wildwahinepaddler

Yesterday my friend Teresa from Oregon “kidnapped” me and took me to Makena for some snorkeling.  Makena is amazing!  This snorkel spot is known as “Dumps” and it’s also a popular surfing spot during south swells.  I was reminded of what a wonderful place this is for snorkeling and just plain relaxing.  There were plenty of Tangs and Hawaiian Damsel fish!  The latter is one of my most favorite fishes to watch.  I also followed two big colorful fish and watched a big beautiful  Parrotfish eating parts off the coral!  It is, hands down, one of the best places to snorkel!  Some of the coral is huge too!  I’ve never been so glad to have been kidnapped……ahhhhh Makena!

Nice!

It was another perfect morning!  Despite Kam 3 being closed yesterday afternoon due to a shark sighting…… Five fearless turtles joined me down at the boat ramp this morning!  First three turtles surfaced in a triangle with me in the middle.  Then two more popped up and one of them was Bumpy!  It was just beautiful and I had the place to myself.  The conditions stayed nice all the way back and for my swim too.  The wind didn’t start blowing until almost 11:00 a.m.  and it was still beautiful!

What a spectacular day!  It was just one of those super perfect mornings when everything was great.  Perfect weather…. Perfect conditions….. Fifteen friendly turtles …… wonderful!  There were so many turtles!  Bumpy was especially friendly, at one point I thought she would climb on my board!   It was such a joy to hang out with these turtles!  I hope tomorrow is just as nice….. I’m getting spoiled…..

Nice!

The day started out windy but it backed off and got perfect.  I paddled to the boat ramp and four turtles surfaced all around me!  I was surrounded!  I sat there enjoying it and taking photos.  One of the turtles was Bumpy!  I’m always happy to see that turtle.  Then the turtle baby started popping up and down!  I’ve been seeing this little one several times here so today it got a name….”Rascal”.  It’s very fast but today I captured a photo of it!  After the five turtles…..I decided to paddle back because I wasn’t  sure about the wind.  Just as I was passing Kam 3…… Another turtle surprised me! Then at Kam 2  I paddled in closer to the rocks and spotted a turtle.  Unfortunately two tourists snorkeling were surrounding it and harassing it!  I hate seeing that.  Oh well.  After I came in the wind started blowing from the north this time.  I could not have timed it more perfectly!  Lucky! But when I went for my swim….. the wind backed off again and I had a great swim.  Lucky again!  I hope I will be this lucky tomorrow…..

After last nights rain….. I wasn’t sure what today would be like but it turned out nicer than I expected!  Some clouds…… wind from the south…… it wasn’t perfect but nice enough.  I paddled against the wind down to the boat ramp.  It was a bit choppy but not too bad.  I only saw one turtle……. Which popped up and took a breath of air but then dove down and disappeared.  The conditions stayed the same as I paddled back but after I came in…… the wind decided to back off!  Better late than never…… But my swim was great!  The water is so warm and clear.  Luckily no run off after the rain mucking things up.  After swimming….. The wind roared in…. this time bringing the white caps with it……still a beautiful day!

Wow wow wow!!!!  It was a spectacular day out on the water today!  It started out being windy but by the time I paddled into Kam 2….. The wind completely backed off and it got absolutely  perfect!  Down at the boat ramp I had eleven turtles all to myself!  I got so many photos!  Bumpy was there too being social today and I sat among all the turtles!  I loved it!  I paddled back in glassy perfect conditions and cruised in near the rocks at Kam 2 and watched a turtle swimming below me.  Then as I paddled in….. A turtle was swimming under me too!  What a great turtle day!  If that wasn’t enough turtles…… I swam with a turtle down to the reef!  It was a medium sized female and she surfaced next to me three times looking right at me…… then she swam just under me down to the rocks.  The wind had started to blow again so the water got choppy so I headed back.  Then I had to swim against the wind all the way back……. It was worth it!  I am loving these turtle days lately!