Makaiwa Bay

Makaiwa Bay, the Big Island of Hawaii, is an excellent choice for a snorkeling adventure because the water is clear and calm, most of the coral reefs are close to shore, and there are fish everywhere.

In this post, you will find detailed information about why snorkeling at Makaiwa Bay is one of the best on the Big Island. It also includes information about what time of day to go, what to bring with you, and a thorough list of safety tips while snorkeling.

Roughly 60% of all tourists that go to Hawaii stay on the Big Island of Hawaii. They usually stay in a resort and rent scooters to get around. Because of this, there are many people packed into a tiny area. This means Makaiwa Bay is usually very crowded. So the first thing you need to know is that you should go snorkeling during the morning or afternoon hours because there are fewer people at these times and the water is less crowded.

However, Makaiwa Bay is an ideal place for snorkeling because of the calm and clear water. It is also very close to shore. There are few places with such crystal-clear water near the shore that is good for snorkeling. Makaiwa Bay is also a great place to see many different types of fish and coral.

When you snorkel down the sea bed, there are usually much colorful fish that swim around or that you can touch. Makaiwa Bay is often called a hotspot because of its abundance of fish. More than 60 different kinds of reef fish live in the bay. Because there are no waves, they swim freely near the shore, so they get a lot closer to swimmers than they do on most reefs. As a result, you can get very close to the reef without any danger of getting hurt by the coral.

The shallow water in Makaiwa Bay is perfect for snorkeling because it makes an excellent habitat for tropical fish like parrotfish, mandarin dragonets, damselfish, and many more.

Most of the coral at Makaiwa Bay is soft and white from being covered all night with seawater brought on by big waves and then exposed during the morning or afternoon. This makes it easy to touch the coral without getting a piece of coral stuck in your hand or mouth. The only thing that will get you is a sting from the stingray common in Makaiwa Bay but is not very dangerous.

Makaiwa Bay also has many coral fringing reefs, which are smooth and have many colors, including blue, pink, purple, or yellow. Reefs covered with lots of different types of hard coral usually have more fish because they provide hiding places for reef fish like parrotfish.

Some of the coral is also very old, and you can see it is turning a yellow or brown color. The coral forms some small caves, and most people enjoy going inside one cave to swim through it. Makaiwa has an abundance of sea turtles too.

Makaiwa Bay is an excellent place for snorkeling because there aren’t many waves, so the water stays mostly clear. It also has lots of fish, so if you like to see fish, Makaiwa Bay is one place you should visit.

Makaiwa Bay is located on the southeast side of the Big Island, in South Kohala, about 70 miles from Waikoloa and about a 20-minute drive from Kailua-Kona. Take Akoni Pule Highway (Hwy. 11) to Hina Lani Street off Hwy 180.

Makaiwa Bay is located at the southern end of a large bay called Makaiwa Bay. It is one of the most popular beaches on the Big Island and has been called “Hawaii’s best snorkeling spot.” The reef extends out from the shore in all directions. Many small islands close to Makaiwa Bay make an excellent place for shore fishing and some great places to start snorkeling. So if you are interested in booking a snorkeling tour at this location, please let us know in the contact form.

We look forward to snorkeling with you!