Snorkeling Kauai

Snorkeling Kauai

Probably my favorite thing to do on vacation is snorkel---or is it photography?!  I guess it would have to be underwater photography!  As of 2015, we've made 13 trips to Kauai, all during the winter.  I read a lot of comments saying that snorkeling on Kauai isn't very good.  I'm here to offer a different opinion.  I love snorkeling Kauai----and Maui, and the Big Island, and St. Thomas, Grand Cayman, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitt's and lots of other places.  But since we always get drawn back to Kauai, I decided to make a blog of our snorkeling on Kauai.  I figure I'll start at the westernmost area we snorkeled: Saltpond;  and travel to the south side: Lawai; Poipu; and Maha'ulepu Beach--- then to the East side:  Lydgate and Moloaa; Anahola--- and last but certainly not least, to the North shore:   Anini; Tunnels and Kee.   They each have their own unique character to them.

On the South side:

Saltpond:

 Lawai:

Poipu Beach:

Maha'ulepu Beach:

On to the East side:

Lydgate Park:

Moloa'a:

Anahola:

On the North side:

Anini:

Hanalei:

Tunnels:

Kee:


So whether it's raining on the north shore, or windy in Poipu, or beach closed due to shark sighting at Tunnels, or whatever, there are plenty of other great places to find to snorkel at around Kauai.  Check the surf reports and go where the surfers don't. 

Jan. 30-Poipu and Salt Pond--


Today we woke up to another absolutely beautiful day!    It even warmed up nicely.  We tried to check the www.kauaiexplorer.com site for surf conditions, but it still wasn't updated by 11 am.  According to tv, it looked like tomorrow should be a good day to head north and actually get some snorkeling in---surge of only 3-4' (which for the north in a protected area like Tunnels, Kee, and Anini is often good).  Sat. we pack up and head to Princeville, so this might be our last day to head south.  So we did.  Probably spent 4 hours in the water between Poipu and Salt Pond.  Even the ride down to Poipu was beautiful!  Loved the clouds again today!

Jan. 28, 2014 --Hubby's big birthday!


The old guy reached another landmark birthday today!  Now he's 62 and able to draw social security!  Yea!!!  I made him plan the day today.  Should make him do it more often.  It was another great day!  Even the weather was great again.  Nice to see lots of sun again.  It was quite windy---20-25mph out of the north with gusts of 40.    But it didn't stop us.
DH decided we should finally ride bikes on the East side bike/walk path.  We've talked about doing this for years.  We found a shop behind Ono Restuarant in Kapaa that rents them for $10 for 2 people for 1 hour or $15 for 2 hours.  My cruiser worked quite well.  I was surprised how well it did in the 25mph headwinds.  Ken had problems with his and ended up waiting by the pier 3 or 4 miles into the ride for me to get back from the end of the trail.  Here are a few pictures from the trail:

Jan. 23, 2014-Thurs--south to Lawai and Saltpond:

Another beautiful sunny day, albeit a bit cooler---only up to about 74 today.  The first 4 days have been up to about 80.  Cool tonight to about 62.  Kona winds right now, but trades coming back in a few days.  No more pancakes and eggs for breakfast, so we had cereal.  

Finally made it out of the condo about 11 and headed south.  We did stop at Walmart, Macy's, and K-mart.  I was in search of new shorts to wear while snorkeling.   Also  replaced my short sleeved rash guard with a long sleeved one for sun protection (being more cautious after a recent melanoma spot removed).  Finally found what I wanted  at K-mart!  Also found the malasada lady there and we got 3 malasadas to share.  They were very good and quite a deal at only $1.50/3.

We continued on to Lawai beach.  Changed into our swimsuits and hit the water.  We were surprised and disappointed to see the sandy entrance area was almost all gone.  Made getting in and out tougher on us tenderfeet.  But snorkeling was great.  We had to get out a ways to get to clearer water, but we spent about 2 hours visiting with the fishies.  We were also excited (or I was) to see the Hawaiian ice place back!  Unfortunately she closed before we could get back to her.

On to snorkeling----

Feb. 19, 2012:  East side and Poipu

Another windy day with rain early and some more near sunset.  But the rest of the day had lots of blue skies, puffy white clouds, and lots of sunshine.  Another beautiful day in paradise. 

After we kicked around the condo for the morning and enjoying the ocean views, did some laundry and ate breakfast in our room, Ken was worn out and in need of a nap.  So while he slept, I took a walk along our coast from our condo.  I had never gone south from KBV, so decided to walk that way this time.  (All the pictures are facing north because of the direction of the sun)

There is a little park just south of KBV, but I don't think visitors ever go there.  Seems to only be used by surfers and not many of them.  With the reef all along the coast there, I'm surprised they choose to surf there. 

The beach finally ended at a bunch of rocks.

After wandering the rocks and managing not to hurt myself, I decided I better go before my luck changes.  It was an interesting walk with lots of photo ops.

Finally I made it back to the resort and our oceanview condo.

A little more piddling around the condo, then we were off to Poipu.   It was probably the most crowded I've ever seen it.

I was surprised how poor the snorkeling was there today, too.  Usually I like to snorkel in front of the lifeguard area because the water is shallow and there use to be a lot of fish there.  But today there were very few and the water wasn't much clearer then Lydgate.  We didn't even find the other side of the tombula to be very good today.  But we did see a few interesting critters, such as this poor little fellow with it's back missing something.

And this interesting marked eel. 

But the water felt great.  We heard on the tv earlier today that the waters around Kauai this year are 74 degrees.  Feels chilly stepping into the water, but a quick dunk and all's well.

After a couple hours at Poipu, we sat on the beach a bit watching the commotion.  Along with the usual chickens, there was even a monk seal there.  The lady standing in this picture is with the monk seal patrol.  Ken talked to her for quite awhile.  Learned that the dark fur on the seals is new fur and that they're tagged for either research or for the island they were born on.  The one at Poipu today was a research one not born on Kauai and estimated to be 6 or 7 years old.  She also said it had signs of having been bitten by a tiger shark at one time.  She was a very interesting and personable volunteer.

By 5, the clouds rolled in and it looked like sunset would be out again.  So we packed it up and decided to head to Kalaheo Brick Oven pizza.  LOVE their salami pizza!  So we had our $30 single ingrediant pizza fix for today.  Good thing we ate hot dogs yesterday!

While eating, it looked like the clouds were blowing over, so we hurried up and ate, then took off to Salt Pond to see if there would be a good sunset.  We actually got caught in rain on our way there, so pulled over at the canyon overlook.  We were treated to a spectacular double rainbow going right into the canyon.  At this point, I didn't even care if we saw a sunset!

But we still made it to Salt Pond for sunset and were treated to a pretty good one---considering there were no clouds there.

Even saw the green flash--barely visible here.

One last sunset picture before heading back to the east side.

Now to head off to Safeway for a few more breakfast groceries to end another great day on kauai.

2011-Feb. 22: Salt Pond, Waimea pier

It was another cloudy morning on the east side. So we decided to head way south/west today. As we were driving down the road of our resort, Ken spotted these 2 wild boars. So I jumped out and went to take a picture of them. We've seen a few baby wild pigs in the past, but this was the first time we'd seen adult ones and was surprised to see them so close to the resort. As I was trying to get their picture, a women totally oblivious to the uniqueness of the sighting---or not caring---came walking up loudly talking and scared them away. I tried to point out the pigs to her, but all she wanted was for me to take a picture of her with her camera by the trees lining the resort entrance. So I did and we all went about our merry ways.

Although the snorkeling at Saltpond isn't that great, it's a beautiful beach and usually a good place to find sun when everywhere else is raining. So we drove the hour or so to get there and spent much of the day there. This year we weren't able to drive down the dirt road we normally do to get to the far side of the bay where I do find some interesting snorkeling. So we parked in the real parking lot and I swam to the other side.

This little snorkel area is usually churning up some sand, but it does have some interesting critters. Here is a trumpet fish. We see lots of coronet fish around the island, but this is the only place I've seen a trumpet fish around Kauai. I've seen one here on many trips. I wonder if this is the same one.

This invertibrate was about the size of my fist. I hadn't seen a "sea slug" that big before. I believe it's officially called a sea hare.

 Some of the other little critters enjoying the water.

Back to the park side of Salt Pond.  Ken did get in the water and enjoy bobbing around in it for awhile.
  Even saw a few above ground critters, too---like this Cardinal.  Usually we just see the Cardinals here with red heads and white bodies.

 and some little shore birds.

 Just another view of Salt Pond from the far end of the parking lot.

When we got tired of playing around at Salt Pond, we changed and headed to Waimea Brewing company for another early dinner. Dinner and their freshly made lilikoi beer was very good.

With the sky still somewhat clear after dinner, we headed to a fishing pier in Waimea to wait for sunset.

The wait paid off. It was our prettiest of the mere 3 sunsets we witnessed this trip.

Sure do miss these sunsets!

2010-2-28 to Anini and back to Salt Pond

 Surf was still listed as being rough, so we thought we try Anini, which is usually pretty well protected by it's outer reef and pretty calm.  

 It was a bit windy, though, and all that was there were wind surfers.

 and pretty flowers.

 the water was pretty choppy

 but we did walk along the beach a bit.

The other place that is often calm, is Salt Pond---quite a distance away, but we have lots of time these days!  So we headed to Salt Pond.

 I also love sunsets here. 

 There are lots of palm trees for foreground interest.

 again we had no clouds, so the sun just went down and done.

Another different kind of day for us.  But we're on Kauai!  I'd take a day like this over the midwest winter any day!

2010-2-23 Salt Pond, then a Tripadvisor meeting at the Hyatt in Poipu

Looked outside our condo this morning and had an unusual sight!  The ocean was really calm!  Here on the East side it's usually rough.  Today there were even paddle boarders out there.

 But we still didn't hang around the East side long.  We headed West.  First stop---the Waimea Canyon lookout on the main highway.  Loved the clouds today.

 Don't know which was more impressive----the land or sky?!

 Close to there is Glass Beach---so we took a side trip down to check it out.

 the glass "beach"

 view of the beach from up the hill to the Japanese cemetary.  The people down on the beach are picking up pieces of sea glass.

 I always like checking out the cemetery when we're in the area, too.

 Wonder if people are still being buried there?

 From there we continued to Salt Pond---to the side past the little runway.  This is where we like to snorkel at Salt Pond, but sometimes it's hard to drive to this area.  The road ends by the "salt ponds" with a bunch of pot holes, then sand.  But we were able to make it there this trip.

 Heading in

 There are a surprising amount of fish here.

 even an occasional eel

 It's sort of like a fish nursery.  For the first couple years we came to Kauai, it's the only place we saw trumpet fish.  Here was a little one.

 more juveniles.

 This is also a good place to see other wierd things, like this invertibrate---I believe it's some kind of sea cucumber.

 a rare and shy Cardinal fish

 another sea cucumber---Conspicuous Sea Cucumber.  Had only seen them here at Salt Pond (years later I've seen a couple at Anini)

 It always amazes me how fish can live with what seemed to be really serious injuries.

 a close up of the Conspicuous Sea Cucumber eating lunch.

 Even though it's far away from our place on the East side, I love going to Salt Pond.  Even the beach is beautiful, large, and usually not crowded.  Although we often see local picnicing and camping here.

 admiring the sky again.

 Wish I was on one of those inner tubes right now!

 This is the area we snorkel in.  Doesn't look very big, or very deep, but it's deceivingly roomy when you're snorkeling.  Sort of reminds me of a little Lydgate that's open to the bay.

 looking along the beach of the snorkel area.

 How it opens into the bay

AFter a couple hours here, we cleaned up and headed to Poipu.  I like to check things out on Tripadvisor a lot and someone had suggested a get together at the Hyatt for the torch lighting ceremony.  So we went and met some interesting people.

 Even stayed for the ceremony which included hula dancers. (I photoshopped myself in to the far left)

 We were even treated to an impressive sunset while we were visiting.

Another interesting day of snorkeling.  We also did something new and went to a Tripadvisor Meet and Greet for the first time ever.  It's always fun doing something new---as well as the tried and true.