Snorkeling Adventure

April 28, 2009

Kona, Hawaii, HI

Sadly…I made an error in with my electronically inept lack of abilities and deleted this daily journal entry and therefore lost my entire recollection of this days adventures. So, in brief…

Our tour guides from Hilo met us at the dock in Kona for a fun day of snorkeling. I kindly asked them to take me to, um, Wal-Mart (ugh!) to purchase a new camera. I just couldn’t go the rest of my trip without being able to capture the memories. While there, Bubby insisted on buying SPF 60 sunscreen. It was soooo hot out and while we were loving every minute of it, he was conscientious about NOT getting sunburned. I found a camera to suit my needs and it was even PINK!!! Though still holding hope that our electronics will dry out and come back to life…

It was a beautiful 45 minute drive to a rocky cove that is known on the island for wonderful snorkeling. We arrived at the Honaunau Place of Refuge. The cove was filled with approximately 100 snorkelers and even a couple scuba divers. In preparation for the experience, Bubby used about half a bottle of the sunscreen he just bought (okay, maybe a little exaggeration) as soon as we got out of the car. While I was excited for this adventure, I didn’t sense the same for the kids. Thankfully, a dear friend from AK had loaned me three sets of snorkeling gear that I had packed along for this experience and we had time to “try on” and fit them to our needs. We had to walk barefoot over the HOT rocks to get to the water as to not trip and get hurt with our flippers on. Leave it to me, to bend over to dip my mask in the water in attempt to prevent fog in the goggles by getting them wet only to slip and take a chunk out of my foot. Blood everywhere. Great - good way to attract the sharks!

I was the first one in the water. Then the little one jumped in and finally Bubby. Ken, our tour guide participated in the snorkeling adventure as well while his wife, Mary watched our stuff on the beach and snapped photos for us - which unfortunately I cannot post because the pixels are too small…..

The little girl was very reluctant to put her head in the water with her snorkeling mask on. After much encouragement from me and then Ken saying “just try it once and you won’t ever want to come up” she mustered up enough courage and did it. Then she was off like a fish. It was so amazing! Even swam next to a giant sea turtle - which I know they are gentle, but they still freak me out! Look closely in these photos to see them...

Bubby was having problems with his mask and then the strap on his flipper. He went back to the shore a couple times and then finally was done with it. I don’t think he enjoyed it was much as us girls. But the fish were amazing! All sizes, shapes, and colors! A couple hours went by so fast! And then it was time to head back towards the port, as to not miss our boat.