Why is the water so clear in Maui?

The coral reefs that surround Hawaii protect the coastline from strong waves and water currents that would otherwise stir up sand and sediment. This helps to keep Hawaii's ocean water clear. The sediment in Hawaii's oceans is made up of volcanic rock, coral, and shells which are heavy and not easily stirred up.



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Maui is known for its gorgeous water, and this beach park is perhaps the best example of that. The water is clear and so blue you'll think you're in a photograph.

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The rule of thumb is that oceans with more algae appear greener and those with less algae appear bluer. Hawaii has less algae and other organisms such as zooplankton and other particles which is one reason why the water appears bluer.

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The Weddell Sea has been claimed by scientists to have the clearest waters of any ocean in the world. Described by a historian as “the most wretched and dismal region on earth”, due to the flash freezes that caught Shackleton's ship, its clarity is only belied by the sheer depth of the ocean below.

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The water is clear due to the absence of plankton and suspended particles. Plankton is the base of the food web in all oceans and, because there is little plankton in the tropics, tropical ocean water is nearly sterile in comparison with the fertile waters of the temperate oceans.

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The Hawaiian Islands are surrounded by coral which protect the shoreline from energetic waves. The sediment in Hawaii is heavier than in other oceans so is not easily stirred up and keeps the blue waters clear.

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Second only to the south shore, west Maui has many of the best beaches for swimming, snorkeling, and just about anything else you could want. And the crown jewel among them has to be the three-mile stretch of white shore and shimmering blue water at Ka'anapali Beach.

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Avoid the Ocean During Do not swim in the ocean in the dark, and if you are a visitor and arrive at the beach early, do not enter the water until a lifeguard is on duty (at a designated State Beach Park). If it's time for the lifeguards to leave for the day, it's best to err on the side of caution and exit the ocean.

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Second only to the south shore, west Maui has many of the best beaches for swimming, snorkeling, and just about anything else you could want. And the crown jewel among them has to be the three-mile stretch of white shore and shimmering blue water at Ka'anapali Beach.

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Since the County of Maui does not have sufficient storage and distribution capability to utilize all of the reclaimed wastewater produced on our islands, the excess is sent to the injection wells. The County of Maui wastewater treatment plants and injection wells reduce the impact of human waste on the environment.

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There's plenty of gorgeous water to be found at Maui's beach parks, but the clearest is in Honolua Bay, especially during the summer. Honolua is Hawaiian for “two harbors,” and the bay was originally used to receive ships and unload supplies.

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Speaking of gifts, don't take rocks or sand from the beach or lava rocks from a volcano. Superstition says that people who take them will be cursed, which probably gets its roots from the high esteem Hawaiian culture has always held for rocks.

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Originating atop the volcano as rain and snowmelt – the water slowly filters through thousands of feet of porous, volcanic rock, re-emerging at the surface as refreshingly crisp, naturally alkaline water.

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1. The Maldives. The Maldives, located in the Indian Ocean, have around 1,190 islands and sandbanks. A lagoon with crystal clear water encircles all the islands, which are protected by a reef structure that is home to an array of underwater life.

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