Best places to snorkel in oahu
Snorkeling is one of the best ways to explore the beautiful waters of Oahu. It’s a fun activity for all ages and abilities, and there are plenty of beautiful spots to choose from! We’ve picked out some of our favorites for you here, so you can spend less time researching and more time enjoying the ocean!
If you’re looking for the best places to snorkel in Oahu, then look no further! We have compiled information on Best places to snorkel in oahu , best places to snorkel in oahu in winter, turtle bay snorkeling, best free snorkeling in oahu, snorkeling hanauma bay, and safest place to snorkel in oahu. Do take your time to go through for more information.
Best places to snorkel in oahu in winter
The season for snorkeling in Oahu, Hawaii is between October and April. During this time of year, there are some amazing snorkeling spots that you can visit. Here are the best places to go snorkeling in Oahu during winter:
- Hanauma Bay – This is a popular snorkeling area that has many types of marine life. The bay is protected by a reef which makes it a great place to see fish, eels, and other sea creatures. The park also has picnic tables and restrooms available for visitors who want to enjoy a picnic while they’re here.
- Waimano Falls – This waterfall is located near Manoa Valley on the island of Oahu and it’s one of the most popular destinations for hikers because it offers amazing views from the top of this waterfall along with several smaller cascades along the way as well as many waterfalls along its path before reaching Waimano Falls itself at the bottom where it meets up with another stream before continuing down into Manoa Valley where there are several other hiking trails that lead off from here towards other parts.
- Salt Pond Beach Park. This beach has a large reef system that reaches all the way out into the ocean, so there’s plenty of room for everyone who wants to explore underwater life. It also has a long-standing reputation as one of the best snorkel spots on Oahu island because it gets very little traffic from other swimmers or snorkelers—you’ll have plenty of room for yourself and your friends!
4. Turtle Cove
Turtle Cove is located on the North Shore of Oahu, just north of Haleiwa Town. It’s one of the best places in all of Hawaii for snorkeling, and it’s easy to find: just follow Highway 83 north from Haleiwa Town until it turns into Kalanianaole Highway (Hwy 72), then turn right onto Keawaula Road and follow it until you reach the beach. If you’re looking for a place where you can snorkel or dive without having to worry about waves or currents, then this is your spot!
5. Kawailoa Beach Park – Hiking through this park will lead you directly down into its beautiful waters where you can explore colorful corals and abundant sea life. There’s also great hiking trails nearby if you’re looking for something else fun to do!
Best places to snorkel in oahu
Sure, each guide will claim that theirs is the finest, but how can you be sure? You can find the finest site for your Oahu snorkeling excursion by doing some study before you travel (or even after you arrive in Hawaii).
Take a look at our selection of the best snorkeling places on Oahu. We’ve given you a rundown of each location, their distinguishing features, and a summary of the benefits and drawbacks. You can be sure to discover the perfect place according on your skill level, vacation style, and where you’re staying on Oahu with these advice and recommendations.
1. Hanauma Bay
Location: The east side of Oahu near Koko Head.
One of the top spots you’ll hear or read about when looking for the best snorkeling in Oahu is Hanauma Bay. There are many different tour providers and guides who offer snorkeling packages in the area.
Arranging things like transportation from your hotel will be easy, and often affordable. Do keep in mind, though, the location is set inside a nature preserve. Those over the age of 13 and non-residents of Hawaii will have to pay a very small fee to enter the area.
The spot is known as the place to get the most bang for your buck, though. In other words, you’ll see the most fish, and the most diverse types of fish for your time and money. Keep in mind that sometimes the area can become crowded with tourists.
2. Queens Beach / Sans Souci Beach
Location: Right next to Waikiki next to Kapiolani Park
These two beaches are the easiest to get to for Oahu snorkeling if you’re staying in Waikiki. There is a marine conservation area right off the beaches, and it extends for a while down the shore.
These are also great spots to fit into a busy Oahu itinerary, as they’re near other Waikiki attractions. The Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Aquarium, and many more hotspots are very close by.
You’ll find a good variety of fish and coral; word to the wise though, this is not the place to be if there are strong waves occurring during your visit. Your time is best spent elsewhere, as strong currents make it difficult to observe the beautiful marine life.
3. Kuilima Cove
Location: Oahu’s North Shore near Turtle Bay Resort
Kuilima Cove is the best snorkeling in Oahu for beginners, or those who have never even snorkeled before at all. It’s also quite close to several popular hotels, which makes getting there even easier.
The waters are calm, as there are very few waves thanks to an enclosing rock barrier. This gives you great visibility! The depth rarely goes over your head, so weak swimmers and children are safer here.
The areas surrounding the cove actually belong to hotels in the area, so are very well kept. But have no worries – you don’t have to be a guest to enjoy the snorkeling!
4. Sharks Cove
Location: Between the Banzai Pipeline and Waimea Bay on Oahu’s North Shore
Sharks Cove is an Oahu snorkeling spot that’s both highly rated and acclaimed. Snorkelers around the world heap praise on Sharks Cove for its great shore snorkeling. The calm waters and supreme visibility, paired with the wide array of marine life, make it a great Oahu snorkeling experience.
Just like Hanauma Bay, though, Sharks Cove can get a little crowded with tourists. If you can brave the crowds, go in the summer and avoid the area during prime surfing season. Usually the fall through the spring is when there are the most surfers.
During surf season, the spot can develop a very strong, dangerous current. One last thing – you won’t need to worry about any sharks at this cove, though there are some shark cage tour operators nearby!
5. Three Tables
Location: Close to Shark’s Cove between the Banzai Pipeline and Waimea Bay on Oahu’s North Shore
Three Tables is a praised Oahu snorkeling spot, but is recommended for those with a little bit of prior snorkeling experience. It’s not very beginner friendly, so if you’re new to this stuff you’d fare better elsewhere.
The Three Tables name is derived from the table coral lining the beaches, which is where you’ll be snorkeling. The area does experience strong waves and currents. Occasionally, these currents will be so strong that you’ll most definitely want to stay out of the water.
However, when conditions are fairly calm, you’ll find a great fish population thanks to no-fishing laws in the area.
6. Kahe Point Beach Park
Location: Between Nanakuli and Ko Olina on Oahu’s West Coast
If you visit Kahe Point Beach Park, you’ll find both Oahu snorkeling and diving, right in one area. This makes it a great spot if your travel companions are a bit split on how they want to spend their day in the water.
The water clarity is quite good, and the warm currents emitted by a nearby power plant attract lots of different sea life. Be warned, though, that there are typically no lifeguards watching the area, and the waters do require a lot of swimming.
Taking this into consideration, strong swimmers and advanced snorkelers will be fine. Novices may want to try another fantastic Oahu snorkeling spot from the options above.
Turtle bay snorkeling
Turtle Bay is a gorgeous place to snorkel, and we can’t recommend it enough! It’s the perfect place to get your feet wet in the world of scuba diving. You can see tons of fish, coral, and other sea life as you swim through the beautiful blue waters.
Turtle Bay is a great place to snorkel!
It’s located on the North Shore of Oahu, and home to one of the best snorkeling spots in all of Hawaii.
The bay is surrounded by a marine preserve, which means you won’t see any boats or other humans while you’re enjoying the scenery. You’ll be able to see colorful fish, sea turtles, and maybe even dolphins! If you’re lucky, you might even spot a monk seal or two.
If you want to get there from Waikiki Beach, all you have to do is take a bus from Ala Moana Center and get off at Turtle Bay Resort. From there, just follow the signs along the path until you reach your destination!
Snorkeling Hanauma Bay
Snorkeling Hanauma Bay is a popular activity for tourists and locals alike.
You can book a tour through the Hanauma Bay Nature Reserve, or you can bring your own gear and go on your own schedule. The only requirement is that you must be able to swim and snorkel in open water, as there are no lifeguards on duty at the bay.
The most common areas to snorkel are known as “A” and “B.” There is also an area known as “C,” but it’s not recommended for beginners because of the rough terrain. If you do decide to take a dip in “C,” make sure to have fins handy so you can maneuver around any sharp rocks or coral reefs.
Hanauma Bay is a protected marine life conservation area, so it’s a great place to snorkel. It’s also one of the most popular tourist spots in Hawaii—so it’s a great place to see beautiful fish, coral reefs, and sea turtles.
The best time of year to go is between May and October. You should avoid going during whale season (December through March), because they do their mating rituals there and can be aggressive with humans who get too close.
You’ll need to rent your snorkeling equipment from one of the vendors on site; there are no places nearby where you can rent them yourself. They’ll give you instructions on how to use them and what precautions you should take before entering the water.
There are many good reasons Hanauma Bay has become one of the most popular places to snorkel in all of Hawai‘i.
A major one is that you don’t have to be a good swimmer enjoy snorkeling there. The water is typically very calm, and you can see quite a few fish just by wading in. There is a dense concentration of coral just offshore, a perfect fit for small children, who will be able to see many fish in shallow, calm water.
Fishing is not allowed in Hanauma Bay, and its marine population is as diverse as it gets in Hawai‘i. Trigger fish (our state fish, which we call the humuhumunukunukuapua’a), yellow tang, angel fish, trumpet fish, parrot fish, and butterfly fish (including the fish with the honor of having the longest Hawaiian name: the lauwiliwilinukunukuʻoiʻoi) can all be found in the bay.
After snorkeling, there are showers to hose off the salt water and convenient restrooms. The walk back up the hill can be tiring after all the swimming, so instead, consider paying for the $1 shuttle ride back up to the visitors center.
We hope this article has helped you find the best place for snorkeling in Oahu. Whether you want to take a trip with your family or are looking for an adventure with friends, there are plenty of options for you.
In addition to being beautiful and exciting, snorkeling is also a great way to explore Hawaii’s underwater world. There are many different kinds of fish that live in the coral reefs around Oahu and they can be seen from above the surface as well as below it. Snorkeling is also a great way to get exercise without having to leave your hotel room!