Makena, Hawaii, United States

Turtle Town (Maui)

Turtle Town is the operator nickname for a cluster of collapsed lava tubes and small ledges along the south Maui coast off Makena, used by Hawaiian green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) as a long-term cleaning station. The site sits in 9 to 14 metres on a rocky reef and sand bottom, with several small archways and short swim-throughs that make for relaxed navigation. Resident reef fish, including saddle wrasse, gold-ring surgeonfish and yellow tang, act as cleaners, removing parasites, algae and dead skin from the turtles' shells while the animals hover patiently above the rocks. Encounters with three to ten turtles per dive are typical and habituation is so complete that many turtles ignore divers entirely. Other species seen on a regular basis include white tip reef sharks resting in the larger tubes, octopus tucked into the cracks, scrawled filefish, large midnight parrotfish and the Hawaiian state fish, the reef triggerfish. Currents are usually weak; visibility ranges from 15 to 25 metres depending on Maui channel conditions. The site is a year-round destination from Maui operators in Wailea and Kihei. South-facing swell can close it briefly in summer.