Product Description

Snorkel Hawaii: The Big Island was the first guidebook exclusively devoted to snorkeling on The Big Island of Hawaii. In this 50% longer expanded second edition, even more sites and maps are included, plus updated tips and excursions. From a colorful cover to 54 site descriptions and 38 detailed maps of snorkeling sites, it draws you into the fascinating underwater world that shouldn't be missed by anyone touring the Big Island.

As Dave Barry says: "When you finally see what goes on underwater, you realize that you've been missing the whole point of the ocean--it's like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent."

It is the original in a series of guidebooks that provide more detailed snorkeling information than ever before available for each of the Hawaiian islands in an attractive, easy to carry package. Snorkel Maui and Lanai, and Snorkel Kauai, also available from Amazon.com, provides the same detailed coverage of these beautiful islands.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #319621 in Books
• Published on: 2002-10-17
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Greg Ambrose, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, December 15, 1997
...a series of exceptional guidebooks to the best snorkeling sites in Hawaii...They have achieved a rare balance...

Honolulu Star-Bulletin Greg Ambrose December 15, 1997
Funny thing about Judy and Mel Malinowski. They live in Northern California, and are certified scuba divers who have traveled to more than 50 countries around the planet. Yet they prefer the freedom of snorkeling, and they keep coming back to Hawaii. The result of their love affair with Hawaii is a series of exceptional guidebooks to the best snorkeling sites in Hawaii. With simple prose that is eloquent with aloha, their books are extended love letters to Hawaii's best reefs. The authors preach respect for moana and aina, and gush over the more extravagant snorkeling sites while warning of problems. Detailed and accurate maps and charts can put even a hopeless twit in the right spot for a delightful diving adventure, and the text leaves readers with a sense of history, Hawaiian culture, geography, oceanography and aloha. They have achieved a rare balance in presenting essential elementary information to help beginners, and insightful revelations to keep experts interested. Their series includes books about the Big Island and Maui/Lanai, but the Malinowskis are happily plunging into field research to cover the rest of the islands.

From the Author
An active vacation is memorable for adventure as well as relaxation. Hassles and missteps finding out where to go can raise your blood pressure, and waste your time. Our research will help you quickly locate appropriate sites that fit your interests and abilities, saving your valuable vacation hours.

Snorkeling sites in Hawaii are trickier than some calmer parts of the world, so it's best to get good advice before heading out. Everyone's had their share of unpleasant experiences due to vague directions, as well as outdated or inaccurate information. We have created the Snorkel Hawaii series as that savvy snorkeling buddy everyone needs. We hope you'll enjoy the personal stories we've included; see About the Authors on page 126 if you want to know a little more about us.

We have personally snorkeled all the major sites listed. Few of these sites are well-marked. The challenge lies in knowing how to find them quickly, as well as how to enter and exit, and where to snorkel, so you'll have a safe and rewarding experience. Our detailed maps and instructions will ease the uncertainty, saving you time and effort.

The Big Island offers some of the clearest water and finest snorkeling sites in all of the Hawaiian Islands. Less developed than the more crowded islands of Maui and Oahu, it retains much of the Aloha spirit even today. Most residents of the Big Island are friendly, relaxed and willing to talk and share their love of this remarkable place. Try to visit it at least once in your life, and by all means don't miss the underwater world. Aloha!

Customer Reviews

Good, but...
Good info, but some of the information is outdated. As one example, one hotel is marked as the Kona Hilton, but it has not been a Hilton property since about 1994. The book contains some very basic how-to snorkeling information as well as descriptions of access areas.

Exceptional Guide
We've used this guide over the past several years and have found it to be exceptionally comprehensive. The book includes general information about diving the big island and then proceeds to give detailed descriptions of the various beaches around the island. We've yet to discover a beach that is not documented in this book.

The descriptions for of each beach include driving directions, parking information, and beach conditions. Whether you snorkel, dive, or just paly int he surf, this book will be helpful. As an experienced diver I enjoy the information about diving conditions, surge, clarity, and species that may be encountered at each site. Many of the beaches are known by several names. This guide includes local names as well as official state names.

Whether you plan to snorkel, scuba dive from shore, or just explore some new beaches, this guide is indespensible. This book combined with "Big Island Revealed" and "Hawaii's Fishes : A Guide for Snorkelers, Divers, and Aquarists" by John Hoover and you'll be fully set for any ocean adventures.

Excellent information!
This book was great for precise and concise information about where to snorkel on the Big Island. We used it daily to decide where we would go. It also gave information about where it was safe to take our 2 young and inexperienced snorkelers as well as where to park, the easiest place for entry, and which direction to head once you are in the water. I highly recommend this book.