Snorkeling is a great way for people of all ages to have fun and stay fit. Hawaii is lucky in that it has a lot of amazing places to snorkel. In Hawaii, there are a lot of great places to snorkel that are worth seeing. We have looked into the many options you have so that you can choose the best one for you. Here are our top picks for the best places to snorkel around the Hawaiian Islands, in no particular order.
Coral Gardens
Coral Gardens is right next to Olowalu Reef, which is south of Historic Lahaina Town. This well-known place to snorkel in Hawaii can only be reached by boat. The Coral Gardens Reef was made by a flow of lava from the Pu’u Kukui Mountains.
It made fingers that flowed into the sea and made coral reef shelves, which are now home to many different kinds of sea life. Snorkeling here is definitely a beautiful and unique thing to do. Visitors can see beautiful underwater landscapes, big views of the coast of West Maui, views of the nearby island of Lanai, and the West Maui Mountain Range, which makes a beautiful backdrop.
Five Graves
Five Graves is the name of a large, rocky beach on Makena Drive below Wailea. Even though Chang’s Beach, where snorkelers can go, is close by, the parking lot for Five Graves is to the south. Five Graves is only for experienced snorkelers because of its steep rocks, greater depths, and rougher conditions.
Snorkeling at Five Graves is a lot of fun because there are big schools of fish, huge boulders, beautiful coral reefs, and a lot of sea turtles. Many tours stop at the Five Graves area, which has several reefs around it.
You can join a tour that goes into these waters if you want to go farther off the coast. The underwater caverns in this region are also known to scuba divers. If you are interested, you can talk to a local diving shop.
Hanauma Bay
Moreover, Hanauma Bay, on the southeast coast of Oahu, is where you can find the most fish in all of Hawaii. Further, Hanauma Bay is the most popular place to snorkel in Hawaii because it has a lot of fish, calm water, and clean beaches.
Also, the fish in this area are the most friendly. This old volcanic crater is protected from the biggest waves of the ocean, making it a great place for tourists to snorkel. At least once, everyone should visit this top snorkeling destination. Up to 10,000 people used to visit Hanauma Bay every day, which was too many for such a delicate ecosystem. Then, in 1990, Honolulu City and County started making changes to fix what people had been doing wrong for many years. One of the changes was limiting the number of visitors to 3,000 a day, which is a more manageable number.
Honaunau Bay
Paea, also known as “Two Step,” is a popular place to snorkel in Honaunau Bay. People often call Honaunau Bay “the City of Refuge.” This name comes from the Puuhonua or Honaunau National Historic Park. In 2004, Honaunau Bay was named one of the most beautiful beaches in America by the Travel Channel. Because of how it is set up, the water is usually calm and you can see a long way out most of the year.
This site is often thought of as the second best place to snorkel on the Big Island, after Captain Cook. The water is clear, and it goes down about 20 feet. Also, pods of dolphins are often seen swimming close to the shore.
Honolua Bay
Due to its big waves, Honolua Bay is a great place to go surfing in the winter, but you can’t swim there at all. On the other hand, the weather is calmer in the summer. Coral reefs in the bay are home to many different kinds of fish and beautiful green sea turtles.
If you want to snorkel in Honolua Bay, start at the left end and follow the rocks to Kalaepiha Point. Divers usually go to the east for deeper water.
Kahalu’u Beach Park
In the Hawaiian town of Kailua-Kona, there is a small cove called Kahalu’u Beach Park. This cove is full of fish, and marine turtles like to hang out there. Most of the area is only a few feet deep, so most of the time the water is calm.
This is a great place to start snorkeling in Hawaii if you’ve never done it before. There are many kinds of fish to swim with, like tangs, porcupine fish, and eels. You can also explore beautiful rock pools when the tide is low.
Kahe Point
The snorkeling spot called “Electric Beach” is on the west side of O’ahu, right next to a power plant. A large underwater pipe near the shore is dumping warm water from the power plant into the ocean. Because of this, a lot of fish, turtles, and rare sharks are drawn to the area where the temperatures are different.
This area is only for experienced snorkelers because you have to swim a long way out to it and sometimes there are strong currents. So if you are just starting out, you should look for another option on the list.
Kahekili Beach Park
Simple things are all that Kahekili has to offer. It has a lot of places to park, a nice grassy area near the beach, beautiful pavilions, and more than one bathroom. Snorkeling is the same. The reef is right at the edge of the water, so you don’t have to swim very far to start snorkeling.
Reefs at Kahekili Beach are popular with tourists, snorkelers, and swimmers who are just starting out because there are so many different kinds of fish and Hawaiian green sea turtles. At Kahekili, people also like to do shore dives.
Kahekili is also called an airport beach because the area used to be an airport. It was the only place on the west side of Maui where a plane could land before the runway in Kapalua was changed.
Kapalua Bay
In addition, Kapalua Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches on Maui, and it’s a great place to go when you’re in Hawaii. Furthermore, Kapalua is a Hawaiian word that comes from the words kappa and Lua. It means “two borders.”
It is perfectly located between Honokahua Bay and Oneloa Bay, which is where its name comes from. Kapalua Bay has been named the best beach in the world by many publications, including Conde Nast Traveler Magazine. The Travel Channel has also called it the best beach in the U.S. It is without a doubt one of the best places to snorkel in Hawaii. The calm atmosphere of Kapalua Bay is heaven, and the beach is out of this world, with a protected cove where marine life can gather. It’s a peaceful place to snorkel in Maui, with colorful coral reefs and good swimming conditions. It’s also a great place for the whole family to relax under the warm Maui sun.
Kealakekua Bay
Kealakekua Bay is known as one of the best places to snorkel in Hawaii. It is also the only underwater state park on the Big Island. From the land, it’s a little hard to get there because the parking lot is about two miles from the bay. To get there, you have to walk a long way down to the water in the hot sun, then climb back up when you’re done. The best way to get to the bay is by boat. From the water, you can see the beautiful coastline and go to the best snorkeling spots in the area.
Some companies offer boat trips from the Keauhou Region that include food, drinks, snorkeling gear, and interesting talks about the culture and history of the bay. You could also rent a kayak and paddle out into the bay to get to the places where you can snorkel. There are spinner dolphins, sea turtles, eels, lizardfish, and coral reefs that are easy to see.
Ke’e Beach
The Napali Coast starts at Ke’e Beach, which has amazing views of the ocean both above and below the water. Before you jump into the water, take in the beautiful views from the cliffs. On the reef, which is close to shore, there are many schools of fish and Hawaiian green sea turtles. During the summer, the water is usually calm, like a swimming pool, so that guests can enjoy the waterscapes.
Snorkeling in the winter isn’t a good idea because it can be dangerous. Before getting into the water in the summer, talk to the lifeguards. Even though the ocean looks calm, there may still be rip currents.
Kuilima Cove
Kuilima Cove is the most peaceful and quiet place to snorkel on Oahu. It’s one of the best places on the islands for people who are just starting out. On Oahu’s famous North Shore, behind the eastern edge of the Turtle Bay Resort is this beautiful, clean sand beach. Because the neighborhood around the hotel is part of the hotel, it is kept in great shape. Kuilima isn’t as popular as other beaches, so you’ll have a lot of space to yourself.
The cove is surrounded by natural rock formations that protect it from the waves. This is the best place to go when the waves on the North Shore are huge, which they often are in the winter. The water is clear and, on average, goes up to your neck.
Most of the bottom is made up of corals and big rocks. There is also a lot of fish. You’ll feel like you’re swimming in an aquarium because the water is so calm and clear. So, snorkeling at Kuilima Cove is great for kids because there are so many great things to do there.
Kumimi Beach, aka Murphy’s Beach
In the eastern part of Molokai, Kumimi Beach is one of the best places to snorkel in Hawaii. This beach is one of the best on Molokai Island. It is also known as Murphy’s Beach. Since the water is so shallow, the best time to go to Kumimi Beach is during the mid-high tide, which is different from other Hawaiian snorkeling spots. But if you go to Kumimi at any time, you will be thrilled.
It has beautiful golden sand, and the water feels cool and fresh, making it a great place to snorkel in Hawaii. Snorkelers may see yellow tang, sea cucumbers, parrotfish, and spiny lobsters, among other sea creatures. Snorkeling near the reef is the best way to see the best marine life. Once you get past the reef, the water gets rougher, and only experienced snorkelers should go there.
Manta Ray Village
The most exciting thing for nature lovers to do in the waters of Kailua-Kona is probably to swim with the amazing manta rays. Reef manta rays, also called Manta alfredi, are the second-biggest species of manta rays in the world. They are often seen in the waters around Hawaii. Mantas eat plankton, which they scoop out of the water and put in their huge mouths. People who live in the tropical seas off the coast of Kona don’t move. They stay there for good.
Around dusk, boats leave Kona’s ports and head to either “Manta Village” or “Manta Heaven,” which are both places with lots of manta rays.
When the boats get there, they shine lights into the water and build huge rafts with floodlights pointing down into the water. The light pulls plankton that lives during the day to the surface, where it is eaten by groups of manta rays. Snorkelers hang on to the sides of the rafts and watch these beautiful creatures swim and spin in circles while eating the plankton soup below. It’s a breathtaking sight to see. This should be your top priority when you’re exploring the Big Island.