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. 

2009-Feb. 28: Lawai, Maha'ulepu beach

A sad day today----Angie and Josh had to leave and head back to St. Louis. But they did have all day here before their plane left at 11:50pm. So, once they checked out of their place, they headed over here. After a bit of reorganizing here, we headed off to the south side again.


First on the agenda was lunch. We headed for Brennecke's restuarant. Lunch was good, service was bit slow, but it was crowded. Here Angie's enjoying her pina collada and using the little umbrella as a hair ornament.

Then we were on our way to Lawai beach. We stopped at the little cove before Lawai to see the monk seal resting there. Definately not one of the younger smaller ones we saw there a couple days ago.

The wind was still howling all day. Temps still in the low 70's, but the wind kept things on the cool side. That didn't stop Angie and me from snorkeling at Lawai, though. The water was still very comfortable temperature-wise and the surf was only about 1 ft today.
Here's a cute little file fish. No, the picture is not upside down, the fish is!---barred filefish

Here's a large redlip parrotfish. You can hear them munching on the coral from quite a distance. There is a whole school of these guys here at Lawai. I've seen them the past couple years.

a puffer fish

 a peacock grouper

After snorkeling we tried to rest on the beach and enjoy the sun and read a bit. That's when a disturbed lady came by yelling at everyone on the beach for staring at a seal there. The area was roped off and the monk partol volunteer was there talking to the onlookers, but that didn't keep her from yelling at everyone that the rope doesn't matter and everyone should get back another 75 feet or so. At that rate, we would have been in the restuarant! That led to a rather disappointing end to the "kids'" beach excursions. We had enough and left.

Then we drove by Gillian's beach to see if it was warm enough for sunning at. It was too windy

so we headed back to the condo.

Dinner was another take out pizza from Brick Oven. This time we shared one large pizza. That was the right amount for 4 people. The kids rested up for their long journey home and watched tv. At about 9:45, we headed off to the airport to drop them off.
I stayed and visited with them until they went through security, then tried to call my husband to pick me up. Unfortunately, I had just replaced my phone and not all my saved numbers got transferred---his was one that was lost. After waiting about 15 minutes, I figured he was probably at the cell phone waiting area. So I hoofed it on over there the long way in case he drove by. He was there. At least it was a pleasant evening weatherwise.

Back at the condo, we flight tracked their flight until they were long gone. Finally hit the sack about 1am.

2007 March 5---Lydgate Beach, moir, poipu point:

   

Heading out of Kauai Beach Resort in search of another fantastic day.

 First stop---to Lydgate to check on clean up progress.  There was actually someone working there today!

 Now to head South.  Love all the palm trees along the way.

We don't often go to Maha'ulepu Beach, but the East side waters were pretty calm today so we decided to check it out.

 So calm, that we actually went into the water to see what there is to see there.---First time we've been able to do that!

 School of tiny fish

 a stray convict tang.  That was about it! 

 Then we headed to Poipu point.

 Love the views from there.

 We like to walk up to the top of this hill.  There's a concrete sign base that's a good height for sitting on.

 After unsuccessfully looking for whales, we went to Moir Gardens

 Love all the flowers there! 

 wide angle view of the walkway

 cacti intermixed with the orchids

 The restaurant on property.  We've never been there, but I hear it's good.  I think it's more expensive then we usually care to spend, plus we're usually in swim suit coverups when we're here---not really appropriate for a place like this.

 more cacti.

 some getting ready to bloom.

 part of the cactus garden.

 interesting seats in the cactus garden.

 blooming cacti?

 some of the gorgeous orchids

 one last flower.

 Not much of a snorkeling day, but still turned out great.

2005-2-11---Kipu, Maha'ulepu Beach:

Another place I'd read about was Kipu Falls. Another controversial spot, but we wanted to check it out. It's noted as not being a safe place to park---lots of break-ins happen there, so we didn't meander for very long. The trail took us through some sugar cane fields and brush.

After about 10 or 15 minutes walk we came to the upper river to the falls.

Reminded a lot of the area around Falls City in Oregon. Looked like a neat place to hang out, but we were afraid to be away from the car for too long.

Here is the falls. It's also known as a dangerous place because people like to jump off the falls into the pond below. We've read about many drownings here, too.

Time to explore another new area---Maha'ulepu Beach is off an old cane road on the south side. I guess they aren't too concerned about traffic on that road.

Even the monk seals like to frequent this area.

Although the ocean along here is pretty rough, it's another beautiful stretch of beach. It's usually pretty windy, too, so we've spent hours watching wind surfers here.

Also along the cane road is an old sugar cane factory. I'm not sure which factory this is, but as of late in 2009, all sugar cane production on Kauai has ended. It was once Kauai's main agricultural crop. Now the new dominate crop is seed corn. There is still lots of sugar cane growing on the island, but it's mostly wild now.