Dive USA -- Hawaii the big island, and Kauai

Kealakekua Bay is one of Hawaii's marine parks, so no fishing or taking of any kind is allowed. Consequently, fish and critter life is abundant here and schools of all kinds of tropicals will bombard you with motion and color. You can see eagle rays here, moray eels, or look for the tiny stuff and find all kinds of colorful nudibranchs and small gobies and wrasses. Shore entry is best at the beach park at Napoopoo. An easy site for all levels of expertise, this is an especially good spot for beginners.

Kauai is the northernmost island in the chain and receives more weather than the other islands. Year-round the leeward southern shore is diveable most all the time. In Poipu you'll find fabulous beaches, hotels, condos, and a bunch of dive shops and related tourist infrastructure.

Ahukini is a good spot beyond Lihue airport when the weather conditions are right and the southerly winds are blowing. A large rock jetty is the entry point into 60-80 foot depth with good visibility. A variety of coral and rock reef formations are found here with an abundance of marine life including crustaceans, invertebrates, and many fishes. During the winter migration, humpback whales are known to hang out here, so this can be an exciting spot if all the planets are aligned--

Koloa Landing is a well-protected cove and is almost always calm and diveable. A good variety of coral and fish live here and provide good photographic subjects. Stay to the right side that has more coral and lots of tame fish and moray eels. Shore entry is right off the parking lot off Poipu Road.

Poipu Beach is adjacent to a hotel and a good spot for beginning snorkelers and scuba divers to explore the underwater world in safety and comfort. With shallow depths of 5-40 feet, fish are tame and used to being hand-fed. A good place for the whole family to snorkel or dive together.
© 2002 Linda Gettmann

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