Kauai South Shore - Poipu

Island of Kauai

Adventures on Water - Snorkeling

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Kaua`i Seariders Adventures, www.kauaiseariders.com, 808-332-7238, offers a three hour tour on their rigid-hull inflatable. The tour includes snorkeling and lunch. Rates are $89 for adults and $69 for children ages five-12.

SeaFun Kaua`i, from Aloha Kaua`i Tours, 800-452-1113, www.alohakauaitours.com, offers guided snorkel tours. You’ll learn about the history of the island and the area on your way to Lawa`i Beach. You snorkel here for about 45 minutes, looking at butterfly fish, tangs and surgeon fish, wrasses and puffers. It’s a good snorkel to get you started. Once you’re warmed up, you head over to Prince Kuhio Beach for a more advanced snorkel.

Kaua`i Z Tours, Kukuiula Harbor, 888-998-6879, 808-742-7422, www.ztourz.com, has tours that specialize in snorkeling. They welcome novice snorkelers and take you to different locations along the south shore. Tours start at $84 per person. They also offer private charters.

If you want to snorkel on your own, you can pick up snorkeling gear virtually anywhere. Nukumoi Surf Company, 808-742-8019, across from Brennecke’s Beach, rents snorkel gear (snorkel, mask and fins) for $5 a day and $15 a week. Kaua`i Down Under, at Sheraton Kaua`i Resort, and Brennecke’s Beach Center, at Brennecke’s Beach, also rent gear. Or you can check with your hotel or condo. Some places do have snorkel gear available for their guests.

The south shore offers some of the best snorkeling on Kaua`i because the water is so clear. There’s very little runoff in these waters. It doesn’t rain a lot on the south shore so visibility isn’t affected.

You’ll find that Po`ipu Beach Park has some good snorkeling to the right side of Nukumoi Point, the tombolo area (a narrow strip of sand dividing the ocean). It’s full of turtles, tangs, butterfly fish and the full gamut of tropical fish.

Behind the Sheraton Kaua`i is Kiahuna Beach. The eastern end is protected for snorkeling. It is a bit rocky on the bottom.

Lawa`i Beach has excellent snorkeling. The reef is about 50 yards from shore and you’ll find a cornucopia of tropical fish. Green turtles and the occasional Hawaiian monk seal come here to enjoy the sunshine. There’s a sandy bottom near The Beach House Restaurant. This is the best spot to enter the water.

Prince Kuhio Park has snorkeling that’s just as good as Lawa`i Beach. You will find that the reefs are deeper and more developed.

Brennecke’s is very popular for a lot of water activities. If you plan to snorkel here, be on the lookout for body boarders. Also watch out for the undertow, which can get pretty strong. Before you hit the water, you might want to bring a disposable underwater camera. For $12-$16 you can pick one up. The
cameras are surprisingly easy to manage underwater and take decent pictures as long as the water’s not too murky. You can buy one at Brennecke’s Deli, Nukumoi Surf Co. and virtually any grocery store.

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