Sea temperatures and conditions for snorkeling end of Feb

We are keen snorkelers who are visiting Big Island for the first time next Feb/March, thinking of staying at the Outrigger on Kahaluu Beach. Does anyone know what the sea conditions are likely to be at that time? Also, can anyone recommend a good snorkel tour?

Thanks. Pam W

Sea temperatures and conditions for snorkeling end of Feb

I don%26#39;t want to discourage you, but honestly that period of time can be the worst ocean conditions of the whole year for snorkeling from shore, especially northwest facing shores can get big swells.

The free snorkeling will be very much a matter of lucky timing; it can%26#39;t be predicted until very shortly beforehand when the swells and storms will hit. You might hit a calm patch too.

Snorkel tours going south find calmer waters.

There are lots of recommendations and reviews of the various snorkel tours here. You might say what you like in a tour, and also check the reviews under Things to Do for one that sounds like your style.

Our weather on the Kona coast is generally wonderful that time of year; it is the ocean that%26#39;s kicked up ... very good for beach time but lots of surge and chop.

Sea temperatures and conditions for snorkeling end of Feb

KK is right. If you could come at the end of January conditions could be better. That%26#39;s when we come. Even then, ther can be 3-5 day periods of surf/swell that keep us from shore snorkeling. Boat trips can usually find a calmer spot--there are 2 issues with swell: (1) getting in and out safely; boats fix that by staying outside the surfline and (2) water clarity from stirred up sand. So the sandy beaches that are easiest to get in and out have the worst clarity compared to lava ledges like Two Step (hardest to enter/exit).

I personally (avid and very experienced) fins that our summer (July-October) trips are the ones when we get in plentiful shore snorkeling because the water is often calm like glass. In January, there are only a few places in all of Kona and Kohala with safe entry/exit and clear water from shore.

See the Snorkeling page for some idea of the available boat trips.

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g29217-c7522/Island-O…

Here is a link to average ocean temps throughout the year:

www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/hawaii.html

Aloha, Kahalu%26#39;u Beach Park is always a good spot to snorkel year round and it is a rare day it closes due to sea conditions because it is protected..

Dolphin Discoveries (AM trip: Kealakekua Bay and Pu%26#39;uhonau o Honaunau aka Place of Refuge) www.dolphindiscovery.com

Seaquest

http://www.seaquesthawaii.com/

Sea Paradise (Kealekekua Bay) http://www.seaparadise.com/

Hula Kai (2 sites south of Kealakekua) www.fair-wind.com

Fairwinds (Kealakekua)www.fair-wind.com

from experience.. Feb/ will be about 73 and March will be 74. These are open ocean temps. In Kahalulu bay because of the very shallow water 2 to 5 ft, then temp will be up to 5 degrees warmer,

It will not be warmer than 80.

I wear a wet suit top 1/8 inch t-shirt type all year long .

The sea is in a period of south swells at that time. But the Kahalulu bay ( lagoon) is protected by a breakwater which keeps it pretty flat. ( know your tides and go 2 hours prior to high tides peak.

several bays will be stripped of sand that time of year...

Weather wise this is the dry time in Kona... day temps about 84 night time 73. Low humidity 60%

Each day Reef teach has reef teachers 10 to 1 to help visitors learn about the bay , its coral and turtles. Stop there before snorkeling...

Best tours are fron Keauhou bay in the morning

Sea Quest and dolphin discoveries being the best

tours...groups of 6 to 12 max. takes you to the 2 best sites in the state....you cant get to without a boat....

search this site for ';reef teach'; and the video.

Cheers

If you are keen snorkelers who can handle a bit of rough surface, then you should be fine at Kahalu%26#39;u. I am one of those keen on snorkeling if the water is clear and glassy. If it%26#39;s not pretty calm, I don%26#39;t like it, and I don%26#39;t like having waves break over my snorkel.

From that standpoint, Kahalu%26#39;u in winter is rougher than what I like. To you it may be just fine. I guess it depends on whether you%26#39;re used to snorkeling in lagoon-type settings or in the open ocean. (I like lagoons!)

I have done Kahalu%26#39;u 100%26#39;s of times and it is never rough.. it is so well protected.. you really need a big southern swell to give that place some waves it really is a very calm and reliable place to snorkel year round and the folks at Reef Tech do a super job... I will bump up the link for you.

Many thanks for all your replies. Pity we can%26#39;t change our dates to get more favourable conditions for snorkeling from the beach - we shall just have to keep our fingers crossed. We%26#39;re also going across to Hilo for a few days. Is the sea any good there for snorkeling and swimming? At least it sounds nice and warm - rather more so than the English Channel or North Sea!!!

Unfortunately there is very little in the way of snorkeling on the Hilo side of the island. Down in the Kapoho area there are some tide pools that have decent snorkeling. However, if snorkeling is high on your list, a boat tour as suggested above is your best bet.

Good luck and happy travels!

snorkeling on the Hilo side is rough, mirky and poor.. it is the exact oppsite of the Kona side.

Kahalu%26#39;u is always calm in the mid tidal range..when the tide is not over the breakwater. I see it 365 days a year....It only gets rough a rare times...and even then is pretty calm

Id suggest the Thames as a good comparison for Hilo snorkel or the Mersy