Where to go snorkelling in Oahu

by Mihai Pinzariu on September 25, 2019

Snorkelers hitting up Oahu are in for a real treat. There’s tonnes to discover from the shores of the beaches themselves, without the need for fancy boat trips and day excursions.

Snorkelers of all levels, as well as kids, can easily access the abundance of tropical sea and coral life on this island, with each beach having its own thing to offer. Expect to see lots of stunning views and topography, unique sea life populations, and everything from hustle and bustle to peaceful tranquility.

It’s worth noting that Oahu is an extremely popular tourist destination and has a huge population compared to other Hawaiian islands. For that reason, the health of the sea and coral life here isn’t as great as it is on other islands. That said, there’s still a lot to enjoy from the mountain ranges, the turquoise waters, and the great atmosphere. So here’s where you’ll find the best places to go snorkeling in Oahu!

Fish in Oahu:

  • Barracuda, Butterfly Fish, Damselfish, Coris, Cornetfish, Eels, Goatfish, Gray Drummers, Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins, Moray Eels, Needlefish, Parrotfish, Squid, Surgeonfish, Turtles, Unicorn Fish, Wrasse, and more.

Corals in Oahu:

  • Blue Rice, Cauliflower, Lobe, Mound, Thick Finger, Sandpaper Rice, and lots more.

Best places to snorkel in Oahu

Ka’ena Point State Park

Where: Western Oahu
Details: A beautiful beach that’s quieter than others in Oahu, here you can snorkel on white sand beaches with mountain views all to yourself. There aren’t as many varieties of fish here as other snorkel sites in Oahu, but there is lots of unique marine life to discover, and it’s worth it for the peace and quiet.

Information:

  • The swells on this beach may be too strong for kids and beginner snorkelers, so only hit the waves on a calm day.

Facilities:

  • Showers, bathrooms, and lifeguards on-site.

Kahe Point

Where: Kapolei
Details: Crystal clear blue waters with some of the best visibility in Oahu, Kahe Point is home of Oahu’s largest fish populations. The waters here are warmer than out in the open ocean thanks to a nearby electric plant, attracting unique sea life that makes for great snorkeling. Protip: Kahe Point is a resting ground for Hawaiian spinner dolphins. That’s right, dolphins! Keep an eye out for these beauties resting in the calm waters with their young.

Information:

  • This snorkel site isn’t recommended for children or beginners as it requires a bit of swimming and the waves and currents can be difficult.

Hanauma Bay

Where: Waikiki
Details: This is one of the world’s most visited snorkeling spots with over 3,000 visitors a day! If you don’t mind sharing the water with thousands of other snorkelers (and fish), Hanauma Bay is definitely worth a visit. There is a huge variety and lots of fish here, and they’re used to human interaction – meaning you can sneak in some good photos! The beach itself is beautiful but due to its popularity, the health of the coral life isn’t the best. If you’re after vibrant colours then this may not be the best spot, but if you want fish then this is it!

Information:

  • There is a $5 entry fee per person when entering the park (free for under 13 and Hawaiian residents with ID).
  • You can snorkel from anywhere along the beach, but try to enter from the sand as the reef can extend straight onto the beach.
  • For more information on snorkeling in Hanauma Bay and the kinds of sea life you can expect to see, this is a great article.

Facilities:

  • Showers and bathrooms on-site.

Ko Olina Lagoons

Where: Kapolei
Details: These beautiful lagoons are a great spot for beginner snorkelers and kids, making a great family snorkel destination in Oahu. The waters are very calm and protected, and you’ll still get to enjoy all the fish and some turtle life – though there isn’t any reef or corals to see here. You will, however see urchins, barracuda, goatfish, wrasse, and other sea life.

Information:

  • There are four lagoons to explore with trails connecting each,
  • There are also a few resorts around the area, which means it can tend to be crowded – if you’re after quiet snorkeling time, you won’t find it here!

Facilities:

  • Showers and bathrooms available at each of the lagoons.

Kuilima Cove

Where: North Oahu, next to Turtle Bay Resort
Details: One of Oahu’s most peaceful and sheltered snorkel spots, this beach is perfect for beginners and those wanting a quieter time away from all the tourists. The cove is protected by a natural rock barrier on either side, making for calm waters with great visibility. You’ll find lots of corals on the seabed and an abundance of fish and sea life – the waters are so calm and clear here you’ll feel like you’re swimming in an aquarium as you float amongst needlefish, goat fish, and more.

Information:

  • This spot is also known as ‘Bayview Beach’.

Facilities:

  • There is a beachside hotel offering food and drinks as well as shower and bathroom facilities.

Sharks Cove

Where: Pupukea
Details: Rated as one of the best shore dives in the world by Scuba Diving Magazine, this rocky beach has calm waters and lots of sea life to discover. The best spots to snorkel are along the boulders and cliff walls surrounding the cove, where you’ll find small caves and lots of parrotfish, damselfish, eels, turtles, and more. While this is one of Oahu’s best snorkel sites and most popular beaches, always check for swells on the day and beware of currents.

Information:

  • The entrance to the beach is quite rocky and conditions can be dangerous for young children, it’s better to have them wade in the tide pools on the south side of the cove.

Facilities:

  • Bathrooms and showers on-site,
  • Lots of shops nearby.

Three Tables

Where: Haleiwa
Details: Beautiful waters for snorkeling, a quiet shoreline, and some of Oahu’s best soft corals are waiting to be discovered at this spot. Three Tables is named after the three table-like coral formation that lie in the water just off the beach, and that’s where all the snorkeling happens. There’s interesting topography, colorful corals (although patchy), and a good fish population to swim amongst. You’ll find the usual fish as well as the chance to spot squid, turtles, coris, cornetfish, moray eels, gray drummers, and more.

Information:

  • Try to stay near the tables when snorkeling this spot, as it it’s quite easy to move away from them due to the current. That said, beware that the surge doesn’t push you over the top of the tables – your best bet is to stay between them and the beach! You’ll still get all the views.

Facilities:

  • Bathrooms, picnic areas, and water on-site.
 

The Ninja Shark full face snorkel masks makes your experiences the best they can be. They are exclusively sold on the Ninja Shark website.

The Ninja Shark full face snorkel masks comes equipped with advanced Anti-Fog technology, automatic drainage, no CO2 Buildup with improved uni-directional valves, and a revolutionary breathe flow system so you can breathe through both your nose and mouth.





“If you thought we’re just here to sell you products, think again. You’re part of the Ninja Shark family, and your feedback matters! We’re constantly working to improve our products and deliver the full face snorkel mask that exists only in our dreams!”

What customers are saying about us…

“Awesome set.

Loved the complete set. I even used the waterproof phone pouch to take photos and videos underwater. It made my Fiji experience so much better than using the free snorkel set that hurt your face after 2hours and leaving a sun/mask mark. The ninja leaves no marks and gives great vision under water in comparison. It did take some getting used to but it definitely paid off! Only frustration is that the tightening straps are quite basic; they should be much simpler to loosen and tighten both in and out of water.” – Jock

Try our line of snorkelling and swimming gear
by Ninja Shark! You’ll love it.

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Based on 1482 reviews
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B
Electra - Full Face Snorkel Mask
Bolang C. (Perth, AU)
Great design

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Clear as day

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Whole family loves the NinjaShark Snorkel mask.

R
Lifetime Warranty
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M
Package: Dry Snorkel (Set + Fins + Bag)
Mermaid M. (Townsville, AU)
Mermaid

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Took it to Tahiti

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Life changing

I do love my full face snorkel.. the freedom of nose breathing under the water.. the meditative and relaxative effect of this snorkeling is unexpected and great. Fits so well.. comfy to wear for long time.. highly recommend

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Diving Dry Snorkel Set with GoPro mount
jomm11 (Brisbane, AU)
Super quality & fit

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I wasn't sure how the 3 year old would go with it, but he was comfortable in it almost immediately, and spent hours swimming around and seeing a whole new world of underwater scenery.

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N
Electra - Full Face Snorkel Mask
Nick J. (Brisbane, AU)
mask swimming

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S
Electra - Full Face Snorkel Mask
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I got one for the 3 year old and one for the 5 year old, I thought maybe the 3 year old would get the hang of it eventually but they both loved it and mastered it pretty quickly. We’ve only used in the swimming pool, excited to go snorkeling in the ocean soon. Great product.

S
Lifetime Warranty
Sarah B. (Surfers Paradise, AU)
Love it!

Amazing product ! Have the electra package, kids love it. So easy to use. Highly recommend

J
Diving Dry Snorkel Set with GoPro mount
Jennifer M. (Brisbane, AU)
Love it

Bought these for myself and my husband after getting the full face masks for the kids, and they were so good we’re getting them for the rest of the extended family for Xmas. The fact u can dive down and not get water down ur snorkel is a brilliant bonus! Makes our family holidays much easier and better without snorkel dramas!

This made our holiday

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The photo is us snorkelling off Amadee Island looking for turtles!

My kids love them

I’ve got three of these masks for my younger kids, however the oldest wants one too as the young ones rave about how good the are.

Summer Family Fun

Our Ninja masks have made snorkelling as a whole family very easy and enjoyable. The kids (and parents) find them super easy to use and have allowed us as a family of five to snorkel for longer than we ever could using traditional snorkel gear. I would highly recommend these masks.

G
Lifetime Warranty
Geri D. (Sydney, AU)
Lifetime warranty

Glad I have but haven’t needed to use .. yet

Great Mask

Love this mask. Kids find it so much easier snorkelling with the Ninja Shark. The snorkel mask is super clear and doesn’t fog up. The adjustable straps are great and easy to loosen and tighten. Very happy that we made the decision to get these for the kids.

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awsome

we used our new masks over the weekend. they were amazing, my daughter barely had her head out of the water all day.

L
Lifetime Warranty
Lina J. (Gold Coast, AU)
life warranty

This is great! More stores should do it!

O
Lifetime Warranty
Olivia (Perth, AU)
Fantastic snorkel!

Our 5 year old has never snorkelled. Put it on and was snorkelling no problem straight away! Easy for him to put on and off by himself. We bought the full package with flippers (also amazing and he can put them on by himself) and the two wet bags. The foldable snorkel is so handy for storing while we are travelling. And the lifetime warranty gives us great comfort that we can use it for future trips! We are so impressed with this product I’m going to get mum and dad one too!

Kids snorkel

It is a lot easier for the younger children to have fun and snorkel without worrying about their nose breathing. My 6 year old swims confidently and happily.