Snorkeling
in Hawaii offers a unique experience not generally available in
the Western United States or Canada. The water here is warm
(77 F.), clear (typically 100 visibility), and there is
abundant life of all kinds: tropical fish, coral reefs,
& marine mammals. Our snorkel tours offer an esthetic and
ecological way to access all that Nature has to offer in Hawaii.
We recommend a tour to maximize your fun, ease and peace of mind.
Guides know the good snorkeling spots, where to find marine mammals,
provide lunch/drinks & snorkeling instruction. Guides
also offer local color and history that can enhance your trip.
Our typical snorkel and/or kayak tour guest ranges in age between
7 and 80 and for about half of our guests, it is their first experience.
Through the help of your guide the tour is designed to be comfortable
for the novice and effortless for the experienced - allowing you
to focus on your Hawaiian nature experience - not details like
how to find quality equpment, locate good snorkeling with lots
of coral or find a place to put the boat in the water.
We move at a relaxed pace, focusing on the scenery and marine
mammals that may come our way. The physical output is low - similar
to walking/hiking - so you don't have to be an athlete to participate.
Equipment:
We
use open-deck kayaks: boats uniquely designed for your enjoyment
in Hawaiian waters. Stable and easy to enter and exit, these boats
are ideally suited for ocean paddling and snorkeling.
The outstanding stability of our kayaks is due to several features:
the boats width (a full 36 wide compared to most boats that
are from 23-33 wide), flat bottom (reduces rocking
- round bottom boats tend to roll), and a keel that adds
stability by resisiting sideways rocking.
The importance to you is simply that you can focus on enjoying
the beautiful scenery and snorkeling, not worrying about keeping
your kayak upright. We also provide seatbacks, lifejackets, &
paddles. We also include on our tours: quality mask,
snorkel and fins at no extra charge. Anyone who tends to
get cold, may also wish to request a wetsuit for the trip (no
extra charge).
Adventures
& Experiences:
Marine Mammals commonly seen on our trips include: Hawaiian spinner
dolphins, sea turtles, and humpback whales (winter).
Volcanoes nearby include: Kilauea, Hualalai, Kohala, Mauna Loa,
& Mauna Kea.
We recommend the morning tours if your schedule permits.
The conditions are typically better in the morning with more sun
and less wind.
Snorkeling is incredible! Brightly colored tropical fish
will delight you, and the water is warm. Occasionally an endangered
green sea turtle or spinner dolphin is encounterd snorkeling -
we will maintain a proper distance away from the marine life to
insure we do not disturb them and this fragile ecosystem.
The weather in Kailua-Kona & Kohala (West Hawaii) is
warm, sunny, and clear.
A hat, shirt, and waterproof sunblock are important sun
protection. It's usually about 75-85 degrees year-round with high
UV.
If
you tend to get motion sickness (either car, air or sea) please
remember to get a presription for the "patch" or one
of the over-the-counter sea sickness remedies like non-drowsy
Dramamine.