Blackrock is our favorite place for snorkeling on Maui. It has an easy entry into the water, no large waves to knock you over as you're trying to get your mask and fins on. The area near the rock has a lot of sea life, different kinds of fish, and also giant sea turtles. They swim up so close sometimes you can reach out and touch them (don't do that though). We even saw a baby stingray once, which my husband was thrilled about. We went in early/mid November and never had an issue with the beaches being closed due to high surf, but that can happen at any unprotected beach during winter. Every day at sunset, a guy walks to the edge of the blackrock and lights the tiki torches, and then dives down into the water. It's pretty darn cool. Sunset is beautiful there. The beach does get crowded but that's because it's so good for snorkeling that I wouldn't be surprised it everyone wanted to come here. That said, we never had an issue with finding a spot, I mean the beach is big and there is plenty of space for everyone. The key is to come early, since the water is clearer then anyways. The Sheraton Blackrock is also a wonderful hotel. I didn't stay there but we used the facilities and I lost my sunglasses in one of the restrooms. They checked everywhere and had security and maintenance search top to bottom to find them, and finally they did! I was so grateful to them, especially since I wasn't a guest at the hotel. Will definitely think about staying here next time! read more

Black Rock Beach - Sunset torch lighting ceremony - Beaches Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

Gorgeous beach and not to crowded by Maui standards. All the beaches are public in HI so stroll in front of a resort and grab a chair. Park at Whalers Village and get validated or find one of the three hidden and small free lots. There's Great people watching and always some sailboat and parasailer action going on. There's an ABC store in walking distance where I picked up a cooler, ice and drinks. Also, bring your snorkeling gear as there is good snorkeling next to Black Rock itself. Showers and bathrooms nearby. read more

Black Rock Beach - Blackrock. - Beaches Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

I always come back to this beach because I love it! This beach is huge, so there's always a place to lounge and swim. I will say, it has gotten significantly more crowded in recent years, but it's still worth going to. There is great snorkeling here. I've always seen a turtle or two, and one year I saw a pod of freaking dolphins! I'll never forget that. The rock is fun to climb on and jump off of. Plus you're right by the shops if you need some grub or new sandals. This is one of my favorites! read more

Had a great time snorkeling! We snorkeled on the day before Hurricane Iselle was supposed to hit and it was phenomenal. Even though it was drizzling and there were 15mph winds, under the water was beyond peaceful. We actually saw two turtles at this little cove right on the north side of black rock. Definitely a must go! You can park at the beach access lot near the Sheraton (there's only about 11 spots and 3 handicap spots).There's a pathway right next to it that you can follow to get to Black Rock. read more

Black Rock Beach - Turtle we saw at Black Rock - Beaches Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

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Easy, accessible, great area for snorkeling. Amazing clear waters most of the time. Generally pretty safe as long as you don't go out past the rock outcropping---lots of currents beyond it!!! Also walking distance to all the resort hotels and Whalers Village mall. Times visited: several read more

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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. read more

Black Rock Beach - Beaches Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

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). read more

Black Rock Beach - Black Rock - Beaches Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

Decent beach, but relatively crowded compared to others in the area. You have to pay for beach chairs, and the clientele leaves something to be desired read more

Greta calm beach with tons of space, walkable from the hotel strip and has a paved beach bath. Very little boat traffic out here, waves are very mild. Great time, recommend! Black rock fun to jump off of! read more

Black Rock is on Kaanapali Beach in front of the Sheraton. This rock formation is great for cliff diving and snorkeling. I rented a paddle board and was able to see sea turtles swimming beneath me. If you want some great photos and views, go into the Sheraton and take the elevator up to the top of Black Rock. read more

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So my husband and I rented snorkeling gear at the shed right at black rock- if you rent hear make sure they give you two of the exact size flippers - for me they did not and that's there job . Black rock was the most dangerous experience I've ever had the waves were beating us into the bottom of the shore everything shifted on my all my snorkel gear was in a different position and I lost a flipper thanks to the worker who gave me to different sizes. There were moments when I gasped for air above water I got a glimpse of a young person being thrown against the rock as she tried swimming away . When I finally got pushed to shore thank God I sat deep into the sand so a wave could not take me back out I took in breaths of air then I locked arms with my husband who had a bad experience, but different from mine- we sat and said nothing we were both in silence--- we both realized we could of died this day-- never again . I was beat up pretty bad , but I'm so thankful to of come out of that . Thank you Jesus You all be safe read more

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 read more

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Nice beach with fishes in the shore. Nice snorkeling spot. Hard to find the parking spot for strangers. Public parking is available next to the hotel, the parking building is same with hotel parking. Beach is located next to/in the hotel area. read more

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. read more

Unlike the beaches off the side of the highway, this one is packed with more people. But oh, is it gorgeous. If you snorkel right up to the black rock, you'll see that the water is bright blue, deep, and teeming with all kinds of fish. They're used to people, so don't be scared. We've had one fish eat bread off of our fingers. You can spend hours in that spot alone and you'll still feel like you didn't see everything yet. The beach can drop off steeply, so be careful when big waves come in. One minute you're walking on the sand with water up to your knees, and the next you're pulled in by the waves into 5 ft. depth no more than a few yards away. read more

Snorkeling here is nice but crowded. We got to see a lot of turtles which is always a plus! The fish were not skiddish but at the same time there weren't a lot of varieties of fish, so come for the turtles. read more

I can't not find public parking so thanks to one reviewer who suggested parking in Sheraton hotel. I did NOT choose the valet option as suggested. I just parked the car my self. Tip: park on first level closer to the right hand side is where the elevators are located. As soon as u walk pass that, you will see signs straight ahead that says beach access. Follow that and you will see a sign that says public beach. Tip: bring your ticket with you so you can get it validated. Cost is $2 every 20 mins holySh$&t. $24 is the max and that is for if you lose your ticket also. Get a drink or snack whatever...at the beach bar and they will validate your ticket for $1 every hour max 3 hr and after that the price above kicks in. Don't forget to ask them to validate So if your not staying at Sheraton. It can be pricey to stay there for a long time or you can just pay the flat $24 and be there all day. We got the pull pork nacho. Big portion... can't screw up too much on this Pork had no flavor sadly. I should have just order a drink and called it a day. Back to the beach: this beach family friendly. Don't I repeat... don't forget to bring the body board. Kids and adults Love it! Waves here are the best I have seen and not dangerous. The cliff: it is a little swimming to get too and a little climbing. Nothing too extent, but a must try. The way the rock is situated, helps the water to maintain calm. Water is def deep enough to jump, your not having to worry if the waves move the rocks at all compared to diving in a waterfall area. Remember feet first if you have no experience. My bf did a curl up jump where his butt hit the water first and he said it felt like someone just slap him really hard LOL. Overall I enjoyed it and hope this helps. read more

I have not jumpped..but if you go to the Sheraton and grab a seat at the Cliff Dive bar at around sunset, a guy runs by and lights the tourches along that stretch of the beach and jumps in after lighting the last one on black rock. During the day, it is the BEST spot to snorkel...turtles, exotic fish and more...very busy and crowded, but beacause it is so awesome! The brave climb the rock and dive off...not me...I am rather well endowed...I did not want to embarass myself by...aaahh well...you know what I am saying! read more

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Living on its legend and legacy... The magic of black rock is over. I was there in august of 2018 and there is no reef for speak of and few fish worth seeing. the people traffic has done away with it. What you have now is a swell of people all swimming over each other to get to the black rock for the fun of climbing it and jumping off. It is still beautiful from the beach and there is a pleasant torch lighting and diving ceremony every night. There are some fish as well, some. But don't waste any time thinking you will see the rainbow under water. It's pretty barren. read more

Great family beach, wonderful place to spend the day. Cliff jumping is the main attraction with the younger crowd. It is also a terrific place to snorkel ands watch a few of the large, resident sea turtles. It sits right outside the Sheraton Blackrock, access for drinks and food is right by! read more

One of the better beaches in Maui. Great place to snorkel and see fishes within 6 feet of water. Although I was disappointed not to see AS many fishes as I saw in Oahu, but still the best one in Maui. If you want to see fish, got towards the corals. Towards the coral is an area where people cliff dive. I am sad I miss this opportunity to cliff dive because I thought we were coming back to Black Rock the next day, but we ended up going to another beach. read more

We had a great time! The waves were insane and there was alot of people but we still had a wonderful time getting thrashed around by the waves of Black Rock beach. Highly recommend that you visit this beach. I am not sure if there were any life guards but just a heads up, those waves (certain seasons) are very strong. read more

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I could snorkel here for the whole day. There are a variety of fish here and a number of turtles. I had so much fun. For snorkelers, I suggest a full facemask snorkel, floater and chest strap go pro, and fins; makes the experience much more enjoyable. read more

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comments/my experience: staying at kanapalli alii so the beach is right by our place and black rock beach is only 15 minutes of a walk. we enjoyed the scenic view while we were at it. notes/tips: although there are signs that say no trespassing you can actually find a nice spot to cliff dive (but be careful!) you can land poorly and hurt yourself, there are also a lot of rocks!! proceed with caution. snorkeling: you can see fish and turtles if you snorkel here...only downside is that it is quite sandy (since you're not our far enough) so it might not be as fun! besides that, view is wonderful! read more

Black Rock Beach - Beaches Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

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The water is so blue and sea turtles swim by you. At the top of the rock we're free style diving is superb and marine life is so healthy. I definitely recommend this place if you're in Kaanapali. read more

This place was nice for the kids and older ones. Nephew took on Black Rock and did a gainer off there! The Sheraton had good drinks along with appetizers. Kind of pricey but this is what you expect in a tourist spot! We will be back definitely. Took the Spark up and grabbed this photo real quick! read more

Black Rock Beach - Beaches Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

You tryin' to cliff dive? Here's a guide on how to: Park at the Whaler's Village, buy something to get the parking validation for 3 hours. Grab your beach gear and don't get caught, cause technically you're not supposed to be parking there. Parking otherwise is impossible, especially after 11AM. Walk through the village, and go out onto Kaanapali beach out back. Take that instagram photo, and turn right and walk towards the black rock that are on all the photos other people have taken. Grab a spot on the beach, set your towel down, and strip down. How brave are you? You're about to find out. The swim out to the rock is kinda far (150 meters?), not recommended for amateur swimmers. There are no spots to rest or sit on (don't sit on the reef please) so either get a floatie or learn how to tread water real fast. Once you're there, the tide is deceptively strong, so make sure you're not drifting out to the ocean. If you're reading this and discouraged, don't be. It's not that strong, just be mindful. And this is a test of your MENTAL tenacity. Climb the rock, it's slippery. And also sharp. But pain is temporary, getting that GoPro shot of you jumping off a rock in Hawaii is forever. There are 3-ish levels of height: the first one is relatively short, like jumping into a pool from a diving board. The second one is taller, and most people stop here (like my boy Scott, his balls shrunk into his body when he climbed up to this level and it took him 5 minutes to jump down). Feel the adrenaline filling your veins. The tallest ledge is actually pretty tall if you are scared of heights, and your entire life your brain has tried to keep you alive by preventing you from jumping off of tall things. Climb up there, look out into the distance, and realize that this is your destiny, take a deep breath, count to 3 but jump at 2. As you fall through the air, your mind will wonder where the water is. Are you about to die? Did you screw up? And then the water hits you. I hope you kept your arms at your sides. When you swim back up to the surface, you'll realize that it wasn't a big deal. If it gets packed there, swim around the area and enjoy views of the fish in the water below. It's not as fun when you're jumping with 12-16 year olds who have no regard for personal well being and therefore jump like it's nothing while you struggle to stand up on the ledge. read more

I guess this place is great for snorkeling and jumping off of a large rock?? I didn't spend too much time there and what time I did have I spent on the "beach" with my babies. So you can take this with a big grain of salt. But this beach has essentially eroded. If you can find any place at all to stash her stuff while you swim, it's a miracle! There's basically a steep ledge of rock and maybe a foot of sand that might not get taken over by an incoming wave. LOL. Don't get me wrong, I love the beach and I had a fine time. Just don't expect to go sunbathing or anything. read more

If you like snorkeling this is the place for you! You don't even need to swim very far out to see all kinds of fish and just by the shore, close to the black rock, me and my company was swimming with turtles who clearly wasn't afraid of humans. Tums up! read more

Black Rock Beach - Beaches Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

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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! read more

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Great beach for snorkeling and people watching. There's the Cliff side bar for drinks and food or the Mai Tai bar, also the Hanks Dogs which we haven't tried yet. The Mai Tai bar was ok but not as good as the Monkeypod Mai Tai's, a seven minute walk to whalers village from Black Rock beach. Took an awesome sunset photo at Black Rock beach. Water was fine for snorkeling and seeing turtles, blowfish, eels, angel fish and the like. read more

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Maybe we were here on a bad week..... ? After reading and hearing how incredible Black Rock was for snorkeling we made 3 attempts at different times to partake of the picturesque experience others have raved about but were left disappointed mainly because how crowded this areas was. The water and waves were also extremely rough which again makes me wonder if when we return we would have a completely different experience here. Black Rock is located at the top of the Sheraton along Kaanapali beach so be sure to get up early to snag the tiny amount of spots available to non-hotel guests. Be warned the parking area is extremely hard to find and without reading Yelp reviews (thank you Yelpshire) we would have had absolutely no clue parking in this area actually existed. Only payment option is with cash. The views! The views from the top were amazing! You could see Lana'i clearly across the ocean, watch incredible sunsets and could see the beach for miles. Lots of people come here to cliff jump and Kaanapali beach around Black Rock is a great spot to watch those brave souls take the plunge. The Sheraton also holds a ceremony dating back to 1963 where right before sunset a "warrior" runs along the grounds lighting all the torches, climbs Black Rock before jumping into the ocean below. The story behind the ceremony dates back to the late 1700's. Overall summery: Great views & historical Hawaiian traditions, very crowded, touristy, crappy parking. read more

Unfortunately, I have to give one star because the beach is gone. I used to come here when my mom lived on the isle, when I was a young boy--they had 2 volleyball courts side by side! You couldn't walk across the hot sand barefoot because the beach was so wide! Now the water goes right up to the hotel property's ivy/grass line. As for snorkeling, the water is getting murky now, the coral has lost its vibrancy (sunscreen damages coral) and the sea life has disappeared ... perhaps from the crowds or pollution, etc. So, to summarize, global warming is real; it's bad; and its permanent. Hate to be a buzz kill, but I'm sure if you read other reviews from people who knew Maui, "back in the day," it's an unfortunate reality that the island has suffered over the years. If you find yourself on Maui, please be respectful; clean up after yourself; and use 'reefsafe' sunscreen. read more

I wouldn't go as far as to refer to myself as a daredevil, which is why when it comes to visiting this lovely rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, I can channel my inner Knievel without the risk of leaving paradise with a broken back. The actual Black Rock itself protrudes out of the waters directly behind the Sheraton on Kaanapali Shores and stands about 35 feet high. From the crystal blue waters (which makes for excellent snorkeling when sea life is plentiful), you can mount the rock, climb it's summit, then take a leap of faith into the warm Pacific Ocean. It's a bit scary at first, but there's a sense of relief knowing there aren't any hidden boulders that'll snap you in two once your feet hit the H2o. Plus, it's super easy to get to. Just park in Whaler's Village and drop a towel on the shore... then when you're done, grab a mai tai at any of the beachfront resorts, and wrap your troubles in dreams (as ol' Bing Crosby would say). read more

I had to get some space between me and incident here before I could rate this place. I was not leaving Maui without coming here. I had heard so many good things about seeing the fish here. We drove over and ventured through the Sheraton's property to get to the water. It looked like a sea of little snorkels bobbing around. We watched the cliff divers and people staying close to the rocks and turning the corner. I will say that I had a very close encounter with a tiger shark on Friday and we went here on Monday and I was still very freaked out about the shark. We made our way out, and I immediately saw some tropical fish and we swam around the bend, seeing a sea turtle and scuba divers. It was on the way back, I told my husband, I could not stand being that far out because of the shark thing, so when we went to go back, we got caught in the current that is apparently at the corner, if you go too far from the rocks, and not too far at that. Long story short, I had to yell for help, as my husband was trying to get to the edge. He thought, I was behind him, but I wasn't, I was actually getting pulled out much much further. When I yelled for help, I saw a lot of people look and finally a guy came out to help me. He and another woman, literally, had to save me. I was going down and I was exhausted, as we had tried to swim back for the last twenty minutes at least and I was wiped out. Interjecting humor into such a horrible situation is hard to do, but it did make my very close brush with the very large shark, drop to the second notch of horrifying Hawaiian experiences. I just want to say, please take the signs seriously when they say there is an under current out there. I came home and THEN read reviews on another site and some include family of people who drowned out there or had to be life flighted. I also found out the day before we were there, a guy had drown at the same exact spot I was saved from and it is common there. My son and his wife went out and she didn't go around the bend, and they got great pictures of turtles and rays, so you don't have to make the turn to experience it all. read more

One fish? Two fish? Red fish ? Blue fish? More like 1000 fish 2000 fish A rainbow of fish and sea turtle...fish Ok, the rhyming is not so good. This is seriously one of the best spots for snorkeling right off the beach. Everyone knows it though, so get here early! read more

I love BLACK ROCK! Mmm. Anyways. The snorkeling is great here. There's turtles, fishes, and rays just on the other side of the rocks. You just have to swim around the rocks in order to get to them. You can refer to my review of the Sheraton Maui. People were cliff diving off the rocks and I thought about doing this, but then I remembered I'm not a tween. I didn't feel like getting hurt on my vacation then sitting in my hotel room for the remainder to recover. I guess with age does come some wisdom. read more

Best snorkeling on the island. We drove to several other beaches and realized we were staying at the best place for snorkeling.

According to my go-to book on Maui, the ancient Hawaiians believed that each island has a point where souls go to depart this world and jump into the arms of the next one. For Maui, the Black Rock (Pu'u Keka'a) is this place. A ceremony that celebrates this belief is re-enacted each night at sunset, by the Sheraton. A lone hula dancer gives two, traditional performances, while a young chap hikes from the beach to the top of the rock, lighting torches along the way. Right at sunset, and after extinguishing his own torch, he jumps headfirst in to the ocean below. Although one could say a lot about big time resorts building on sacred lands and then remaking meaningful events for tourists' entertainment ... it is worth noting that the Sheraton does a nice job, and I found the 10 minute event to feel respectful and beautiful--especially as watched from the fringes. The Black Rock is also a great place for beginners to snorkel. The sandy bottom and plentiful fish make for an easy morning swim and a good chance to get your sea legs before trying something more challenging. Because of this easy access, there are also a LOT of novice snorkelers here...so pick your poison. Hubs and I found that it was easier to just go to Old Airport beach and have some room to breathe. So make sure to take advantage of this beautiful beach at least once on your trip to Maui. Whether you're a guest of the Sheraton or not, you will be equally welcomed. And all shops will validate your parking in the hotel's garage. read more

Black Rock is your way out of paying for a snorkel charter. The most beautiful fish, coral and sea turtles can be found right off shore. While we were there we were nearly plowed down by a turtle and swam quickly to get out of it's way. I was pretty shocked considering we were there on a Sunday and the beach was very crowded. I would suggest getting there early and on a weekday, don't forget your mask and fins. I wish I could suggest an easy way to get down there, we went through one of the hotels and it was a maze and a very long walk, either way it was worth it. You will find lots of people climbing up the rock and jumping off, but after awhile it gets old and you get used to the rhythmic splashes in the water. Every once in awhile someone does some serious acrobatics and then it gets interesting. read more