Black Rock

Hi,
So we wanted a place to snorkel and looked on Unilocal and found all the reviews so we decided to try it. So happy you did because we saw a turtle! My kids were so happy. Def try this place. Go by the rocks!

Very over rated compared to other beaches and snorkeling spots in Maui. Super limited parking, dead reefs, and fish that have clearly been fed one too many times. We got there at 730am and the water was clear, but the undersea life was underwhelming. Also, three outriggers parked near the cliffs to let tourists cliff dive. They blatantly blocked off a huge portion of the rock wall to snorkelers for a good 30 – 45 minutes. The beach was decent, but I suspect this spot has been over run by years of tourism.

There are signs that you can’t climb but of course we broke the rules. Well worth it.
There are a pipe trail that helps you climb to the top to jump off. When you jump off you can swim to the side and climb back up. It’s a bit slippery with the algae but you can do it.
Lots of snorkelers around but they tend to stay away from the people that jump but just watch for them before you jump.

Man I have to say it’s the best snorkeling (probably diving too!) in Maui. I wouldn’t bother going anywhere else… you’d b disappointed!!!

I love black rock because I can walk there from my hotel and it is great to see lots of colorful fish and sea turtles
It does get crowded because of the proximity to so many hotels, but it is free and you do not need to drive or pay for an excursion
I think I saw at least 8 sea turtles each day I went.

Nice beach! Clear waters, not too crowded and not too dead. Everything was beautiful and clean. Tourist or people were all friendly and took turns jumping off the rock and very supportive lol

I stayed four days nearby black rock, really enjoyed the sunset and when weather condition is perfect with calmer water it’s an awesome experience to enjoy the beach. So expect to see rougher waves from time to time, Mother Nature is unpredictable you might see a day that with rough waves and murky water and the next day sea is clam and crystal clear water perfect for snorkel.
I had an amazing time staying at black rock /​Maui, but during the weekend it gets really crowed, snorkel experience could be great if the kids dive jumps aren’t as close as to the snorkel area just need to keep paying attention they don’t jump over your head. Also waves could be rougher near the tip of Black Rock.
However it is sad that I do see lots of trash on the shore near lava rocks.
It’s not everyday if you are lucky — I had seen lots of tropical fishes and some turtles here and they do come to feed on sea grass and the trash would kill these marine animals they might mistaken the trash as food or might get tangled!
Please people if you really want Maui to remain its beauty and help the future generation to enjoy PLEASE PLEASE clean up the trash before you leave the beach or as a curtesy please pick up the trashes when you see them.

Wow the hype machine is in full force. I dont know how Black Rock is getting these reviews.
The beach was beyond murky and we had to swim out a good 60 – 70 feet before you could see 3 feet in front or below you. And it wasn’t particularly crowded — not that many people in the water so I dont know why i was swimming through some prehistoric sludge.
We saw barely any fish compared to other snorkeling locations. The cliff diving seemed cool but thats the only reason I’d come back here.
Oh yeah and that corner you pass from the cliff back to Sheraton was packed with trash. I don’t mean like a trash bag someone took to the wrong part of town. I mean tons of empty beer bottles food wrappers and just garbage. This wasn’t at like 8 in the morning after someone partied all night. This was mid day in broad day light.
It was super lame because 99% of the beaches I saw in Maui didn’t have a single piece of trash on them.
Oh yeah and I saw what looked like a potato chip bags on the bottom of the ocean floor like a hundred feet from shore.
Really people, you gotta try someone of the other beaches. There’s so much more out there =/

Aloha.
Ones you get there (parking is bad), you will feel like in the heaven.
Beautiful beach, clean ocean, beautiful weather, great place to snorkel… All in one!
Take umbrella, there is almost no shade.

You cannot miss this snorkeling spot. Even if you aren’t staying at the Sheraton (but I recommend it!) — spend an afternoon here. The beach fills up fast, so keep that in mind, but the snorkeling is fantastic. The water is crystal clear, and the surf on the Sheraton side is easy for those who might not be strong swimmers. There’s an almost guarantee that you’ll see at least one sea turtle (but based off interactions I’ve seen, I think it should be said that if you do encounter a turtle, please respect its boundaries!)
If you snorkel around the tip of Black Rock, the surf intensifies, but it’s beautiful. The back wall is much deeper, but we’ve spotted a Monk Seal resting in the past! If your a decent swimmer, I highly recommend snorkeling around the tip.
Also, if you’re feeling spontaneous, jump off the cliff!

My girlfriend and I decided to try out this snorkel spot and it was amazing. We saw a bunch of turtles hanging out and tons of fish. If you’re in Maui, definitely check this place out. I recommend getting there early so you can get a nice spot.

Black rock was a fun place to snorkel at but a bitch to get to. We drove around for a half hour trying to figure out where to park. Finally we decided to drive further down where we found a park that had a lot. Only this place obviously gets filled fast. Luckily for us we found the last open spot.
After being irritated for the better part of 30 minutes trying to figure out where to go, we suddenly realized we had to make the long trek back down to where black rock was. It’s a public beach that resides off of a resort so you feel awkward walking through, as if you don’t really belong.
We went in the afternoon. Bad decision! If you’re going to go, obviously going in the morning will be better. Swells will be lower and there will be less people. The beach was packed and filled with litter when we got there. I was quite disgusted. I should have taken pictures but I was so annoyed about the 10 – 15 extra minutes it took us to get to the beach, that I just wanted to get in the water.
A lot of people were jumping off the rock into the water. There were so many people around, I assume that’s why the turtles weren’t. We saw one turtle. But we got to hear the male whales singing, so that was cool.
The next time we’re on Maui I think we’ll definitely go back for a much better experience, but we’ll get there bright and early.

When we visit Black Rock beach twice in 5 days, it’s gotta be good! Black Rock beach something for most people– snorkeling/​scuba, cliff diving, swimming, beach lounging, Baywatch running re-​enactments… It’s fantastical. It’s right near a bunch of beach resorts, so there are bars, pools, restrooms, and showers near by.
Beautiful clear waters for snorkelers (I saw more types of fish here than at Molokini!), and the occasional friendly sea turtle can be seen gliding past… I even got to pet one, so cute~ Simply bring some goggles and some fins if you want to keep up with the sealife, and you’ll be able to enjoy the fish and corals closer to the black rocks /​diving area. Listen hard and you can hear the «crackles» from the fish munching on corals :)
Of course, there is cliff diving/​jumping as well! There are no paths paved to climb up the rocks, so venture carefully. Look for a pipe to grasp on to, and avoid the yellow-​green puddle right near where people jump (that’s where people pee, ewwww!!!). You can watch some skilled or native Hawaiians climb up the rock face from the front and dive off. The water is plenty deep, so don’t worry about hitting the bottom– just take a big jump away from the rock! :D
The sand is soft and warm when there is sun, but when it rains (seems to rain randomly and often), it can get cold with the breeze. The sand and wind combo can feel like being attacked by a cloud of needles, so bring extra towels or plan to jump into the safety of the sea when the sand attacks!
This beach really is terrific; be sure to drop by once during your stay in Maui. There is a limited number of free parking spots in the Sheraton area labelled something like «Beach Access Parking,» and there is also paid parking as well at the Sheraton area.

Heard about this spot from a couple locals and other fellow tourist.
Don’t know about the parking situation since we walked over.
Place is definitely packed with people but the snorkel isn’t bad. Heard there were turtles in the morning, and rarely some in the afternoon.
Got lucky and ran into one turtle just a little further out and around black rock.
Jumping off black rock is a must, also a fun place to watch people conquer their fear and take the leap.
Had one person who was up there for a good 10−15min hesitating, gathered quite the crowd cheering her on

Great place lots of fish turtles & even saw a octopus
Lots fun jumping off Black Rock
Recommended for any age worth snorkeling body boarding etc

Black Rock is beautiful and a great snorkeling spot but much too crowded for my taste. If you’re planning a visit, expect lots of people and sparse amounts of shade. I prefer the beach about ¼ mile north.
On a side note, directions to Black Rock from the Maui Eldorado can be a little confusing. Here’s the simple version:
1) Walk up the golf course sidewalk and cross to the Sheraton.
2) Walk by the tennis courts.
3) With the tennis courts on your left, take the first sidewalk on your right. Follow that all the way to the beach.

Black Rock beach is amazing and beautiful! If you’re looking to swim with the turtles this would be the beach for you! We saw two-​three turtles right up near the corals by the big black rock.
People were constantly jumping off this rock which was cool to see. There were also tons of tropical fish here. You really don’t need to search to hard to find sea life.
The water here was definitely nice, warm, and clear compared to Napili Bay Beach which we also snorkeled at. We will definitely be returning to this beach when we’re back in Maui.
The only thing I found difficulty was parking so here are your options:
1. Small beach access parking lot by Sheraton which has about 10 – 12 spots, chances are it’s filled unless you go super early in the morning
2. There is a beach access parking lot by the Westin and has about 20 – 25 spots, good chance to find paring here as many people don’t seem to know it exist. Drive past the Westin and before the Sheraton, there is a small alley lot. Drive all the way done past reserved parking.
3. Wharf and buy something in the area to get 3 hr validation. But don’t let them catch you since no beach parking allowed: X
Enjoy!

Been to Black Rock to snorkel more than an hand full of times in the past 2 years. Let’s start of by saying what a beautiful beach. Great a place for beginner snorkelers .The water is clear and calm, so it’s great if you have the little ones.
At Black Rock you will definitely see sea turtles. They’re pretty much use to the people around there, so they will actually swim up to you. But please don’t touch them. Our sunblock and oil are poison to their protective coat. You will also see a lot of tropical fish. Here at Black Rock you can also jump off it as well.
Overall a great place. But I do recommend getting there early pick your spot. It gets really crowded, and I like to be close to the water. For those who like the shady area there is one spot all the way in the back right.

This place is amazing! Excellent spot for snorkeling, as I was able to spot many different types of tropical fish and even got to swim with a sea turtle! Jumping off the black rock is definitely a bucket list item and something you have to do at least once (I did it about 4 times lol). The water is warm/​clear and you get awesome views of coral, sea uchins, and other tropical ocean wildlife.
If you are staying at one of the hotels in along the row in Lahaina, it’s an easy walk. If you are driving, there is ample free parking near/​sometimes connected to the hotel parking lots.

JUMPER? If you’re a thrill seeker like me then what I did was climb up the rock from the water. You’ll see a flat spot up top kind of near this lamp looking pole. This is a good spot to jump off because below the rock goes inward so you’re less likely to hit it on the way down. It can be windy so be careful. Bend your knees to keep your center of gravity lower. My first jump I didn’t push outward and survived, but my friends said I landed really close to the rocks. My second jump I made sure to push off more outward.
I say try to land feet first. My second jump I landed crooked and my butt hit the water and it hurt! My fiancé had his right arm out and said it really hurt too. I dunno how these other guys did crazy jumps off the rock. One guy even jumped off backwards and did a flip twist trick!
LOCATION/​PARKING: You can park at the Sheraton hotel parking garage structure… there is a small area on the first floor titled beach access parking. There are maybe 20 spots in there and we got lucky one opened up when we drove in. Then you walk up the hill that takes you through the Sheraton hotel. Black rock area beach is basically in the backyard beach of the Sheraton hotel. Then you can use their swimming pool showers to rinse off. One of our friends laid out on their pool lawn chairs and sun tanned so I don’t think they have any way of only allowing Sheraton hotel stayers to use this pool/​beach area.
SNORKEL: lots of people snorkeling and not really paying attention to where they’re going so watch out. People yelled out that they saw turtles really close to the beach.
OVERALL: Check this area out! If you get hungry up the street is an outside shopping plaza with a food court, ABC store, stores, shaved ice, ice cream Haagen Daas, and more. If you ended up parking in a certain parking structure some places will validate so be sure to ask

So, I don’t know how to swim. Luckily, I rented some fins and floating belt to at least float in the ocean. The first beach we snorkeled in was this place. I was terrified to put my head under the water. But thanks to my husband, I was able to conquer that fear. I was so happy when I found fishes and even a sea turtle swimming under me!!! Words couldn’t express how amazed I was! The waves were pretty calm and that’s what made my experience more better. Some of the guys decided to jump from the rock as well. They said they were terrified but finally did it, haha. Good for them!
This beach is by far my favorite one EVER!!!

Visiting Black Rock for the past 15 years, I try to snorkel in the mornings for a greater chance of being able to see turtles feeding on the rocks.
Turtles have also appeared afternoons and it’s rather random.
There also have been manta rays seen just outside of the western most point and they are quiet rare.
If you are adventurous you can cliff dive/​jump, and in two seconds you are hitting the water, on some occasions, hitting the water hard (ouch!). Take great care when climbing, as the rocks can be sharp and slippery (at your own risk)
Although you are some what protected because of Black Rock on terms of ocean waves, it can get rough and then it feels like you were inside of a washing machine.
A great place to visit with kids and fully grown kids that requires supervision, I would highly recommend this place.
In the evenings before sunset, the Sheraton has a nightly ceremonial cliff dive before sunset, a great item to video tape (opps, showing my age)
**edited for errors I cannot blame on auto-​correct

Black Rock! What an experience.
So things to know right away. The map will try to take you all the way to the top where only guests have access. If you can’t find the free parking anywhere park in the Sheraton parking lot. It is 4 dollars for every 20 minutes.
2^nd getting up on the rock itself. I would recommend you just get in the water and swim around to where the others are climbing back on the rock or you will have to do some tricky climbing.
3^rd it seems there is no order to how people jump. So ask how people are going because some are just up there chilling.

I recommend going as early as 6:30– 7am
We swam with the turtles and saw lots of fish
Water was clear and tides were low
My favorite snorkeling spot in Maui
Free parking garage opens at 7am (no gate) but we parked a little before and it was fine

Real close to Sheraton’s poolside bars = awesome.
Some crazy turtle was swimming super close to the shore the entire time we were there — a few hours.
The beach was pretty jam-​packed, but that seems to be just the way it is at places like this. Snorkeling was good, but the water was pretty rough the day we went so we weren’t really able to get around the point where the (supposedly) better snorkeling is.

This was our third stay at Maui and we always stay on Kaanapali beach near black rock since I love snorkeling and watching people cliff dive off it. This time we stayed at the Sheraton on the third floor right up against the rock. the rock is also a home to lots of birds. So we had a view of the ocean and enjoyed watching several birds as we relaxed in our lani.
the water hear us usually very calm but this time the waves were much rougher and people were surfing down toward the Hampton. I’d preferred the water to be more calm better from snorkeling. had to wear a life jacket.

It’s hard to pick favorites when there is so much of a good thing. We have a few beaches here, but Black Rock is my favorite. Let’s talk about why: the color of the water is the picturesque turquoise blue that you see in your dreams. The water is so clean and clear, you can see all the life under the sea. Speaking of life under the sea, almost every time I head over to this beach. I see a honu (sea turtle) checking out the selection of greens for lunch. Be warned: while cute and absolutely amazing, you cannot touch these guys. They are protected by law and carry a huge fine if you are caught disturbing them. But I won’t lie: swimming with them and just watching them in general is so so amazing!
The view is amazing. You can see Lana’i across the way and you can also see quite a ways down the beach. The water is perfect for so many beach activities: snorkeling, swimming, and floating. Many of the kids and adults swim out, climb up and jump off the rock into the water. Some of them do incredible stunts.
Is a great beach for families, especially kids because the water is usually very calm. The only few downsides are: not much shade so bring your own. It gets really hot. The parking can be a big fat pain because there is limited beach parking. If you are staying in one of the resorts, you’re golden. If you are a resident, plan on getting up early and nabbing one of the spots in the beach access parking lot located on Ka’anapali Pkwy. Then follow the sidewalk that’s on the left side of the building down to the beach. Head over to the right by the «black rock wall.» Set up camp and have yourself a good time. It might soon become your favorite beach as well. :)

We went first thing in the morning to Black Rock before catching our flight home. There has been a southern swell so the surges were kind of big which impacts visibility. The coral is starting to die, but there were plenty of fish to see — all varieties. I floated near a big school of fish and just swayed with them with the surge. Best part? Turtles. Like huge turtles! Just surfing along the waves. They are so used to humans around they just intermingled with the swimmers. I recommend swimming out to the end of the rocks — clearer water and plenty to see. Actually — you don’t need to swim out there. Just float and the current will take you out there. Just be mindful — so you don’t get further out than you anticipated. It happens very quickly if you aren’t paying attention.
Coming back in, I floated on the incoming wave and swam when the water wanted to pull me back so I didnt lose too much ground.
It’s more tiring than you think — I’m quite athletic and I only stayed out there for 30 minutes. When I was back on shore. I was pooped!
Parking: if you aren’t staying at the hotel, there is a free beach access parking on the left side of their parking structure. It’s a short walk through the hotel to the beach. There are hotel bathrooms near the ballroom (I’m sure they don’t want us using them — but I did anyway. When ya gotta go, ya gotta go!).
Black Rock overall is my second favorite snorkel spot on the island. My first favorite (and its hands down WAY better) so Honolua Bay).

ROCK JUMP!
Parking is free if you can find the lot next to the Sheraton!
Awesome beach for relaxing and snorkling. And if you up for it, rock jump!