Hawaii is known for having some of the best conditions for snorkeling, SCUBA diving and snuba diving. Near my home on the Big Island of Hawaii the waters are crystal clear and the skies are almost always cloud-free. When the conditions are excellent, underwater visibility can reach 120 feet, which, of course, provides unprecedented viewing of coral reefs that teem with bright tropical fish and other colorful marine life.
In previous blogs I mentioned how you can take advantage of the many professional snorkeling tours the island has to offer, but what if you would love to look at fish, but have no desire to strip down to your swimsuit and dive into the Pacific (I’m talking about you Aunt Pat)? If you are in Hawaii, there are other ways you can explore the coral gardens and the odd-shaped creatures that inhabit them—on board a glass-bottom boat.
On the Kona side of the Big Island there are two reputable companies that offer sightseeing tours of the underwater paradise. The first is a glass-bottom boat operated by Kailua Bay Charter Co. called the “Marian.” It provides affordable 50-minute tours of local reefs. During the trip an onboard naturalist describes the views above and below the water while riders peer out of view boxes that give up close and personal experiences with ocean life. The first part of the tour takes you over “shipwreck rock” where the reef rises to grace the boat’s glass-bottom. Then you make your way to a drop off point where you see the bottom plunge to more than 100 feet.
Another way to see the denizens of the deep without getting your hair wet is to sign up for the Atlantis Adventures submarine tour. The trip includes a tour of a 25-acre natural coral reef and allows passengers to view its marine inhabitants. The bonus with this company is that it offers free shuttle service from area hotels to the Kailua Pier where the submarine tours begin and end.