Big Island snorkeling
 

Any great spots to take 20 - 7th and 8th graders snorkeling on the Big Island?
We'll be based in Hilo, but have transpotation and chaperones. All have passed swim tests.
Mile marker 14 on Maui is legend, I'm just wondering if there is anything similar on the BI.

Holy cow! 20 teens? How many adults with your group? If there aren't many, I'd definitely book a snorkel tour before I hit the water with that many middle schoolers (and I LOVE middle schoolers).

Yes, if you can afford it a snorkel tour to Kealakekua Bay would be great, billions of fish and clear water.

Hapuna Beach has nice snorkeling up at the north end, but it may be out of range of the lifeguards. Another possibility might be Kahaluu Beach Park.

I would go with Kahaluu beach as well. We stayed near there and went snorkeling with my 11 year old at the time. She loved it and much of it is wadable. There were many turtles that came right up to your feet. I, too hope you have alot of adults as my girl is a middle schooler.

All the replies here mention the good spots to go snorkeling on the Big Island.

I know you have covered this in your preparation to bring that many middle schoolers here... but if I may add to your preparation... make sure you have PLENTY of adults, and that they can swim well, and they know tides, waves and rip currents well.

An illustration of this is just last week there was an unfortunate report of about five people swimming on Maui in an area that is swam everyday. The water became quite choppy because of some bad winds that day, and three or four people got carried out from the shore by rip tides and began yelling for help. A visitor (I believe he was from Canada, who was a 29 year old male) drowned trying to help those that got carried out. A lot of locals who knew the water and the situation well (they had seen it many times before), helped the others get back in to shore.

I'm certainly not trying to make anyone "scared" about snorkeling in Hawaii... most definitely not. But sometimes people think that swimming or snorkeling here is much like swimming somewhere on the mainland... and most times it is not. Just don't want to see anyone else being hurt on their vacation here.

DavidinHawaii
www.HowToDoHawaii.com

I think it is critical that you get rules established before putting a group of 20 teenagers in the water. You should have

1. A buddy system. Everyone has a buddy that they must keep track of.

2. One chaperone per group of 4. Try color coordinating the groups- blue, red, yellow, green, orange or the like so that the chaperone can quickly figure out if they are missing someone.

3. Proper fitting fins/masks/snorkels all sorted out before ANYONE gets in the water.

4. A whistle and a signal to get out of the water.

Trying to keep track of all those kids in a situation that could turn choppy/windy/too rough in an instant.

In the water it is very very difficult to keep track of people. I think a snorkel tour from a boat isn't a bad idea.

Good luck with this, Pierre! I admire you. If you are their teacher, they are very fortunate! :)

Bumping this up so Pierre Kodak will find the Hawaiian rip tide cautionary post, too.

The more I think about it, 20 teenagers snorkeling gives me nightmares.

If you go to Kona area, would highly recommend the Fairwinds snorkel tour to Keaukakua (sp?) Bay. This is where the Capt Cook memorial sits and there is tremendous sea life.

Wow! I am a middle school teacher and find you a saint for tempting this tour.
Just because the kids are good swimmers and have passed the mile marker please be very careful. Middle school kids aren't the most mature and can do silly things that could get them in trouble.
Ag3046 gave some good suggestions. I would only snorkle where there are lifeguards. Or as many suggest go on a tour. Also, think about having a few people on board the boat who can do nothing but keep track of kids in the water. The "drowning" is not the only problem: swimming to far out, getting injured on rocks, coral....
Keep us posted.

The public but Marine protected tide pools at Kapoho in the Puna District would be great for this type of group - IMO.
http://www.hawaiiweb.com/hawaii/html...ide_pools.html

Check it out and enjoy!