|
|
Kalapaki
Beach 
 |
| Nice protected
beach in front of the Marriot Hotel, good surf
for both beginners and experienced. Snorkeling
is considered so-so but figuring in the protected
harbor makes it one of the most popular snorkeling
beaches on Kaua'i. Clean bathrooms and
lots of sand to get sun and some shade.
Parking is limited so get there early. |
| Take Rice Street from
Lihue to Nawiliwili Park, enter from the park.
|
|
|
|
|
| Brennecke's
Beach
|
| Since the 1992
Hurricane volunteers have repaired this beach
for use by surfers and boogie board enthusiasts
(you can rent one across the street). Very small
strip of sand for beach people, but it is right
next to Poipu Beach Park where there are nice
facilities. |
| On Hoone Road immediately east
of Poipu Beach Park. |
|
|
|
|
| Poipu Beach
Park
( 3 - 12 feet) |
| Named America's
best beach by "Dr. Beach".
Lifeguards, bathrooms, showers, lots of grassy
area, restrooms and playground. Has a sheltered
cove that is fairly shallow, you can see a monk
seal on a regular basis on the east end of the
beach.(Don't mess with them - they are protected
on Kauai) Best snorkeling is on the left side. |
| On Hoone Road immediately west
of Brennecke's Beach. |
|
|
|
|
| Koloa
Landing Beach
(5 - 50 feet novice & intermediate) |
| Excellent for advanced
snorkeling, used for scuba certification - best
shore diving on the South Shore. Lots of marine
life including turtles, eels and large schools
of fish. Avoid the center middle of the bay,
best diving is on the south side. Not a beach
for sunbathing or walking. No facilities. |
| From Poipu Beach go west on Poipu
Road to Lawa'i Road. Turn left on Hoonani. |
|
|
|
|
| Shipwreck
Beach |
| The waters here
are basically for walking, wading and sunbathing.
It is recommended for advanced surfers and windsurfers
only. |
| Use the public access road between
the Hyatt Regency and the Poipu Bay Resort Golf
Course (parking is not regulated at the hotel
and is very convenient) use good sense in getting
to the beach! |
|
|
|
|
| Beach
House or Lawa'i Beach
( 3 - 12 feet) |
| Excellent spot
for snorkeling, you'll see coral formations,
turtles, lots of small reef fish and if you're
lucky a monk seal. Bathrooms, showers and phone
are available. |
| Form Poipu Beach go west on Poipu
Road to Lawa'i Road. |
|
|
|
|
| Spouting
Horn |
| This
is not really a place to go swimming, but it
is a fun sight. There are two blow holes, on
spouts water and the other blows air to make
a moaning sound. Legends say that is made by
a giant lizard (a mo'o) that guarded the shoreline
here. A fisherman threw a spear into it's mouth
and was chased into a nearby lava tube. The
fisherman escaped but the mo'o was stuck in
the tube, the it makes the cries you hear. At
one time there was a spout that shot water 200
ft into the air ("old Faithful" in
comparison shots only 60 ft!). Unfortunately
progress took a hand in its destruction when
the manager of a sugar cane field nearby thought
it was damaging the fields and had it blasted
apart. |
|
Look for the signs on the Lawa'i road.
|
|
|
Offshore
Snorkel & Scuba Sites
|
| Brennecke's Ledges or Drop-Off
Advanced |
| Location: Makahuena Point just east of Poipu |
| Depth: 60 - 90 feet (18 - 27 metres) |
| Most notable feature is
the wall that drops 90 feet, the top of the wall is
a lava shelf of white and pink coral. You can sometimes
find large Triton's trumpet shells, pincushion sea
stars, and small hermit crabs here. Along the wall
look for the black coral trees, endemic banded angelfish,
orange cup coral, orange-banded cowry, lobsters, reef
crabs, squirrelfish, green turtles and white tip sharks.
Beware of the strong currents. |
|
|
|
| Nukumoki Point or TortOugas
Beginners & Intermediate |
| Location: Just west of Poipu Beach |
| Depth: 30 - 60 feet (8 - 18 metres) |
| Home for many Hawaiian green turtles,
it is shallow enough for beginners but interesting
enough for them more experienced diver as well. |
|
|
|
| Ice Box
Intermediate |
| Location: Off Poipu Beach between Sheraton Caverns
and Brennecke's Ledges |
| Depth: 65 - 85 feet (11 - 24 metres) |
| Abundance of marine life to be found
in the three fingered reef including white tip sharks,
lobsters and large schools of fish. |
|
|
|
| Sheraton Caves or The Circus
Beginners & Intermediate |
| Location: Off Poipu Beach |
| Depth: 35 - 65 feet (11 - 20 metres) |
| Most popular and recommended dives
on Kaua'i. Conveniently located and relatively protected
from waves. You will find an underwater photography
heaven, inside and outside of the three large lava
tubes that run perpendicular to the shore are a variety
of eels, lobsters, reef crabs, crabs, shrimp, ble-striped
smappers, cowries, lionfish, sea turtles, Spanish
dancers and turkeyfish. |
|
|
|
| General Store
Intermediate |
| Location: West of Kukuiula Bay |
| Depth: 50 - 80 feet (15 - 24 metres) |
| Named for its appeal to
everyone, noted for its wide variety of marine life
and the scattered remains of the steamship Pele.
Keep an eye out for black coral trees along
the wall, and the three large lava caves. Among the
marine life you sill also see ghost shrimp, Hawaiian
pipefish,longnose hawfish, lemon butterfly fish, blue
stripe snapper, sea turtles and whitetip reef sharks. |
|
Back to top
|
|
