Water play is always nearby when you’re in Hawaii and the great thing about Big Island is that there are a lot of activities you can do on your own, without taking an expensive tour. This includes snorkeling the island’s crystal clear waters and its underwater kingdom: an easy way to spot marine life.
During our week on the island we’ve been snorkeling at several places. The three below we considered the best of the island and even better: all of these spots reachable on your own!
Kealakekua Bay ( next to the Captain Cook Monument)
Kealakekua Bay is one of the most beautiful areas on the island, in my opinion. Also known as Captain Cook’s, this bay is surrounded by lava rock formations and some super blue water. Unfortunately there’s a catch, since the bay isn’t easy to reach. There’s no real road, however it is possible to go their by foot marching through the bushes (or by boat if you want to take a tour).
The hike took us an hour each way (depending on your hiking level it might be a bit more going back, since you have to climb the hill again and this can be quite a burden when the sun’s out). I wasn’t looking forward to this hike at all ( we went during the hottest hours of the day), but you are for sure rewarded with a nice view – at least on your way down that is :).
After this intense work-out it was lovely to jump right into the magical surroundings. The bay is like an aquarium where you can swim in. There were shallow areas for beginners and deep areas for people who wanted to explore the bigger creatures of the ocean.
The dolphins arrive in here naturally too (often in the morning), and at times, you can swim with them in the bay. Perhaps you’re also in luck with the manta rays. Jori was able to follow one as it swam gracefully around the bay. Though they are related to sharks, these awesome sea creatures have no teeth nor tail stingers. Therefore they are harmless for humans, yet intriguing to watch! The ray stuck around for some 15 minutes before it decided to take off.
Big Island has a big manta ray population on the Kona coast and there’s always a chance you’ll encounter one. So good luck to you and remember to bring yourself a picnic since you might want to snorkel around for hours in here!
Honaunau bay
This bay is one for the pros. Just like with the previous one there are no facilities at the site, so take your gear, a beach chair to sit in on the lava rock (there’s no sand, you have to go straight from the lava out cropping into the sea) and food for the day. Ocean current is present and getting in and out can be a little tricky.
Firstly watch where the other ones go in and out and secondly don’t be shy; there are always plenty of people who will reach out a hand if needed. I did, barely could get out on my own. Whatever you do, do not stick your fingers in the little holes in the rocks, as they are full of those horrible little, spiny sea urchins. Also, because of them, watch your feet!!
So why bother.. you might think after this intro. Despite all of the cons the underwater life in here is really magnificent. Lots of tropical fish, (moray) eels and sea turtles are present and the coral is pretty decent too, particularly on the right side. But the best part is out in the bay, where the spinner dolphins are. These mammals can appear out of the blue and are often in the mood to put on quite a show for you. You can swim a bit along (of course always keeping a decent distance to the animals) for an incredible experience! Take a look below how ours was!
Kapoho tide pools
The tide pools are like mini-ecosystem boasting all kinds of coral and fish. The pools are great for snorkeling since they tend to be rather shallow with clear water (because very few waves!) and are therefore very family friendly too.
Big Island has a lot of these kind of spots, but this one in the southeast stars perhaps the most kinds of fish. Apart from that I really loved the relaxed vibe of the surrounding town and its friendly people. Even if you’re not into snorkeling, it’s a great place to visit and hang out. Just gaze at the surrounding houses and pick your ultimate dreamhouse :).
If you do hit the water make sure you’re exploring the upper right part too; the best of coral is to be found in this spot. Be a bit careful though around the edges, the waves can break hard over there.
Here’s where to find those spots!
