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. 24, 2014- Friday-Smith's garden, Poipu--


Really on Hawaii time now.  Almost 9:30 before we got up today!  It was another gorgeous morning---blue skies, little wind, high of upper 70's predicted.  Still too rough on the north shore to go there to snorkel, so we planned to go to Poipu later in the afternoon.  But first, off to breakfast.  This time we decided to try the Beach Walk Restaurant (use to be Scotty's).  Love the ocean view there!  Here's the view from our table.

 and

  Even had entertainment along the bike path there.  Such as this skate boarding dog--almost as entertaining as the windows at the Olympic Café.  Breakfast and service was very good, too.

Since it was only about noon when we were done with breakfast, we decided to go to Smith's garden before heading south.  Another East side gem!  We've been to Smith's 6 or 7 times for the luau (we love it), and have wandered the grounds before dinner, but never really got to check out the whole garden (other than by trolley before the luau).  The grounds are beautiful and they only charge $6 per adult to enter the gardens during the day.  We spent about 1 1/2 hours wandering around the gardens.  Should have had bug repellant, though.  Even though we didn't see or feel the mosquitos at the time, we got pretty eaten up by them.
Our welcoming committee.

strolling around the gardens.

one of the many beautiful flowers

more of the pond

some of the flowers that grow on the trees are quite large.  Here's one that fell off a tree.

 looking towards the covered amphitheater where spectators watch the luau dances.

more of the grounds

 one of the many trees---this is a paper tree

 they have lots of fruit trees, too, like this breadfruit tree.

Don't know what kind of bush this is but it's flowers are pretty,too.

a covered pavilion.

another fruit tree--star fruit

another view of the pond

 another interesting colored rooster.

apple bananas--love those things.  Wish we could get them back home!

part of the Filipino village.

another pretty flower

Ken posing with his new buddy

 Ken named these the pink tail triggerfish flower.

one of the many birds on property --Hawaiian moorhen.

Sleeping Giant mountain in the backgrounds.  There are trails leading up this mountain.  We did that hike a few years ago.  Another fun thing to do on the East side.

they even have goats on the grounds.

 and they have a Rainbow Eucalyptus tree.

Here's the open air building where the luau buffet is served.

another of the many flowers.

Another pretty rooster

I never knew they had an orchid building.  But they do!

 Anthiriums

one of the many fountains around the garden.

show off!

another show off!

About 2pm we were on our way South, stopping at Costco to fill up the car for the first time.  This year gas prices are about $4.03 at Costco and about $4.39 + elsewhere.  It was much windier at Poipu, but still about 75 degrees.

 First we snorkeled the right side of the tombula, but weren't too impressed.  The waves were stirring up the sand pretty much.  Did see this coronet fish there.  Also saw a Snowflake Eel and assorted other fish.

 The left side, by the life guard station was a lot calmer, so we decided to check it out.

 It was quite good!  Saw LOTS of fish there and it was much clearer.  Here is one of the 4 spot butterflyfish that were there.

a pair of thread fin butterflyfish

I  kept my distance from this guy--a barracuda.(noticed him there when we went back another day.  Guess he's made his home here.)

a brown surgeonfish

 a large chub with spots on it.

 a school of orangebar surgeonfish

there were lots and lots of different kinds of wrasses here---this is a Christmas wrasse.

a bunch of different fish in the area by the life guard stand.

another female surge wrasse

 saddle wrasses attacking a spiny brittle star.

one of the many moorish idols

I believe this is a spotfin scorpionfish.  

 After a couple hours, the sun was beginning to get low, so we decided to get out and wait for sunset. 

Yes, another dud, but there was a little color in the clouds for a very short while.
  One last look.

Now it was time to find dinner.  We went over to Kukui'ula shopping center and wandered around it for awhile.  We just happened to be there about 7pm and got the added pleasure of hearing some of the talented Kauai musicians.  We didn't know it, but starting at 6:30 on Fridays, they have live music.  There were 4 separate areas with live entertainment and they were all very good.  Eventually we ended up at Bubba's for a Kauai Burger and fish and chips.  It was very good.
Can't believe we've been here for almost a week!!