A way to spend a sunny morning

Lots of people had told us that we should try snorkeling in Hanauma Bay.


Most everything in the water in that picture that looks like rock is actually coral, and we'd heard there were all kinds of colorful fish swimming nearby.

So, there was just one thing to do.

Turn into Super Snorkel Woman!

And it's true, it's a wonderful place to snorkel, especially for beginners. They rent out masks and snorkels and flippers there, and if you're not used to wearing all that (which I wasn't) you're not alone -- lots of people there are probably snorkeling for the first time.

We didn't have an underwater camera, but really that was just as well. What with breathing with that very well-loved (and therefore not super-airtight) rental snorkel in my mouth, and keeping my body from touching the coral, I don't think I'd've been up for taking pictures.

But the fish were all different colors and shapes, and they were everywhere! Tom also spotted an eel sticking his head out of one of the holes. The coral was so full of life, it was amazing what you could see even just a few feet away from shore.

It's definitely something to do in the morning, when not enough people have come yet to really kick up the sand.

Plus, the water isn't quite cold, but -- what with it being winter there now and all (snort) -- it's not exactly bath water either, so eventually we both got pretty chilled and retreated.

Lying on a beach blanket in the sun never felt so good!

It was really, really beautiful. I recommend it.