Olowalu Reef / Turtle Reef

Olowalu Reef, also called Turtle Reef, lies off the west coast of Maui between Lahaina and Olowalu village, facing the channel toward Lanai. It is a beginner site with a maximum depth of about 10.7 metres, keeping conditions accessible for both new divers and snorkelers. The reef is known for green sea turtles that frequent the shallow coral flats, and divers here have also reported dolphins and whales passing through. Visibility can be affected by runoff and the shallow, sandy bottom stirring up when surge picks up.

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
• DolphinDolphinReported here · unconfirmed
• Hump CoralPorites lobataReported here · unconfirmed
• Porites compressaReported here · unconfirmed
• Saddle WrasseThalassoma duperreyReported here · unconfirmed
• Dusky SurgeonfishAcanthurus nigrofuscusReported here · unconfirmed
• Spreading Rice CoralMontipora patulaReported here · unconfirmed
• Rice CoralMontipora capitataReported here · unconfirmed
• Goldring SurgeonfishCtenochaetus strigosusReported here · unconfirmed
• Cauliflower CoralPocillopora meandrinaReported here · unconfirmed
• Hawaiian Spotted TobyCanthigaster jactatorReported here · unconfirmed
• WhaleWhaleReported here · unconfirmed