New Koloa - Poipu, Kauai Snorkeling Spot

by Ellen
(Sacramento, CA)

We found a new snorkeling spot on Kauai in Koloa/Poipu area. Our recent week on Kauai brought stellar snorkeling options in many different locations. We were staying at a rental house on Lawai Road in Koloa (Poipu), one street away from the ocean, between Baby Beach and Prince Kuhio Park.

One morning we explored a narrow ocean access between 5125 and 5123 Hoona Road, marked with a white pole. We found a narrow, sandy, shallow beach entry, the water was calm, so we went back to the house for our snorkel gear and went in – easy. We swam straight out and slightly to the right, toward the small cove across from Prince Kuhio Park.

Just below the water’s surface was the most brightly colored yellow, turquoise and purple coral I have ever seen on Kauai, and a lot of it! Obviously it’s a spot that is rarely trod. We also saw many sea turtles each day and were entertained by a group of 4 or 5 manta rays flipping around just off shore on two separate days.

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Oct 01, 2012

Sounds Good!
by: Galen & Nicole

Thanks Ellen. That new spot sounds great. Good tip. We will try and check that out the next time we are snorkeling in Kauai. Did you get a picture of those corals?

Oct 01, 2012

Lucky You!
by: Cary Bennett

Jealous!!!! Wow! What a find!

Feb 16, 2013

Thank you!
by: Anonymous

We'll check this out on our trip the first week of March. Thanks for the tip!

Mar 11, 2016

Thanks for the tip!
by: Susan Hopkins

Hi, we just got back from two weeks on Kauai, one week in Hanalei, and one week in Poipu.

We went in at this spot twice. Easy entry, with a nice rock to sit on to put your fins on before slipping into the water. It's a belly crawl for the first 20 feet, and then it drops to 4-5 feet and then 15 feet or so at the point by the Kuhio Shores condo.

We saw at least 2 dozen varieties of fish and some nice coral heads. You will be out there by yourself. Lucked out on my first time out and saw two Brown Moray Eels, a small octopus, and a gunard! Two very large turtles appeared as I was getting ready to go back across the bay. One swam with me the whole distance, keeping an eye on me.

Both times in I ran into a huge school of Sergeant Majors, 200-300, that were accompanied by a smaller school of Orangeband Surgeonfish.

I also went in at the Beach House/Lawa'i Beach. Also nice, but a lot more people in the water.

Mar 13, 2016

Happy You Found It!
by: Ellen

That's great! Such a seldom used spot so still has some bright coral. My husband went in there in September and snorkeled with a ray too. Gotta watch the tide before embarking.

Apr 20, 2017

Simply A Better Entrance For PK's
by: Nicole & Galen

We visited Kauai and tried this spot. It is not really a new spot, but a new, better water entrance for PK's. We found the trail right next to house number 5122.

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