It was another beautiful day on Maui, with some patchy clouds and a breeze blowing from the northwest.  The ocean was not as glassy as yesterday, but it was enough so that the clouds were being reflected on the surface of the water creating some interesting patterns.  I paddled down to the boat ramp and when I got there, I saw four tourists snorkeling.  Then a kayak appeared on the scene with two tourists onboard.  I wondered if I would see any turtles today because when snorkelers are splashing, yelling to each other, and chasing the turtles…..sometimes they stay near the bottom and do not surface.  I don’t blame them!  I turned back around and paddled more north…within a couple of minutes five turtles surfaced all around me!  I was surrounded and then another turtle joined us.  I had six turtles floating on the surface, swimming next to my board and popping their heads up to look at me!  The next thing I knew, the snorkelers and the kayak started coming in our direction.  I knew what would happen next and it did……all the turtles disappeared!  I could hear the snorkelers saying that the turtles were all on the bottom and they couldn’t get down to them.  Well that’s right, if they get chased,  they retreat to the bottom where they feel safe!  Of course I was annoyed, so I paddled out farther away from the snorkelers and the kayak. Finally,  two more sets of two turtles surfaced and I ended up in the middle of them both!  Then the skies got more overcast and the wind kicked up a notch, so I headed back.  While I was passing Kam III, another turtle surfaced up ahead of me, but when I got to it, the turtle disappeared.  I was glad to get eleven turtles, considering all the commotion!  The wind stayed manageable for my swim and it was still nice at the beach when I left.  Except for the disturbances down at the boat ramp, it was a great day!