Olowalu Snorkel Cruise on the Gemini

One of the best parts of living on the island is able to treating your family like kings and queens when they come out to visit.  A friend of mine helped me got us on board the Gemini, a catamaran that specializes in whale watches and snorkel cruises, and we got the royal treatment today on our snorkel cruise to hot spot Olowalu.

{Hana, Mom and Dad}

The crew of the Gemini scooped us up along with 16 other guests from the shoreline at Ka'anapali and whisked us away towards our snorkel destination: Olowalu.  Olowalu is a well-known snorkel spot on Maui.  The offshore reef is one of the largest on Maui, and it's relatively shallow, making it a great snorkel spot with entry from land and sea.

{panoramic of the west side of the island}

{Hana and Mom catching some rays}

{Dad}

{throwing double shakas from the bow}

{can't get enough of the gorgeous West Maui Mountains}

{Hana}

{the Beatys watching for whales from the trampolines}

{thar she blows!}

On our way to Olowalu, we scared up quite a few schools of Flying Fish.  They flicked up out of the ocean and glided across the water in scattered directions.  We also spotted Humpback Whales all around us--most of them were far off in the distance, but we all got a kick watching them blow and breach.  We were lucky enough to encounter a pair of juveniles off the bow.  This is definitely the closest I've gotten to whales so far this season.  It's a good sign!

{Wilson is the mascot on the Gemini}

{Dad was first on the boat, and he was first in line to get in the water and snorkel}

Olowalu is a spot that I've snorkeled at often, but this is the first time that I've accessed it by boat, and it was a treat to jump into deeper waters.  The Gemini moored over a turtle cleaning station, a designated spot among the turtles for some rest and relaxation where friendly fish friends swing by to help nibble some of the algae that have started growing on the turtle shells.

{diving in looking for honus or turtles}

{Honu!}

{Hana}

{turtle cleaning station--those are a pair of turtle flippers at the top of the photo...he was on his way out}

{at the carwash...erm, turtle wash!}

{Dad meets honu}

After our snorkel, the Gemini crew served lunch: fried rice, teriyaki chicken and fresh fish.  We drank some cocktails on our sail back and continue to look for whales.  As we were rounding back towards Ka'anapali, a small pod of spinner dolphins raced towards us and torpedoed under our boat as they raced back to Lanai from Maui.

Dad said our trip today was like seeing the Big 5 in Africa.  We got the ultimate ocean safari with the Gemini: whales, dolphins, turtles, and flying fish!  We were so lucky to have been hosted by such a gracious and knowledgeable crew.  Definitely a day for the books.