MARINE REPORT / 72 HOURS

Maui Snorkel Report Today

USA · Updated Fri 03:17 (HST) · Source: Snapshot

Maui beach forecast verdict

Best forecast later today: Molokini Crater

This spot meets our model's good-condition threshold. It is not a safety clearance; check official advisories and local conditions.

Model updated: Fri 03:17 (HST)

The skinny

Marginal Data updated Fri 03:17 (HST)

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

Right now (forecast)

Poor · 0.0/10

Fri 03:00 (HST)

Later today

Fair · 5.2/10

Fri 08:00 (HST)

Next three days

Fair · 5.2/10

Fri 08:00 (HST)

Model estimates using Open-Meteo; not observations or safety guarantees. Check official advisories and conditions at the beach.

Score: 5.2/10

Best time: Fri 08:00

Main risk: Waves

Best morning signal: Fri 08:00 (Fair).

Best afternoon signal: Fri 13:00 (Fair). Peak afternoon wind is about 6.0 m/s.

South Maui is the call later today; West Maui is the coast to skip.

The Molokini boat still has the better window (5.6/10). Shore fallback: Ulua Mokapu.

A Maui coast looks usable later today. Check boat availability.

Email me when it is good Compare nearby spots Check boat availability

Best nearby spots later today

Molokini Crater 5.6/10 Good · Fri 07:00

Weakest nearby later today

Napili Bay

Read the Maui snorkeling guide for coast, access and best-month guidance. Also: Maui vs Big Island, Maui vs Oahu Planning Maui in January? Where to snorkel in January compares destinations and local seasonal cautions.

How Maui's coasts look today

Friday, October 16, 2026 · HST · Data updated Fri 03:17

South Maui is the call later today; West Maui is the coast to skip.

Compare the coasts by forecast period. These are model estimates, not beach observations. Open each beach report and check official advisories before leaving.

South Maui

Molokini Crater has the best forecast in South Maui later today.

Right now (forecast)

Ulua Mokapu · Poor

Forecast for the hour starting Fri 03:00: 0.9 m waves and 2.8 m/s wind.

Later today

Molokini Crater · Good

Its best forecast hour is Fri 07:00, with 1.2 m waves and 3.3 m/s wind.

Next three days

Molokini Crater · Good

Its best forecast hour is Sat 09:00, with 1.4 m waves and 1.6 m/s wind.

West Maui

Kaanapali Black Rock has the best forecast in West Maui later today.

Right now (forecast)

Kapalua Bay · Poor

Forecast for the hour starting Fri 03:00: 1.2 m waves and 6.7 m/s wind.

Later today

Kaanapali Black Rock · Fair

Its best forecast hour is Fri 08:00, with 1.0 m waves and 3.7 m/s wind.

Next three days

Kaanapali Beach · Fair

Its best forecast hour is Sun 07:00, with 1.0 m waves and 4.2 m/s wind.

North Maui

Honolua Bay has the best forecast in North Maui later today.

Right now (forecast)

Honolua Bay · Poor

Forecast for the hour starting Fri 03:00: 1.2 m waves and 6.7 m/s wind.

Later today

Honolua Bay · Fair

Its best forecast hour is Fri 07:00, with 1.2 m waves and 7.4 m/s wind.

Next three days

Honolua Bay · Fair

Its best forecast hour is Sun 07:00, with 1.4 m waves and 7.7 m/s wind.

Best beach in the forecast for later today

Molokini Crater · 5.6/10

Its best forecast hour is Fri 07:00, with 1.2 m waves and 3.3 m/s wind.

Swell arrives from SE (139°); bays facing away from that direction stay calmer. Tidal current is about 0.00 m/s. The tide is close to high.

Weakest beach in the forecast for later today

Napili Bay · 3.5/10

Its best forecast hour is Fri 10:00, with 1.2 m waves and 8.0 m/s wind.

Check the beach before you leave

A camera shows one stretch of coast. Check its time stamp and the official alerts too.

Check these official alerts

Maui sea temperature · Compare Hawaii islands · Read the Maui snorkeling guide

How we work out the score

The score uses the hourly wave, wind, water temperature, tide and current forecast. A beach can differ from the wider forecast grid. Check beach signs, lifeguards and official alerts before you enter.

Plan your visit

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

Open map

AccessMaui has shore spots and boat-only sites. Use the spot card below to check the entry type before you leave.

ParkingParking, road access, and beach facilities vary by coast. Use marked spaces and follow signs at the beach.

ReservationsMolokini trips need a boat operator. Other shore spots do not use one island-wide reservation system.

ClosuresWind, swell, surf warnings, and local closures can change during the day. Check the official notices before entering.

Marine lifeMaui includes protected areas such as Honolua-Mokulēʻia, Molokini, and ʻĀhihi-Kīnaʻu. Do not take, feed, or touch marine life.

Hawaiʻi marine rules and notices

Sunrise

06:21

Sunset

18:00

Water

27.5°C

Max air

25.6°C

Sky

Partly cloudy

65% cloud

No good model window in the next 72 hours

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

My Snorkel Plan

In Maui for a few days?

Tell us your dates and what matters to you. We’ll use the live forecast to find the best beach and time for your trip, then show you a useful first result before asking for your email.

No email needed to see your first recommendation.

3-day planner Best available Show data

3-day planner

Friday

⚠️ Fair conditions

Main blocker: Waves

Saturday

⚠️ Fair conditions

Main blocker: Waves

Sunday

⚠️ Fair conditions

Main blocker: Waves

Best available hours

  • Fri 08:00: Fair (0.52) · still limited by waves
  • Fri 07:00: Fair (0.51) · still limited by waves
  • Sun 08:00: Fair (0.49) · still limited by waves

Why this verdict

Main blockers across the next 72 hours:

  • Waves (69 hours)
  • Darkness (48 hours)
  • Wind (20 hours)

Jellyfish drift risk

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

Low · 28/100

Low peak drift risk around Fri 13:00.

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: Fri 07:00

Fri 07:00, Sat 08:00

Bookable snorkel tours near Maui

Prices and availability from Viator. Check conditions before you book.

We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

SNUBA dive above the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles

Maui: Molokini and Turtle Town Snorkeling aboard Pride of Maui

4.7/5 1289 reviews 5h
From USD 233.00 Check availability

Free cancellation available

Maui: Turtle Reef Morning Snorkel Cruise with Breakfast & Lunch

Maui: Turtle Reef Morning Snorkel Cruise with Breakfast & Lunch

4.4/5 556 reviews 5h
From USD 99.95 Check availability

Free cancellation available

Molokini Island

Maui Snorkeling Adventure to Molokini and Turtle Town

4.4/5 2488 reviews 5h 30m
From USD 159.95 Check availability

Free cancellation available

2-Hour Molokini Guaranteed Snorkel Trip from Maui

2-Hour Molokini Guaranteed Snorkel Trip from Maui

4.9/5 957 reviews 2h
From USD 143.93 Check availability

Free cancellation available

Abundant Sea life in Molokini Crater

Molokini Crater Snorkel and Turtle Cove High Quality Adventure!

4.9/5 1541 reviews 4h
From USD 205.00 Check availability

Free cancellation available

Turtle Town After Dark: With Lights & Stars (Turtle Guarantee)

Turtle Town After Dark: With Lights & Stars (Turtle Guarantee)

4.9/5 161 reviews 1h 30m
From USD 149.00 Check availability

Free cancellation available

Nearby snorkel spot map

Compare nearby spot forecasts for later today before choosing a beach.

Molokini Crater Good · Fri 07:00 5.6/10 Ulua Mokapu Fair · Fri 08:00 5.4/10 Ahihi Kinau Fair · Fri 07:00 5.1/10 Maluaka Turtle Town Fair · Fri 07:00 5.1/10 Kaanapali Beach Fair · Fri 08:00 4.4/10 Kaanapali Black Rock Fair · Fri 08:00 4.4/10 Honolua Bay Fair · Fri 07:00 3.8/10 Kapalua Bay Fair · Fri 07:00 3.8/10 Napili Bay Poor · Fri 10:00 3.5/10

Forecast spot map

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

Molokini Crater Ulua Mokapu Ahihi Kinau Maluaka Turtle Town Kaanapali Beach Kaanapali Black Rock Honolua Bay Kapalua Bay Napili Bay
  1. Molokini Crater
  2. Ulua Mokapu
  3. Ahihi Kinau
  4. Maluaka Turtle Town
  5. Kaanapali Beach
  6. Kaanapali Black Rock
  7. Honolua Bay
  8. Kapalua Bay
  9. Napili Bay

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

Nearby alternatives in USA

Ulua Mokapu

17 km away

✅ Good

Hawaii

18 km away

❌ Poor

Maluaka Turtle Town

20 km away

✅ Good

Ahihi Kinau

24 km away

✅ Good

Advanced forecast data

Viewing historical data

Wed 03:00 – Sat 03:00 (HST)

Previous day Yesterday Next day Live

Snorkel Score (selected 24h)

Best snorkel score is 0.5 around Wed 09:00; 7 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 0.66m to 0.72m).

Wind is at or below 5.4m/s in 17/24 sampled hours (range 1.28 to 6.59m/s).

Tides range from 0.29m to 0.93m; 1 of 24 hours are in or near peak slack windows.

72-hour historical overview
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Fair ⚠️ Fair
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
Poor ❌ Limited
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 03:00 0.72 · high 1.28 · good 27.60 · good Poor
Wed 04:00 0.70 · high 1.62 · good 27.50 · good Poor
Wed 05:00 0.70 · high 1.48 · good 27.50 · good Poor
Wed 06:00 0.70 · high 1.94 · good 27.50 · good Poor
Wed 07:00 0.68 · high 2.61 · good 27.50 · good Fair
Wed 08:00 0.68 · high 4.10 · good 27.50 · good Fair
Wed 09:00 0.68 · high 4.66 · good 27.60 · good Fair
Wed 10:00 0.68 · high 4.80 · good 27.60 · good Fair
Wed 11:00 0.68 · high 5.54 · high 27.70 · good Fair
Wed 12:00 0.68 · high 6.34 · high 27.80 · good Fair
Wed 13:00 0.68 · high 6.59 · high 27.80 · good Fair
Wed 14:00 0.68 · high 6.11 · high 27.90 · good Poor
Wed 15:00 0.68 · high 5.94 · high 27.90 · good Poor
Wed 16:00 0.68 · high 5.73 · high 27.80 · good Poor
Wed 17:00 0.68 · high 5.65 · high 27.80 · good Poor
Wed 18:00 0.68 · high 4.39 · good 27.80 · good Poor
Wed 19:00 0.68 · high 3.67 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Wed 20:00 0.68 · high 2.71 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Wed 21:00 0.68 · high 2.67 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Wed 22:00 0.66 · high 2.46 · good 27.60 · good Poor
Wed 23:00 0.66 · high 2.39 · good 27.60 · good Poor
Thu 00:00 0.66 · high 2.36 · good 27.60 · good Poor
Thu 01:00 0.68 · high 2.75 · good 27.60 · good Poor
Thu 02:00 0.68 · high 2.50 · good 27.60 · good Poor
Thu 03:00 0.68 · high 2.42 · good 27.60 · good Poor
Thu 04:00 0.68 · high 2.73 · good 27.50 · good Poor
Thu 05:00 0.68 · high 3.04 · good 27.50 · good Poor
Thu 06:00 0.70 · high 3.50 · good 27.50 · good Poor
Thu 07:00 0.70 · high 3.99 · good 27.50 · good Fair
Thu 08:00 0.70 · high 4.49 · good 27.50 · good Fair
Thu 09:00 0.70 · high 5.78 · high 27.60 · good Fair
Thu 10:00 0.70 · high 6.23 · high 27.60 · good Fair
Thu 11:00 0.70 · high 6.54 · high 27.70 · good Fair
Thu 12:00 0.70 · high 5.91 · high 27.80 · good Fair
Thu 13:00 0.72 · high 5.07 · good 27.90 · good Fair
Thu 14:00 0.72 · high 6.24 · high 27.90 · good Poor
Thu 15:00 0.72 · high 5.93 · high 27.90 · good Poor
Thu 16:00 0.72 · high 5.46 · high 27.90 · good Poor
Thu 17:00 0.72 · high 4.80 · good 27.90 · good Poor
Thu 18:00 0.72 · high 3.93 · good 27.80 · good Poor
Thu 19:00 0.70 · high 3.65 · good 27.80 · good Poor
Thu 20:00 0.70 · high 4.66 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Thu 21:00 0.70 · high 4.26 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Thu 22:00 0.70 · high 4.51 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Thu 23:00 0.70 · high 4.44 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Fri 00:00 0.70 · high 4.12 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Fri 01:00 0.72 · high 3.76 · good 27.60 · good Poor
Fri 02:00 0.72 · high 3.45 · good 27.60 · good Poor
Fri 03:00 0.72 · high 3.16 · good 27.60 · good Poor
Fri 04:00 0.70 · high 3.31 · good 27.60 · good Poor
Fri 05:00 0.70 · high 3.48 · good 27.60 · good Poor
Fri 06:00 0.70 · high 3.61 · good 27.60 · good Poor
Fri 07:00 0.70 · high 3.79 · good 27.60 · good Fair
Fri 08:00 0.70 · high 4.14 · good 27.60 · good Fair
Fri 09:00 0.70 · high 5.23 · good 27.60 · good Fair
Fri 10:00 0.70 · high 6.02 · high 27.70 · good Fair
Fri 11:00 0.72 · high 6.05 · high 27.80 · good Fair
Fri 12:00 0.72 · high 6.16 · high 27.90 · good Fair
Fri 13:00 0.70 · high 5.96 · high 27.90 · good Fair
Fri 14:00 0.70 · high 4.21 · good 28.00 · good Poor
Fri 15:00 0.70 · high 4.40 · good 28.00 · good Poor
Fri 16:00 0.70 · high 3.36 · good 28.00 · good Poor
Fri 17:00 0.70 · high 3.55 · good 27.90 · good Poor
Fri 18:00 0.70 · high 3.21 · good 27.90 · good Poor
Fri 19:00 0.72 · high 4.09 · good 27.80 · good Poor
Fri 20:00 0.72 · high 4.92 · good 27.80 · good Poor
Fri 21:00 0.72 · high 4.86 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Fri 22:00 0.72 · high 4.72 · good 27.70 · good Poor
Fri 23:00 0.76 · high 4.37 · good 27.60 · good Poor
Sat 00:00 0.76 · high 4.68 · good 27.60 · good Poor
Sat 01:00 0.76 · high 4.49 · good 27.50 · good Poor
Sat 02:00 0.76 · high 4.92 · good 27.50 · good Poor