Maui Snorkeling Trips

One of the essentials of any vacation to Hawaii is taking part in a Hawaii snorkeling trip. With several islands and dozens of pristine locations, there is certainly no shortage of premier locales. Before heading off to your next tropical vacation, think about where you would most like to see the sights. The following list highlights the best places for Hawaii snorkeling:

1.) Hanauma Bay, Oahu
2.) Makaha Beach Park, Oahu
3.) Molokini Crater, Hawaii
4.) Kealakekua Bay, Big Island
5.) Ke’e Beach Park, Kauai
6.) Kapalua Beach, Maui

Photo Courtesy K. Velasquez

It is peak humpback whale season and mother/calf groups are everywhere you look.  It is truly amazing to witness the population growth researchers talk about.

The calf in this picture was practicing breaching after mother left the water with a tremendous splashdown.  The calf then breached again and again for about 15 minutes before seeming to tire out.  The pair were quiet for a few minutes with the calf resting on its mother’s head, then breaching behaviors resumed, much to the delight of passengers, crew and captain.

Why do they breach?  Researchers believe breaching has multiple reasons such as sloughing skin, dislodging barnacles, parasites, remoras or cookie cutter sharks.  In the feeding grounds breaching is seen as communications and stunning prey, along with some of the same reasons mentioned above.  Whatever the meaning, breaching is a behavior one never forgets when seeing it up close.  The sound upon landing is a tremendous BOOM, which researchers say can be heard for a great distance, and divers in Hawaii can verify that.

Coming to Hawaii?  People come from all over the world to Hawaii this time of year just for the humpbacks.  Come out with us, we have plenty of room!

Photo Courtesy K. Velasquez

Every day we hear passengers saying their heartfelt wish is to see whales close up.  For the past 19 days straight we have not been disappointed.  Each day behaviors are logged as are proximity of visits and these animals never cease to amaze.  According to researchers, if this population of North Pacific humpbacks continue to grow, it is very possible they could reach pre-whaling numbers in about 50 years.  A world without whales is simply unthinkable.  It was Jacques Cousteau who said “if we cannot save the whales, how can we save ourselves?”.

We love them.  That is a fact.  People have a fascination of ocean animals, and possibly even more so, animals that are enormous.  Whale watching season in Hawaii is nearly half over.  There are literally hundreds of whales in Hawaiian waters this time of year.  Researchers feel that possibly 4000 animals migrate here.  Coming to Hawaii?  Visiting the islands without going on a whale watch tour should be unthinkable!  See you on board.

Photo Courtesy K. Velasquez

Some days are just like that.  You start your marine safari with high expectations but when something really amazing happens it takes time to truly digest the gifts that were given.

By gifts, I’m talking about whale visitation.  This is more than a mugging.  This is when whales come over and actually spend time with a vessel and passengers.  Such was the case today.  Twice, with different groups, whales came over and stayed under and around the boat, and each visitation was nearly a half hour.  Startled passengers and crew ran from side-to-side, taking pictures, which was an easy feat today since these animals were in no hurry.

Why would whales approach and hang around like this?  Researchers aren’t really sure.  But when we are allowed precious moments such as these, why doesn’t really matter.  All that matters is that they give us a tremendous gift of their time.

Are you planning on whale watching in Hawaii?  Please do.  Oh, you might want to grab an extra card for the camera.  You may need it!

Photo courtesy K. Velasquez

When out on a marine safari we always tell our passengers to expect the unexpected.  Many marine animals, besides humpbacks, make their presence known.  We see manta and eagle rays, scalloped, tiger, and great white sharks, flying fish, and many other types of schooling fish, such as scad, dolphins (several species) including false killer, pilot, and melon headed whales.

Who would have thought that during such an excursion a beautiful and very large pirate ship would come cruising by?  We’ve heard rumors that the next Johnny Depp pirate movie is being filmed in Hawaii and production is to start very soon.  We did not expect to see the beautiful vessel up close and personal!

So this goes back to what we like to tell our visitor and resident passengers.  Stay awake, keep that lens cap off, and always expect the unexpected.  Sometimes things that make an appearance will amaze even the most seasoned boater!  See you on the water.

Photo Courtesy K. Velasquez

People come to Hawaii from all over the world to see the beaches, palm trees, feel the warm sun and relax.  They are on vacation.  Humpback whales come to Hawaii to mate, give birth, and fight.  Okay, the researchers don’t call it fighting, they call it competing, but it amounts to nearly the same thing.  The males body slam, ram, chase each other and are quite physical.  Today’s whale watch offered something different and amazing.

After going offshore about 4 miles we were approached by a mother, her calf, and an escort (male whale).  For nearly a half hour they circled the boat.  When the wind pushed us away from them, they followed and circled over and over again.  Every so often the calf would raise it’s head and look over slightly.  We were wondering, who really watches whom?  In my opinion, we were being handed a gift.  One that many first time whale watchers will never forget, and one that we all know was truly special shared moments between whales and people.

What would cause whales to spend time with humans?  Are they curious?  Do they want to communicate?  These questions are asked over and over by visitors, residents, and researchers.  We really do not know why, but after a day such as we had, none of our passengers really cared.  One visitor, with tears in her eyes, said she will be forever changed by today’s events.  I share her thoughts.

Do they want to spend time with us?  I think so.  This mother whale brought her baby over to a boat and circled constantly for a long time.  The escort was merely following her.  We were privileged to hear their every breath and look down at how very large they are.  We were close enough to see the calf was very silvery and light in color compared to its mother.  The male had many fighting scars on his back and even old entanglement scars on the dorsal fin.

What a special place Maui is.  Wherever your travels take you, coming to Maui during whale season should be top of your list.  Come out with us. We’ll save you a place at the railing!

Photo Courtesy K. Velasquez