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. 25-Sat.-move day, Moloaa beach-

Time to pack up and move to our  usual home on Kauai---Kauai Beach Villas.  So after packing up, I walked over to the Coconut Marketplace to see what changes have taken place there.  It looks like it would have been a great place to go for my rash guard and shorts!  Oh well!  It's a nice mall to have within walking distance.

When I was done checking out the Coconut Marketplace, it was time to check out of Kauai Coast Resort.  Again I got our time at Kauai Beach Villas for half the Wyndham points and 5 of the days I got us a free upgrade to a 2 bedroom from a 1 bedroom.  The other 2 days I paid the half price for a 2 bedroom so we don't have to change rooms.  Unfortunately no oceanviews were available.  Kauai Coast Resort is more updated including a much better mattress, has central ac, the resort is more compact, pool is heated!, plus it's location has a slight edge over Kauai Beach Villas.  On the other hand, our unit at KBV is quite a bit larger, does have ac in the bedrooms, location is secluded which sometimes is preferred, and it's just so familiar to us now.  Both are on the East side.  We've stayed at KBV 12 times now, so I won't include too many pictures of it.  

2010-2-24  Moloaa and Poipu sunset:

But first---sunrise from our lanai!

 Don't often see them since we usually sleep in to at least 9.

 But today I was awake and watched it for a half hour or so.

 Then it disappeared into the clouds.

 We don't always go out for breakfast, but we did today.  This time we went to Ono.

 We seldom go here, but it was good---but then, I had macadamia nut pancakes!

 It was another unusually calm day on the East side, so I suggested we go to Moloaa---a place we've never snorkeled.

 I'd read the snorkeling was good way around to the other side of the bay to the left, so that's where we went.

 It's another gorgeous bay!

 Almost there.  Ken wasn't too happy about walking "all the way" to the other side of the beach.

 I'd also read that there's a pretty strong current to the right of this little rocky area, so we proceeded in with caution.  There were a few fish, but not as many as I'd hoped for.

 Did see this flat worm, though.  Thought it was really pretty.

I assume this is another kind of worm---never seen anything like it before or since.

 there were quite a few convict tangs, just not a huge variety of other fish

 a lone blue stripe butterfly fish

 the Spanish Dancer worm again with a little coral for perspective.  I've seen one of these guys one other time---at the life guarded part of Poipu beach.

 a few surgeonfish and a little unicorn fish

 Even the sandy areas were pretty.  The water was super clear.

 checking out the end of the bay from the water.

 a convict tang with a black tail.

Ken heading in.

 Usually this beach is really rough in the winter---thus all the rocks all around. 

  I even walked to the ocean side of the bay. 

 After a couple hours here, we headed out.

 Tide was heading down.

 Glad we were able to spend some time here for a change.

 bye bye Moloaa.

 I had read about another farmers market in Lihue, so we went there.  It was a really nice market---lots of venders and great prices.

 I love to get tropical flowers from the farmers markets.  They are soooo cheap!  And so pretty!!!

 Decided to head to Poipu again and snorkel until sunset.    Saw this female surge wrasse several times.

 snuck up on this stocky hawkfish

 one of the better camouflaged fish---scorpionfish

 Here she is again, with a baby in the upper left corner of this picture.  In fact, it was the baby that I noticed first, it was more colorful then the adult one.

 another juvenile yellow tail coris.

 milletseed butterflyfish

 wide angle of the floor and fish near the lifeguard station at Poipu.

 All too soon, it was sunset time again!

Time is definitely going too fast!  Wish it would slow down!

2005-2-15---moloaa, Kilauea Bay, anini:

One of the interesting houses on the East side near Moloaa bay.

Being on the East side and not protected from the waves, it's usually rough this time of year.  Pretty to look at, though.

the way down to the beach at Moloaa.

Heading back north, Kilauea Kong Lung Historic Market Center is a neat little shopping center. One of the shops here is a soap/candle shop where they actually make them. To keep the guys happy while their wives shop, they've designated special benches for them.

Love the lookout for the Kilauea lighthouse.

Love the landscaping around Kauai, too.

As we followed a road through Kilauea and a little east, we ended up on another dirt road that led us down to sea level. I believe this is Kilauea Bay. An interesting looking area, but we didn't spend much time here.

neat area that we've never really explored.

how some people get rid of their old vehicles on Kauai.  At least I hope it's an old vehicle and not a lost wrecked vehicle. 

Looking back towards Kilauea from Anini.

Our final beach today was Anini. A little more snorkeling, a little more relaxing on the beach.

another well protected beach and pretty good snorkeling if you know where to go!  Took us 3 or 4 years to find the "where to go" in Anini bay.

But it's so pretty and calm most of the time that we kept going back.

never very crowded, either.

Anini also has a pretty nice restroom and ourdoor showers.  We often make this our hang out place before our flight back to the mainland after we have to get out of the condo.