Swim with sharks in Maui

As one of Hawaii's most visited islands, you'll find plenty of things to see, do and enjoy on Maui, but none as extreme as getting up close and personal with a group of sharks.

Although sharks are perceived by many as intimidating creatures, they are perfectly safe to swim with if you are prepared and cautious. So if your dream has always been to swim with these fabulous ancient creatures, Maui is the perfect place to do it with its abundance of Whitetip sharks.

But what options are available to you on the island? How do you book this type of experience? What exactly is shark diving? These and other questions are explained in detail below.

Considered by hundreds of travellers as one of the best activities on Maui, you'll find several local companies offering the shark swimming experience at Mala Wharf in Lahaina.

Over the years this location has become synonymous with safe shark encounters on the island.

Mala Wharf jetty in Lahaina town is also one of the best dive sites on Maui's north shore. The water depths reach about 10 metres, making it an ideal dive site for beginners and intermediate divers alike.

If you're looking to dive in Maui it's wise to know that shallow sites are ideal, as they allow divers long periods of time at the bottom in the water without depleting their air reserves. At Mala Wharf you can dive for anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour.

Here you can even swim with sharks without a safety cage, as many of the whitetip reef sharks reside peacefully in this area because the pier serves as a protective shield for them to relax and take their daily naps.

The pier, known to locals as Mala Wharf or Mala Pier, suffered a partial collapse in 1992 during Hurricane Iniki. Today, the fallen concrete posts serve as a shield and refuge for sharks and other species.

How to get there

The harbour is located north of Front Street on Mala Wharf Rd. just behind Longs at the Lahaina Cannery Mall.

Traveller Tip

If you are driving to Lahaina from elsewhere, DO NOT park in the car parks marked Boat Trailer or your vehicle will be reclaimed.

Helpful Information

• Possibility of seeing sharks: Considered the best place to see sharks on Maui, the chances are over 90%.
• Price: This type of experience is available from approximately €130 per traveller.
• Duration of experience: Depending on the company you hire, it can take 2-3 hours to complete the experience.
• Is it recommended to book in advance: Yes, I recommend booking in advance for your diving experience in Lahaina, as the specialised companies are scarce and the experience sells out quickly.

When it comes to swimming with sharks in Maui, the Ocean Maui Center aquarium offers one of the best alternatives.

This diving experience takes divers to swim among approximately 20 sharks, rays and hundreds of fish in a controlled environment with certified professionals.

It is available on specific days and times by advance booking. These days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 14:30 h in the afternoon. If your stay on the island is short, 5 days on Maui or less, book your visit to the aquarium well in advance of your arrival.

All participants must meet a number of requirements, including being at least 12 years of age, being a certified diver, having read the disclaimer and having booked in advance.

The Ocean Center Aquarium is also considered one of the best places to see turtles on Maui, so I recommend taking advantage of your visit to see these fabulous creatures.

How to get there

The Maui Ocean Center is located in Maalaea in the central part of the island. It's easy to get there by bus or private transport from anywhere on the island.

Maalaea' s harbour is also the departure point for most excursions to Molokini Crater. If you are looking to make the most of your day, you can book both experiences on the same date.

Useful Information

• Possibility of seeing sharks: 100% as they are in a controlled habitat.
• Price: The price to pay for the swim with sharks experience at the aquarium is available from €350 per participant. The aquarium provides all the necessary equipment for the experience.
• Duration of activity: Approximately 3 hours.
• Is it recommended to book in advance: Yes, the aquarium requires participants to book at least 24 hours in advance. Bookings are non-refundable if you miss your appointment.

Airport Beach Maui is considered an excellent dive site for beginners and intermediates and because of the shark sightings, it is also considered a place on Maui where it is possible to see some specific specimens.

However, keep in mind that sightings are occasional, so if your ultimate goal is to swim with sharks in Maui, I recommend you opt for one of the two alternatives explored earlier in the post.

Airport Beach in Kaanapali is, on the other hand, an excellent place to hone your diving skills and swim among some of the island's most beautiful coral reefs.

It's a great alternative if you want to explore Maui's other beaches or if you're going to Maui for your honeymoon and are looking for couple's activities.

How to get to Kaanapali Beach

Kaanapali Beach is located north of Lahaina, in the direction of the island's airport. Take Highway 30 past Kaanapali Parkway; at the bottom of the hill take a left onto Kai Ala Dr. Your destination is across from the Sugar Cane Railroad station.

Useful information

• Possibility of seeing sharks: Unfortunately, the chances are not very high, reaching a mere 5% at the best times.
• Price: Diving experiences in Kaanapali are available from €130 per participant.
• Duration of experience: 2 to 3 hours depending on the company you hire for the experience.

Your first shark experience should be fun and memorable. The team from the company you hire for the experience takes care of this and starts the dive adventure by teaching you the correct behaviours and safety measures for swimming with sharks.

During your Maui dive experience, you can expect to see different species of sharks depending on the location you choose for the experience. You will also see other creatures that live in the same natural habitat as these animals.

Although movies have led us to believe that sharks are creatures of an aggressive and fearsome nature, the reality is far from this fantasy. Sharks like to feed mainly on other fish, turtles and seals.

When attacks do occur, it is almost always because they mistake humans for one of their preferred food sources. All expert divers who swim with sharks on a daily basis agree on the same point: sharks are quite tolerant of human presence and are not interested in having us as part of their diet.

Sharks are ancient dinosaur species that have remained on the planet with very little change in their shape and anatomy (other than a reduction in size) for more than 400 million years. There are about 400 known species of sharks on the planet.

While swimming with sharks in Maui is an epic and memorable experience that you will treasure for a lifetime, you should never, under any circumstances, compromise yourself or your companions.

Safety first, so I have compiled for you the most important considerations to remember before you enter the water and while you are in the water.

Wear the right wetsuit.

Your wetsuit should be a deep, dark colour that resembles the colours of the ocean.

If possible, match your wetsuit with dive gear of the same colour to avoid contrasts and to be as inconspicuous as possible.

Be sure not to wear bright objects or colours. Shiny objects, such as accessories, can easily be mistaken for the reflection of fish scales, and bright colours such as yellow are usually associated with fish and food.

Always stay close to the group

Once in the water, avoid diving alone and stay close to the group, as this makes it very unlikely that sharks will take the initiative to approach.

Always follow the instructions of the guide in charge of the experience, for your own safety and for the safety of others accompanying you.

Stay calm but alert

While you are in the water swimming with sharks, remember to stay calm and not make any sudden movements that may upset your companions or the sharks. Keeping a steady pace and trying hard not to make noise are often excellent practices.

If you notice erratic behaviour from any of the sharks, it is usually best for safety reasons to end the dive as soon as possible.

Sharks need their space

When conducting this type of practice always remember that you are an intruder in the sharks' habitat, so respecting their space is vital.

Keep a safe distance, as like any species in the animal kingdom, when a shark sees something approaching it may attack in defence. If you swim in the direction of a shark and it moves away, leave it alone!

Finally, do not stroke the shark's head or near the jaw area and please do not take flash photography that may disturb them.

Avoid early morning and late afternoon.

Most shark species are crepuscular in their feeding habits. This means that they feed primarily at dawn and dusk.

Consequently, avoid diving near them at dawn and dusk, both times of day when they actively forage for food. However, midday in bright sunlight is usually a fairly good time to dive.