10:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 11:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 12:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 13:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 14:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 15:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 16:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 17:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 18:00 Fair ⚠️ Fair

Thu 19:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 20:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 21:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 22:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Thu 23:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Fri 00:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Fri 01:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Fri 02:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Fri 03:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Fri 04:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Fri 05:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Fri 06:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Fri 07:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Fri 08:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Fri 09:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Fri 10:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Fri 11:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Fri 12:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Fri 13:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Fri 14:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Fri 15:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Fri 16:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Fri 17:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Fri 18:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Fri 19:00 Poor ❌ Limited

Scoring methodology (for technical users)

We score each hour from 0 to 1 using daylight and these weighted components:

Wave height (35%): best below 0.36m, then decreases as it rises.
Wind speed (25%): best below 5.4m/s, lower is better.
Sea surface temperature (15%): best within 20.6°C to 30.4°C.
Tide and currents (15%): best around slack/high-tide windows.
Daylight (10%): visibility is better in daylight, so night hours score lower.

Detailed hourly data table

Time	Wave (m)	Wind (m/s)	Sea temp (°C)	Status
Wed 00:00	1.24 · high	6.89 · high	27.30 · good	Poor
Wed 01:00	1.24 · high	7.01 · high	27.30 · good	Poor
Wed 02:00	1.26 · high	7.07 · high	27.30 · good	Poor
Wed 03:00	1.26 · high	7.12 · high	27.30 · good	Poor
Wed 04:00	1.26 · high	7.23 · high	27.30 · good	Poor
Wed 05:00	1.26 · high	7.07 · high	27.20 · good	Poor
Wed 06:00	1.26 · high	7.32 · high	27.20 · good	Poor
Wed 07:00	1.26 · high	7.30 · high	27.20 · good	Poor
Wed 08:00	1.26 · high	7.22 · high	27.20 · good	Poor
Wed 09:00	1.26 · high	6.76 · high	27.20 · good	Poor
Wed 10:00	1.26 · high	6.63 · high	27.20 · good	Poor
Wed 11:00	1.24 · high	6.26 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Wed 12:00	1.24 · high	5.96 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Wed 13:00	1.24 · high	5.60 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Wed 14:00	1.26 · high	5.54 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Wed 15:00	1.26 · high	5.82 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Wed 16:00	1.30 · high	6.52 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Wed 17:00	1.32 · high	7.14 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Wed 18:00	1.36 · high	7.29 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Wed 19:00	1.38 · high	7.82 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Wed 20:00	1.38 · high	7.84 · high	27.20 · good	Poor
Wed 21:00	1.40 · high	8.29 · high	27.20 · good	Poor
Wed 22:00	1.42 · high	8.20 · high	27.20 · good	Poor
Wed 23:00	1.42 · high	8.08 · high	27.30 · good	Poor
Thu 00:00	1.44 · high	7.71 · high	27.30 · good	Poor
Thu 01:00	1.44 · high	7.94 · high	27.30 · good	Poor
Thu 02:00	1.42 · high	8.13 · high	27.30 · good	Poor
Thu 03:00	1.42 · high	8.29 · high	27.30 · good	Poor
Thu 04:00	1.42 · high	8.54 · high	27.30 · good	Poor
Thu 05:00	1.44 · high	8.87 · high	27.30 · good	Poor
Thu 06:00	1.44 · high	9.01 · high	27.30 · good	Poor
Thu 07:00	1.44 · high	9.43 · high	27.30 · good	Poor
Thu 08:00	1.44 · high	9.44 · high	27.20 · good	Poor
Thu 09:00	1.44 · high	9.30 · high	27.20 · good	Poor
Thu 10:00	1.44 · high	9.22 · high	27.20 · good	Poor
Thu 11:00	1.44 · high	9.00 · high	27.20 · good	Poor
Thu 12:00	1.44 · high	8.91 · high	27.20 · good	Poor
Thu 13:00	1.44 · high	8.94 · high	27.20 · good	Poor
Thu 14:00	1.44 · high	9.01 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Thu 15:00	1.44 · high	9.32 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Thu 16:00	1.46 · high	9.43 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Thu 17:00	1.48 · high	9.11 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Thu 18:00	1.50 · high	9.50 · high	27.10 · good	Fair
Thu 19:00	1.52 · high	9.49 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Thu 20:00	1.52 · high	8.94 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Thu 21:00	1.54 · high	8.78 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Thu 22:00	1.54 · high	8.76 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Thu 23:00	1.54 · high	8.74 · high	27.20 · good	Poor
Fri 00:00	1.54 · high	8.76 · high	27.20 · good	Poor
Fri 01:00	1.54 · high	8.82 · high	27.20 · good	Poor
Fri 02:00	1.54 · high	8.81 · high	27.20 · good	Poor
Fri 03:00	1.54 · high	8.92 · high	27.20 · good	Poor
Fri 04:00	1.52 · high	8.99 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Fri 05:00	1.50 · high	9.17 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Fri 06:00	1.48 · high	9.24 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Fri 07:00	1.48 · high	9.00 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Fri 08:00	1.46 · high	8.69 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Fri 09:00	1.46 · high	8.60 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Fri 10:00	1.48 · high	8.22 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Fri 11:00	1.48 · high	8.03 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Fri 12:00	1.50 · high	8.12 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Fri 13:00	1.52 · high	7.96 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Fri 14:00	1.52 · high	7.99 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Fri 15:00	1.54 · high	8.22 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Fri 16:00	1.54 · high	8.24 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Fri 17:00	1.54 · high	8.34 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Fri 18:00	1.54 · high	8.93 · high	27.10 · good	Poor
Fri 19:00	1.54 · high	8.73 · high	27.10 · good	Poor