The 5 Best Snorkeling Spots on Oʻahu in 2024

Here are five of your favorite snorkeling spots on Oʻahu. Photo: Getty Images/Bicho_raro

Snorkeling is like a stained-glass window into a world under the sea. The best part about it is, there is no expensive equipment or training needed. Anyone can jump in and experience a kaleidoscope of magnificent, tropical fish going about their day. Over 5 million people visit Oʻahu’s stunning, sandy coastlines and clear crystal water every year. Beaches on Oʻahu are a snorkeler’s paradise, but the best places can be tricky to find. Thankfully, our readers spilled the beans on their favorite spots. Here are the winners of the best snorkeling spots on Oʻahu, according to our 2024 HAWAIʻI Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards.

Hanauma Bay on Oʻahu. Photo: Getty Images/M Swiet Productions

It’s not surprising that Hanauma Bay tops the list as the best snorkeling spot. This protected state park works hard to preserve this precious habitat. This bay is brimming with over 450 species of gorgeously, patterned, prismatic Hawaiian fish. Here you can download a 68-page guide from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) filled with over 100 species you’ll find in the Bay. Reservations are required for island visitors, you must reserve tickets two days in advance. Tickets sell out quickly, so be ready to push the buy button at 7 a.m HST. When entering the park, visitors are required to watch a short, informative video teaching how to snorkel safely and not damage the reef below. Tips—like never touch or walk on the coral and don’t touch sea turtles—help to keep the reefs safe from 1,400 visitors every day. Hanauma Bay is a great place for families since it’s protected on three sides from currents, waves and rip tides. The park is closed on Monday and Tuesday to give the fish have a break from visitors.

The tidepools at Shark’s Cove. Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Sharks Cove on Oʻahu’s North Shore boast tide pools and underwater caves, making this the perfect spot for families of swimmers with different experience levels. A lava rock barrier creates a shallow area within the lagoon, perfect for children. Located on the world-famous North Shore, it’s ideal to go during the summer when waves are calm if you’ll be snorkeling out of the lagoon area. The protected tide pool is safe most of the year. No sharks actually live here. Look for octopus, honu (Hawaiian green sea turtles), fish and coral. Don’t forget your water shoes, slick, algae-covered, sharp rocks will be underfoot. An amazing off shore scuba site is just past the rocks for those ready for more of a challenge.

READ MORE: Everything You Need To Know about Shark’s Cove

The lagoons at Ko ʻOlina. Photo: Getty Images/Douglas Peebles

Ko ʻOlina Lagoons are located near a few high-end resorts on the southwest side of the island. These manmade lagoons look like jellyfish from above and are protected from ocean currents, creating a happy, marine environment for fish and children. All four lagoons have free parking, but spots fill up early during weekends and the high season. This area is also stroller friendly with a wide, paved walkway from lagoon to lagoon and plenty of clean bathrooms along the way. Pretty, manicured green space gives sunbathers’ soft spaces under the trees between snorkel sessions. The west-facing lagoons create a breathtaking spot for vibrant sunsets. FYI: You can’t bring beach umbrellas and tents.

READ MORE: Your Family-Friendly Guide to West Oʻahu

Kahe Point, also known as Electric Beach. Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

The shore of this beach might not wow you. But, once in the water, it does not disappoint. A crystal clear, glimmering world filled with schools and rainbows of glowing, glittery fish, eels and dolphins; amazing visibility opens up your world of possibilities. Kahe Point isn’t as well known as the others on our list, making it the perfect place to avoid crowds. It’s nicknamed Electric Beach by locals because of a power plant nearby, which dumps the clean water used to cool the power plant into the ocean. The now-warm water draws tons of sea creatures to this spot, including spinner dolphins, monk seals, rays, turtles and hundreds of varieties of fish. On the southern side of the beach, about 300 to 600 feet out, you’ll find a deep-water reef. Unlike the last three beaches, Electric Beach is recommended for stronger swimmers, not for young children. Pay attention to currents, they can be strong. The city installed a lifeguard tower in 2023, so lifeguards are on duty from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The Pupukea Marine Life Conservation District, where Three Tables is located, on Oʻahu. Photo: Getty Images/LanaCanada

Named for its three, table-like coral structures, it’s located just south of Shark’s Cove on the island’s North Shore. Both are part of the Marine Life Conservation District, an area that’s protected for its incredible fish and coral gardens. This area is best during the summer months when the water is calm. This area is shallow, with a gradual depth creating a space for all swimming abilities. The base of the table formations creates a beautiful world for marine life where one can find seahorses, parrotfish, turtles and an abundance of coral. Tide pools emerge as the tide goes out brimming with spiny urchins and sea stars for little explorers.

Categories: Adventure, Adventure, Beaches, Best of Blog, Best of the Best, Family, First-Time, From Our Magazine, Oʻahu, O‘ahu What To Do