Intro
Snorkeling in Oahu is one of the most adventurous and exciting activities that you can do on your trip. For me personally, it is one of the highlights from my time where I spent ten days on Oahu. Snorkeling is also a great way to explore the many beaches of Oahu as well as see some wildlife.
Now you might be wondering where the best places to snorkel in Oahu are. What I will say is that yes, some beaches have more rocks and coral than others. But what you end up seeing while you are there is all up to chance. There are snorkel spots that are pretty popular. But there are also guided tours that you can take which offer an away-from-shore experience. I wanted to take the information I learned from my trip and make it into a guide for you to help give you a better idea of what it’s like to snorkel in Oahu. This guide is meant to provide you with information on what the conditions at Oahu beaches can be like, some of the popular snorkel beaches as well as some snorkel tours and what you need to bring to have a great snorkeling experience.
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Table of contents
Snorkeling in Oahu is Windy
If you have snorkeled at other destinations, it may or may not come as a surprise by how windy it is in Oahu. Oahu has trade winds which blow nearly all year round. However, the strength of these winds varies by the season that you are visiting. No matter what, prepare for the wind. You might travel to Oahu and have no issues at all with wind, waves or visibility and that’s fantastic if that does happen. But I am mentioning it just so you are aware that it could effect your snorkeling. And due to the windy conditions that are usually there, visibility in the water can be poor. When snorkeling, you want to be able to go a decent but safe distance from the shore so you have a better chance of seeing wildlife. It’s also important to note that due to the windy conditions, the water may not be safe to swim in.
Beaches with lifeguards will have beach flags posted. These tell you the conditions of the water and if it’s safe to go in. Being from Oregon, I had absolutely no idea what all of the colors meant so I will break it down for you here:
- White Flag: Conditions are clam, water activities are open
- Yellow Flag: Potential hazards such as high surf or strong currents
- Red Flag: Dangerous conditions, swimmers should stay out of the water
I have read about other colored flags such as purple meaning dangerous marine life and a red over yellow flag means the area is protected by lifeguards. I mostly saw yellow flags but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other colors out there that we should be aware of! When in doubt, ask a lifeguard about water conditions. If you are at a beach that doesn’t have a lifeguard and you don’t feel safe then avoid going in the water. There are additional beach signs that may be posted which warn about high surf, dangerous shorebreaks and jellyfish. You can read more about these beach signs on the Honolulu Emergency Services Department website here.
Snorkeling Tours
While snorkeling is a free activity you can do on practically any beach in Oahu, I personally found the best snorkeling was when I did a tour. So while it wasn’t necessarily easy on the wallet, I genuinely enjoyed the experiences and the wildlife I saw. And I would easily pay to do it all over again. The water visibility was way clearer because you’re out on a boat so you’re able to go much further into the ocean rather than hanging by the shoreline.
Snorkel with Sharks!
For some, this sounds like a death sentence. But I want to reassure you that me, my partner, along with everyone who was on the tour, came back in one piece. This tour was definitely the most expensive tour, but it was the most worthwhile. The experience with snorkeling with sharks is hard to describe other than I felt like I was in a nature documentary, just watching them swim. The sharks I specifically saw were galapagos sharks. They were very relaxed and it really didn’t feel like they cared about us all being there. It was a very calming experience which made me feel very connected with the nature of the ocean.
However, I wouldn’t recommend this tour for someone if it is their first time snorkeling. The waves were very choppy when I did my tour (thank you trade winds). But even if the waves are calm, this can be an overwhelming experience for a first time snorkeler. Not only are you in the open ocean, that is who knows how deep, but there are also sharks swimming in the water you are about to jump into and you’re trying to learn how to breathe through the snorkel tube. It just doesn’t sound like a good experience. So you really want to make sure that you get some practice before you do this tour.
This tour prohibits the use of any underwater devices. This is so you can fully enjoy the experience and in return, they will take pictures free of charge. Snorkel gear is provided for you as well as the option to have a floatie in the water with you. And tour guides are in the water with you to ensure your safety. If this sounds interesting, you can read more and book it here.
Turtle Canyon
Turtle Canyon is located off the shore of Oahu at a mile and a half from Waikiki shores. This is a popular snorkeling destination that you need a boat to gain access to. It is a great location for seeing sea turtles! Hence the name. This tour is more affordable compared to the sharks tour and more kid and family friendly. You will also get complimentary snacks and beverages if you book with Living Ocean Tours. This was an amazing tour because I got to see multiple sea turtles doing their thing in the water and even an urchin brought up safely by a tour guide!
For this tour, underwater devices are allowed in the water and you will be required to wear a life jacket. And if you have never snorkeled before, no need to worry! They will divide the boat into two groups. The experienced snorkelers go into the water first and then they will give you a demonstration on how to snorkel. If you haven’t snorkeled before, it is actually very easy. I was pretty intimidated by it at first but once you do it, it becomes second nature. Multiple tour guides are in the water with you throughout the tour to ensure your safety. Just know that this area gets pretty crowded. So not only is your tour group in the water but there are multiple boats with 10-15 people per boat in the water as well. I did get kicked a couple times and also got close to running into people just because it was so crowded compared to the shark tour where it’s only 8 people. But I still enjoyed the turtles and I would happily pay to do this tour again. If this sounds interesting, you can read more about it and book this tour here.
Oahu Snorkeling Beaches
If guided tours aren’t your thing or you’re on a budget, then luckily for you there are tons of beaches on Oahu that you can snorkel at for free. This is definitely not a comprehensive list. There are tons of beaches on Oahu that I probably have never heard of that I’m sure offer great snorkeling. These are just some of the very few places that I’ve been to where I’ve been able to see wildlife while snorkeling.
Electric Shark Beach
Located on the west side of the island, Electric Shark Beach is said to be a very good snorkeling spot. The beach itself is very small, nestled between a rocky cliffside on one side and a concrete wall on the other. This made the waves really strong and it was a little scary trying to get out into the open ocean where the waves were more calm. I ended up not being able to get that far because my partner did not have a full snorkeling set so he was missing a breathing tube. I was able to see one fish before turning around but due to the waves and wind, the visibility was not that great. Now this definitely could be due to just the weather I experienced while I was there and should be taken with a grain of salt. For all you know, you could arrive and it could be great conditions. You really won’t know until you go.
Sharks Cove
Sharks Cove is on the North Shore of Oahu. While I didn’t actually get to this beach myself, I am mentioning it because a lifeguard had mentioned to my partner that it is a much better snorkeling place than where we were currently at (Chuns Beach). Sharks Cove is also a very popular snorkeling spot. Because of this, parking can be hard to come by as Sharks Cove is located off of Kamehameha Highway. Which means lots of traffic due to people waiting for spots, waiting for pedestrians to cross the road and such. However, if you can get there early enough, I think this would be a fantastic place to snorkel.
Chuns Beach
Chuns Beach is a beach that my partner and I just stumbled upon while trying to find Sharks Cove. We ended up staying here because there was more parking available there than struggling to find parking around Sharks Cove. Chuns Beach had yellow flag level conditions while we were there but we were still able to snorkel safely. We saw a few fish, but again, visibility conditions were poor due to the wind. It happens. However, the warm water was amazing and it felt great just being there and being able to swim. This beach is certainly something to consider if you want to deal with less crowds and more space out in the water.
Waikiki/Kuhio Beach
Yet another popular beach, Waikiki is a great beach to check out if you’re staying in Honolulu. While I attempted to snorkel here and wasn’t able to see very much under the water, I knew I wasn’t alone. Coming up to the surface to take little breaths were three sea turtles! It was a very enjoyable experience knowing I could swim near them but we could still have our own space. I also had a view of two monk seals lounging on the beach while I was here. This is the one beach where I saw the most wildlife, and I didn’t have to snorkel to see them! It was a touching experience so while this beach is very busy, I would make the effort to check it out.
What To Bring
Snorkel Gear
When I travel to a warm destination, I always bring my own snorkel gear. This way, I have the freedom to go wherever and be able to snorkel without worry. There’s no need to find a beach that offers rentals and then have to spend money each time I want to get snorkel gear. This snorkel gear I have been using for almost two years now. And other than a slight dent in one of the flippers (because I had no idea that you’re supposed to get into the water backwards), it’s still holding on.
Rash Guard
I would also recommend a rash guard. Some people love them, others don’t and I get that. However, I will always be an advocate for wearing one while snorkeling because when I visited the U.S Virgin Islands, I snorkeled without one. I got the worst sunburn of my life even though I wore sunscreen. I learned my lesson and always wear one while I snorkel and I encourage others to do the same. My rashguard came from a store in the U.S Virgin Islands, but you can get them from Amazon or a local store might carry some as well.
Reef Safe Sunscreen
Of course also bring your reef safe sunscreen. Apply a lot of it. The more warm places I visit, the more I am learning that the natural stuff requires much more product in order to do the job. But the products we use matters, so it is important you find a reef safe sunscreen you like that also helps protect our oceans.
Conclusion
Even with winds and waves, snorkeling in Oahu is a thrilling and enjoyable activity. You can either pay to take a snorkel tour or find a beach to snorkel at for free. Just make sure you are aware of the beach flags and signs and that you come prepared with your own gear. However you chose to spend your time snorkeling in Oahu, it will be memorable. Hopefully this guide gave you some clarity on what it’s like snorkeling in Oahu, some options on places to go and what you can bring to make the most of your trip. Make sure to check out my other articles about Oahu to help you with your future planning!
Additional Information
Steps to Take for Eco Friendly Travel to Hawaii
