Snorkel Waikiki –Honolulu
by AlohaRick on 06/25/08 at 6:36 pm
My wife and I (I’m 40 and she’s 38), like to go snorkeling on the weekends at Waikiki Beach. We live in Waikiki, so we do it often. Many people don’t realize how much there is to see right off one of the world’s most famous beaches! One of our favorite spots is right in front of the Halekulani Hotel. We bring mask, fins, snorkel, towels and underwater cameras to shoot pictures of whatever we might see.
We always see lots of puffer fish, Humuhumunukunukuapuaa (say that five times fast!—or just say Humu for short—it’s a kind of trigger fish, Hawaii’s state marine fish—and sometimes even green sea turtles. Moray eels can also be seen, as well as beautiful shells—cone snails, cowries and many more.
We like to go out to a Hawaiian flag that is planted on some rocks about fifty yards from shore. The water is usually clear there. In the wintertime, the ocean is almost always calm and flat, but in the summer, there can be waves so it is best to check the surf report before going. If the waves are too big it is not a pleasant snorkeling experience (but we like to ride the waves, too—more about that in a later piece!). We usually go out for about thirty to sixty minutes. The water is nice and warm, but some people might want a lycra top or a thin surf wetsuit.
Things to be careful about: don’t leave valuables unattended on the beach while you are out of sight of them in the water. When it comes to the marine life—look but don’t touch! Be careful not to let your fins kick the corals. Also, it is not a bad idea to bring a dive flag float, to warn boats of your presence, although this is not absolutely necessary. But there are outrigger canoes, surfers and catamarans in the area, so be aware of what’s around you in the water. Also, don’t forget to apply that sun factor!
It is always fun to post our snorkeling pictures online for friends and family to see. They are amazed at the incredible variety of marine life and the beautiful seascapes we see. So next time you go to Waikiki, don’t just sit on the sand–go snorkeling.
Aloha!
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