Mempachi Caves

Mempachi Caves lies off the coast of Lanai, separated from Maui by the Auau Channel, and is typically reached by boat from Lahaina or Manele Bay. The site reaches a maximum depth of around 28.5 metres and is rated intermediate, with visibility generally described as great. Divers regularly encounter eagle rays, nudibranchs, octopus, pufferfish, and reef sharks here, and there have also been reports of barracuda, frogfish, leaf scorpionfish, scorpionfish, sea turtles, and snapper. The bottom is mixed with wreck material, and a collapsed bridge has been noted as a hazard by at least one source.

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

• Sea turtleSea turtleReported here · unconfirmed
• OctopusOctopusConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
• Reef sharkReef sharkConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
• Hump CoralPorites lobataReported here · unconfirmed
• Saddle WrasseThalassoma duperreyReported here · unconfirmed
• Porites evermanniReported here · unconfirmed
• Dusky SurgeonfishAcanthurus nigrofuscusReported here · unconfirmed
• Arc-eye HawkfishParacirrhites arcatusReported here · unconfirmed
• Blackfin ChromisPycnochromis vanderbiltiReported here · unconfirmed
• Spreading Rice CoralMontipora patulaReported here · unconfirmed
• Cauliflower CoralPocillopora meandrinaReported here · unconfirmed
• Pacific Orange-spine UnicornfishNaso lituratusReported here · unconfirmed
• Yellow TangZebrasoma flavescensReported here · unconfirmed
• SnapperSnapperReported here · unconfirmed
• Leaf scorpionfishLeaf scorpionfishReported here · unconfirmed
• ScorpionfishScorpionfishReported here · unconfirmed
• BarracudaBarracudaReported here · unconfirmed
• NudibranchNudibranchConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
• Eagle rayEagle rayConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
• PufferfishPufferfishConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
• FrogfishFrogfishReported here · unconfirmed