Unda Da Sea

Maui is a sea life sanctuary. It is the world's premier whale watching location and one of the best places to snorkel and dive. We have taken advantage of this by renting snorkeling gear for the week and by going on a whale watching expedition. Each winter, humpback whales migrate from Alaska to Maui to give birth to their young. Humpback whales are an endangered species, yet they can be seen in abundance in Hawaii from November to April. Of the roughly 18,000 humpbacks alive today, about 10,000 of them make Maui their home during the winter months. Why do humpback whales do this? Well, the answer is not completely clear. The most common theory is that the whales come here to protect their newborns (like the one pictured here) from Orcas, also known as Killer Whales. Orcas stay in colder, deeper waters and Maui offers warmer, more shallow seas.

Our whale sightings have been amazing. We've seen numerous breaches, where the whale will jump all the way out of the water and create a huge splash upon landing. Two days ago we witnessed a massive whale smashing her pectoral fins against the surface of the water. The pectoral fins are an astonishing 15 feet in length on a full grown humpback. And we will soon post a video that was shot from our condominium in which a humpback smashes her huge tail against the water surface for about 2 consecutive minutes. Full grown humpback whales are roughly the size of a school bus, so seeing so many of them in one location is really an incredible sight.

Whales are not the only creatures that we have encountered on this trip. We stood on the beach in Honolua Bay to watch the surfers and this monk seal casually strolled ashore for some sun bathing. He was probably 6 feet in length and roughly 500-600lbs. He was not threatened by our presence whatsoever. He allowed us to approach him and get some cool pictures. Like the humpback whale, monk seals are endangered. This guy is a Hawaiian Monk Seal, of which it is estimated that there are fewer than 1,500 in existence today.

We have also spent a lot of time in the water snorkeling. Maui hosts miles of coral shoreline and hundreds of exotic fish species. Another endangered species, the green sea turtle, is making a comeback in Hawaii. I was fortunate enough to see one while snorkeling in the coral gardens, just south of Lahaina on the west side of Maui. I wasn't able to get close enough for a clear picture, but the turtle moved gracefully and allowed me to get within 30 feet or so. The turtle is among a long list of fascinating creatures that we have seen while snorkeling. The fish here are electric in color and many of them look just like aquarium fish that we see in the mainland. We have really enjoyed snorkeling and will surely take to the waters any time we get the chance. Here are a few underwater photos from our dives in Maui. Can you see the fish in the last photo?