Snorkeling for First-time Fish Watchers
If you’re new to snorkeling, you’ll no doubt be amazed and impressed with the sights you’ll see off the Hawai’i coast.First: Hit a place such as Snorkel Bob’s for equipment, maps, and a fish card, for identifying the scaly creatures that await. (Or just look and appreciate.) Wear your rash guard for protecting your back from the rays while you’re looking below. It’s easy to sunburn unnoticed, since the water can keep you feeling cool, even when you’re burning up.
You might be interested to know that more than 20 percent of Hawaiian reef fishes are found nowhere else in the world. You’re also likely to see plenty of the state fish, the very common humuhumunukunukuapua’a, or trigger fish.
The Trigger fish, named for its defense mechanism of swimming to the nearest hole and erecting its first dorsal when threatened, was used in ancient times as fire fuel. The Hawaiians dried the fish and used the carcases to start fires for cooking more tastier fish.
Wherever you snorkel in the islands, you’re bound to find an eyeful of fish on which to figuratively feast. Enjoy!
Comments Off