Best Places To Snorkel In Oahu

Snorkeling is by far one of the most popular activities in Hawaii. Oahu has 112 miles of beautiful coastline and an incredible underwater world waiting to be explored.

Snorkeling in Oahu is a fun way to learn about Hawaii’s marine life, and you don’t need to be a pro swimmer to experience it. 

In Oahu, you’ll find excellent underwater swimming spots for beginners and families and those with experience. Here are the 10 best places to snorkel in Oahu, Hawaii.

Hanauma Bay 

Hanauma Bay is one of the best places to snorkel on Oahu for beginners. It has calm, shallow waters, lifeguards on the lookout, and a reef close to the beach, so you don’t have to swim too far out.

Hanauma Bay is also a Marine Life Conservation District, so there is always an abundance of marine life, including a vast selection of fish. There are four snorkeling spots close to shore and a few further out that are more advanced.

While Hanauma Bay is at the top of the list of the best Oahu snorkeling beaches, it’s also one of the busiest. So visit early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the crowds. You’ll find mainly beginners and families here, so feel free to skip this one if you’re a pro. 

Turtle Canyon

Turtle Canyon is the best off-shore Oahu snorkeling spot for seeing green sea turtles. So, if you’ve not seen turtles in other sites around the island, head to Turtle Canyon, where you won’t be disappointed. 

It’s such a popular spot for these sea creatures as the small dense coral formations here serve as a “cleaning station” for turtles. Therefore, turtles come here to have their shells cleaned by various small reef fish, which is an incredible sight to witness!

Many snorkeling boat trips will take you to Turtle Canyon, but you can also reach it by kayak. The “turtle sanctuary” is close to Waimea Bay on the north shore.

Electric Beach

The electric beach is one of the best snorkel spots in Oahu if you want to see some rare and unusual marine life. It gets its name because of the warm water discharge that enters the ocean from the nearby power plant.

This happens due to a long, underwater pipe that releases warm water from the plant into the sea. This temperature difference attracts many different species of fish as well as turtles. 

To reach the prime spot, you’ll have to swim a couple of hundred yards out from shore. Unfortunately, the current here can also be intense at times, so it’s best suited to experienced swimmers and snorkelers.

Aweoweo Beach Park

Aweoweo Beach Park is a secluded beach and a serene snorkeling area tucked away in Waialua on the north coast. It’s not as popular as other bays on the island, serving as a hidden sanctuary during peak season. 

The large, sheltered bay is a fab place to spot turtles, but visibility is not the best, so it’s difficult to see smaller marine life. However, because the beach is so peaceful, you’ll surely want to spend the whole day here.

The amenities make it easy to do so, too, with picnic tables, toilets, and showers.

Waimea Bay

Waimea Bay on the north shore is a beautiful place to go snorkeling in the summer when the waters are calm. It’s part of the Pūpūkea Marine Life Conservation District so you’ll see plenty of wonderful marine life in this area.

We recommend swimming either side of the beach to the rocky areas for the best sightings. 

Sometimes you can see dolphins from the bay but they rarely come close enough to shore to encounter them on your snorkel. Finally, as the bay has a high surf during the winter, it’s advisable to only snorkel here during the summer. 

Shark’s Cove

Shark’s Cove is a rocky coastal area with tide pools on the north coast, close to Waimea Bay. It is another Marine Life Conservation District, so you’ll see plenty of sea life here. In particular, many tropical small fish species will come right up to you.

And don’t worry, despite its name, Shark’s Cove is not full of sharks. Instead, its name comes from the reef shape that resembles a shark from certain angles. 

Like Waimea Bay, Shark’s Cove is only suitable for snorkeling in the summer as conditions can be too dangerous during the rest of the year. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the busier summer snorkeling areas, so avoid visiting mid-morning to early afternoon when it’s the most crowded. 

Kuilima Cove

If you’re in Oahu in winter or the shoulder seasons, check out Kuilima Cove. This northern bay is one of the best places to snorkel in Oahu all-year-round thanks to the natural design of the area. A long rock wall keeps out most of the waves, maintaining a calm water condition. 

Kuilima Cove is suitable for beginners and children and offers some extraordinary sightings like sea turtles and eels. Visibility varies but is usually the clearest early in the morning.

You’ll find Kuilima Cove at the famous Turtle Bay Resort that has served as a filming location for several movies, including Forgetting Sarah Marshall. 

Ka‘ean Point State Park 

Ka’ean Point is a rocky part of the coastline which offers a different experience from other snorkeling spots on the island. While fish may not be abundant here, you’ll see a surprising amount of crabs and crustaceans on the rocks.

There are many spots in this state park to enter the water, but one of the best is from Yokohama Beach. 

Park at the end of Farrington Highway, take the short walk to the bay and then swim out from the shore. This is another one for the more experienced snorkelers, though, as this part of the island can have strong currents.

Check the conditions carefully before heading into the water.

Ko Olina Beach Park

On the west side of the island, you’ll find four man-made lagoons suitable for snorkeling within the Ko Olina Beach Park.

This beach park offers the best snorkeling in Oahu for children and novice swimmers as the lagoons are within a safe area protected from the open ocean by rock barriers. This results in consistently calm and shallow waters.

Because the lagoons are man-made, they have a sandy bottom, so you don’t have to worry about cutting your feet on rocks here. You’ll get the most sightings close to the rock barrier, where some coral grows with urchins and fish. The only downside is that the visibility is not the best.

Sans Souci Beach 

If you’re staying in Honolulu and looking for somewhere to snorkel nearby, Sans Souci Beach is one of your best options. You’ll find it just south of Queen’s Beach, just in front of the Barefoot Beach Cafe, a 15-minute walk from Waikiki center. 

The tide is up to the promenade wall most of the time, so there is zero to minimal sand here. However, that’s no problem for snorkelers as there is still plenty of sea life to find here.

As Sans Souci Recreational Park is a protected area, fishing is forbidden, so the fish enjoy a safe, pleasant life and, as a result, are not afraid of humans. 

Tips For Snorkeling In Oahu 

Here are a few of our top tips to help you have the best Oahu snorkeling experience.

• If you’re visiting Oahu in the summer, you’ll have the best snorkeling in the north. In contrast, the south shore has the best options if you’re here in the winter.
• The water is generally calmer in the morning than in the afternoon, and the winds are less intense. Even so, always check the conditions before heading out. 
• You’ll typically find the most fish near coral and rocks as this is where they go for shelter and food.
• Many of the bays in Oahu have rocky areas, so always wear water shoes or fins when snorkeling to protect your feet. What’s more, always stay on the lookout for incoming waves when snorkeling near the rocks.
• Check your sunscreen does not contain oxybenzone and octinoxate. These two chemicals are highly harmful to Hawaii’s coral and marine ecosystems, and sunscreens containing these ingredients are no longer sold on the island. So, if you’re bringing sunscreen from overseas, check the ingredients beforehand, even if it states to be ‘reef-safe.’
• Book onto a snorkel boat trip to make the most of Oahu’s snorkeling offerings. On this group tour, you’ll visit several of the best snorkeling spots around the island. Tours typically last between three and six hours and depart from various locations such as Waikiki and the north shore.

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Final Thoughts On Oahu Snorkeling

Snorkeling in Hawaii is a must for everyone, regardless of whether you’ve tried the activity before. In fact, it made the list of the best Hawaii bucket list experiences to try!

With these 10 best places to snorkel in Oahu, you’ll find your ideal underwater swimming spot and see incredible exotic sea life. 

Want more Hawaii inspiration? Read one of the following blog posts:

• Hawaii on a budget
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• Snorkeling in Kauai