Snorkeling in Hawaii

The islands of Hawaii offer an abundance of natural beauty, matched by only a few other areas in the world. Even more enticing is how accessible the area is to travelers from mainland U.S. and Canada.

Spinner dolphins and other types can be sighted in the waters off of Hawaii Island.

Hawaii Island
Hawaii Island has more miles of coastline than any other Hawaiian Island, attracting locals and visitors alike to its gentle, clear blue waters.

On the west side, the Kona Coast, Kealakekua Bay and Honaunau Bay are famous for visibility and calm waters, protected from the winds by Maunaloa. You’ll have a chance to see Hawaiian spinner dolphins, and along the protected shoreline of Ka’awaloa, you can snorkel alongside turtles, eels, reef sharks and rays.

Further south, for snorkeling opportunities on the Kohala Coast, visit Hapuna Beach, one of the island’s most expansive white sand beaches and chance to spot migrating whales.

The island’s east side has a handful of spots that are great for beginning snorkelers. This includes Hilo’s Leleiwi Beach, where protective lava rock walls surround the area, creating a calm spot to explore and see tropical fish and Hawaiian green sea turtles.

Humuhumunukunukuapa a’a is Hawaii's state fish.

Kauai
On Kauai’s south shore is the shallow-water lagoon at Poipu Beach, home to monk seals, blue parrotfish, sea cucumbers and Hawaii’s state fish: humuhumunukunukuapuaa. (Forget 10 times—try saying that one time fast!) During the migrating season, you may see humpbacks offshore.

Hanamua Bay on Oahu.

Oahu
Shark’s Cove (misnamed, as sharks aren’t common here), a rocky bay with clear, shallow waters, is one of the top snorkeling and shore-diving spots in the world. Located on Oahu’s North Shore, the small rocky bay’s bottom is made up of large, smooth boulders and coral heads forming small caves and ledges for abundant marine life, while the walls of the surrounding cliffs provide calmer water attracting schooling surface fish. On the south side of Sharks Cove are the Pupukea tide pools; a great place for children and adults to wade and explore.

Sans Souci, near Waikiki, and the Kō Olina lagoons on the island's Leeward Coast are perfect place for kids just starting out. You can also hop on a snorkel tour or boat charter and let guides help you discover what lies beneath the waters offshore. The volcanic crater on Oahu’s east side that makes up Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is a marine life conservation area sheltered from ocean swells and packed full of damsel fish, squirrel fish, porcupine fish, and trumpet fish.

Molokini Crater is off the coast of Maui.

Maui
Just 3 miles off the Maui's southwestern coast is Molokini Crater, a small, crescent moon-shaped island, where crystal-clear waters support an extraordinary diversity of marine life (more than 250 species of tropical fish!). Named a State Marine Life and Bird Conservation District, Molokini is accessible only by boat tour, but well worth the short trip, as a dip beneath the waves reveals a whole new world.
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About the Author: The above piece was written by T. Foster Jones, a guest travel blogger, and Costco enthusiast.