It's called Two Step because there is no beach there and if you want to snorkel (one of the best places to snorkel on a good day almost anywhere) you walk down the lava two steps and you are in 5 or more feet of water depending upon the waves that day.
We woke up yesterday morning and my friend checked the surf locally on the Kona side of the island and said, "Hey, it's going to be the biggest surf of any day we have been here today." He went on to say, "We better go to Two step today down the coast because it is more protected than other places. The other problem with big waves is it messes up visibility for snorkling from the beach too. So, when it is a good surfing day or boogie boarding day it is usually a bad day for snorkling with a mask and snorkle to look at all the beautiful amazing tropical fish here in Hawaii. However, on the big island even in January the water is about 78 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit even in January. So, water wise as long as you protect yourself from the bright tropical sun even in January you usually don't get cold going into water 78 to 80 degrees.
So, we drove south past Kona to Two Step and saw that it was fairly protect. However, the surges against the two step entrance and exit of the water for snorklers was tricky. I didn't see anyone get seriously injured today because snorklers are very self selecting and unless you are capable of doing something most people don't overextend that much because "who wants to die?"
So, I saw immediately that getting in was all about timing so I waited for the waves surging to stop moving in and lifting the water up about 4 feet in height and jumped in as it moved out again while watching for the coral heads not too far underwater. I took my boogie board with me just for safety at my age in case I choked on water or something so I could recover while doing this above age 65.
So, after I got out far enough not to be bashed against the lava steps with my teeth or face or head it was pretty nice out there but I noticed a lot of the fish had gone out further so they too wouldn't be banged around by the larger surf. So, after about 10 to 15 minutes of snorkling above many many coral heads and fish I decided to climb back up while I still felt coordinated and strong.
As I headed in it was more difficult than I thought it would be. And the surges were difficult to manage. I grabbed into finger holds so the surge wouldn't take me out too far but lost my hold. Then the next big wave was coming in so I started to swim into it so I wouldn't be bashed against the lava steps. (Also, there are always in January about 5 to 10 people trying to go in when you are trying to get back up from that same point. But, because of the high surf they were backing off so I could get up without injury. ON my second attempt I put my fingers in finger holds on the bottom step and I succeeded in using the rising water to get my knee up onto the bottom step and quickly went up to the next step before I was washed away by more waves. My friend handed up my boogie board quickly and swam away quickly to snorkel some more.
Then I met a lady from eastern Washington whose husband was a musician like the friends I'm traveling with this time too. We had a great conversation and I told her how I had been born in Lake Forest Park near Seattle and was raised there until I was 4 and moved to San Diego.
Another day. Another Adventure!
Kona side is always an amazing snorkling adventure. My friend was right, snorkling is really good on this side in January. The water is warmer than the other islands in January. It is easier to adapt to the climate because it is drier on this side and there are many amazing snorkling spots as long as the surf isn't too big and dangerous for doing that.
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