Can you snorkel in Kapalua Bay today?

Conditions look marginal right now — no clearly safe snorkeling window is forecast in Kapalua Bay over the next 72 hours. Check the hourly table for the calmest period.

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

Snorkel during daylight, ideally in the morning before the wind picks up, and around high slack tide when water is clearest and currents are weakest. SnorkelForecast scores every daylight hour in Kapalua Bay so you can pick the calmest window.

What is the best tide for snorkeling?

High slack tide — within about an hour of the high-tide peak when currents are weakest — is the safest, clearest window. Strong low tides, strong tidal flow near channels or headlands, and large tidal-range days reduce score.

Where are the best snorkeling conditions near Kapalua Bay today?

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

Kapalua Bay Snorkel Report Today

USA · Updated Sat 05:02 (HST) · Source: Snapshot · Showing fallback/stale data

The skinny

Marginal Report Sat 20:03

Kapalua Bay looks marginal today. The least-bad daylight window is around Sun 06:00, but waves is limiting the forecast.

Score: 4.7/10

Best time: Sun 06:00

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 Tours & water activities

Best nearby spots

Ulua Mokapu 5.9/10 Good · Sun 16:00

Sunrise

05:55

Sunset

19:10

Water

26.8°C

Max air

24.5°C

Sky

Clear

25% cloud

No safe 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

Saturday

❌ poor conditions

Main blocker: Waves

Sunday

⚠️ fair conditions

Main blocker: Waves

Monday

⚠️ fair conditions

Main blocker: Waves

Best available hours

Sun 16:00 — Fair (0.47) · still limited by waves, wind
Sun 17:00 — Fair (0.46) · still limited by waves, wind
Sun 18:00 — Fair (0.46) · still limited by waves, wind

Why this verdict

Main blockers across the next 72 hours:

Waves (46 hours)
Tide/current (40 hours)
Wind (32 hours)

Jellyfish drift risk

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

Low · 34/100

Low peak drift risk around Sat 22:00.

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

Mon 04:00

Tours and water activities near Kapalua Bay

Local operators found via Tripadvisor. Check conditions before you book.

Maui Snorkel Tours

4.9/5 490 reviews

Guided Maui snorkeling tours from Kihei with a long-running local operator.

Learn more

Quicksilver Maui Snorkeling Charters

4.5/5 3354 reviews

Large-boat snorkeling charters with Lanai and Maui reef trips.

Learn more

Maui Snorkeling

4.7/5 811 reviews

Family-friendly Maui snorkeling trips from Maalaea.

Learn more

West Maui Kayak Tours

4.8/5 13 reviews

West Maui kayak tours that fit calmer nearshore days.

Learn more

Nearby snorkel spot map

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

Ulua Mokapu Good · Sun 16:00 5.9/10 Ahihi Kinau Fair · Tue 16:00 5.0/10 Maluaka Turtle Town Fair · Tue 16:00 5.0/10 Kaanapali Beach Fair · Tue 17:00 4.7/10 Honolua Bay Fair · Sun 16:00 4.7/10 Molokini Crater Fair · Sun 19:00 4.6/10 Napili Bay Fair · Sun 17:00 4.0/10 Kaanapali Black Rock Unknown No recent score

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

Not enough fresh data

Advanced forecast data

Viewing historical data

Fri 06:00 – Mon 06:00 (HST)

Previous day Yesterday Next day Live

Snorkel Score (selected 24h)

Best snorkel score is 0.34 around Fri 12:00; 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 0.98m to 1.1m).

Wind is at or below 5.4m/s in 2/24 sampled hours (range 5.18 to 6.82m/s).

Tides range from 0.25m to 0.9m; 1 of 24 hours are in or near peak slack windows.

72-hour historical overview

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

Fri 20:00 poor ❌ Limited

Fri 21:00 poor ❌ Limited

Fri 22:00 poor ❌ Limited

Fri 23:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 00:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 01:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 02:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 03:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 04:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 05:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 06:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 07:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 08:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 09:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 10:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 11:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 12:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 13:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 14:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 15:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 16:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 17:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 18:00 fair ⚠️ Fair

Sat 19:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 20:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 21:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 22:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sat 23:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sun 00:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sun 01:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sun 02:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sun 03:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sun 04:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sun 05:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sun 06:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sun 07:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sun 08:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sun 09:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sun 10:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sun 11:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sun 12:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sun 13:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sun 14:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sun 15:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sun 16:00 fair ⚠️ Fair

Sun 17:00 fair ⚠️ Fair

Sun 18:00 fair ⚠️ Fair

Sun 19:00 fair ⚠️ Fair

Sun 20:00 fair ⚠️ Fair

Sun 21:00 fair ⚠️ Fair

Sun 22:00 poor ❌ Limited

Sun 23:00 poor ❌ Limited

Mon 00:00 poor ❌ Limited

Mon 01:00 poor ❌ Limited

Mon 02:00 poor ❌ Limited

Mon 03:00 poor ❌ Limited

Mon 04:00 poor ❌ Limited

Mon 05:00 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 and safety gate (outside daylight scores lower).

Detailed hourly data table

Time	Wave (m)	Wind (m/s)	Sea temp (°C)	Status
Fri 06:00	1.06 · high	6.78 · high	27.20 · good	poor
Fri 07:00	1.04 · high	6.82 · high	27.20 · good	poor
Fri 08:00	1.04 · high	6.71 · high	27.10 · good	poor
Fri 09:00	1.02 · high	6.14 · high	27.10 · good	poor
Fri 10:00	1.00 · high	5.74 · high	27.10 · good	poor
Fri 11:00	1.00 · high	5.89 · high	27.10 · good	poor
Fri 12:00	0.98 · high	5.78 · high	27.10 · good	poor
Fri 13:00	1.00 · high	5.49 · high	27.10 · good	poor
Fri 14:00	1.00 · high	5.18 · good	27.00 · good	poor
Fri 15:00	1.02 · high	5.24 · good	27.00 · good	poor
Fri 16:00	1.02 · high	5.83 · high	27.00 · good	poor
Fri 17:00	1.04 · high	6.52 · high	27.00 · good	poor
Fri 18:00	1.04 · high	6.77 · high	27.00 · good	poor
Fri 19:00	1.04 · high	6.28 · high	27.00 · good	poor
Fri 20:00	1.04 · high	5.92 · high	27.00 · good	poor
Fri 21:00	1.04 · high	6.52 · high	27.10 · good	poor
Fri 22:00	1.06 · high	6.47 · high	27.10 · good	poor
Fri 23:00	1.08 · high	6.41 · high	27.20 · good	poor
Sat 00:00	1.10 · high	6.15 · high	27.20 · good	poor
Sat 01:00	1.10 · high	5.99 · high	27.20 · good	poor
Sat 02:00	1.10 · high	5.70 · high	27.20 · good	poor
Sat 03:00	1.10 · high	5.81 · high	27.20 · good	poor
Sat 04:00	1.08 · high	5.88 · high	27.20 · good	poor
Sat 05:00	1.06 · high	5.87 · high	27.10 · good	poor
Sat 06:00	1.06 · high	7.01 · high	26.90 · good	poor
Sat 07:00	1.08 · high	7.11 · high	26.80 · good	poor
Sat 08:00	1.08 · high	7.00 · high	26.80 · good	poor
Sat 09:00	1.10 · high	6.94 · high	26.80 · good	poor
Sat 10:00	1.14 · high	6.93 · high	26.70 · good	poor
Sat 11:00	1.16 · high	6.67 · high	26.70 · good	poor
Sat 12:00	1.20 · high	6.69 · high	26.70 · good	poor
Sat 13:00	1.20 · high	6.56 · high	26.60 · good	poor
Sat 14:00	1.22 · high	6.97 · high	26.60 · good	poor
Sat 15:00	1.22 · high	7.25 · high	26.60 · good	poor
Sat 16:00	1.22 · high	7.27 · high	26.60 · good	poor
Sat 17:00	1.24 · high	7.12 · high	26.60 · good	poor
Sat 18:00	1.24 · high	7.51 · high	26.60 · good	fair
Sat 19:00	1.26 · high	7.91 · high	26.60 · good	poor
Sat 20:00	1.28 · high	7.76 · high	26.60 · good	poor
Sat 21:00	1.30 · high	7.70 · high	26.70 · good	poor
Sat 22:00	1.30 · high	7.70 · high	26.70 · good	poor
Sat 23:00	1.32 · high	7.56 · high	26.70 · good	poor
Sun 00:00	1.32 · high	7.31 · high	26.80 · good	poor
Sun 01:00	1.30 · high	7.05 · high	26.80 · good	poor
Sun 02:00	1.30 · high	6.99 · high	26.80 · good	poor
Sun 03:00	1.28 · high	6.84 · high	26.80 · good	poor
Sun 04:00	1.26 · high	6.80 · high	26.80 · good	poor
Sun 05:00	1.24 · high	6.67 · high	26.80 · good	poor
Sun 06:00	1.22 · high	6.88 · high	26.80 · good	poor
Sun 07:00	1.20 · high	7.10 · high	26.80 · good	poor
Sun 08:00	1.18 · high	7.30 · high	26.80 · good	poor
Sun 09:00	1.16 · high	7.40 · high	26.80 · good	poor
Sun 10:00	1.14 · high	7.27 · high	26.70 · good	poor
Sun 11:00	1.14 · high	7.29 · high	26.70 · good	poor
Sun 12:00	1.12 · high	6.93 · high	26.70 · good	poor
Sun 13:00	1.10 · high	6.58 · high	26.70 · good	poor
Sun 14:00	1.08 · high	6.31 · high	26.70 · good	poor
Sun 15:00	1.06 · high	6.10 · high	26.70 · good	poor
Sun 16:00	1.06 · high	5.82 · high	26.70 · good	fair
Sun 17:00	1.04 · high	5.75 · high	26.70 · good	fair
Sun 18:00	1.04 · high	5.94 · high	26.70 · good	fair
Sun 19:00	1.06 · high	6.20 · high	26.80 · good	fair
Sun 20:00	1.08 · high	6.49 · high	26.80 · good	fair
Sun 21:00	1.10 · high	6.78 · high	26.90 · good	fair
Sun 22:00	1.10 · high	6.50 · high	26.90 · good	poor
Sun 23:00	1.10 · high	6.32 · high	27.00 · good	poor
Mon 00:00	1.10 · high	6.13 · high	27.00 · good	poor
Mon 01:00	1.10 · high	6.18 · high	27.00 · good	poor
Mon 02:00	1.08 · high	6.29 · high	27.00 · good	poor
Mon 03:00	1.08 · high	6.27 · high	26.90 · good	poor
Mon 04:00	1.06 · high	6.28 · high	26.90 · good	poor
Mon 05:00	1.06 · high	5.95 · high	26.90 · good	poor