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Snorkeling at Captain Cook

Kayak Guide | Snorkeling | Snorkeling Tips | SCUBA Diving | Diving Tips

Permits Required to Beach Kayaks on Shore or at Captain Cook
As of 2/23/2010, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is requiring permits for anyone seeking to land vessels (kayaks) along the Ka‘awaloa shoreline or moor at the wharf adjacent to the Captain Cook Monument in Kealakekua bay.  Find out details on how to apply for the permit in our Captain Cook Kayak Permit blog post.  Download the Permit Application online here.  For more information, contact the State Parks office in Hilo at (808) 974-6200.

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

	View of the colorful coral reef underwater			Yellow Trumpet Fish hovering above the coral reef
	Crystal-clear waters at Capt Cook offer 80-100' of visibility			People snorkeling in the shallow waters near the monument

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.

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