Snorkeling Hawaiian waters

By Janna Graber


Hawaii is a great snorkeling destination.
© Agnieszka Szymczak

Explore the islands’ bays, parks and coves, all of them teeming with sea life, and you just might look a giant manta ray in the eye.

Floating facedown in the dark ocean, I see a shadow approach from the depths. As the creature nears, its giant size is revealed, 10 feet from tip to tip. The enormous manta ray moves with grace, like a bird in flight. I stop breathing through my snorkel as it swims toward me, its mouth opened wide.

The young female comes within inches, and then flips so we are belly to belly. I see the spots on her underside, and look into her eyes when she comes back again and again.

Such encounters are unforgettable. Hawaii is one of the few places in the world where you can see these magnificent creatures. The islands are home to two species of large manta rays: the Reef Manta Ray, which can reach up to 15 feet across, and the Giant Manta Ray, which can grow to 21 feet, according to Dr. Andrea Marshall, director of the Marine Megafauna Foundation and lead manta ray scientist at the Manta Ray & Whale Shark Research Centre in Tofo Beach, Inhambane, Mozambique.

The manta rays we’re watching come to feed on plankton nightly in the clear waters of Keauhou Bay off the Big Island.

Even though I’m an experienced diver and snorkeler, we went with a local outfitter to experience the giant manta rays. Outfitters know the best places to go according to season and conditions, and provide a safe, fun experience doing it. Before jumping into the water, we learned how to observe without disturbing the animals. Then donning a wetsuit and snorkeling gear, we swam over to a floating string of lights which draw plankton for the manta rays to feed upon. We saw three giant rays tonight, flipping and turning like circus acrobats. For half an hour, we watched their dance, thrilled with the surreal scene below us.

The Hawaiian Islands are known for their beauty, warm weather and unique culture, but below water is an entire playground to explore. More than 680 species of fish can be found in Hawaiian waters.


Giant manta ray near Keahole Point.
© James L. Wing

A Colorado girl through and through, I knew from the moment I jumped into the ocean that snorkeling (and eventually diving) would be a lifelong passion, and my family now shares it with me. A few years ago, I convinced my parents to leave their Windsor farm and vacation with me on the Big Island. We took a snorkeling boat out to sea, and then they bravely jumped in. My mom did just fine, after a few moments of learning, but it was my dad who really took to it. We ventured out together, and found ourselves surrounded by a swirling school of tang surgeonfish. My kids have been snorkeling since preschool. When they were really little, I plopped them onto a snorkeling board—you simply lay on it and look down through the plastic window—and pulled them around. When they got a bit older, we held hands as we explored the ocean together. Now, they’re off on their own, and I have to work to keep up.

If you’ve never snorkeled before, what are you waiting for? You can rent snorkeling gear at shops on the islands, or purchase a set in Hawaii for around $35. (Target carries them.) First-timers might be more comfortable learning in protected shallow waters where you can stand up. There are many bays in Hawaii where you can snorkel right off shore. At some beaches, you’ll be surrounded by fish even at knee-deep.

So go ahead—get your face wet!

Big Island
Both divers and snorkelers flock to Kealakekua Bay, but you’ll need a canoe or boat to get here. I went with local outfitter, Sea Quest, and their expert insight was invaluable.

The Sea Quest tour also stopped at Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park. This historic “Place of Refuge” is where ancient Hawaiians found sanctuary. Adjacent to it is Honaunau Bay, another top snorkeling location that’s accessible from shore.

One of my favorite shore snorkeling spots is Kahalu’u Beach Park. That’s where I taught my children to snorkel. Reefs protect the bay, providing safe waters and abundant sea life—a spotted boxfish with her big, doey eyes, comical bluespine unicornfish, yellow tang and more.

For divers, popular off-shore sites include Golden Arches, Long Lava Tube and Sharkies Cove. Favorite shore diving spots are Suck ‘em Up (a lava tube with beautiful sky lights), Puhi Bay, and Place of Refuge.

Maui
Just three miles from the Maui coastline lies one of the Hawaii’s top snorkel and dive destinations: Molokini Crater. In the shape of a crescent, this partially submerged volcanic crater provides protected, clear waters and unique fish species found nowhere else on earth. A reef, rich with sea life, lies some 150 feet below the water, and you can often see to the bottom. Declared a State Marine Life Conservation District and Bird Sanctuary, Molokini is a must-see for anyone wanting to experience the best of Maui’s sea life. Pacific Whale Foundation is one of several respected outfitters that sail to Molokini.

Kauai
Swim and snorkel on the north shore during summer and on the south shore during the winter. When visiting the north- and east-facing shores, beware of dangerous riptides, even in the shallows.

Families will enjoy snorkeling at Poipu Beach Park, a protected bay with lifeguards, bathrooms and showers. Another favorite, Anini Beach, offers shallow near-shore water, and at reef’s edge, underwater canyons brimming with life.


Snorkeling with spinner dolphins.
© E. Ryan Leinbach/dolphindreams.com

Divers at the Sheraton Caverns in Poipu will find sea-life laden ledges that start at 30 feet and drop to 60 feet in some of the lava tubes. If the winds are calm, try diving at Black Mountain, off Kipu Kai. Brennecke’s Ledge offers two big caves with rare black coral, and Aquariums, located near Nawiliwili has huge boulders that are home to octopus and lobsters.

Seasport Divers is a good resource for visiting divers. They offer dive tours and dive certification classes.

Oahu
Kuilima Cove is the best place for beginner snorkelers, while the beach at Sharks Cove is popular with both snorkelers and divers.

Another top snorkel spot is Hanauma Bay, a nature preserve on Oahu’s east side best known for its fish and turtle population and calm waters. There’s an entrance fee ($7.50 per person, 13 and older), and a limit on the number of visitors (3,000 per day, which could be reached by noon, so get there early).

Local outfitter Wild Side Specialty Tours knows the best spots to find spinner and spotted dolphin pods. Just a few miles from Oahu’s west coast, we spot a pod of 200 spotted dolphins. They see our boat, and race alongside. “Looks like they want to play,” our boat captain says. He turns the boat in a circle, and I watch in amazement as the creatures surf our wake, jumping together in groups of four or five.

Closer to shore, we come across a slow-moving pod of about 50 spinner dolphins. Donning our snorkels, we slip into the water, swimming above them and then beside them. For just a minute, I feel like one of the gang. It’s hard not to smile in my snorkel mask.

Janna Graber is a Colorado-based editor and writer. She has covered travel in some 38 countries.

Snorkeling tips

  • Never snorkel alone.
  • Don’t swim or snorkel in rough waters.
  • Ask a local where it is safe to swim.
  • Keep your distance from sea turtles.
  • Don’t touch the coral reefs or other sea life.
  • Don’t feed the fish.
  • Seasick? Try ginger candy/gum or Bonine, an over-the-counter medication.


Underwater 101
There’s a multitude of ways to explore the underwater world. In order of the amount of technology required, there’s free diving (plain old holding your breath), snorkeling (breathing through a snorkel and looking down while floating on the surface), snuba (a cross between snorkel and scuba, where participants breathe through a long hose to “snorkel” a little deeper), scuba diving (breathing compressed air from a cylinder) and even personal underwater vehicles that look more like something from a science fiction movie. Snorkeling and scuba diving are both common pastimes for Hawaiian holidaymakers.

No training is required for snorkeling, although in the interests of safety, you should be able to swim confidently. A dive mask, fins and snorkel are used. Less confident swimmers can add a special snorkeler’s flotation vest (lifejackets won’t work, because they’re designed to keep your face out of the water). All can be rented cheaply at numerous locations in Hawaii.

Scuba diving requires training, because breathing compressed air at depth has significant medical risks unless a few well-established rules are followed. When they are, it’s a very safe sport which can be enjoyed by people of almost all ages and fitness levels. Colorado has the most certified scuba divers per capita of any state. For those without the time or inclination to spend a couple of weekends on a complete dive training course, an abbreviated or “resort” version is often available at popular dive destinations. This gives you the basics you’ll need to do a supervised dive.

A lot of equipment is used in scuba diving. A weight belt, regulator, dive computer and gauges, and a buoyancy compensator are standard in addition to mask, fins, snorkel and air tanks. Some certified divers prefer to travel with most of their own gear, and just rent the weight belt and tanks at their destination. Others rent all gear at the destination. You’ll need to show a current certification to rent dive gear.

Both snorkeling and scuba can be done independently (if you’re trained and have the necessary gear) or with a tour operator who will take you to the best locations. Sites may be categorized as “shore” or “boat.” A shore dive/snorkel is a location where you can just walk straight into the water from the beach. A boat dive/snorkel means a boat takes you to a location away from the shore. The depth, and what you’ll see there, doesn’t necessarily depend on whether it’s a shore or boat dive.
—Carrie Patrick


For your consideration

Back to Top





>>>Return to Table of Contents