Snorkeling with Turtles – the ultimate Hawaiian experience

Seeking something different? How about discovering the joys of snorkeling on the beautiful Kona & Kohala coasts of the Big Island of Hawaii. At Pawai Bay, I experienced this incredibly still moment in time, when floating along on Hawaii's ocean surface, in the warm current, where green sea turtles mingle with all kinds of colourful tropical fish, nibbling at the rich coral reef beds. Hundreds of silvery needlefish darting in perfect unison will accompany your way, while you hear the whistles of dolphins and song of whales in the background. Often you will meet manta rays and spotted eagle rays. The reef is so colourful. I felt I could spend days there without even lifting my head. As you snorkel, you will discover coral encrusted lava formations, such as ledges, caves, shallow shelves and steep drop-offs. You can start in a depth of 3 – 4 feet. Once you feel more comfortable with the environment, you may want to dive down to 100 feet!

Of all there is to see, the turtles are by far the main attraction. The way they gracefully drift through the water, peacefully, it seems, sometimes swimming right towards you. It is breathtaking. There is a fine if you touch or harm them – you could be charged up to $1000! This shows how special this species is, and how much it needs to be protected. Don’t forget your underwater camera for a very special memory. You can buy disposable ones at the beach (as well as buy/rent snorkeling gear), and they actually make some great pictures! I was surprised by the quality, as I could see the turtles clearly under the rays of sunlight going about the reef, showing all it’s colours.

By the way, returning to the main harbour, you will find some great restaurants, often appearing to be little cafes. As from our experience, the smaller they are, the more unobvious they appear, the better the food will be.

This holiday is perfect for families! Kids will love to discover the underwater world while parents can relax; the reef is protected by a wall of rocks, which not only break the waves, but also keep the area free of sharks.