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. 

1-30-19  around Hanalei and snorkel Anini!

Woke up to another pretty day!  I wish we had one of the rooms on the cliff instead of in the building behind a building on the cliff, but the view from our patio is still pretty nice!

 And we get to see a whale from our patio every time we look out!

 Didn't take long for the clouds to move in.  By the time we left for lunch, it was raining.

 Decided to go to Hanalei Gourmet, another place I've enjoyed in the past.

 cute little shops in the old school by Hanalei Gourmet.

 specials of the day

 The inside of the restaurant was full, so we sat on the patio.  Can't believe Bubba Burgers is gone!

 Looking across the street, towards Kalypso's.

 Had to order the smoothie.  It was as good as I remembered!

 I ordered the Reuben sandwich.  It was excellent!  Possibly the best Reuben I've ever had!

 after stuffing ourselves, we walked through the shops.  I LOVE this artist's style!

 Artist---Troy Carney

 the clerk heard me talking to my sister about Troy's work and mentioned his mother is also an artist.  They have some of her water color works made into notecards, too.  Love them, too!  Wish they made calendars!

 From there, we drove over to Anini to check it out.  Sun was shining there.  I figured it was worth going back later to try and get some snorkeling in.

 But first, we went to Foodland for more milk for breakfasts.  Had to walk through the store one more time.  Love all the kinds of Spam.  I actually like Spam.  But I haven't had most of these flavors.

 Fish heads?  What do you do with them?

 Carolyn didn't want to go to  Anini.  So I left her at the condo.  Then I headed to Anini.

 It was still beautiful

 heading in

 looking left.

 Looking right.

 straight out.  Hard to see here, but there were 4 or 5 other snorkelers out there, or I wouldn't have gone out.

 the water was choppy, but really clear.

 threadfin butterflyfish

 saddle wrasse

 convict tangs and milletseed

 lots of milletseed butterfly fish here this year.

school of yellow tail goatfish

 assorted fishies

 saddle wrasse

  a blue stripe butterflyfish

 white spotted toby

 eel

 moorish idol

 another assortment of fishies

 belted wrasse

 a huge sea turtle

 checking my location

 there was a pretty good current today, but it was flowing towards shore. 

 teardrop butterflyfish

 longnose butterflyfish

 another turtle, much smaller then the first one.

 cute little girl playing in a little stream

 When I got back to the condo, I decided to hit the jacuzzi.  Tried to get in the pool, but being unheated, it was quite chilly.

 Soon it was time for dinner.   It's Wednesday!  All night Happy Hour at Kalypso's!

 had to wait about 10 minutes for a table, but it was worth it.

 We shared a nachos again.

 and I had a longboard beer.  Hadn't had one of them in awhile. 

It was a fun day.  Finally got back in the water.  Tired of waiting for the winds to die down and temps to warm up.  At least the water at Anini is still pretty warm.