Top 20 Hawaii Snorkeling Spots

Ecologically speaking, it is the perfect environment for marine life feeding and breeding, and hosts over 250 species of endemic Hawaiian tropical fish. Within the volcanic walls, you will find a host of colorful reef formations and tropical marine life, including manta rays, black triggerfish, yellow tang, raccoon butterflyfish, parrotfish, Moorish idol, and Moray eels. The Pacific waters surrounding the Molokini Crater are home to over 100 species of algae, and approximately 35 hard coral species.

The crystal-clear water (average of 150 feet of visibility) at Molokini Crater is what makes this one of the best snorkeling locations on Maui. Molokini is a popular location for beginners and experienced snorkelers alike, and the most highly preferred spot for morning snorkel tours in Maui. The waters surrounding the Molokini Crater are also one of the most popular locations for scuba diving in all the Hawaiian Islands.

Turtle Town is located on the southern coastline of the island, between Nahuna Point and Black Sand Beach. Best visited by boat, Turtle Town is well-known for providing some of the best snorkeling in Maui, especially if these large sea creatures are your sightseeing target. While enjoying a Maui snorkel tour to Turtle Town, guests can expect to see turtles gently approaching swimmers with curiosity and an abundance of colorful marine life.

Turtle Town is a top place to snorkel on Maui for many reasons, not the least of which being the chance to view the Hawaiian green sea turtles in their natural habitat. There are also the calm wind conditions, clear waters, and a gentle slope which allows snorkelers of all skill levels to find a comfortable ocean depth. Also, snorkelers can watch the Wrasse fish cleaning turtles shells and see butterflyfish, perch, chub, triggerfish, snapper, goatfish, bigeye scad, needlefish, Moray eels, crustaceans, trumpetfish, and a common appearance by the Hawaii State Fish, the humuhumunukunukuapua’a.

Without a doubt, snorkeling at Coral Gardens is a rare and gorgeous ocean activity to experience. From the water, snorkelers enjoy breathtaking underwater scenery, huge West Maui coastline views, scenes of the outer Island of Lanai, and a dramatic background decorated by the jagged-edged valleys of the West Maui Mountain Range.

While snorkeling at Coral Gardens, visitors can expect to see colorful coral varieties, a huge array of tropical fish, Hawaiian green sea turtles, and many more marine species.

The Bay is found just north of Kapalua. Although there are a few entrances, the best access for snorkeling is off a walking trail from the parking area. During the summer months, the parking area is clearly marked by fresh coconut and juice vendors. It’s highly suggested that snorkelers wear water booties at this location because ocean entry is from a rocky coastline. To snorkel at Honolua, it’s not necessary to swim too far our from the coastline; Maui marine life can be easily seen anywhere between 10 and 20 feet from the water’s edge.

A few of the best things about snorkeling at Honolua Bay are the water clarity, calm ocean conditions, and the decorated reef. The best time to snorkel is in the morning hours. Guests can see colorful tropical fish varieties, schools of reef fish, Moray eels, lobsters, and possibly even an Eagle Ray. While facing out towards the sea, snorkelers might even catch a glimpse of Hawaii Spinner Dolphins visiting during the early morning hours.

Due to how close reef shelves lie to the coastline at Honolua Bay, snorkelers are asked to pay particular attention to not step on or touch the reef. The reef is home to many marine species and is very fragile. As the locals say, “Save Honolua Bay.”

Kapalua Bay is consistently named “Best Beach in the World” by numerous publications, including Conde Nast Traveler Magazine. The Travel Channel has called it the “Best Beach in America.” Without a doubt, it’s one of the best beaches for snorkeling and chillin’ out on Maui. The quiet and peaceful community surrounding Kapalua Bay is divine, and the beach itself is out of this world with a protected, crescent-shaped cove ideal for Hawaii marine life to gather. Kapalua Bay most definitely provides a calm environment for snorkeling in West Maui, vibrant colored reef life, excellent swimming conditions, and the ideal location for kicking back with your family and friends under the warm Maui sunshine.

While snorkeling at Kapalua Bay, guests can expect to see scorpionfish, cornetfish, jacks, butterflyfish, parrotfish, goatfish, Moorish idol, boxfish, perch, triggerfish, chub, various invertebrates, sea turtles, and more.

At this Lana’i snorkeling spot, guests will be able to see goatfish, yellow tang, peacock groupers, Morays, saddle wrasse, big parrotfish, and the occasional Hawaiian spinner dolphin visitor.

Hulopoe Bay Beach Park is open to the public and has picnic tables, BBQs, public restrooms, and showers. If you’re visiting the West Side of Maui, try taking a ferry to Lana’i for a day or two! The Island of Lana’i is genuinely stunning; there are undoubtedly many fun adventures to enjoy and Hawaii sights to see. In the past, camping was allowed at Hulopoe Bay but it is currently not allowed, so make sure to plan all of your accommodation details ahead of time.

The sand here is a beautiful golden color, and the ocean feels terrific! It’s truly a magnificent Hawaii snorkel spot.

While snorkeling at Murphy’s, guests will be able to see yellow tang, parrotfish, sea cucumbers, Hawaiian spiny lobsters, and more. The best place from which to view marine life at Murphy’s is close to the reef. If you venture past the reef, the ocean conditions get a little bit more challenging and are only suitable for an experienced snorkeler.

You’ll find that there’s actually quite a lot of marine life in the water at Shark’s Cove. The main reason why is because it’s part of the Pupukea Marine Life Conservation District, which makes it a protected area. Here, you’ll have a chance to see butterflyfish, drummer fish, needlefish, parrotfish varieties, white-spotted surgeon, tang, blue spine unicornfish, wrasse, sea urchin, and a possible octopus or two. When entering the water at this Oahu snorkeling spot, take your time as you walk over the rocky entrance, and carefully navigate through the sandy-bottomed trails. The shallow areas at Shark’s Cove are between 2 and 4 feet deep, but then you’ll see it start to drop from 5 to 20 feet in further parts of the cove.

To avoid crowds and hard parking situations (by the way, do not leave any valuables in your car here), plan to snorkel at Shark’s Cove as early as possible. The best time to snorkel at Shark’s Cove would be around 8 am in the spring, summer and early fall).

A huge reason why Shark’s Cove is such a popular snorkel site is that it’s right in the middle of the North Shore’s main beach drag. It’s a great place to start off your morning, then head to Haleiwa for a bite to eat, shop around, and then continue beach hopping and exploring Oahu’s North Shore areas.

Kuilima Cove is great for beginner snorkeling and located on the eastern side of the Turtle Bay Resort. To get to Kuilima Cove, pull into the Turtle Bay Resort, and look for the Kuilima Cove parking lot which is to the right of the tennis courts. The beach on the left is the hotel’s beach, so be sure to go to the right.

When visiting Kuilima Cove, look forward to feeling soft white sand under your toes, and getting a good dose of sunshine! While snorkeling at Kuilima, guests can see needlefish, triggerfish, perch, boxfish, big eyes, Moorish idol, tang, damselfish, unicornfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish and more. You may also see some Hawaiian spiny lobsters, and Hawaii’s State Fish, the humuhumunukunukuapua’a.

Hanauma Bay operates as a state park, so if you’re interested in snorkeling here, be sure to make arrangements ahead of time.

Hanauma Bay was formed within a volcanic cinder cone. The “curved bay” is a pristine ecosystem that the County of Honolulu takes great lengths to protect. Without a doubt, it’s a fantastic place to snorkel in Hawaii, but it’s also a location that offers visitor education about reef conservation and the marine life that lives there. In fact, first-time visitors are required to watch a 9-minute video before entering the park so they can learn about the unique ecosystem, regulations, and safety rules before snorkeling.

At Hanauma, visitors will find that there are many unique areas to snorkel within the bay. Beginners should remain in the areas closest to the sand like the Back Door Lagoon, Keyhole Lagoon, Triangle Lagoon, and Sandmans Patch. Advanced snorkelers are invited to explore zones that are outside the channels like the Outer Reef and Witches Brew. Due to safety concerns, the formerly known “Toilet Bowl” is now completely closed to the public. Make sure to ask for the reef map when you arrive at the Hanauma Bay Visitors Center.

If you’re visiting Oahu and staying in the Waikiki or Honolulu area, there are many round-trip shuttles and bulk tours for visiting Hanauma Bay. All children under 12 years old, active military, and Hawaii State residents (with a valid State issued ID) can visit the park for free.

Guests can enjoy the calm sail out to sea aboard a catamaran. While en route, it’s entirely possible to view playful Spinner Dolphins frolicking, skipping, and playing on the ocean surface. Upon arrival at Turtle Canyons, guests will surely enjoy gorgeous South Oahu views and forward-facing views of the dramatic and picturesque Diamond Head Crater.

The best time to snorkel at Turtle Canyons is in the morning hours when the water is crystal clear, and ocean conditions are at their calmest. Snorkeling at this site offers many fantastic opportunities to see an abundance of Hawaiian green sea turtles and other marine life in their natural habitats. The reef is pristine and it’s full of tropical fish varieties like Moorish idols, flyingfish, wrasse (turtle shell cleaners), triggerfish, humuhumunukunukuapua’a, and more.

Please note that there are actually two locations on Oahu called “Turtle Canyons.” The second location is near Kaneohe Bay on Oahu’s Windward side. It’s only accessible by boat, and it’s not a location suggested for beginner snorkelers.

Manta Ray Village has only been in existence since the Kona Surf Hotel opened in the early 1970s (it’s now the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa). Hotel builders had an incredible idea to provide an illuminated view of the ocean during the evening, so they installed bright floodlights directed towards the sea. At the time, the hotel wasn’t aware that the lights would become a “beacon” for plankton. Plankton happens to be the primary food source for Manta Rays, so soon after the plankton arrived, the Manta Rays followed.

Manta Ray Village is now world-famous for being one of the few places on earth to watch Manta Rays feeding in their natural environment.

When snorkeling at Manta Ray Village in Kona, guests typically depart around sunset for a 1.5-2 hour cruise. Professional tour guides will brief snorkelers about Manta Ray behavior and what to expect, and provide safety information. On any given night, snorkelers can see and swim with anywhere from 3 to 25 Manta Rays.

Guests can access Mauna Kea Beach through the Mauna Kea Hotel gates. If you want to snorkel here, make sure to arrive early because the hotel limits how many parking passes they give out each day.

Once you get to the beach, try to find a spot near either end of the beach, whichever seems to be more enticing to you. Snorkeling at Mauna Kea Beach is best closer to the rocky points, and water access is typically an easy swim down a sandy slope on the ocean floor. On the right side of the beach, we suggest that you hug the side of the rocky point to get up close and personal with the marine life tucked into the rock wall crevices. If you are a strong swimmer and an experienced snorkeler, explore about 20-30 feet away from the rock wall to view some stunning coral gardens.

While snorkeling at Mauna Kea Beach, guests can expect to see damselfish, eel, yellowtail goatfish, freckled hawkfish, Moorish idol, bullet-nose, and star-eye parrotfish, surgeonfish, yellow and lavender tang, wrasse cleaners, unicornfish, and more depending on the time of year. It’s also common to see the Hawaiian green sea turtles at Mauna Kea Beach.

This Big Island snorkeling spot is referred to by locals as “City of Refuge” because of the historical significance of the location. Looming above Honaunau Bay is the Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park. It’s a 180+ acre federal park reserve where ancient Hawaiians took refuge and were deemed safe. It was a sanctuary for warriors who had been defeated, lawbreakers, and those who were in poor standing.

When planning to snorkel at City of Refuge, the best suggestion is to arrive early! The best time to snorkel here is definitely in the morning (8-11am). Later in the afternoon, this side of the island tends to get some overcast cloudy conditions which will inevitably take away from the underwater clarity of the ocean.

City of Refuge has one of the most beautiful lava rock flats and coral reef formations for Big Island snorkeling. In the morning, the lava rock flats are about the same level as the waterline, so it’s pretty fun to make use of them like chairs. The incredible amount of coral reef life is like a magnet for tropical fish, so the bay is abundant with them. Here, you can watch Hawaiian green sea turtles being cleaned by wrasse fish, and see parrotfish varieties, Moray eels, jacks, tang, and butterflyfish. Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for Hawaiian spinner dolphins.

Known as one of the best snorkel sites in the Hawaiian Islands, Kealakekua is home to a myriad of rare and endemic Hawaii marine life. The water is calm and clear with visibility up to 100 feet. Coral varieties appear in purples and pinks and at certain times of the year, the coral reef almost seems to be in technicolor format.

While snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay, visitors should first understand how significant this area is for Hawaiian culture, history, and marine life ecology. Expect to see schools of small reef fish, butterflyfish and tang varieties, Moorish idol, goatfish, parrotfish, triggerfish, wrasse, trumpetfish, Hawaiian green sea turtles, hawksbill sea turtles, eagle rays, and more.

South Kona snorkel sites are all incredible and unique in their own ways. Each offers a micro-experience of the Big Island’s underwater world. There are vibrantly colored coral reef formations, underwater sea caves, sea arches, lava rock canyons, ridges, and lava fingers that head out to sea.

Within all of these unique South Kona locations, snorkelers can see a host of Hawaii marine life lavishing in the luxury of their natural habitat. This is definitely not to be missed!

Even during the calmest months, Kauai is known to have rogue waves and strong summer swells, so be careful, and NEVER turn your back to the ocean! A great way to enjoy snorkeling in safety on Kauai is by taking a snorkel tour with professional guides.

Located right next to the Marriott Beach Club, this spot offers lifeguards, activity rental booths, restrooms, showers, places to grab a snack and drinks, and many more conveniences. Visitors here will surely love the white sandy shores and gorgeous ocean conditions.

While snorkeling at Poipu, keep your eyes peeled for the Hawaiian monk seals as this is one of their favorite spots to visit in Kauai. You may also see Hawaiian green sea turtles at Poipu, so remember to watch from afar, and do not touch either of these Hawaii marine animals. More marine life can be found at Poipu, including spinner dolphins and manta rays, and there’s also a host of tropical fish including goatfish, eel, wrasse, surgeonfish, parrotfish, and sea cucumbers.

Please note that during the winter months, this area may have high surf and strong currents. Please follow all warning signs, and never turn your back on the ocean.

At Ke’e Beach, you’ll find that the setting is utterly breathtaking and the water is divine. During the late spring and summer, Ke’e is an ideal location for beginner snorkelers. There’s an incredible selection of marine life to observe, and it’s also possible to see Hawaiian green sea turtles.

While snorkeling, be sure to remain near the visible reef that fronts the beach entry. Reef fish are found near the seabed; visitors can easily spot triggerfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, filefish, saddle wrasse, and surgeonfish.

Water entry is via the sandy beach, so there’s no need for water shoes. Watch out for rocks as you enter the water, and put on your snorkel flippers upon entry. The best place to snorkel at Lawai Beach is in the small bay that’s between the beach and protected reef. As you reach the protected reef, the water clarity improves, and the reef comes alive. A favorite spot to snorkel is along the rocks that are below the restaurant. Ocean depths range from 3 to 16 feet. Although it feels like a protected area, always remember to never turn your back on the ocean.

When underway at Lawai Beach, snorkelers will see lots of reef fish like spotted boxfish, damselfish, goatfish, butterflyfish, groupers, Moorish idol, crocodile needlefish, triggerfish and tang varieties, wrasse and more. If you search near the ocean bed, look for blue rice and cauliflower coral; this is where you can spot sea cucumbers and sea urchin. Be very careful not to step on the reef as it’s sharp and extremely fragile.

The best time of the year to enjoy a Na Pali Coast snorkel tour is during the spring and summer months. Tours can take guests to in-the-know caves and beaches, and snorkelers are guaranteed to see multitudes of marine life in their natural habitat. It’s possible to see Hawaiian green sea turtles, spinner dolphins, tropical sea birds, flying fish, a wide variety of tropical fish, vibrantly colored corals, and an abundance of reef life.

Many boat tour companies operate tours to the Na Pali Coast, including small group, large group, and private charters for Na Pali Coast snorkeling. Visitors can easily find many options on catamarans, sailing charters, and rafts. As they say, “the world is your oyster.”

Na Pali Coast snorkel tours usually embark in the morning hours and are typically 4-6 hours. Tours offer snorkel instruction, safety information, meals, refreshments, snorkel gear, flotation devices, freshwater showers, restrooms, videography services, and more.