snorkling in Hawaii

[wickiwicki]

Can anyone help me with picking a good snorkling location. I will be in Hawaii May 06 on the Radiance. I'm hoping to snorkle Maui and or Kailua Kona. Any info on the best spots or excursions will be greatly appreciated.

[Hilary]

On Maui you have two really great options IMO. Take a boat ride out to Molokini crater, or snorkel from shore at Black Rock. One of the great parts about going to Molokini is the boat ride out, but since you'll be off a cruise ship, the views won't be that exciting. ;) But Molokini usually has excellent snorkeling.

 

Black Rock at the Sheraton on Kaanapali Beach is an outstanding shore snorkel/dive spot. You'll see oodles of fish and definitely turtles, plus often there are spotted eagle rays out in the deeper areas. Entry is super easy and there's lots to do on Kaanapali Beach. A very nice way to spend part of a day.

 

On the Big Island, the Place of Refuge has an excellent snorkeling spot just next to it. I wish I remembered the name of it, but hopefully someone on the board will know.

[love2relax]

FYI, many of the boats that take you out to Molokini Crater also make a second stop in an area where there are a lot of sea turtles too.

[MsJ]

Hi we were in Hawaii last summer ... not a cruise..we took the trip to Molokini and found it to be not all that great.....maybe it was because it was a windy cloudy day and the water was choppy...the reef was ok....on the other hand..we took the Zodiac snorkel to Cooks Monument on the BI and the reef was spectacular......we also snorkeled at The Place of Refuge and that was wonderful too.....on Maui we stayed at the Kannapalli Beach hotel which is right next to Sherton and Black Rock...found BR to be just ok...lots of kids jumping off the rock on the calm side and when we went around it the water was choppy and the reef just ok.......we stayed at the Outrigger Keahou on BI and there is a public beach right next to it that had awesome snorkeling...it was kind of crowded but well worth it...great reef and tons of sealife.... Marianne

[simonv]

Maui: Molokini isn't what it used to be. The 50+ years of 'grand station snorkelers' has taken its toll. So as Black Rock. I'm assuming you'll be on the Lahaina side on your cruise. Go to Honolua Bay which is a pretty bay and a marine reserve. Olowalu to the south of Lahaina is good, too. Head south from Lahaina, pass the general store and look for the highway marker 14. You'll see cars parked along the highway. Park off street and snorkel. It's often good for sting rays and turtle. There's no beach to speak of, though.

Big Island: Kealakekua Bay commonly known as Captain Cook Monument is also a marine park and the best snorkeling in Kona. There's no land access. You either take a snorkel boat or zodiac or kayak from Napoopoo, the next cove. The snorkel boat Fair Wind leaves early, so unless you are overnighting in Kona, it isn't likely you can catch it. But the Place of Reguge, a national historic park, is on the same reef as the Kealakekua Bay, and easier to access. The park is worth going to also. The easiest to get to from the port on Kona is the Kahaluu Beach Park. I've never failed to see and swim with a few turtles there. It's a small protected cove, and a safe one if you are a beginner.