Snorkeling on the Island of Kauai: Snorkel Bobs and More

When people come to the islands, they are not only looking for the beautiful scenery on the land but in the ocean as well. Snorkeling provides an easy way to do this without needing to be certified. Each Island in Hawaii provides unique views of the reefs. I will be discussing the Island of Kauai and all the great spots for snorkeling.

There are numerous companies on the Island, which have snorkel/Sail trips for our visitors to explore the underwater habitat. While taking one of these trips you will also get a chance to learn some of the native Hawaiian legends and you will have a chance to go to spots that are not accessible by car. They are all highly trained professionals that will walk you through the use and best practices regarding snorkeling.

If you prefer to have a nice lazy beach day, you can drive to some of the available spots on the Island and find some great reefs to explore.
On the North shore of Kauai, the reefs off of Ke'e beach and Haena beach offer some pristine waters. Locals call the area off of Haena beach, Tunnels because of the underwater reef tunnels found in the area. If you are more of a beginner you can go to Anini beach, which has a very large reef and is very calm usually all year long as the wave breaks are far from shore. There may not be as many fish in this area but it can be a great starter ground.

Lydgate beach on the East Side of the Island has a protected area for swimmers and snorkelers to cruise in a life guarded area. This is a nice spot for kids that can swim and may want to learn snorkeling themselves. The amount of fish at Lydgate is good and you don't have to worry about encountering a shark.
Poipu Beach Park on the south side of the Island is also a popular snorkeling spot for visitors
I have also heard that Salt Pond beach Park has a safe swimming and snorkeling area, I do not know about the abundance of fish in this area as when I was a kid and my parent took us there, I didn't like the weird squishy mud that was in the water, so I don't really go there by choice. At Salt Pond they had some Salt mining flats, which were pretty cool.

Some basic rules to go by when snorkeling are:

Always snorkel with someone, never alone.
Stay away from the surfers and Body boarders, (you don't want to get run over).
Mornings are best, as the water tends to be clearer.
It is not a good idea to feed the fish; food can be toxic to them and make them more susceptible to attacks by other fish.
Be very careful to not trample on the reef. This is the Fishes home and when someone walks on the reef it kills it. Also it is horrible to get a piece of coral in your foot as it quickly becomes infected.
Always check the Ocean conditions in the area you are planning to snorkel. If in doubt, do not go out.

Most hotels will have equipment available for rent. If yours does not we also have Snorkel Bobs, which will rent out equipment for a very reasonable price. They have numerous locations around the Island. If you would like to just purchase a set for yourself you can go to the Lihue Wal-Mart and buy one. Snorkeling on the Island is another great way to see the underwater beauty Kauai offers. Be safe. Check out the links