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Snorkeling Kauai

As one of the oldest Hawaiian Islands, Kaua‘i is fringed with beautiful and pristine coral reefs that host countless numbers of beautiful tropical reef fish. While the strong winter waves can make swimming and snorkeling in Kauai a challenge, there are plenty of incredible Kauai snorkeling beaches accessible at various times of the year. All of which can be enjoyed right from shore. Beginning on Kaua‘i’s magnificent North Shore and working our way south, these are some of our favorites. Here are some of the best Kauai Snorkeling.

Kauai Snorkeling: Ke`e Beach

The last beach above Hanalei, the snorkeling at this popular spot can be overlooked due to unsafe conditions in winter time and most visitors coming to enjoy glimpses of the stunning Na Pali Coast (this is the starting point for the world famous Kalalau Trail). In summertime, however, the ocean currents abate and the offshore reef provides exceptional snorkeling along the undersea boulders and plateaus. Avoid the rocky channel to the left (strong currents remain here, year round) and instead enjoy the countless butterfly fish, unicorn fish, goat fish, and green sea turtles that frolic in the center of the swimming area.

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Scuba Diving Kauai

With some of Hawai‘i’s largest and oldest coral reefs, fascinating underwater topography, and abundant (and colorful) marine life, Kaua‘i may be one of the better destinations for scuba diving in Hawai‘i, even if it doesn’t get the same hype as Maui and Big Island. Here you can choose from shore dives to underwater rock gardens and lively reefs, boat dives to hidden gems on Kaua‘i’s southern shore, and even day-trips to the private island marine sanctuary of Ni‘ihau. With multiple dive operators to choose from, Kaua‘i is perfect for those looking to get certified and participate in Kauai scuba diving, beginning divers and veterans alike.

Kauai Scuba Diving Charters

The best way to experience the beautiful waters around Kaua‘i is with a boat charter. Most dive shops offer two daily boat charters (each with 2 dives), with an early morning (~7am) departure and an afternoon trip that tends to cater more to beginning divers and certification courses. Either way, you can count on a beautiful day on the water as you race dolphins to your dive sites. Keep an eye out for whales (in season) frolicking in the deep blue waters, then gear up and explore popular dive sites like Brennecke’s Ledge, Ice Box, Fast Lanes, the General Store, and Sheraton Caverns (dives range from 60-100’). Spend your surface intervals swapping fish stories with other divers and learning about Hawaiians’ cultural ties to the sea and the natural history of the islands from your guides. Once you are back underwater, make sure to pose for the underwater videographers who capture your dive in HD video for viewing back at the dive shop. Top-shelf rental gear from ScubaPro and Mares are included with your charter when you scuba Kauai, as well as dive computers and optional underwater cameras.

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Stand-up Paddleboarding

Kaua‘i is the perfect place to learn what’s up – with Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) that is. Offering some of the same excitement as surfing when you catch a wave, SUP also provides peace and tranquility as you glide effortlessly across the water. Plus, it’s an excellent full-body and core workout, it can be learned in an afternoon, and it is great for ocean enthusiasts of all ages. Enjoy the best of SUP near our Kauai Vacation Rental in Poipu.

All About a Board

Similar to surfboards in construction, SUP boards are thicker and designed to float higher in the water. Ranging from 8-12 feet in length, riders stand atop the board which is designed to be easier to balance thanks to its width and thickness. Utilizing the sport’s iconic curved paddles, riders can easily navigate bays, lagoons, and river mouths. Paddleboard Kaua‘i, one of the best SUP rental shops on the island, prides themselves on matching the rider to the right board size and shape, making it even easier for you to master this fun water sport. They offer daily and weekly SUP rentals at reasonable prices, as well as guided tours. Their helpful guides are also standing by to give you the inside tips on where to explore with your new board.

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Water Sports in Poipu Kauai

Hoku WaterSports Kauai

A trip to Kauai is all about the beach. While staying at our Kauai Vacation Rental, we suggest Hoku Water Sports for all your beach gear rentals. Hoku Water Sports has all the equipment you may need for a fun and relaxing day at the beach, including snorkel gear, surfboards, bodyboards, paddle boards, beach chairs, umbrellas, coolers, and anything else you may need for the perfect beach day. They also rent bikes if you want a fun and easy way to get from your vacation rental to the beach. Their office is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and you can rent their equipment by the hour, day, or week.

Lessons & Canoe Trips

Hoku water sports, Kauai also offers surf and paddleboard lessons, as well as guided outrigger canoe trips. They offer group, semi-private, and private surf lessons for anyone over the age of 5 and under the weight of 225 pounds. Each lesson is led by an experienced instructor and lasts approximately 90 minutes. The first 25 minutes is spent on land learning the proper stance, getting up on your board, and how to catch a wave. Then the students and instructor spend an hour in the water catching some waves. Surf lessons are done off the waters of their shop in a small, protected cove with smaller waves that are perfect for the beginning surfer. Lessons are offered every day at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m., and 2 p.m., and each student is given a surfboard, booties, and a rash guard shirt to use during the lesson.

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Brenneckes Beach Web Cam

Watch Brennecke’s Beach Live.

Brennecke’s Beach -located adjacent to Poipu Beach Park is a very popular boogie boarding and body surfing spot. You can always find a wave at this beach. The small strip of sand is a good spot to watch the waves and occasional rider crash on the shore. This small stretch of beach is popular with the locals and visitors. This is the beach that is across the street from our Poipu Vacation Rental, Manualoha Condo 601. Brennecke’s is a fun spot to have lunch and watch the activity. The small strip of sand is a good spot to watch the waves and occasional rider crash on the shore. This small stretch of beach is popular with the locals and visitors. If your there during the summer, midday when there’s relatively high surf, you are bound to see a group of young local out ripping through Brennecke’s waves on their boogie boards. After they have been there for a while there will eventually be a gutsy visitor thinking, I could do that! And soon he’ll try.

https://v.angelcam.com/iframe?v=24l4o6zny0&autoplay=1

For more information about Water Sports in Kauai, Check out the Articles in our Blog classified as Activities