You Must Be Trippin'

Snorkeling USA

January 13 2010 by Mark Deyer

I take great pride in checking items off of my "bucket list" as such lists have come to be called lately. The bucket list, as it is eloquently titled, are a list of things to do before you kick the bucket. It was on a trip to Maui Hawaii that I had an opportunity for my first chance at checking the item "Pacific Ocean Snorkeling" off of my list. What I didn't realize, though, was how hooked I would become on snorkeling.

I'm what you call a "sandal vacationer" when it comes to warm weather vacations. I embrace action and adventure when I'm traveling in locales below 80 degrees, but when I'm in the warm waters of Hawaii or San Diego, I much prefer to trade in my walking shoes for a chance at being a beach bum. That is why I love snorkeling. It provides a chance as a traveler to engage in a slightly scaled sporting adventure like scuba diving without the cost, time commitment, and training. Guided snorkel tours run anywhere from $50-150 dollars and equipment is affordable to own.

While coasts of Australia, beaches of the Caribbean, and pristine waters of Fiji offer amazing snorkeling, the US has many great snorkel locations. The last year has afforded me an opportunity to snorkel many of the great domestic snorkeling destinations of the US. My three favorite were:

Kapalua Bay. Maui, HI - Kapalua is tucked away on the western coastline of Maui. The white sand beaches satisfy beachgoers, but the reefs that line the coast provide excellent snorkeling. The bay gives refuge to local sea turtles and their abundance make it an almost certainty that you will see one when you snorkel in Kapalua. Keep an eye out for the famed Humuhumunukunukuapuaa fish, a local favorite.

La Jolla Cove. San Diego, CA - Don't let La Jolla Cove's proximity to awesome restaurants and shops fool you. It offers some of the clearest water in California. The cove is actually an ecological reserve, so as a snorkeler, you won't have to contend with noisy boaters or kayakers for water space. It also means that the water stays clean and clear for optimum viewing. If you go in the summer months, you have a shot at seeing one of the many Leopard sharks that make the shallow seafloor of La Jolla Cove their home.

Looe Key. Big Pine Key, FL - About 5 miles south of Big Pine Key, Looe Key is an awesome Atlantic Ocean snorkel spot. Looe Key is not actually an island, but more of a reef system that is ecologically protected from most commercial and sport fishing. This means the area is teaming with fish and crustaceans for viewing. If you're a more experienced and adventurous person, you can snorkel and dive around the Adolphus Busch. The Adolphus Busch was a ship that was sunk in 1998 as part of an effort to create an artificial reef. The ship is now full sponges, coral, tropical fish, and several 400 lbs Jewfish that have made it their home.

What are your favorite snorkel destinations?

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