Going to Maui in December - What Will We See

nuxx

nuxx

.Registered Member
Hey guys,

We're going to Maui for 7 days at the beginning of December and staying at the Ritz. Heard there was a decent snorkeling spot right in front of the hotel.

Anyway...

I really wanted to see some Achilles Tangs, but heard they are more common in Oahu.

What are the chances of seeing Achilles around Maui?

Also, any chance to see Chevrons or Crosshatch Triggers? I know the Crosshatches are more deep water though.

I've never seen a scuba/snorkeling picture of a Chevron though... maybe just hard to tell if they are their adult colors???

Thanks :D
 
Awesome video Wes :)

Which spots did you think were the best?

Any Achilles sightings?
 
Thanks. I would skip on the whale watching tour and just do the snorkeling at molokini crater. I saw some achilles there close to the wall. You might get lucky and see some dolphins, whale sharks or whales on the way there.

http://youtu.be/yl5k7ZngR14
 
Best place for Achilles is the shallow wave swept water, right in the surge. Most snorkeling ops get very nervous and don't like you in those spots....easy to get knocked into the rocks and cut up a bit or sea urchins spines jammed into you. IMO a small price to pay to see them in their natural habitat. Cross hatch your not to likely to see snorkeling, though not impossible. Cheveron tangs are not that common, so just keep your eyes open.
 
wav0718 said:
Thanks. I would skip on the whale watching tour and just do the snorkeling at molokini crater. I saw some achilles there close to the wall. You might get lucky and see some dolphins, whale sharks or whales on the way there.

http://youtu.be/yl5k7ZngR14
Click to expand...

Great Wes thanks :)

We were going to check out Molokini as well :)

What's "the wall"... sorry never been before :reading:
 
billsreef said:
Best place for Achilles is the shallow wave swept water, right in the surge. Most snorkeling ops get very nervous and don't like you in those spots....easy to get knocked into the rocks and cut up a bit or sea urchins spines jammed into you. IMO a small price to pay to see them in their natural habitat. Cross hatch your not to likely to see snorkeling, though not impossible. Cheveron tangs are not that common, so just keep your eyes open.
Click to expand...

Thanks Bill, do you have you beach of reef names in Maui that are good to check out?

I know some collectors in Oahu and they say Crosshatches are very deep water fish. Also with how often Chevrons do not show up on their lists, I guess they are:

a) Very rare

or

b) Just mostly in adult coloration, which doesn't seem to be popular with reef keepers...
 
The only problem you may have is that December is winter in Maui, and the surf really kicks up on the western coast near where you're staying. That being said, you really have to play it by ear. If you book a snorkel tour (I highly recommend Trilogy; been on a number of their trips, and they've been fantastic), they will always have backup spots if their main target isn't ideal.

You've got Honolua Bay - my personal favorite - nearby, as well as Black Rock. You'll see anything and everything in either of those spots, including many Achilles Tangs. I've never snorkeled in Maui and NOT seen many of them. If you decide to venture out a little further, you can take a day trip to Lana'i and snorkel Hulopo'e Bay, where you'll see yellow tangs the size of dinner plates (among other things).

I've only ever seen a few Crosshatches in Maui, but they're certainly there (most are in much deeper water). Chances are, you'll see more pink tailed triggers and rectangle triggers than any of the others. :)
 
nuxx said:
Thanks Bill, do you have you beach of reef names in Maui that are good to check out?
Click to expand...

Pretty much anyplace you get in the water is good. Hanakao'o Beach Park, by the cemetery, is where a large Domino Damsel bit me...and drew blood :eek1: :lol: Out by Makena is Turtle Town/5 caves, good place for turtles.

 
billsreef said:
Pretty much anyplace you get in the water is good. Hanakao'o Beach Park, by the cemetery, is where a large Domino Damsel bit me...and drew blood :eek1: :lol: Out by Makena is Turtle Town/5 caves, good place for turtles.
Click to expand...

Will add to the list :)

Being in the water is the main reason I want to ;)
 
NTP66 said:
The only problem you may have is that December is winter in Maui, and the surf really kicks up on the western coast near where you're staying. That being said, you really have to play it by ear. If you book a snorkel tour (I highly recommend Trilogy; been on a number of their trips, and they've been fantastic), they will always have backup spots if their main target isn't ideal.

You've got Honolua Bay - my personal favorite - nearby, as well as Black Rock. You'll see anything and everything in either of those spots, including many Achilles Tangs. I've never snorkeled in Maui and NOT seen many of them. If you decide to venture out a little further, you can take a day trip to Lana'i and snorkel Hulopo'e Bay, where you'll see yellow tangs the size of dinner plates (among other things).

I've only ever seen a few Crosshatches in Maui, but they're certainly there (most are in much deeper water). Chances are, you'll see more pink tailed triggers and rectangle triggers than any of the others. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks so much :)

Got tons of stuff to look into now.

Been all over the Caribbean, but have never kept any fish from that area. So it'll be interesting to see things I've kept and want to keep in Hawaii :)
 
nuxx said:
Thanks so much :)

Got tons of stuff to look into now.

Been all over the Caribbean, but have never kept any fish from that area. So it'll be interesting to see things I've kept and want to keep in Hawaii :)
Click to expand...

I wanted to keep the entire island of Maui (my favorite place on Earth), but it wouldn't fit into the overhead compartment on the plane home. :(
 
I dove with Lahaina divers for most of my dives in Maui - very professional outfit. Saw some awesome stuff with them and they took me on an awesome hammerhead dive - check out the cathedrals if you can too.

Also did a beach dive where I saw a whole school of Chevrons spawning - this was in August tho so like others have said you are going in the winter months not sure how its going to be.

For a good beach dive guy check out ShakaDoug - you can google him.

Have fun and take some pics so we can enjoy too!
 
Awesome to see Chevrons spawning :)

I'll check out all the suggestions!

We're hoping they release a new GoPro model in the fall. If not we'll pick up a current generation.
 
NTP66 said:
I wanted to keep the entire island of Maui (my favorite place on Earth), but it wouldn't fit into the overhead compartment on the plane home. :(
Click to expand...

+1
Been to Maui many times (and Kauai, and the Big Island) and it's ALWAYS hard to leave.
We just went to Kauai again in July and we miss it already. <sigh>

NTP66 said:
You've got Honolua Bay - my personal favorite - nearby, as well as Black Rock. You'll see anything and everything in either of those spots, including many Achilles Tangs. I've never snorkeled in Maui and NOT seen many of them.
Click to expand...

Yep, Honolua Bay and Black Rock are two "Don't miss" spots. The current around Black Rock can be strong (maybe more-so in winter) so use good judgement.

For when you are not snorkeling .... the Road to Hana is a beautiful drive that you should see at least once. Nice way to spend a day - lots to see.

Have fun and enjoy!!!!
 
nuxx said:
Great Wes thanks :)

We were going to check out Molokini as well :)

What's "the wall"... sorry never been before :reading:
Click to expand...

What Bill was talking about, where the surge happens in molokini, you can see it in the second video link i provided with some achilles tangs hanging around the rock face.
http://youtu.be/yl5k7ZngR14

sorry, i know the video is hard to watch with the fisheye and shakiness.
 
There is a little spot called Black Rock in Maui. If you ask around, you can find it. I saw a whole horde of Achilles tangs out there and I was only snorkeling! If you stand on the beach under the tree line, you will see a rock poking out of the water out and to the left. Maybe 50 yards or so. Head towards that rock and there is a huge "room" surrounded by gigantic brain coral columns. It's kind of hard to get in, but I believe there is a gap to the right of it. Once in, it opens up more to the back, but you wouldn't know it if you saw it from that angle.

If you find it, hands down, it was one of the most densely populated areas of fish I've ever been in! I dropped by almost every day to check it out and it was always loaded.

Do be careful if you head out the back. There's a hole that had a tendency to draw in nurse sharks, and in low tide it is shallow enough that you could probably kick them if you didn't see them.
 
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