Beautiful and elegant, Hawaii’s green sea turtles, or Honu, as they are called locally, were once prized for their shells and meat. Today, the species, along with other sea turtles that enter Hawaiian waters, are protected under the United States Endangered Species Act. Although their numbers are rising, these lovely creatures are not nearly as abundant as they once were, although they have been protected since 1978.
Today, the turtles are popular for their serene beauty and charming appeal. If you have the opportunity to swim with turtles, be sure to take it!
Hawaii’s Best Places to Dive With Turtles
Before you take a swim with the honu, it is important to note that you should avoid coming too close to them, and you should never, ever, attempt to touch or ride a turtle. Doing so could earn you a hefty fine of up to $100,000.00, and it could even land you in jail. Instead, capture these beauties on film and enjoy their beauty and grace from a distance.
Spencer Beach Park
Kohala’s Spencer Beach Park is renowned for its green sea turtle population. The honu enjoy feeding among the rocks at the north end of the bay, which can be snorkeled as well.
Leleiwi Beach Park
On Kona’s Hilo side, divers can enjoy swimming with several turtles at once. It is not unheard of for visitors to swim with as many as twenty to thirty honu on a single dive! This is not a challenging dive; in fact, it is perfect for beginners.
Anaehoomalu Bay
The Kohala coast’s Anaehoomalu Bay has a crescent shaped beach, which is ideal for shore entry. Green sea turtles enjoy feeding in the shallows, and can be seen headed in and out of the deeper reaches of the bay.
Turtle Town
The so-called “Turtle Town” is located on Maui, near another popular dive site, 5 Caves. At shallow depths of 20-35 feet, you can swim with turtles to your heart’s content, and watch them enjoy themselves at the “Turtle Cleaning Station.”
Although every sea turtle community has a “cleaning station” it is not always so easy to find, as the one in turtle town. If you have never heard of or seen a turtle cleaning station, you are in for a wonderful treat! The turtles settle down to rest or hover over large rocks, presenting their shells to hungry fish that nibble any built up algae away. It is important to be patient, not to move, and to just watch as this takes place, since a turtle who is disturbed will end his or her spa treatment and swim away.
Oahu’s Turtle Canyon
Just off Waikiki, Oahu’s Turtle Canyon is an easy and relaxing place to dive with green sea turtles. With shallow depths of just twenty-five to forty feet, this is a simple dive for beginners and can even be snorkeled. Shallow reefs offer an abundance of tropical fish, along with the turtles that flock here to feed.
If you cannot make it to one of these locations, and choose to dive other areas of Hawaii instead, don’t worry! The honu often make appearances at other popular dive sites, and there are plenty of beaches where they enjoy basking in the sun. Remember – keep your distance, and enjoy watching these amazing reptiles in their natural habitat.