snorkeling in hawaai

[sir_dudeguy]

ok, so we're prolly going to hawaai (dont know if i spelled that right) next summer, and i've got a few questions...

right now it looks like we're going to be staying on Kuai for 7 days, probably on the noth shore. Then we'll be going to Oahu for another 3 days.

We went snorkeling in rocky point and loved it, so we're now wanting to go snorkeling in hawaai too. The places we're thinking of is:

Hanauma Bay
Molokini
Tunnels Beach
Na Pali

has anyone ever gone to any of these places? if so, are they good? And any other recomendations for good snorkeling areas around where we're gonna stay at would be great.

thanks
mike

 

[jaredallen]

I went to Molokini one rainy day in March last year with my wife. This was my only time snorkeling, but it was crowded (even in the rain) and it wasn't what I was expecting. My wife has snorkeled off the coast of Hondurus and was very disappointed at Molokini.

 

[fnicklaus]

I went to Hanuma Bay and it is very nice once you cross the breaker. There is a dropoff and there are many large colorful fish. It was very nice. Get there early as there are alot of people. Wear a wet suit as the rocks can cut you as you cross.

 

[fppf]

You will want to stay with the south shores if you can. The North side tends to be the wind side of the islands. Molokini is great for scuba but I would save my money and take in the endless amount of great shore spots.

There is one beach we went to that is only 10-15 feet deep for hundreds of yards out and wide. Its a maze of reef work. That was on Maui.

 

[laverda]

Tunnels Beach is my wifes favorite spot. it is like a nursery with lots of little baby fish. I am terable at remembering names of places but another one on Kaui is Lidgate state park. We stay at the hotel right there as it is nice, reasonably priced and they take frequent flyer miles. It is a very short walk to the beach. We go snorkling there almost every morning then shower and have breakfast.

 

[BBP]

dude....I just got back from two weeks. Had a house right on Tunnels Beach. You'll love it. Your best snorkeling on Tunnels I think is to park on Alealea Road. Look for where the kite surfers park and walk to the beach from there. Not many folks know about this place. This will put you east of the main beach at Tunnels. Walk east (right) about 150 yards and you'll see where the lava tubes go out into the ocean and form a reef and an area about 6 ft deep at high tide. This is the very best snorkeling spot for seeing corals on Kauai.

There's no snorkeling on the NaPali coast as far as I know unless you take a charter boat. The other decent north end beach for snorkeling is Kee' Beach. Pretty crowded spot though.

BKB

 

[Chris Witort]

I dove on Molokini, and snorkeled at Hunama bay. Molokini is a big submerged volcano crater. The shallowest area is still about 20' deep or more, so it isn't the greatest for snorkeling (thousands of Niger triggers). Hunama bay on the other hand is so shallow that if you are there at low tide there is hardly enough water to float in! There are usually lots and lots of people there and limited parking. There is a good variety of fish there but not much coral etc. Diving and snorkeling in Hawaii is fun, BUT it pales in comparison to the Philippines and south pacific in general. If you get a chance to visit some of those areas and get in the water you will be permanently jaded. Still I envy you! Have fun.

 

[Bebo77]

can you scuba? if you can Alex a fellow reefer and fish collector dives in Oahu.. you shouls ask him.


http://www.hawaiianreefer.com/pages/1/index.htm

 

[sir_dudeguy]

i've never gone scuba diving before, but i definately plan on it in the future....maybe even for this trip. I've only gone snorkeling the one time in rocky point, and i'm now hooked

one thing tho...i have asthma, and i remember the papers for all the scuba trips in rocky point said stuff about asthma...is that all just standard procedure, or does it actually come into play? While snorkeling i had no problems takin a deep breath and diving to the bottom (we were at 15 feet) and hang out for about a minute before having to come back up. thats not really a worry for me, but i'm just wondering if that would actually come into play much.

thanks for that link. i'll definately talk to my dad about that one and see if i can do that. money is an issue, so i'm not sure if i'll be able to dive..i'm guessing it will be around 150 per person? i think thats what it was in rocky point, but then again, rocky point is nothing compaired to hawaii.

I've also heard that the red sea is sposed to be like the most amazinly clear waters and coral and stuff...one day... lol

thanks all