Typically, one of the first things my friends want to do when they visit me in Hawaii is snorkel. Who can blame them? First of all, you don’t have to be an Olympic athlete to stick a tube in your mouth, slap on some fins and a mask, and float around in the ocean. Secondly, you don’t need to travel very far to find a good snorkeling spot (the island’s crystal clear waters and myriad schools of neon-bright tropical fish make snorkeling an easy and rewarding experience).
However, if you are visiting the area by yourself you may not want to swim amongst the marine life alone. (In fact, for safety reasons you should never snorkel without a partner.) In which case I would recommend booking a spot on a local tour boat. Snorkel cruises take the hassle out of the water activity. They make it easy by providing safety devices, snorkel buddies, snorkeling equipment and instruction.
Most basic snorkeling adventures are quite reasonable, but you can also choose from more elaborate cruises aboard catamarans. The catamaran snorkeling cruises in Hawaii typically include food, drinks, restrooms, water slides, and other recreational floatation equipment. The more hard-core cruises take place in powered, inflatable rafts. (They cater to smaller groups).
On the Big Island of Hawaii the most popular place to snorkel is a place called Kealakekua Bay. It is an underwater marine preserve that is a resting spot for dolphins. Another popular spot is in the waters off the Kohala Coast and Pawai Bay. The bay is located between Honokohau Harbor and Kailua Bay and is known for its see-through waters, sunny skies and abundant sea life.
Most of the professional tours take visitors to the waters off of Kona, Hawaii. The catamaran tours run twice a day (once in the morning and once in the afternoon). Others travel to the waters off the Kohala Coast—while these tours are traditionally longer than the ones that take snorkelers in and around the Kona area all trips are back well before dusk.
Related Articles:
Hawaii–Visiting the Big Island’s Best Waterfalls
Hawaiian 101: “Was that Mauka or Makai?”
Adventure Travel–Swimming With Sharks
Adventure Travel–A Trip to the “Valley of the Kings”
Visiting the World’s Largest Outdoor Shopping Center
Destination: Hawaii–A Great Family Beach