15 Best Snorkeling Spots in Hawaii

So you’ve finally booked that dream trip to the Hawaiian islands, what’s next? You need to plan out your itinerary, including things to do and places to see. Enjoying Hawaii’s amazing beaches has to be at the top of your list of things to do. There’s no better way to do this than by snorkeling in Hawaii.

Is it safe to snorkel in Hawaii? 100% yes! Hawaii offers some of the best snorkeling spots in the entire world. The diverse underwater world is full of tropical fish, Hawaiian Green sea turtles, eagle rays, manta rays, sea cucumbers, coral reefs, and more. You might even see moray eels or reef sharks, but they can be pretty elusive.

The Hawaiian islands are located right in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, where the water is warm, allowing tropical fish and other marine life to flourish.

All the Hawaiian islands offer wonderful beaches to enjoy the sea life. So pack up your snorkel gear and flip-flops because we’re about to explore Hawaii’s best places to snorkel!

Best Snorkeling Spots in Hawaii

1. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

Island: Oahu

Hanauma Bay is one of Hawaii’s most well-known snorkel spots on Oahu’s southern coastline. The bay is a flooded extinct volcanic crater and features a vast fringing reef that spans most of the length of the bay. This is the best place to snorkel in Hawaii if you’re staying in Waikiki, as it’s just 20 minutes away.

In Hanauma Bay, you will be swimming amongst over 450 species of tropical fish. You might even see Hawaii’s state fish, the Humuhumunukunukuapuaa. Try saying that five times fast.

Hawaiian Green sea turtles are also frequent visitors to the bay but don’t get too close, they are protected under Hawaiian law, and you could get hit with a hefty fine if you touch or disturb them.

The Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is all about marine life conservation. The bay is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays to allow the water to filter through so bacteria levels don’t get to dangerous levels.

You can help preserve the marine life in Hanauma Bay by wearing reef-safe sunscreen, not taking any coral reef or other living marine life out of the bay, and not stepping or kicking the coral reef.

The entry fee for non-residents is $25 per person plus $3 per car. Children under 12 are free. If you don’t want to rent a car just to let it sit in the parking lot all day, check out this Hanauma Bay snorkeling tour.

This tour includes round-trip…