11/6/09

Best Hawaii Snorkeling: Big Island Hotspots

If you're looking for the best Hawaii snorkeling spots away from the crowds, the Big Island is the place to go. Even though the island is almost twice the size of all the other islands put together, it only houses about 15% of the state's population. It also has the largest diversity of weather – from tropical to monsoonal to desert to permafrost – which makes touring around the island an absolutely incredible experience. Here's a review of some of the best snorkeling places you can find.

Kealakekua Bay is just south of Kailua-Kona, near the town of Captain Cook. It is a marine sanctuary with 80-100ft of visibility and bountiful sea life. Snorkeling here is an incredible experience, giving you the opportunity to see more fish than you can name and even the occasional turtle.

For a full day and night adventure, swing by Kaunaoa Bay, also called Mauna Kea Beach. Here you'll find a beautiful, cove-shelter beach with calm snorkeling waters ideal for kids and beginners. At night, the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel shines floodlights onto the water to attract plankton, which in turn attracts manta rays that you can watch gracefully sliding through the waters.

Rafting along the Kona coast affords you the opportunity to explore sea caves and lava tubes as you snorkel along. This adventure is a once in a life time opportunity, but not to be tried without a guide or at least the proper level of mastery.

If you're the type to seek out what few others behold, the black sand beaches and the snorkeling off the coast are not to be missed.  Of course, neither is the rich history found in the City of Refuge, otherwise known as Honaunau Bay.

Aside from being a premier snorkeling site, this area is overlooked by Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park.  The Park stands in the location where law-breakers and defeated warriors sought sanctuary; it is an excellent educational opportunity in Hawaiian culture and history.

Of course, these areas are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the best Hawaii snorkeling spots, but they're enough to get you started. Fortunately, it is easy to schedule tours of every kind in any and all of these locations. Whether you're looking for a guided, interpretive tour that will help you understand the ecology of what you see on your swim or you are after a more adrenaline-pumping experience such as rafting the Kona coast, you're sure to find the best Hawaii snorkeling and more on the Big Island!

For more information about the best Hawaii snorkeling spots and one-stop Hawaii adventure planning, visit www.alohatopten.com.

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