Surfin' Through Second: snorkeling

Today I thought I would take you to a few of our favorite places to snorkel here on the North Shore. We decided to get up early and head out to Sharks Cove.

It's about a 15 minute drive from our house along Kamehameha Hwy, which follows the coastline.

I didn't think to check the tides to go snorkeling, I only check when I am headed out to surf. It happened to be low tide when we got here:(

Sharks Cove is a mass of volcanic rock that is host to tons of tide pools and underwater caves. It is a protected area and it is teeming with tons of different sea life.

You always see loads of snorkelers and scuba divers.

Since the tide was so low there was not much to see inside the cove, but my daughters did not want to swim in the open water.

So we hiked in and they found a little pool to swim around in. It was perfect for them.

In the water you will find a variety of fish, eels, crabs and other assorted creatures. There are tons more if you swim in the open water, but it is a bit scarier.

Watch your step! This is Wana (vah-nah) Sea Urchin. They are everywhere! I stepped on one once when I first started surfing. The spines are barbed and get stuck in your skin. You have to soak your foot in warm water and vinegar to help dissolve the spines. It eventually comes out in a few weeks.

There wasn't much here so we decided to head out to another spot

Down the street is another favorite spot locally called Three Tables. This is a bit more open, but still protected so there are lots of fish swimming here among the reef.

I have gone out past the tables before and the fish start to get a bit bigger. That's when I usually turn around and swim back, lol!

Parrotfish are common here and so pretty

The fish above is very common here. It is our state fish. It is called a

Humu'humu'nuku'nuku'apua'a. (hoo-moo-hoo-moo-noo-koo-noo-koo-ah-poo-ah-ah)

Hahaha, say that three times. Kids love telling people the name of this fish. It is like knowing how to spell Misississippi!!

Once we came here and there was a monk seal lying on this beach. They are rare and endangered and it is against the law to bother them if they happen to be on an open beach.

Well we were in the water snorkeling and my daughter grabs me and we come up to the surface. The seal had woken up and swam right past her:) She loves telling people that story!

This is really a beautiful spot and I love coming here and laying on the beach just like this monk seal:)

After a bit of snorkeling, my daughters love to climb up these rocks. If you climb up and around the rocks you will see Waimea Bay. But that is another adventure.

After our long day we walk across the street to hit Foodland for a snack. This is our local chain of grocery stores in Hawaii. This is the only grocery store for miles around and very expensive!! It is also the only Starbucks on the North Shore. I can't even fathom the amount of $$$ I have spent here! Luckily I get lots of Starbucks gift cards from my students, since my school is just down the road:)

My daughters grab their favorite snack:

Have you ever had a Musubi? Spam musubi is a local favorite of kids and grown ups. It is a slice of Spam with teriyaki sauce on stickyrice wrapped in seaweed. It's basically like a big piece of Spam Sushi! Spam is very popular in Hawaii and its cheap. Usually under $2 a can. Today the girls decide they want a hot dog musubi. I'm pretty health concious and don't usually let them eat these, but it's a cheap filling snack.