Face down in Hanauma Bay

Second time lucky. We got the bus to this snorkel haven. Not a theme park but a protected cove and you do have to queue and pay to get the feeling of sand between the toes.

Hanauma is both a Nature Preserve and a Marine Life Conservation District. The Hawaiians are really trying to preserve this place. Prior to dodging the gift shop you're funnelled into a small theatre where a brief movie explains in a nutshell the rules of the reef. The main strap line being 'if it's not sand it's alive, so don't go stepping on it'. It was then a short walk down to the cove. Or if you felt the gentle 3 min downhill walk was too much a shuttle bus was available.

Hanauma Bay is an incredible natural pool that has formed in a volcanic crater. The crater is evidence of a volcanic burst of activity on the island tens of thousands of years ago. These volcanic eruptions formed the crater on the sea floor, and waves from the ocean eventually filled the circular bay.

Protected since 1967 the bay attracts a million visitors a year but Hawaii's marine conservation are trying to limit human erosion by only allowing 2000 people on the beach at anyone time. It's a case of get here earlier or be prepared to spend the day in that gift shop.

But this place really does have the marine life to warrant all these visitors. Unicorn, Surgeon, Blackside hawk and the spotted puffer fish swim effortlessly through sections of craggy reef not seemingly troubled with us humans gazing on through google masks. Turtles swam right up to the shoreline to enjoy the warmer waters and the shade that was being cast from the overhanging palm trees.

A passing comment was made, admittedly by a local, "'well if you're not happy here then you're just not a happy person".