Difficulty
beginner
Viz (last reported 22598h ago)
Max Depth
30ft
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Black Rock
Black Rock was formed from one of the last-gasp lava flows on this side of the island. It is a rocky outcrop at the far North end of Ka’anapali Beach and blocks off access (from the beach) to the lesser-known Ka’anapali Resort beach called Kahekili Beach Park. The Hawai’ian name for Black Rock is Pu’u Keka’a, and ancient Hawaiians believed that this was the place where their spirits went to jump off to join ancestors forever. Unlucky souls who could not be shown the way by their family ‘aumakua (guardian animal spirit), would wander and attach themselves to rocks in the area. This is likely where the “it is bad luck to take a Hawai’ian lava rock” superstition comes from.
This is also a popular spot for cliff jumping. If you are cliff jumping, swim to the far side of the rock and climb up from there. It's much more challenging and dangerous to reach the rock by click up it from shore.
Access
shore
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Bo from Charleston
Aug 12, 2007, 12:00 AM
scuba
7/23-8/1/07: Stayed at the Sheraton (because of this dive site's location) for my 25th wedding anniversary. This was the best shore dive site we found. All others were packed with inexperienced snorkelers by 10:30am and had silt on closest areas of reefs, thus forcing you to swim farther than at Black Rock. Black rock had 3 very friendly turtles, tons of tropicals, and night time eels, etc. Dove 7 dives here in 10 days, including video and night dives. I can u-tube the vide if needed. Best way to dive BR: Pack on the east side of the Sheraton at the edge of the golf course. Unload and suit up there. (If not staying at the Sheraton, you wont be able to get into the lot there. You might get a parking ticket if you left the car on the road there, but I never say any one try it or fail. I never saw a cop near there, etc.) Walk with tank on and fins in hand to east side of Black rock and walk into the water off the beach (2min walk max.) The dive begins there, and proceed down current slowly. The best dive is the middle 1/3 of the drift. The turtles usually sleep under the ledges or free swim there. The last 150ft of black rock will be on the Sheraton side, and will be packed with snorkelers by 10:30am. The viz in that area will drop to 20ft from the 50ft viz enjoyed farther east. Finish the dive on the Sheraton side of the beach, walk up to the showers (straight ahead) and shower off. Rest by the pool until they check you for a room #. Get back to the car by walking thru the beach level of the Sheraton towards the tennis courts. Your car will be on the other side of the tennis courts. Local dive shop in Lahaina rented 10 tanks for 35$. Best boat dive: scubadivemaui.com (best dive guide: Scotty, very funny and talented diver).
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