Kauai Whale Watching Tours :: Thar She Blows!

Awesome day today. We saw our first whale of the season. As we approached, it leaped out of the water in a full breach. This was followed by a series of loud tail slaps. Even over 100 yards distance we could hear its massive fluke slapping down on the water. This lone male whale stayed in one spot as it sounded below the water in search for any other whales in the area. Being one of the first whales to visit Kauai this season, it may have been feeling lonely after it’s 3,000 mile journey over to the Islands.

The surprises didn’t end there…..we ran into a rare sighting of Bottlenose dolphins. These dolphins are much larger than their cousins the Hawaiian Spinner Dolphin.

Kauai Activities :: Napali Coast Tours

We’ve had a lot of rain over the last four days, and Napali Riders was finally able to get out on the water today. The wet weather rewarded us with some awesome waterfalls! Wa’iahuakua waterfall was in full effect. Dropping 4,000 feet from the top of Mt. Waialeale, it is normally just a faint trickle. Today it gave us a show as we rode through the Double Door cave and watched it’s final plunge into the ocean.

We snorkeled at the old fishing village on Nualolo Kai. Saw several sea turtles.

After snorkeling we headed further out to sea in search of the Humpback whales. We did not see any but we know they are out there and will be in full force soon.

Napali Coast Tours - Kauai

Weather was GRRRReat! Are you sure this is November?

We toured the whole Napali Coast. and then made a run for some great surf spots on the North Shore of Kauai called “Killing Floor” and “Cannons”. Both spots were going off! We spent some time watching these world class surfers rip it up.

Next we headed further out to sea in search of our Humpback whale friends. The news has reported that a few were sighted in the Kilauea area. Captain Chris is going crazy! He has to see whales before December or he becomes despondent…

Almost back to the harbor we ran into a huge pile of birds attacking and swooping dramatically into the ocean as they feed on 1000’s of flying fish (WAY COOL!).

Napali Coast Tours, Kauai

Weather was very nice for this late in November. On our way up to Na Pali, we became surrrounded on all sides by a HUGE pod of Spinner Dolphins. There wasn’t a bad seat in the house. They were exceptionally active and gave us a great show as they did their charicteristic spinning and jumping.

Overrall good day. Can’t wait till the Humpback whales get here. I spoke to some surfers who said they saw a few. By December we should be seeing them every day. Be sure to check us out. We’ll post the photo’s as we get them.

We had a huge sea turtle swim right up to the boat and surprise us. (COOL!)

Not a lot of dolphin action today. We did spot a small pod between Hanakapi’ai and Kalalau Valley. Very unusual location to see them. They were very skittish. We were able to see them leap out and spin a few times. Most likely a birthing going on.

Waves were beginning to build and create a mysterious spooky mist along the shoreline extending 100’s of feet into the air and valleys.

Several monk seals were spotted on Nualolo Kai.

The weather was great today!
We got into all the caves and were able to see a lot of Dolphins as they leaped and jumped all around us. Quite a few baby dolphins were swimming alongside their Mothers.

It was a wild ride back as the winds picked up creating a slight 2-3 foot swell. If you were in the infamous splash zone you got wet. Everyone up front was having way too much fun!!!

Niihau Tours from Kauai

Today we headed out to the Forbidden Island of Niihau. This small Island located 17 miles off of Kauai is one of our favorite spots to explore. Unspoiled by development we never know what we will find there. The excitement builds as we head for Lehua rock and a spot known as the “Keyhole”.

The water is unusually calm and we jump in the water. Fish are all around us. A large group of silverfish numbering in the thousands swim in a defensive ball surrounding us.

Bill and I are filming and taking photos of them when we catch a glimpse of several White tip Sharks creeping up from the deep.

As we headed back to Kauai we ran into the ever elusive Bottlenose Dolphin. This species is much larger than the Spinner Dolphin, reaching up to 9 feet in length. Overrall an awesome day as we head back to Kauai.

Kauai Dolphin Tours

The weather was perfect. Everyone was filling up those digital camera memory chips as fast as possible. We immediately came across a huge pod of dolphins. I was able to get into the water and shoot some awesome video as they swam by.

Dolphins under the water in Kauai

Water was calm as we left port. We passed by the old Sugarmill that still stands with it’s smokestack pushing skyward. As we headed down Kauai’s West shoreline, miles and miles of perfect beaches passed by us with not a single person on them. Felt like we were navigating an unexplored island in the middle of the Pacific.

The dolphins soon greeted us and we knew it was going to be a magical day. More and more pods began to surround us. Soon there were hundreds of dolphins spinning and swimming up to the boat. We saw many baby calves. For some reason the dolphin mothers were allowing the calves to swim right up to us.

Awaawapuhi Valley was well lit by the morning sun. The human sacrificial altar can be clearly seen on the cliff. We asked for a volunteer to sacrifice…but no one stepped up.
A waterfall was gently flowing down the cliff face.

We could not get into the caves but Captain Chris got us as close as we dared.

Pods of Spinner Dolphins surround the raft.