Mala Historic Wharf — Attraction in Hawaii

This was the first place we snorkeled on our trip, and unfortunately (the weather and ocean swells prevented us from hitting ALL the major snorkeling spots) was also the best.

This place has a tiny gravel and sand parking lot next to a tiny beach and looks like basically nothing, but once you get out under the water it's a lot like swimming through a shipwreck. When we were there the turtles were all around us. I also saw an eel slithering along the bottom, but didn't see any sharks (maybe you have to dive to see them hiding under the concrete?).

So the snorkeling is great, but beware of the tides because the initial swim can be very shallow. We decided to exit the water on the black volcanic rocks on the other side of the pier instead of risking stomping on the coral and regretted it later when we found cuts on our hands from the broken-glass-like sharp rocks.

While we were there a tourist boat dropped a bunch of snorkelers at the end of the underwater wreck, so if you'd rather not worry about parking or swimming across the shallow and sharp reef you can just pay for a snorkel tour to this site....and honestly it's better than the snorkeling at Molokini, a lot...

Located next to shallow beach the collapsed historic wharf is a great spot for intermediate snorkeling and diving. The collapsed wharf is a make shift reef for sharks, turtles and an assortment of fish and great beach area! To get some of the best sightings you do have to go out to the furthest wharf support post. You may also see snorkel and dive boats. For those that don't mind a challenge getting in from rocks instead of beach is a good option to get you out further faster as beach area is very shallow for...

Great place to watch the sunset, sometimes you can score fresh fish from local fisherman. Mala Wharf was destroyed in Hurricane Iniki, according to Front Street residents, by one giant wave, that broke on top of it. It used to be twice as large. Snorkeling can be adventureous there. Going left along the way to Baby Beach, Blacktip Sharks are fequently spotted on the edge of the reef. If you go right, towards the anchored sailboats its Turtle Town, but beware of...