Maui Snorkeling Trips

Whale watching is one of the many unique opportunities afforded by the Hawaiian Islands. But the Humpback Whales are not visible year round, so it is best to plan your trip accordingly.

While most islands offer a glimpse into the life and migrations of the humpback whales, Maui is one of the best locations. Not only are the whales a spectacular sight, but the coast of Maui is particularly stunning. It makes for a perfect combination.

If you travel all the way to Hawaii in order to see whales, you want to make sure you’ll actually see something. The best way to ensure that you’ll see whales in force is by going between December and May. The best months remain those from January to April.

Not only is the time of year important in Hawaii whale watching, but so is the actual time of day. Although they can be seen at any given time, they tend to be particularly playful at sunset. For this reason, many people prefer this time of day.

There are a variety of underwater activities available to the Hawaiian tourist. Even in shallow water, just dipping a head into the ocean with swim goggles will reveal a world of colorful and beautiful fish. But if you really want to experience some interesting and unique sea life, you might want to consider your non-snorkeling options.

Scuba is a popular activity, but there are several downsides. For one, the activity is far more expensive than snorkeling. There is also the need to be certified, or you must go with a trained guide. This makes scuba a somewhat complicated endeavor.

There is, however, an alternative. It offers a more extensive experience than snorkeling, but it is not quite as complicated or expensive as scuba. It is named Snuba—an appropriate mixing of snorkeling and scuba. Snuba in Hawaii is particularly popular because of the wide array of fish and sea life available.

Snuba is basically an underwater system where you are completely submerged, but you are still tethered to a water craft. Unlike scuba, your air tank is not attached to your back. The air source is, instead, on the boat itself.

People generally feel safer during a Snuba session, it is less expensive, and it only requires a short lesson. This combination of elements makes it a great activity for the entire family on your next vacation.

Photo Courtesy R. Yin, Fishbase.org

Wow!  Look at it go!  Snorkeling in Hawaii is such an amazing thing to do and seeing a helmet gurnard - aka flying gurnard - is something to not be missed! See video HERE.

The ancient Hawaiians called this fish loloa`u, but the name of pinao, which means dragonfly, was also used.  These fish are bottom dwellers (except when larval), slow moving and heavy.  They will open their pectoral fins when alarmed, probably trying to appear much larger to a predator.  According to Dr. Randall, the name ‘helmet’ gurnard was used because the external bones of their head are armor-like and united.  The shoulder girdle on either side is shield-like and expanded, ending in a very sharp spine.  The gurnard is seen on open substrata of sand, rubble, or even mud.  Their pelvic fins of 1,4 rays are used for what appears to be walking along the bottom.  They most likely scrape into the sand in search of crustaceans and small mollusks.

This fish is light green with dark brown spots on their dorsal sides, shading to white.  They are really a beautiful animal to watch and can be very quick.  Come to Maui and don’t miss a snorkel trip.  The Hawaiian reefs are full of wondrous animals!

Photo Courtesy, Elhaw/Map, Fishbase.org

To the ancient Hawaiians, the ladyfish was a very important food source.  Research didn’t uncover much information on this now scarce species.  As a juvenile it was called `o’io, and as an adult, kuahauli.  In ancient times this fish was probably raised in fishponds, or loko i’a.  The family consists of a single genus.  It is said to put up quite a good fight, will often leap out of the water when hooked, and will strike at lures and baited hooks.  Not often eaten by locals in Hawaii because of their numerous small bones in the flesh, the name of ‘tenpounder’ is more commonly used today.  The Hawaiian Ladyfish is considered to be the most primitive of living teleost (fish with bony skeleton) fish.  They have very small scales and a forked tail.  They also tolerate a very wide range of salinity.  Unfortunately, they are also uncommonly caught, possibly due to overfishing.

The ladyfish is a coastal animal that prefers lagoons, bays, estuaries, and even ancient fishponds.  They are known to concentrate in mangroves and have been known to travel a short distance up streams searching out various small fishes and crustaceans.  Very little knowledge exists of this mysterious fish’s biology.

The snorkeler in Hawaii may see the young ladyfish in the reefs around the islands.  If you are coming to Maui, plan on a ‘get wet’ day.  There are many mysterious creatures waiting.

Spawning Photo Courtesy UH Malamalama Magazine, Mushroom Photo Courtesy Katie Grove-Velasquez

Mushroom corals, or ‘ako’ako’a kohe, in Hawaiian, are a most unusual coral in the respect that they live solitary lives.  They have a little foot on the underside allowing them to travel short distances while young, the foot then breaking away.  These dense corals have a central mouth which is visible to the human eye.  Their feeding tentacles glow a beautiful green color, which they get from zooxanthellae algae that lives symbiotically inside the mushroom cells.  This algae generates energy rich nutrients for the coral and produce a protein that gives the tentacles that beautiful florescent green color.  These solitary corals are known to the science world as Fungia Scutaria.

Spawning is done on a lunar cycle.  It is very interesting to note that the moon cycles control a great deal on our blue planet.  Researchers know that spawning occurs 1 - 4 days after a full moon beginning in late June and continues through early October.  During the other months nothing happens.  The research further shows that an individual can produce sperm one season and eggs the next.  David Krupp, a professor working on O`ahu has studied these animals for many years.  He tells us that these corals, and undoubtedly others, will not be successful in spawning if water temperatures rise too high.  For the fungia, that temperature limit is 28C.  But these creative little corals can also propagate in a different way.  They can bud.  That is, grow another animal from the parent one, creating a complete mushroom coral that will break off and go on its own!  Nature never ceases to amaze.

The ancient Hawaiians valued these corals and used the skeletons to scrape off boar bristles, and many woodworking tasks.  They even mention the coral polyp in their ancient chant of creation called Kumulipo.

Snorkeling in Hawaii is a wondrous experience and one not to be missed.  Mushroom corals are everywhere and spawning events this year are still possible to witness.  Whether you are a good swimmer or not doesn’t matter.  Everyone floats in salt water, and floating is all you need to do.

Gobies With Shrimp Photo Courtesy Jan Derk/Snapping (Pistol) Shrimp Photo Courtesy Scubadiving.com

They operate their ‘gun hand’ just like they’re holding one, and that is how they became called pistol shrimp.  To scientists they are snapping shrimp, or Alpheus heterochaelis.  The way these ambush predators operate is nothing short of amazing.  Watch this little video to better understand how they do this.

These small animals have very poor eyesight, say the researchers.  Gobies will live with them outside their burrow.  If predators come near, the gobies will sound the alarm before scurrying to hide.  This lets the shrimp know to not come out for awhile.  Years ago scientists studying these cute little finger-size shrimp finally were able to figure out the source of the loud bang and the method of stunning prey works.  The team revealed the shrimp compresses a bubble in its ‘boxing glove’ arm.  The bubble emits not only a sound, but the team was startled to discover it also emits a flash of light, which they further learned has a core temperature hotter than the sun!

This little shrimp prowls all shallow water tropical sea floors in search of food.  One of their favorite foods is cleaner shrimp (mentioned in a past posting) but they also eat crabs.  The shrimp are dark green in color and have two claws, one is much larger than the other.  When their claw snaps shut a jet of water shoots out at 62 miles per hour, generating a low pressure bubble in its wake.  The bubble collapses with a loud bang when the pressure stabilizes.  The research team found out, through recording this process with high speed cameras,  time involved is only 300 microseconds.  They explain the flashing phenomenon as similar to sonoluminescence, i.e. bubbles that are in liquid driven by a strong sound field emit light.  They nicknamed this shrimp weapon use “shrimpoluminescence”.

Will the snorkeler in Hawaii see this animal?  Probably not, but you will most definitely hear them using their technique.  The ocean is a noisy place with marine mammal communications, fish conversations, and the ‘frying bacon’ sound of the snapping shrimp working hard to collect a meal.

Photo Courtesy G. Zsilavecz, Fishbase.org

Of all the sharks that travel in Hawaiian waters, the white shark is probably the most feared, yet most compelling to watch.  The ancient Hawaiians called this shark niuhi.  According to Mary Pukui, any Hawaiian shark longer than 3.5 meters was probably known as niuhi, or ‘man eater’.  Catching a niuhi was a game played only by chiefs, as it was a very dangerous sport and there were special techniques that were used. Eating the meat from a niuhi was forbidden to women.

As a naturalist and working on the water in Hawaii for well over a decade, I have seen the white shark from a boat only once.  It was a small shark (under 10 feet), and was very close to shore.  It appeared to be patrolling near a new mother humpback resting with her calf.  We stayed in the area as long as we could.  Eventually the shark moved away and dove deeper and we did not see it again.  It was a breathtaking experience and one I will never forget.  Others have seen white sharks in Hawaii as well.  Click HERE for a video clip.  Fishermen, recreational boaters, commercial boat captains and crew, and a few lucky visitors, all when telling their story were very excited to do so.  White sharks in Hawaii are a very rare occurrence, but may be seen with more frequency.  Why?  They are hunted and fished by many around the world, but are also protected from fishing in a few countries.  Some researchers speculate the numbers could be on the increase, which is a very good thing if this is true.

Seeing a great white in Hawaii is highly unlikely.  We can only hope that may change in our lifetime.  If you are planning on a trip to Hawaii, please plan on taking a boating trip.  We never know how very fabulous your outing may be and what spectacular memories await you.

Photo Courtesy J. Postberg,/Map Courtesy Fishbase.org

In ancient Hawaii sharks were hunted and eaten, although many families thought of the shark as `aumâkua (family god).  In those times, family gods were chosen and could take the form of any animal, plant, or mineral.  It is said that the family god could be instantly recognized by a family member no matter what form was chosen.

Whale sharks are usually found near the surface when they feed.  They prefer zooplankton (larval forms of many types of animal life), and are also seen feeding vertically on schools of sardines, anchovies, mackerel, juvenile tuna and albacore, and they have been seen taking in small crustaceans and squid.  When they are actively feeding on zooplankton, they will raise partway out of the water and move their heads from side to side, opening and closing their mouths 7 to 28 times per minute, using suction to pull in their food.  The suction movements are synchronized with the opening and closing of their gill slits.  That must be a sight to behold!  Although these sharks have been known to exceed 40 feet in length, seeing one longer than 35 is a rarity.  According to Fishbase researchers, these sharks can deliver to up 300 pups each litter, but how many survive is unknown, and to date the mating between whale sharks has not been documented.

Several snorkeling companies have been fortunate enough to catch sight of a whale shark outside of Molokini while cruising with many excited visitors. Click here to see a video on such an encounter and turn up the volume!

The above map shows in red the areas where whale sharks live, and the yellow areas are where they could potentially be found.  In Hawaii, whale sharks are frequently seen, a treat that excites young and old.

Today, sharks are being hunted almost to extinction.  According to researchers, the global populations have declined by 90%!  Latest research shows the basking shark in the Pacific Ocean may be critically endangered, or even extinct. Whale sharks are sought out for their fins, which can command $10,000 from a large shark and is used by Asian communities for soup.  We must all do our part to ensure these majestic animals stay on the planet for future generations.  (http://www.savingsharks.com)

If you are coming to Hawaii, please make sure you can spend time on the water, as well as in it.  There may be a HUGE, fun surprise waiting for you!

Peacock Razorfish Juvenile/Adult ~ Photos Courtesy Dr. Jack Randall

Sharp forehead!  That’s what the ancient Hawaiians called this fish.  The Hawaiian name is laenihi, and most likely this was an important food source for all.   This fish was eaten raw, salted and dried, and, according to research, also eaten wrapped in taro and steamed.

The Peacock Razorfish is seen from the Indo-Pacific, Red Sea, E. Africa, North to Southern Japan and Hawaii, and south to Lord Howe Island, according to Dr. Randall.  They are also known in the Gulf of California to Panama and around the Galapagos Islands.  The juveniles will mimic dead, floating leaves with their first dorsal spine forming a long filament that will shorten with age.  They usually have five light bars as adults and the belly of the female will turn red.  These fish, a part of the wrasse family, are usually solitary and prefer shallow waters (adults less than 20 meters, juveniles in shallow lagoons, harbors and sea weed areas with gravel bottoms).  They dine on hard shelled invertebrates, including mollusks and crustaceans like crabs.  Their meat is very white and I am told by local fishermen, very tasty.

As a snorkeler and diver, I have seen these beautiful fish many times, but they are skittish, diving into the sandy bottoms when the approach gets too close for their comfort.  When you come to Maui, snorkeling in Hawaiian waters is like no other place on earth.  Ocean marine life here is really amazing and diverse.  Grab your gear and let’s go!

Photo Courtesy Dr. Jack Randall/K.S.Boyle, Fishbase.org

The Hawaiian name `alo’i lo’i means ‘one with little to say‘.  This is very amusing since these little fish do make communicative sounds that snorkelers can listen to.  It is almost like a purrrup, purrrrup.  Researchers say the sounds are to tell the school of approaching danger.  Research could not produce any information on whether or not this was an important food source for the ancient Hawaiians.  

These fish are really small growing to a mere 5 inches in length.  The young will hide in branching corals until they are large enough to safely venture out to deeper waters and hang with the adults.  While in juvenile state, and even really new, these fish are seen hiding in sea anemones.  They do not feel the sting of the tentacles as they have the capability of using the anemone mucus to coat their own skins, thereby protecting themselves.  Although not endemic, the damselfish are seen throughout the Hawaiian Islands and down in Johnston Island reefs.  Their favorite foods include zooplankton animals such as mysids, crab and shrimp larvae, copepods and algae.  Sounds like a very balanced diet.   If you are planning on a trip to Hawaii, please try to save time for a snorkel trip.  These cute fish are quite easy to photograph providing one doesn’t try to get too close.  If you hold very still while hovering over their reef you may even hear the cute warning calls of the Hawaiian Damselfish!  PURRRRUP!