Best Beaches in Oahu for Snorkeling (Get Your Snorkel On)

Hawaii is a popular place for snorkeling for all ages. It doesn’t matter if you’re a great swimmer or like to keep your feet on the shore, you’ll be able to enjoy many snorkeling adventures in Oahu.

Taking things under water opens your eyes to the wonderful marine life in our oceans and Oahu is a perfect destination for this activity.

But which are the best beaches in Oahu for snorkeling? Let’s find out.

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Kaneohe Bay – Ahu O Laka

Kaneohe Bay, otherwise known as Ahu O Laka is the biggest natural saltwater sandbar in the world.

It’s a tremendous location for snorkeling due to being surrounded by a coral reef, which protects it.

The only way to get here is by boat, and so you’ll see all sorts of marine life away from the shore. What this means is that your snorkeling experience is pretty private.

You can either hire your own boat or book onto a snorkeling excursion.

If you choose to book a tour, you’ll be given everything you need for a great experience:

life jackets
fins
a mask
and a snorkel

An organized excursion will also mean you can take part in activities like volleyball on the sandbar, a lunchtime boat barbecue, and awesome turtle watching.

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Hanauma Bay

Palm trees, turquoise water, white sand, and stunning scenery greets you at Hanauma Bay. This is Hawaii’s most popular beach for snorkeling and it’s also one of the most beautiful.

Your snorkeling experience here is simply wonderful. The Nature Preserve is home to Oahu’s most diverse collection of fish and seeing them couldn’t be easier.

Thanks to the shallow and calm water, this spot is the best place for beginners and children to snorkel safely.

However, Hanauma Bay isn’t the sort of place where you can turn up unannounced.

There are limits on the number of visitors allowed per day and so reserving your spot is a must. You can reserve from 48 hours in advance.

Waimea Bay Beach

One of Oahu’s best north shore beaches is Waimea Bay Beach.

The summer will bring calm waters that are ideal for snorkeling and swimming. You’ll find beautiful sandy beaches and blue waters with great visibility.

One thing to be a little wary of here is the water depth. The shallow runs out quick quickly so it’s not the best spot for weak swimmers.

You’ll also want to skip this beach in winter unless you switch to surfing as the waves reach 30 feet!

For the more daring, there’s also a rock you can dive off too!

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Shark’s Cove

If you’re not too bothered about white sandy beaches for your snorkeling experience then the rocky Shark’s Cove is a great spot.

Don’t worry, though, you won’t come across any sharks – the cove’s name is down to the shark-shaped reef!

You will, however, see lots of marine life, including sea turtles.

Like Waimea Bay Beach, you’ll want to avoid Shark’s Cove during the surfing season, which is from October to April. The waves in summer, however, are tame.

Kuilima Cove

This snorkeling spot is close to the North Shore’s Turtle Bay Resort but unlike typical beaches in this area, it is serene and sheltered, which means it’s an excellent snorkeling location.

There are rock barriers around the cove, which means the waters are calm all year round.

The water is shallow and has excellent visibility, which means it’s perfect for beginners and children.

Turtle Beach – Laniakea Beach

If you want to see turtles, the best spot for this is Laniakea Beach, which is also known as Turtle Beach.

Though you’re forbidden to get close to or touch the turtles by law, you’ll get to see them as they go about their day here.

The Green Sea Turtles in Hawaii eat algae and seagrass in and around the reefs first thing then by noon they’ll bask on the beach.

Due to the number of turtles and visitors wanting to see them, Laniakea Beach does get crowded in summer and it can be hard to park.

Mokulua Islands

The Mokes, as they’re affectionately known, are a pair of islands of the east coast of Oahu, just across from Kailua Beach.

Though the Mokulua Islands aren’t specifically known for being a snorkeling hotspot, their islets and coral offshores provide a great home to a diverse range of marine life, including turtles.

Ka’ena Point State Park

If you want a remote snorkeling sport away from the crows, Ka’ena Point State Park might be the perfect destination for you.

The only way to get there is by hiking. It’s the place of many Hawaiian legends too, which makes it even more exciting.

This isn’t really a beach, though there is a small strip of beach but it’s a great place to observe humuhumunukunukuapuaa, the state fish of Hawaii.

Kahe Point Beach Park – Electric Beach

Electric Beach as it’s often nicknamed, is great for experienced and adventurous snorkelers.

You’ll see amazing schools of fish around the corals as well as:

blue spine
parrotfish
unicorn fish
and bullethead

If you’re lucky enough, you might also spot turtles, dolphins, and rays too.

It’s worth noting that the waters here have strong under currents and so it’s not the best place for beginners or weak swimmers. It’s also a good idea to snorkel alongside someone else too.

The reason for its nickname ‘Electric Beach’ is due to the electric power station right opposite.

This makes it a really unique snorkeling spots because the water is warmer thanks to underwater cooling pipes coming off the power plant.

This extra warmth (it’s a few degrees warmer than the rest of the ocean) brings all sorts of marine life to the shores.

Final thoughts on the best beaches in Oahu for snorkeling

So there you have it, nine of the best beaches in Oahu for snorkeling. We’ve covered something for everyone here.

Hikers who want a remote snorkeling experience can head to Ka’ena Point State Park, those who want to try out warmer waters can head to Electric Beach aka Kahe Point Beach Park, and beginners and young families can head to Kuilima Cove for a spot of safe, shallow snorkeling.