Snorkeling on Hawaii’s Big Island on your Seattle to Hawaii vacation can be one of the most rewarding adventures you have while you are in Hawaii. When I lived there I snorkeled at too many spots to mention in just one article. I was never disappointed in the variety of sea life I saw. The Big Island of Hawaii also offers the most variety in snorkeling options for beginners, intermediate, and seasoned snorkelers in search of the perfect spot.
I personally like to focus on the area south of Kailua-Kona for my snorkeling on Hawaii’s Big Island. There are a couple of major spots just along Ali’i Drive on the way to Keahou Bay you can stop to get in the water. I often tell clients to stop at Snorkel Bob’s first to rent your gear, and make sure to ask them where the best current spots are.
A favorite spot to snorkel on a Seattle to Hawaii vacation for me is Kahalu’u Beach Park. One of the best things about this place for snorkeling is that it is watched over by lifeguards. For families, or even someone who prefers having the safety of numbers, the idea of having a trained waterman around to help out is just the thing to make the snorkeling trip feel a little bit safer. That’s also one of the reasons so many people take a snorkel boat trip; it’s comforting to have someone watching over the top of the ocean around you as you focus on what is below.
The second spot I like to focus on when I am on The Big Island is the spectacular Kealakekua Bay. Just the drive to this place is scenic enough that you can stop 3 or 4 times on the way to get pictures of the grand vistas. Once you get there and look out on the bay, you know your snorkel day is going to be special. There are so many different areas to explore you will find yourself in the water for 2-3 hours before you know it. All of this is right off the pier in this special place. This is where spinner dolphins make an almost daily appearance and sea turtles guard Captain Cook’s monument across the bay. If you are going to snorkel a lot on your Seattle to Hawaii vacation, don’t forget your underwater camera to capture all you see. You can get those at any ABC Store, or at a Long’s Drug.
For those of you who know me, I could prattle on for hours about places to snorkel on Hawaii’s Big Island, but we will talk about those at a later date. There are a few other snorkel spots you should consider while on Hawaii’s Big Island. One is the night dive or snorkel off The Sheraton Keahou with the rays. Another is to go north of Kailua-Kona to Spencer Beach Park where there are lots of turtles, easy in and out on the beach, and a sense of seclusion you won’t get at the other spots. For those staying up north in the Kohala area, Kaunaoa Bay is the one of the best spots for beach goers, snorkelers, and families too. This place is sometimes referred to as Mauna Kea Beach because the hotel sits just above the bay. This is also one of the best white sand beaches in the islands, so a day trip here is well worth it.
Even the beginner spots like Kahalu’u Beach Park, an off beach reef where you can simply go ashore when you’ve had enough, have enough variety to please even the most seasoned of reef aficionados. For those wanting a snorkel boat tour, Kealakekua Bay is a very popular choice. I highly suggest you take one of these half day boat adventures, complete with lunch and beverages or cocktails. So whether you are new to the snorkeling scene or you have seen it all, The Big Island will have something to offer you on your Seattle to Hawaii vacation.
Tomorrow we explore Maui.
Fergy, 206-623-2490, www.fergystravel.com, Seattle to Hawaii Vacation Consultant
