Kauai Snorkeling
Snorkelling KauaiThe best snorkeling in Kauai
The Kauai is the ideal place for snorkelling. About 50 of the 90 ninety mile coast is a sandy spot with good sea-view. There are many family-friendly places, but also places with more experiences, and Kauai is every snorkeler's one. Because we want you to find your snorkelling paradise, here is our selection of Kauai's best snorkelling sites.
We have divided them into those that are perfect for novices and those that are better suited for experienced snorkellers. Before snorkelling, please be careful, especially if you venture out of sheltered areas where strong current can overload a snorkel. If you are conscious of your environment, you can make your snorkeling experience as secure as possible.
Also watch out for the algae sanctuary, as it is a very sensitive live organisms. Be careful not to tread or go on the corals or any of their habitants; for the sanity of the corals, as well as for your own security. You will also want to take a good suntan lotion, as conventional suntan lotion will harm the area.
Lydgate Park's Kids Lake is a great place to snorkel for the first tim. Throughout the year, this waters are sheltered from the waves by an artificial cliff, the lake can be up to 10' in places, and near the external cliffs there are many small marine life.
Here there are no corals and the beaches are loved by the family. It' a great place to put on your masks, flippers and snorkels for the first few moments without worrying about sea breezes or crunching sea-weathers. When you are on the south side, you don't have to go far to go snorkeling for the first while.
The Poipu Beach Park is a good place for beginners as long as there is no big passage through the southsea. Snorkelling at Poipu Beach is small, as most of the area has a sandy bottom. To the right of the sandy beach is a cliffy area with a small reef, some small corals, some small fishing and mostly several humans!
Luckily, you will see a Bawaiian black seals on the shore. Nualolo Kai is one of the best snorkeling spots on Kauai. Situated at the end of the north coast street, Kee Island is ideal for snorkelling when surfinging.
Note the heavy currents that can occur on the lefthand side of the coral that opens out to the sea. The Kee has a barriere with a lot of sea life - it is a convenient snorkel spot. Be careful not to tread on the coral here.
Out of Kee the area is for expert only, but the sea is plentiful. Don't go outside the coral canyon unless you are very skilled at sea and have a clear blueprint for getting back in. Fissure flow can help you get out through a flat fissure in the coral but it is often not simple to come back because the flow is pressing against you.
Here they have seen tortoises, haweiian black seal and even occasionally a whitetip thatch. tunnel is a treacherously large horseshoe-shaped snorkeling area. It is an ideal spot for snorkellers with good formation and a lot of sea creatures, as it is subject to heavy seawaves.
Best entrance is the sea near the point (to the far right of the cliff when looking from the shore). They can then float out to the inner part of the outside one. Beware that the currents will push you back towards Haena Beach Park. Continue along the outside of this bend; there are different 3'-40' depht.
When approaching the far lefthand side of the coastline (seen from the shore), walk directly to the coastline and back to the sea (you will cross a canal). You should never go out and away from the bank under any circumstance - the outflow around the lefthand part of the wall can be very high.
There is a sheltered flat area with small caverns (or tunnels) on the inner part of the island for novices, which is usually a safer place to get into the waters when the waves are not too strong. It' located on the lefthand side of the nearest shore to Haena Park (where you come back from the outside reef).
As with the remainder of the northern shore of Kauai, a large northern threshold is also usual in winters. Even the strongest swimmer cannot snorkell in tunnels under such circumstances. In this season we recommend you drive to Koloa Landing or Lawai Beach on the south side.
Tunnel is a very restricted area for snorkeling. When it is crowded, there are more car parks in Haena Park. To get to this shore you have to take a short path in front of the St. Regis Resort. Hideaway's aqua purple waters are ideal for snorkelling when the weather is good.
There is a flat coral or pocket shaped coral canal with a lot of fishing. There is no need to go far beyond the flat cliffs; snorkelling is no better and you will be exposed to more dangerous sea-life. When you are on the southern side, Koloa Landing is best suited for snorkellers who are experienced divers.
The marine environment in the area is quite confined, but you will see a lot when you arrive where snorkelling is good (on both sides of the bay). When you land in Koloa there is no sand, you step into the waters from a dock. When it has rained heavily lately, do not go snorkelling while you land in Koloa.
There' s a small creek near the ramp - don't go snorkelling nearby as the creek worsens the view and can drain off the herds upriver. The Lawai Beach is a safe snorkeling area sheltered by a barriere coral wall full of pisce.
For snorkelling we suggest a snorkeling itinerary. You will have learnt the fundamentals after driving with a professional instructor and will be able to go snorkelling underwater. Notice that the view gets better (and the corals much healthier) the further you go out to the dive site, but don't dare out there.
The Lawai is one of the best snorkeling places on Kauai. It' especially important to know the current at Lawai Strand in strong winds or Southwell. Situated on the lefthand side of the cove is a small sandy shore that vanishes at high water, and the grass in front of the seaside restaurants, which adjoin the eastern side of the cove, is also a beautiful place to unwind.
Lawai Beach is an ideal place if you are a self-assured diver and have snorkeled several occasions. Wherever you go snorkelling on Kauai, be sure to respect the sea environment you visit and have time!