I was fortunate to have a week of travel time in Maui, with a Sunday with no commitments. As fate would have it, the local masters swimmers have a regularly scheduled group ocean swim that departs from the beach next to the resort where we were staying. What a blast! If you can imagine, I'm going from Minnesota in January to the open water of Hawai'i, and it was a beautiful sight.
Several interesting observations: the locals wearing wetsuits (I thought the water was nice), many sea turtles, manta rays, gorgeous coral including arch formations, etc. We did about 3 miles altogether, passing by a clothing-optional beach.
Alas, the locals were disappointed. While we heard many whales, we didn't see any. There are some fantastic photos on a blog from Don, aka dolphin dude. I've highlighted his entry from the day I swam with the group, which includes photos of humans on land and in water, as well as the ray:
www.dolphindude.com/.../disappointment.html
He's got some amazing photos and videos on this site. It would have been great to swim with the whales, but I had a daily commitment that kept me from the beach.
Having flashbacks to the end of June: Waimea Bay, (no surf in the summer), non-snorkel, snorkeling, large sea turtles, no whales or dolphins (brother-in-law Oahu resident was hoping for dolphins, lots of different fish, and black crabs (never seen black ones). This was right after the one mile sprint from Sunset Beach to the Pipeline. If you like open water ocean, do one or more of the North Shore Summer series. 400+ people, all ages and abilities, party atmosphere, great time.
Former Member
The following New York Times article appeared while we were on Maui, this one describing snorkeling:
travel.nytimes.com/.../06Snorkel.html
I agree that there isn't any need to get snorkel gear. Goggles =/- fins are fine. We stayed at a hotel on Maulaka beach- its fabulous, with two easy public access points. Look for the group on Sunday AM around 8:30, meeting on the south side parking lot!
Now I have PMS, post-Maui syndrome. I'm having to crank the caffeine to get my head focused again.
You guys are really getting me pumped up. My wife and I leave for Maui on Thurs.I'm hoping to hook-up with a local masters workout Fri. a.m. in Lahaina.There is one of the nicest 50 meter (free) public pools there in the world. If I miss the organized workouts they have lap swimming every day from 9:30 a.m.to 4:30 p.m. The setting is spectacular.Rich
I read JM's note the night before we left Maui. :( We're on the big island now. Any swim suggestions? I heard the Ironman swim course in Kona is always set up.
Do you know where the Captain Cook monument is? Across the bay (Kealakekua Bay) from it, you can rent a kayak. When my husband and I were there a few years ago we rented a kayak and he kayaked across the bay to the monument while I swam. It's about a mile across. We got a two-seater kayak so that if I had needed to, I could get in.
The only unpleasant aspect was that in the middle of the bay, where the water is deep, I swam through a few clouds of these little bell-shaped jellyfish, about the size of my pinkie fingernail. They stung. It was sort of like swimming through a cloud of mosquitoes. The sting didn't last, though. But if I were going to do it again I'd wear a full-body suit, just to reduce the area they could touch.
Former Member
There is one of the nicest 50 meter (free) public pools there in the world. If I miss the organized workouts they have lap swimming every day from 9:30 a.m.to 4:30 p.m. The setting is spectacular.Rich
Check out the complex in Kihei, it's truly spectacular. There's also a nice LCM pool in Pukalani and an older one in Wailuku. Pukalani, Lahaina and Kihei were all put in when Linda Lingle (now Governor Lingle) was our masters swimming mayor.
Former Member
Here's what we saw today. This was taken at Salt Pond Beach, on the south side of Kauai. Two seals had come ashore to sun themselves.
Do you know where the Captain Cook monument is? Across the bay (Kealakekua Bay) from it, you can rent a kayak. When my husband and I were there a few years ago we rented a kayak and he kayaked across the bay to the monument while I swam. It's about a mile across. We got a two-seater kayak so that if I had needed to, I could get in.
i did that same swim when i was there last october. i had the exact same experience with the little jelly fish stinging me. i didn't know jelly fish were could be that small.
what was kind of crazy is that i was swimming along zoned out and i almost ran into a dolphin. when i looked up there was a whole pack of them out there that day and hey seemed to like to be around people. my husband and friend (who was doing Ironman in a couple of days ) were in a 2-seat kayak so i was committed to swimming both ways. they gave me fresh water a couple of times...boy, i was so glad i was a swimmer that day :)
the IM course from the pier is also a great swim. gosh i'd like to be in hawaii right now. it's raining cats and dogs right now.
OMG!
Tom you were swimming with my good friend Mike! He moved there this past summer from Pittsburgh (He's really smart).
A small world - Glad you enjoyed nature.
