Maui Scuba Diving In Black Rock, Lahaina

Snorkeling getting boring and looking for more adventure? How about learning to scuba dive at Kaanapali Beach or, if you’re already certified, taking a scuba dive tour from Kaanapali Beach with a local guide.

Not only do you escape the snorkeling crowds, you head to a deeper, more richer, exploration of Maui’s incredible underwater seascape.

Kaanapali Beach offers awesome scuba diving experiences for the adventure tourist, both beginners and the more experienced.

Scuba diving to view rich coral reefs around Kaanapali

I know many tourists who plan their vacations around scuba diving locations, so rewarding is the experience! Why not pick up scuba diving skills at Kaanapali Beach on your vacation?

Best Scuba Diving Locations near Kaanapali Beach

Kaanapali Beach has some of the best scuba dive locations on Maui.

The top Maui scuba diving location is the Black Rock Beach area, centrally located on Kaanapali Beach.

Black Rock, a lava outcropping jutting into the ocean

Shore entry is easy for beginning scuba divers, you just walk into the ocean from the sandy beach.

With depths of upto 30 feet, you have plenty to explore along the underwater rocky ledge, relatively close to the shore.

School of goat fish hiding in the ledges of Black Rock

Kahekili Beach Park at the northern end of Kaanapali Beach, locally known as Airport Beach, is another popular spot for snorkeling.

Most diving tours start beginners here, and you can explore the north face of Black Rock.

Parking is a breeze compared to the busy southern part of Kaanapali, and the Kahekili Beach Park provides easy shore entry for the scuba divers.

Easy shore entry for scuba diving at Kaanapali Beach

The third location where you’ll see tours take scuba divers is Hanakao’o Beach Park, aka Canoe Beach, on the southern end.

This location is popular for scuba diving tours starting from Lahaina, and is much less crowded and easier to access than Black Rock.

Best Scuba Diving Tours from Kaanapali Beach

Absolute beginner to scuba diving? Try this popular, 5-star rated tour Intro to Scuba Diving in Kaanapali.

The tour meets at Kahekili Beach Park, and you will be instructed on breathing techniques and basic ocean behavior while in the comfort of the shore and shallow waters.

After some guidance and observation, the tour will embark on a scuba dive, with an exhilarating underwater experience awaiting you!

Scuba divers admiring a beautiful Hawaiian green sea turtle

Our older teenage kids started with this introductory tour and loved the experience so much, they pursued scuba diving certification to be able to enjoy this sport at future vacation spots!

>> Check pricing and availability on this popular, 5-star rated Intro to Scuba Diving in Kaanapali now!

Already certified but been a while since you dived? This Certified Shore Dive in Kaanapali may be just right for you!

A small-group diving tour that offers a refresher for those who haven’t dived in months, with some shallow sea water practice before heading to a great dive location near Kahekili Beach Park, usually the north face of Black Rock.

Large school of yellow striped goatfish deeper along the Black Rock underwater ledge

>> Check pricing and availability on the 5-star rated Certified Shore Dive in Kaanapali now!

For a unique diving experience, certified divers might want to consider this night-time tour Maui Night Certified Scuba Diving Tour from Lahaina.

Starting in Lahaina, a few miles from Kaanapali Beach, this is one of the more thrilling experiences we’ve had on vacations, with night time scuba diving revealing a totally different underwater world.

Lighting up the coral reef during a night time scuba dive from Lahaina near Kaanapali Beach

This 3-hour tour is limited to four divers, and scuba dive gear and dive lights are included.

>> Check pricing and availability on the 5-star rated Maui Night Certified Scuba Diving Tour from Lahaina now!

Hawaiian Fish to View while Scuba Diving

Scuba diving offers you a chance to explore deeper and further from shore than snorkeling, and with that you will see larger fish, bigger schools and a much richer variety of marine life.

Larger schools of fish seen while scuba diving

Snorkeling pales in comparison to scuba diving!

On almost every scuba diving session from Kaanapali Beach, we’ve seen octopuses, remarkable looking with their bulging eyes, rounded bodies and eight tentacles.

An octopus on a coral reef near Kaanapali Beach

Hawaiian green sea turtles are also quite common, and gracefully swimming and feeding off seaweed and algae growing in the coral reefs and lava rocks.

A truly different experience from seeing them on the sandy beaches, inert and basking in the sun.

Depending on the trip, we’ve seen stonefish, flounder, frog fish, spotted eagle rays, and more.

We’ve often spotted eels, usually moray eels, that like to hide in the coral reefs.

Spotting a moray eel hiding in the coral reefs during scuba diving at Kaanapali Beach

If you opt for the night time scuba diving tour from Lahaina, the experience is unlike any other, and was one of our vacation highlights!

You’ll see marine life and tropical fish that come out at night time like nudibranchs and reef squid.

Tips for Kaanapali Beach Scuba Divers

What to Bring for the Scuba Dive

Unlike snorkeling, where we prefer to buy our own equipment, scuba diving gear is better to rent.

Tours typically provide all the scuba diving gear you will need.

An underwater camera or video recorder is a must – you’ll definitely want to capture the incredible coral reefs and marine life for memories.

Fujifilm QuickSnap Waterproof Disposable Camera is a reasonably cheap option with good quality underwater photos!

Scuba diver filming a cuttlefish during a scuba diving session

For better quality photos or video, the premium GoPro HERO12 – Waterproof Action Camera, (waterproof to 33 feet) is excellent. Check with tour guide to make sure you will be within the 33 feet depth.

If you’re planning on using sunscreen (for the time on the beach), I recommend the reefsafe sunscreen from Sun Bum, which includes Vitamin E moisturizer.

Physical & Medical Condition Requirements

The scuba tank and gear can weigh about 40 pounds, and you need to be able to carry that weight on your back for the short distance to the shallow waters.

Scuba divers approaching a coral reef, must be able to carry the gear on your back

In water, you won’t notice the weight.

A key requirement is the ability to swim in the open ocean waters, so non-swimmers or weak swimmers won’t make the cut.

Scuba divers must be able to swim comfortably in open ocean waters

Overall, you’ll need to be at a moderate level of physical fitness and in good medical condition.

Back problems and heart conditions are a no-go.

In fact, the scuba diving outfit will require you to fill out a medical clearance form, and you can preview a version of it here.

For any medical condition that you answer a “Yes,” you’ll typically need a doctor’s clearance.

Note, if you’re pregnant or attempting to get pregnant, you should not scuba dive.

Safety Tips

We usually plan our scuba diving tours early on in our vacation schedule, and for a good reason.

After your scuba dive, you must not climb over 1000 feet or more, for the next 24 hours (to be on the safe side) or free dive.

That includes flying, ziplining, visiting the Summit District of Haleakala National Park, hiking up a 1000+ foot ridge or mountain and more!

Also avoid a massage or a hot shower or bath for a couple of hours.

These are very important safety precautions, do not disregard this warning which will be part of your tour instructions.

Otherwise you are at risk of decompression sickness, similar to what happens to deep divers who surface too fast.