Na Pali Coast

“Tara, we just wanted to thank you again for the wonderful Napali Coast snorkel trip. Your efforts to focus on our interests was truly appreciated.  I was thrilled to be able to see the Spinner dolphins, Monk seals, Brown Boobies, Sea turtles, and all the tropical fish.  It was a biologist’s dream come true.  Wishing you a great summer season.” –Karen and Tony Santiago

NOW is the time to cruise and Snorkel Kauai’s NaPali Coast.   The Na Pali is gorgeous right now -  Sea Caves, Waterfalls, Spinner Dolphin and the rain of winter making the Sea Cliffs an emerald green!

Kaua’i Sea Riders is also monitoring and assisting in the tagging of a new Hawaiian Monk Seal Pup at Miloli’i beach, the oldest fishing village on the Na Pali Coast- What an awesome and remote location for the birth of this endangered species! Please come out with us and enjoy a unique and personal experience!

Seating is limited so please call for reservations:

(808) 332-RAFT (7238)

At Kaua’i Sea Riders we always seek the rare and unusual in small personalized groups. Nature runs the show and we never know what to expect! Looking forward to a great Summer Na Pali Season and continuing to explore the reefs around the Southshore on our 3 Hour Southshore Adventure.

Here’s a sampling of the comments we received this season…

“Dear Tara, thank you so much for this breathtaking experience. You and your friends, the whales, touched our heart. We will remember this special moment for our whole life. You are really a “Whale Whisperer”! –Bettina and Herwig from Austria

“Thank you for your precious information about whales and your excellent support around our whale-research for the Austrian magazine “Maxima”! Now we have the best facts and pictures we could get!” –Bettina (author) and Herwig (photographer)

“No better weather on the planet and epic fish and turtles- memories for a lifetime – Thankyou!!!” – Rich and Family, NY, NY

“Capt. Tara & Team – I want to thank you for the wonderful experience of snorkeling with you for three days this past week. While my husband was in meetings and I was snorkeling he took great comfort in knowing I was safe during my adventure with the Kauai Sea Riders.  He looked forward to hearing what I learned from Capt. Tara and saw during the morning snorkel adventure.   Thank you again.” – Anastasha Lynn, Tucson, AZ

“Thanks so much. We had an absolutely fantastic time. Your expertise and the attitude of your crew made the trip most memorable. We are now home and we will highly recommend you to others who come to Kauai.” –Jeff Klein

The underside of a Whales’ Tail is unique to each individual, hence a modern way of tagging and counting the North Pacific Humpback Whales is done through digital photography.  Our Presidents Day Charter Passengers had a rare and close encounter and I would like to share these Humback whale visions from Alexa Boyes.  Mahalo Alexa!

Megaptera novengliae

They’re Back! The North Pacific Humpback whales are frolicing along Kaua’i shores once again! What a great blessing to view these animals in a respectful manner from the Zodiac. Please join us for an experience like no other in the winter months! I will let the passengers blog and share photos  for me in the coming weeks so that I can concentrate on Charters and Acoustic Research while the Gentle Giants are here!

A Hui Hou! Cap’t Tara

Sue & Mark Pieper

Read more here…

- Jim & Martha

False Killer Whales

Kauai Sea Riders is a charter for Kauai visitors who want a personal and unique experience in and on the Ocean.  Yet, few realize that a large portion of the use of our Navy Seal Zodiac “HOOKAHI” is for scientific purposes.

This type of boat is referred to as a RHIB, or rigid hull inflatable and is a documented small craft that can get into the inaccessible areas. Powered by twin 140hp. 4-stroke Suzuki motors, which are “Green” friendly, this craft is perfect for Hawaiian ocean conditions and Marine life Research. Kauai Reef Conservation was formed to be a non-profit service to Federal, State , Private and other Community Non-Profit Organizations. The goal is to promote education and awareness of the diverse and unusual habitat in Hawa’ii.

In the past we have been contracted to conduct field research with Coral Reef Monitoring, Fish Kill Studies, turtle tumor and turtle mortality and  retrieval, Marine Mammal entanglement, Seal de-hooking and the monitoring of the rare and endangered toothed whale species, such as the False Killer Whales. So when you support Kauai Sea Riders by coming out on a Kauai Snorkel Tour or Whale Watch Tour, you are also a partner in Kauai Reef Conservation.

Fieldwork is my expertise, so any legal (501 c-3) advice , marketing help, or future grant ideas are greatly needed and appreciated ! Mahalo!

Captain Tara Leota

Moray eels, or puhi in Hawaiian, are very abundant in island waters. Represented by 40 species in the family Muraenidae, they are quite diverse in size, appearance and habits. The Giant Moray can reach a length of 10 ft. and weigh 75 lbs. Imagine coming face to face with this creature, the vision appearing 25% larger due to refraction from a mask!

Lacking scales and protruding fins, it is easy to think of Moray Eels as separate category, but they are truly bony fishes. The dorsal, caudal and anal fins are fused, and instead of scales, nature has provided them with a layer of mucus which protects the skin from germs and parasites. Perfectly adapted for the Hawaiian reef, the moray are efficient hunters. They have poor eyesight but a keen sense of smell. They hunt at night, locating  resting prey such as damsel fish or cardinal fish. One inhabitant of the reef that outsmarts the moray is the parrot fish, which sleeps in a gelatinous cocoon that hides its smell.

During the day, moray eels can be seen poking their heads out of the reef, opening and closing their mouths, their rows of backward teeth looking menacing. This is not a sign of hunger or aggression, but the way these creatures breathe, pumping water over gills which are located behind the jaw. The configuration of the teeth ensure that a slippery fish will have a one-way journey to the stomach!  Some of the moray, such as the Snowflake or Zebra eels, don’t have teeth but grinding plates for crushing crabs, urchins and other invertebrates. Like most predators with big appetites, this family of marine life, will “luau” and then rest for a few days.

It is best not to stick your hands into holes and crevices while snorkeling and diving. An eel will defend it’s territory and can inflict painful bites. Some Dive masters feed eels making them “tame”, but since the eel’s eyesight is poor, this is unwise. The animals cannot discern fingers from squid! As always on  Kaua’i Sea Riders Snorkel Eco-Tour we educate passengers that it is better to observe reef animals in the wild, instead of changing their behavior.

Popular in Europe, Japan and China as a culinary delight, moray eels are raised for food. Thousands of tons are harvested each year to the delight of the fishing industry.

With your new understanding of these curious animals, you will be able to exclaim to your dive buddy, “That’s a Moray!” without  fear.

The Italian accent is optional.

We often encounter Hawaiian Spinner Dolphin on our Kauai Sea Rider Adventure tours! Named for their playful mid-air spins, the Nai’a have the reputation of being the “clowns” of all marine mammals of Hawai’i.
They are known for their friendly bow-riding behavior – but, they are still wild animals and should be treated with respect and caution. Through “Echolocation”: the ability to “see” by sound interpretation, dolphin can determine the exact location of a vessel or swimmer and are acutely aware when they are being chased or surrounded.

Our Kauai Snorkel Tours includes the blessings that nature offers and yet everyday is different. The Spinner Dolphin always bring the passengers and crew of the our Zodiac to a “lighter side” and brings out the playful spirit in all of us!

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