Snorkeling Alone
 

Taking my first trip to Maui early Sept and can't wait to swim with the fishes!

I have snorkeled many times in the Caribbean but never in Hawaii so I'm not sure how the water conditions will be different.

Here's my dilemma: I am traveling alone and like to snorkel several times a day. Budgetary constraints do not permit me to go on guided snorkel trips that frequently.

I would be totally comfortable snorkeling alone but don't want to do so at beaches known to have funky currents or conditions that would make that a foolish thing to do.

I know, snorkeling alone is never ideal but I don't feel I have many other options.

1. Does anyone know of any beaches that I should for sure avoid snorkeling alone?
2. I do plan to splurge on 1 snorkel trip to Molokini - any operators to avoid? Any that are highly recommended?

Thanks in advance for your help!

We went out to Molokini with Maui Classic Charters on the Four Winds II out of Maalaea Harbor, and had no complaints.

http://goo.mauicharters.com/4winds_trip01.html

The ride out there was leisurely enough that they set out some deep sea fishing lines and if anything hit, the nearest passenger who noticed could reel it in. Their designated mooring spot at the crater was virtually right in the middle, while other tour operators fanned out on either side of us. The Four Winds II stayed later too. We ate lunch there when other tour boats had already left.

I can only speak to the beaches north of Lahaina.

Hanaka'o'o/Canoe Beach is at the south end of Ka'anapali Beach, and although there really is no snorkeling there, it's a great beach to boogie board or body surf.

Black Rock is at the north end of Ka'anapali Beach and has outstanding snorkeling and enough people around to notice if you get in trouble. We even swam with some turtles there. A gentle current carried us out along the edges of the "rock" and wasn't too tough to fight getting back. We were told though that if the current was too strong for us coming back, just swim south, parallel to the beach about 25 yards and the current will weaken.

Kahekili Beach Park (off Kai Ala Dr. just north of mile marker 25) was a pleasant surprise. Plenty of parking, wide, gentle beach and some very nice snorkeling about 75 feet offshore right in front of the pavilion. Even has restrooms and showers.

I'd avoid Honokowai Beach Park, Pohaku Park (aka S-Turns), Kahana Beach, Ka'opala Beach, and Keonenui Beach (all off of Lower Honoapiilani Rd.) as the swimming can be somewhat nasty &/or the snorkeling just not very good.

Napili Bay, just a bit further north on Lower Honoapiilani Rd, is a very sandy beach that is well protected from wind and current, but the gradient is steep, the snorkeling not all that good and it can be very crowded.

Even further north on this road is Kapalua Beach - another nice surprise. This beach is very well protected by a reef from the strong currents outside the bay. Lots of reef fish. Easy access. Gentle gradient. Showers and restrooms. Despite what I thought was some pretty good snorkeling, there were very few people that were actually doing it.

Further north is Oneloa Beach (aka Ironwoods Beach). The swimming and snorkeling (at the southern third of the beach) can be good when the water is calm (like in the early morning), but can have some nasty rip tides when it's rough.

D.T. Fleming Beach Park (just past mile marker 31) has good swimming when calm, but rip tides when rough. Snorkrling is just so-so, but there are lifeguards, shade, picnic tables showers and restrooms.

Honolua Bay (between Mile markers 32 & 33 I believe) offers outstanding snorkeling. Snorkel boat tour operators from Lahaina and Ka'anapali Beach go there. The beach is all moderately-sized rocks, which can make it a little tricky getting in and out of the water if accessed from the beach, but once in, the snorkeling is unsurpassed. The right side of the bay is a little better for underwater sights. A heavy rain can muck up the water for 24 hours after.

furledleader - THANK YOU! Your input will be invaluable as I am planning my snorkling each day. Your post will be printed out and packed for reference while I'm in Hawaii.

I REALLY appreciate you taking the time to give me some great info.

Belinda

The south Maui beaches, especially in front of the Makena Resort are always full of snorkelers and I'v snorkeled there by myself many times.

Placename - thanks for the info (and especially for the reassurce that other people have snorkeled alone and lived to tell about it).

Each day you can check the general snorkel conditions at Hawaiiweathertoday.com. And for daily specifics on the snorkeling conditions at various spots you can ask the friendly staff at any Maui Dive Shop either in person or by phone. The conditions will vary from poor to excellent depending on daily weather conditions. Water temps will not be as warm as the caribbean but still very comfortable. My favs are Black Rock, Kapalua Bay, Honolua Bay(only when surf is down in summer).

montereybob - THANKS! I hope I have room in my suitcase for all the printouts I need to take from those in the know! I will have my laptop with me (for downloading pictures off the digital camera - NOT for working!) and the hotel where I'm staying has free wireless internet so I can check the web site daily as I'm planning my snorkeling adventures for that day. What an awesome resource to know about - THANKS!

I will admit most of the time I like the warm Caribbean - although in some of the shallower areas I thought it was a bit too warm at times.

I have a shorty wetsuit I will take just in case... thanks for the heads up!

I like south Maui ( Makena Resort) far more than Honolua. The don't call south Maui Turtle Town for nothing.

Honolua has a somewhat unattractive and difficult entry that isn't on a sandy beach.

I'll agree with Placename about the beach at Honolua - there really is no beach, just all rocks about 1-2 feet in diameter everywhere underfoot. I've never been to the southern beaches, so I've nothing to compare. Really want to do those though someday, especially the Fishbowl, La Perouse Bay, and Keawanaku Beach way down south.

For experienced snorkelers, entry at Honolua Bay is no problem. In the summer the water clarity and variety of fish can be some of the best on the island. I believe the authorities have closed off entry to Fishbowl due to liability issues. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks SO much to you all for the input - I will truly be utilizing your advice in my upcoming trip.

Rocky entrances don't bother me at all - nearly all the entrances on Bonaire are rocky so I have experience with them.

The only entrance that has ever bothered me was the entry for the drift snorkel from LaDania's Leap to Karpata on Bonaire - as you can imagine from the name you actually leap off a rock at LaDania's Leap and the waves crashing into the rock before you leap can be a bit scary.

Once again, thanks for all the input - I'm feeling much more confident about my first ever solo vacation!

Am a NAUI PADI Red Cross Instructor

None of thos organizations sanctions solo aquatic activity

The buddy system is the cornerstone of safety in the water.

pick up travle buds to do this with on our wah to be safe.

Consult with a knowledgeable PADI certified dive shop when u get there

For best local places.

And I should wear my seatbelt.

And I should wear a helmet when horseback riding.

And I should wear protective gear when spraying pesticides and herbicides.

And yet I don't...

qwovadis - I should have also said that I really do appreciate your input - I was not meaning to belittle your concerns just let you know a bit about me - that I don't always do the most prudent, cautious things.

I have read all the warnings about snorkeling alone but I'm fairly certain that I won't truly be "alone" on any beach in Maui so hopefully someone would heed my cries for help if I get into trouble.

Please accept my apology for the previous post if you took it as criticism of you - it truly was not intended to be.

I was going to respond to that one; we can't all have a companion everywhere we go, everything we do. Perhaps hiking in remote places without telling people, then having to cut your arm off to get out, is an extreme example, but IMHO, popping into the water to do close-in snorkeling is not as big an issue for sensible people who are prepared and not soloing in a deserted locale. (Several times I have looked back to the beach and seen my "buddy" snoring with a magazine on his face; if I waited for him to go with me every time I wanted to swim or snorkel, I'd never get to do it!)

sylvia3 - thanks for your very sensible input! I had hoped I would get some reassurance from others that they had done some solo snorkeling and that not everyone who does something so "foolish" is bound to die.

I appreciate you taking time to respond - I am feeling SO much more confident that I will survive my first solo vacation!

Belinda

If I can piggy-back on your thread, mofarmerchick... Anyone know about snorkeling at Tunnels beach on Kauai? I'm the only avid snorkeler in our group, so would expect I'll not often have a buddy. Anticipate that I'll also be going fairly early in the morning, when water conditions are best.

For your situation, I highly recommend Olowalu (Highway 30 at mile marker 14). There are lots of other snorkelers, it is visible from the main highway, lots of parking, and has easy access from the shoreline. Depending on the tide, the water can get very shallow, but otherwise it is a safe area protected by reef unlike some other areas where waters can get rough.

Islandaze--- tunnels has good snorkeling conditions in the summer months. In winter the surf is too rough.

Snorkelling in Hawaii is quite different to the Caribbean, the water is much colder, generally not as calm and some of the snorkel locations such as Molokini and Turtle Town are quite deep. Ahihi Bay/La Perouse Bay & Honolua were very good for snorkelling, the latter was sometimes a bit muddy by the edges.

Odin - thanks for the info - I like being prepared for conditions before I embark - if I prepare for the worst then I can only be pleasantly surprised.

I don't mind deep water as long as I'm still close to shore - if I have wandered too far from shore into deep water I tend to get a bit nervous.

Molokini and Turtle Town are boat excursions so you would be far from the shore but close to the boat & other people when snorkelling. La Perouse is not deep and can be accessed from a particular access point on the shore.

The whole point of Molokini is the deep visibility; I never saw any great amounts of fish (did it twice), but that can depend on where your boat sits. (I also thought it was WAY too crowded; but worth doing for the visibility)
You can see "Turtle town" (well, the same turtles that boats call Turtle Town or Arches) from a hotel beach (and there's parking and restrooms; go past the Maui Prince and turn into the road with the beach access sign. Go early! Really nice beach, pretty good snorkeling at the south point).
Primary La Perouse Bay access is a path that goes back past a house and on to a lava flow, then past several tide pools; many places to stop. That definately might be one for a buddy trip, though.

p.s. the best snorkeling at La Perouse Bay needs a little research; a copy of Maui Revealed is a good purchase for anyone visiting the island.

mofarmerchick:

Ditto what Odin said. Summer water temperatures off of Maui run between the mid- to high-70's. Summer water temperatures in the Carribean run in the mid-80's.

While not particularly cold, the cooler water may chill you after you've been in it a few hours.

If you're planning on being in the water all day, you might consider getting a swim shirt/rash guard. (There are all sorts of models with different characteristics. The thicker they are, the greater the insulation - but are bulkier and less comfortable. The thinner ones offer greater comfort, but with reduced protection.)

P.S. A few more snorkeling tips:
http://www.fodors.com/world/north-am...y_2201567.html

I'm a Big Island resident, so I don't have any personal comments on where to dive on Maui.

I agree with1dash1 that a rash guard shirt is the perfect thing for Hawaiian waters. All the dive shops have em.

Got mine at Target! Best thing for snorkeling ever; no sunburn, stay warm, flop on a boogie board with abandon.
p.s. DH wears a nylon running shirt that cost way less and does the exact job.

Thanks once again all for the input - I knew Molokini was a boat trip - it will be my one splurge snorkel trip. Kinda wondering now though as I am less a fan of deep visibility than I am of lots of fishes. This is great info to have up front so I don’t “waste” my money on a snorkel trip I will where I will be disappointed.

Sylvia3 – thanks for the tip on Maui Revealed – I had wanted a recommendation for a good book to purchase prior to my trip – thanks so much.

Anyone have any experience with a downloadable book Maui Snorkeling Guide eBook by Galen & Nicole Atkins. Ttheir web site is www.tropicalsnorkeling.com). If it lives up to their claims it sounds like it could be an awesome travel tool.

1dash1 – thanks for the tip on the swim shirt. I have a shorty wetsuit and a full length lycra suit I had planned on bringing but I may check out the shirts at Target (thanks for another great tip sylvia3!). And thanks for the link - tons of great information there!

I really can’t thank you all enough for all the great tips – I foresee a GREAT vacation in my future!

I know what you mean about seeing lots of fishies. I am a fan of Kapalua Bay, lots of people there and it can be very calm, lots of things to see.

Also an excellent place is Ahihi-Kinau reserve, before you get to La Perouse. You enter in a lava cove (you will know you are there by seeing the other snorkelers). Unfortunately, the best sightings (lots of turtles) are out of the cove and to the left, but there's always someone out there.

Lately we've noticed something about the usual wisdom of going out early, the fish don't seem to wake up and move around until there's been some sun, around 9:00 and later. Anyone else noticed this?

Have fun, Maui is a great place to snorkel, LOTS of life in the water.

The conundrum; get somewhere early enough for a parking/beach spot, but wait for the sun to get high enough for super visibility.
But we still see plenty at the crack of...well, 8:00 a.m.

gigib - thanks for the info. I have to admit I will feel much safer if there are other people around while I'm snorkeling (although hopefully at some places not TOO many people).

And to both gigib and sylvia3 - especially thanks for the heads up about not getting there TOO early - I am one of those "if early is better then really early must be better still" people so this info may be the difference between me thinking that Maui snorkeling is terrible vs thinking there are lots of fishes with which to swim in Maui!

sylvia3 - My copy of Maui Revealed came over the weekend - really getting psyched for my trip now!!! Thanks for the tip!

I enjoyed reading everyone's input and yes sometimes we have to do our snorkling by ourself. I come with a husband but he golf's while I do the snorkling. To say we always should have a two some is unreal. So I enjoyed reading the solo snorkling and yes the water in Hawaii is cold compared to the caribean by far but not as cold as California water.

Catsandra777,

Thanks for your assurance - I leave day after tomorrow and I have to admit I've still been worrying a bit about snorkeling alone. Another reassuring voice of someone who has done it and survived is VERY much appreciated!

Belinda

Aloha to you mofarmerchick, we hope you fall in love with Maui. Write when you get back and tell us about your trip and all the fishies you see. My husband and I leave day after tomorrow as well, going to the Big Island this time, nothing but snorkeling.

Belinda, I'm hoping to do a Kauai solo trip this winter, and I plan to snorkel as well. I don't think I've ever done it alone, but was considering how I'd change my behavior. Other than maybe sticking a bit closer to shore and other snorkelers, I'm not sure what else to do. Please report back -- I'd love to hear how it went for you and what you advise. I may give Snorkel Bob's a call when I get there, just to pick their brain, as they may have some tips that I wouldn't think of.

Regarding the rash guard, I'd like to hear if others think I would I be OK snorkeling for a while in that (in February/March)? I was planning to buy a long-sleeve one, so was glad to see those recommendations here. I've never needed anything for my previous trips (in May/July/September), but think I might start to get a bit chilly in winter.

The only advice I can give if you are swimming alone is to swim at guarded beaches.
The other thing is to ask the experts at the local dive/surf shops because they can help you out with lots of local information regarding surf, rip currents, any unknown dangers.
You should be fine.

http://www.kiheibeachbums.com/snorkel.php

mfc:
One of the problems with visitors to beaches they aren't familiar with are the presence of underwater and strong currents or rivers that are powerful and strong and will simply pull you under and out to sea. This is why even snorkeling with a friend might not necessarily help, and why I would ONLY snorkel or swim at a beach that has life guards.

nobigdeal,

Back from Maui and snorkeling alone was not as scary as I thought. BUT, I was very careful to only snorkel places where there were other people - even if they were just hanging out on the beach I would like to think someone would try to help me if I cried for help. Also, if the water looked at all intimidating I did not snorkel if there were not other people doing so.

I did get to snorkel The Dumps with two lovely local ladies who gave me the inside scoop and kept an eye on me - thank you ladies!

I snorkeled in just a swimsuit and never got the least bit cold.

For anyone going to Maui to snorkel, I definitely recommend a trip to Molokini - that was the only "good" snorkeling in my opinion. Visibility in Maui is very poor compared to other places I've been except at Molokini.

Thanks for the follow-up, appreciate the information! Hope you had a wonderful trip!