Tour boat captures spectacular images of Big Island lava
KILAUEA VOLCANO, BIG ISLAND (HawaiiNewsNow) –
For the first time in nearly a year, lava is entering the ocean from Kilauea volcano, and Hawaii News Now has spectacular new video of the rare event.
Lava Ocean Tours says the lava has been entering the ocean daily since it first began again in November. The Big Island tour company shared this video, which was shot over a three day period in early December. It shows lava cascading off 40 foot cliffs into the ocean.
“We have ramped up our tours and are seeing a huge increase in the number of people booking trips,” said Shane Turpin of Lava Ocean Tours. “We have seen people from all over the world, even Hollywood actors, people from the Weather Channel and professional photographers.”
Bryan Arthur, a guide with Lava Ocean Tours, says, “We have four boats heading out this Wednesday and Friday. In fact we added two additional boats because everyone wants to see the lava. The sunrise tour is phenomenal. It’s the best tour for taking photos.”
The flow is considered dangerous, and visitors are warned to observe only from approved safe distances.
There are regulations involved with these lava boat tours.
“All of our boats are Coast Guard inspected and state permitted, but there are some operators out there who are not permitted,” said Turpin.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says Kilauea, which has been erupting continuously since January 1983, has seen an increase in pressure recently. The increase also resulted in a rise in the lava lake inside a vent at the Halemaumau crater in the Kilauea caldera.
Scientists are not sure how long the lava will keep flowing into the ocean this time around.
~reposted from: http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/20260642/tour-boat-captures-spectacular-images-of-big-island-lava
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