Nothing beats a great drift dive! Even better, nothing can compare to a drift dive in warm, tropical waters with incredible visibility of 100 feet or better, and with plenty of astonishing geological features and wonderful marine life to see along the way. Get ready – we’re about to take a quick trip to Maui, where some wonderful drift diving adventures await.
Elephant Rock – Mokuhooniki
Situated in the Pailolo Channel, Elephant Rock is subject to strong, swift currents that keep the coral and fish happy and well fed. This is an incredible drift dive, and best of all, it is not a busy site. In fact, it can be hard to get here, as the site is often not even diveable.
Here, you’ll find the largest sharks, fish, and invertebrates Maui has to offer. Look for big white tip reef sharks, large arrow and hermit crabs, and plenty of big shells. You may also encounter some giant octopus, as well as a variety of large wrasse, triggerfish, angel fish, butterfly fish, and parrotfish.
In addition, the area is well known for its hammerheads, monk seals, mahi-mahi, and tiger sharks. Depth is about 80 feet, and visibility is often better than 100 feet!
Red Hill - Pu-u-Olai
Red Hill is one of those rare drift dives that is suitable for all divers to enjoy. It is located just south of the Maui Prince Hotel, and with lovely coral growth, a long, shallow sand channel, and a cave where turtles and sharks hide, it is just as fantastic as it is easy.
The site gets its name from the red volcanic sand and rock structures that form it and give it an otherworldly appearance. You’ll find snake eels and moray eels here, along with some intriguing nudibranchs, white tip reef sharks, leopard sharks, and tiger sharks. Occasionally, divers are lucky enough to encounter Manta rays on this dive, and during the winter months, you can hear whales singing as you dive.
Maximum depth is 14 meters, and the current is very gentle, making for a relaxed and enjoyable experience you won’t soon forget.
Hidden Pinnacle
Also known as 120 foot pinnacles, these wonderful lava structures are covered in beautiful black and wire corals, as well as lots of brilliant sponge growth. These amazing spires ascend from the seabed, which is at 120 feet, to various depths, providing a magical drift among all kinds of fish and other marine life.
You are likely to find large moray eels here, as well as long-nosed hawkfish, a few different kinds of butterfly fish, and flights of eagle rays. Manta rays are occasionally seen here, as are sharks and turtles, as well as curious Hawaiian monk seals.
This is a challenging drift for experienced divers only, and as such, is one of the less crowded dive sites on Maui.
There are several wonderful dive operators to choose from for your Maui vacation – just be sure to plan in advance, and brush up on your skills before you go, to enjoy your dives more. Last, but not least, remember to bring your underwater camera!