Okay, so yesterday I finally checked out the Mala Boat Ramp in Maui. I’d heard so much about it, both good and bad, so I wanted to see it for myself.
Getting There and First Impressions
First off, finding the place was pretty easy. It’s right off the main road, and there’s a decent-sized sign. When I pulled up, the first thing I noticed was the parking situation – or lack thereof. It’s tight. Seriously tight. There are only a few designated spots, and the rest is kind of a free-for-all along the road. I got lucky and snagged a spot pretty quickly, but I can see how it could be a nightmare during peak hours.
Checking Out the Ramp
I walked down to the ramp itself, and man, it’s…interesting. It’s definitely seen better days. The concrete is cracked and broken in places, and there’s a lot of sand and debris built up. I watched a couple of boats launch, and it looked a little tricky, especially with the waves. There is no dock, it is just a ramp, so having someone who knows how to do the launching job is a must. I saw some people get wet to their knees.
Snorkeling Adventures
But the real reason I went was for the snorkeling. I’d heard the old pier pilings just offshore are amazing for sea life. I geared up, waded into the water (which, by the way, was pretty calm that day), and swam out. And wow! It totally lived up to the hype.
The pilings are covered in coral, and there were tons of fish. I saw a couple of sea turtles, which was awesome, just chilling and munching on algae. I even spotted a moray eel hiding in a crevice. The visibility wasn’t perfect – there was a bit of sand churned up – but it was still incredible. I spent a good hour just exploring the area.
- The water there is pretty shallow, so I do not need to worry about the depth of the sea.
- But I needed to watch out for boats launching and retrieving.
Overall Experience
After I got out of the water, I grabbed my stuff and walked back to my car, dodging a few trucks and trailers maneuvering around. I see some people leaving their cars on the roadside, with no parking spots. But I noticed that some cars had paper on their windows, which seems like the parking tickets.
All in all, I’d say Mala Boat Ramp is a mixed bag. The ramp itself is rough, and the parking is a pain. But, the snorkeling is absolutely worth it. If you’re going for the underwater scenery, just be prepared for the less-than-ideal conditions on land. Just be patient, go early to snag a parking spot, and be careful on the ramp. And definitely, keep an eye out for those turtles!
