Dolphin and Turtle Snorkeling in Hawai'i: Everything You Need to Know
Hawai’i is full of activities and adventures, being a collection of six major islands (Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Maui, and the island of Hawaiʻi/Big Island) with a rich Polynesian culture! I had the privilege of visiting O’ahu, home to the capital city of Honolulu, and snorkeling with the incredible Indigo Ocean Hawaii.
The day started at 5:30 in the morning when they picked me up from my hotel. I was staying at Waikiki Beach, so it was about a 1.5-hour drive to the west side of the island. It was early, but at least I got to see the sunrise. Plus, it was a half-day tour, so I was back by 2 PM and had time for a nap.
We hopped onto the boat, got settled, and began the ride out into the deep ocean. On our way, we saw spinner dolphins. Since they are a protected species, we couldn’t swim with them and had to appreciate their beauty from the boat. Also, please remember sunscreen and water because you will be baking in the sun. I got so tan from this one day!
Once we were out far enough in the water, the fun began! The crew was friendly and personable, but they did shout instructions when it was time to get into the water so we could see the bottlenose dolphins before they swam away. It was hectic but totally worth it!
The water in Hawai’i is crystal clear, making it easy to spot dolphins swimming near us. Sometimes, they were deep beneath us, and I could still see them clearly. It’s mind-blowing to think about how deep and vast the ocean is. Humans have barely scratched the surface of what lies beneath.
It was incredibly refreshing to swim in the ocean! It's been a while since I swam, and I forgot how at home I feel in the water.
After a few dives to catch sight of the dolphins, we head to Turtle Beach, which is incredibly relaxing and laid-back. There's no rush to get into the water; you can leisurely spend time here since the turtles and fish aren't going anywhere.
The best part of snorkeling was having a professional photographer from the tour company capture all these amazing shots for an additional fee!
