Reef Explorers
ENFR
Menu
DestinationsDive sitesWhen to goMarine lifeLearn to dive
World mapHidden gemsLevel upDiving glossaryFind my dive trip

Maui

Diving in United States

10 documented dive sites, 6 of them for Open Water divers. Known for manta rays, whitetip reef sharks and humpback whales.

Best months
Mar–Oct
Water
23–27 °C
Levels
Open Water, Advanced
Nearest airport
OGG

When to go

Pick a month: the diving season, from published sources, and the typical weather.

Pick a month

  • Best
  • Good
  • Possible
  • Closed
  • Not documented yet

Maui in October

Best season
Sea
27 °C
at the surface
Air
30 °C
22 °C at night
Rain
40 mm
average for the year
Wind
10 km/h
on average

Typical weather, not a forecast: averages for 2021–2025 (air, rain, wind) and 2023–2025 (sea), data from Open-Meteo (ERA5 / Copernicus, Météo-France). Covers an area of roughly 10 to 25 km around the destination.

Diving is year-round. Nov–Feb is shown as good because Bluewater calls it 'big-wave surf season' with challenging conditions (mainly on the north/west shores; Honolua Bay is dived mainly May–Oct). Warmest water Aug–Oct. Humpback whale season (Nov/Dec–Apr) is a winter plus: whales are mostly heard, rarely seen underwater. Best and good months are derived from these statements; no source names a single 'best' season.

Source: bluewaterdivetravel.com

Dive sites in Maui

From the easiest to the most demanding. Levels with a dashed outline are estimates we are still verifying.

Open Water friendly

usual dive down to 18 m6 sites

For Advanced divers

usual dive down to 30 m4 sites

Marine life

When the big encounters happen, month by month.

SpeciesJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Humpback whalesSource: hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov
Eagle raysSource: in2scubadivingmaui.com
  • Peak season
  • Seen

Humpback whales: Nov–Apr. Eagle rays: Sep–Feb

Also reported here, season not documented yet:

  • Manta rays
  • Whitetip reef sharks
  • Turtles
  • Frogfish
  • Nudibranchs
  • Octopus
  • Scorpionfish
  • Moray eels
  • Whale sharks
  • Blacktip reef sharks
  • Grey reef sharks
  • Hammerhead sharks
  • Tiger sharks
  • Dolphins
  • Seals

Where is Maui?

View on OpenStreetMapLocation: Maui (Wikipedia)Map: Natural Earth
Nearest airport
OGG

Somewhere quieter?

Maui is one of the busiest dive hubs in the world. These destinations dive in a similar way and see far fewer divers: Oahu, Taveuni & Rainbow Reef and Fakarava & Rangiroa.

See all alternatives to Maui →

Maui: frequently asked questions

When is the best time to dive Maui?
The best months to dive Maui are Mar–Oct. Diving is year-round. Nov–Feb is shown as good because Bluewater calls it 'big-wave surf season' with challenging conditions (mainly on the north/west shores; Honolua Bay is dived mainly May–Oct). Warmest water Aug–Oct. Humpback whale season (Nov/Dec–Apr) is a winter plus: whales are mostly heard, rarely seen underwater. Best and good months are derived from these statements; no source names a single 'best' season.
Is Maui good for beginner divers?
Yes, partly: 6 of the 10 dive sites we document are suited to Open Water divers, including Airport Beach (Kahekili Beach Park), Black Rock (Ka'anapali) and Ulua Beach. The others need more experience or a higher certification.
What is the water temperature in Maui?
The water is usually between 23 °C and 27 °C over the year.
What marine life can you see in Maui?
Divers regularly see humpback whales (Nov–Apr), manta rays, whitetip reef sharks, turtles, frogfish and nudibranchs.
How do you dive Maui?
The nearest airport is OGG.

About this page

Seasons and marine life come from the sources below. Site levels and depths marked as estimated come from our original catalogue and are being checked one by one. Conditions change: always confirm with a local dive centre.

All destinations

Your next dive is somewhere out there.

Find my next dive trip
Photo: Sarah Lee on Unsplash
Photo credits