Snorkeling in South Maui

Today we set out for Po'olenalena Beach to get in some snorkeling.  The beach was practically deserted, just a half-dozen or so other people on a huge, white sandy beach. 

At the southern end of the beach, we swam out about 75 yards or so and came up on a large stretch of lava rock and coral filled with fish.

 

It gave us an excuse to try out our new Aquapac, which is basically a watertight case for our digital cameras made of optically-clear plastic.  Of course, we're still getting used to it, but the first pictures are turning out pretty well.

  

Two years ago when we were in Kauai, we spent the whole time we were there looking for turtles and found only two.  Here, within the first ten minutes in the water, we spotted two different ones.  However, the best pictures are from our second trip out to the same reef:

 

Of course, there was also lots of interesting coral, too:

  

Since the winds really pick up here in the afternoon, we left the beach around noontime to relax.  We ate plate lunch at a place called Da Kitchen in Kihei that was fantastic -- it's the best Hawaiian food we've eaten outside of Helena's on Oahu.  Tonight, we headed south once again to Wailea, and strolled around the beach walk there in front of the Grand Wailea, the Fairmont, and the Four Seasons.  We stopped for ice cream (Lapperts!) on the way home.

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