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Snorkeling at Captain
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Kayak Guide
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Snorkeling | Snorkeling Tips
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Diving Tips
Snorkel at Captain
Cook
 If
you are arriving by kayak, try to beach your kayak on shore. Then leave it
there as you snorkel in the shallow waters. If this is not possible, you
can simply hold the towline of the kayak in your hand as you snorkel. The
kayak should provide very little
 resistance.
There is a small inlet just south of the monument that is a perfect place to
beach the kayak. Make sure you pull your kayak far enough out of the water
so that it does not drift away with the tide.
For more
information on how to kayak, check out our detailed
Big Island Kayak Tips.
courtesy of google maps
  You
can see from the map above that the areas north of the monument are the
shallowest. Just south of the monument is a shallow snorkeling
area and continuing south beyond that, towards the mouth of the bay, is
a steeper drop off and much deeper water.
Once in the water, turn north towards the monument. The best
snorkeling is in the shallow waters in front of and east of the
monument. These Hawaiian waters are crystal clear with 100 ft.
visibility. You will see lots of colorful fish. Keep an eye
out for sea turtles as well. Immediately in front of the
monument the coral reef forms a large shelf, extending out in no more
than 15 feet of water. As you continue snorkeling to the north,
the water continues to get more shallow. If you are new to
snorkeling, check out our Snorkel Tips
page with special information about snorkeling on the Big Island.
 If
you are SCUBA diving, you can do a deep dive following the reef to a
drop off of more than 100 feet, or you can follow the coral reef and
return over the top of it. You will see an abundance of thriving
coral and beautiful tropical fish. There is usually more sea life
and large schools of fish on top of the reef than down below the
drop-off. Normal sightings include, turtles, crowns-of-thorn,
large parrot fish, and moray eels. Check out our
Kealakekua SCUBA Diving page for map and more information.
Next
page: SCUBA Diving Captain Cook.
More Captain Cook Articles
Kayak to Captain Cook
The best way to access the Captain Cook Monument and the sea life of the marine sanctuary is by kayak.
Snorkeling
Captain Cook
Read our Capt. Cook snorkel guide with maps and photos
SCUBA
Diving Captain Cook
Read our Capt. Cook SCUBA diving guide with maps and photos
Kayak Tips and Advice
Hot-to-kayak information, safety tips, gear guide
Hawaii Kayak Guide
Guide to kayaking on the Big Island, kayak snorkeling, sea caves
Snorkeling Tours of the Big Island
 We
offer a variety of guided snorkel tours for all ages and abilities.
Designed for beginners and adventurers alike, you’ll paddle along
the scenic Kohala Coast and enjoy excellent snorkeling in warm,
clear Hawaiian waters. Discover the Big Islands most remote
snorkeling spots along the pristine Kohala Coast, Pawai Bay,
Kealakekua Bay, and more. Check out our large sail and snorkel
tours and our exciting zodiac tours for smaller groups.
Fair Winds Snorkel Cruise to Kealakekua
The award-winning Fair Wind Cruises has been providing exclusive Hawaii
snorkeling excursions to Kealakekua Bay for 31 years. Everything
you'll need for snorkeling is provided: masks, snorkels, fins, etc. The
friendly crew of the Fair Wind II will cater to your every need. The
spacious boat offers plenty of room for relaxing in the sun or shade,
and the water slide is sure to please the kids and kids at heart!
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