Snorkeling at Kamaole Beach Park III

Snorkeling at Kamaole Beach Park III Overview

Kamaole Beach Parks I, II, and III are a series of beaches located along a stretch of coastline in Kihei Maui, separated by small rocky points. Kamaole Beach Park III is the southern-most of these three beaches.

While most of the beach-goers I saw at Kamaole III were there to swim, sunbathe, and play in the sand, there were a few people (besides Jim and I) snorkeling at Kamaole Beach Park III. It wasn’t my favorite snorkel spot in Maui (I thought Ahihi Bay was the best snorkeling in Maui) but there were a few interesting things to see underwater at Kamaole III.

Parking at Kamaole Beach Park III

There is a free public parking lot at Kamaole Beach Park III.

Facilities at Kamaole Beach Park III

There are restrooms and outdoor showers at Kamaole III.

Snorkeling at Kamaole Beach Park III : Before you Go

Best time to Snorkel at Kamaole Beach Park III

Time of day: Snorkeling in Maui is generally best in the morning when the water is the most calm and clear.

Time of year: The water in Maui is warm enough to swim in year-round, with water temperatures generally ranging from 75-82 degrees F.

Getting to Kamaole Beach Park III

Use the map below to get directions from your location to Kamaole Beach Park III:

Snorkeling at Kamaole Beach Park III

We headed to the southernmost part of the beach, and entered the water near the rocky areas.

We saw a few schools of fish.

And after only a couple of minutes in the water we spotted a sea turtle resting in the sand, about 30 feet or so from the shore.

We saw sea urchins, a handful of fish, and a little bit of coral:

As we were getting out of the water I noticed this lava rock, cave-like formation that I’m sure my kids would have loved to explore if they would have been with us.

Snorkeling at Kamaole Beach Park III : Overall Thoughts

On the island of Maui, Kamaole Beach Park III was, not surprisingly, my least favorite destination for snorkeling. There’s not much of a reef, and as a result, not a lot of marine life to observe.

Kamaole III is an OK option if you’re staying in Kihei and want to snorkel somewhere within walking distance, without venturing far from the shore. The beach itself looked like a nice place to hang, so if you’re there enjoying other activities, throw on a mask and snorkel and you’ll probably find a sea turtle or two not far from the shore. If top-notch shore snorkeling in Maui is your goal though, hop in the car and try snorkeling at Ahihi Bay or Maluaka Beach (my #1 and #2 favorite snorkel spots in Maui).