Hawaii Snorkel Tours Head the List of Popular Activities in the Islands!

Hawaii snorkeling is by far the single most popular category of activities to be found in Hawaii. One reason for this is that snorkeling in Hawaii is often a component of many different types of tours found on any individual island such as many of the dolphin watches, whale watches, diving tours, raft excursions and even in some cases dinner cruises. It seems that whenever island visitors have an opportunity to get out on the water they want to take advantage of the occasion to snorkel in Hawaii as well, and for good reason. Hawaii's warm waters, excellent visibility, beautiful coral reefs and abundance of tropical sea life provide large magnets luring visitors into the water.

Each island has its own unique Hawaii snorkeling spots with its own specific advantages. On Kauai the snorkeling along the Na Pali Coastline also affords the visitor an amazing vantage point from which to view this dramatic coastline as well as likely see generous quantities of dolphins. Oahu's western coastline also provides a great location to include copious quantities of dolphins with your snorkeling and snorkeling on Oahu's windward coastline will give you an opportunity to visit the Mokulua Islands and enjoy a kayak outing as well. Participating in a Hawaii snorkel on Maui will in many cases be defined by an outing to Molokini. The marine reserve of Honolua on Maui is also a fantastic place to snorkel in the summer months. The island of Lanai's eastern coast offers perhaps the longest continuous reef suitable for Hawaii snorkeling tours in the state and of course it has the protected marine reserve at Manele Bay. On the Big Island you can combine rafting and kayak tours with your Hawaii snorkel adventure and the quantity of fish found in these waters is generally considered the most for any Hawaii snorkel location.

Snorkeling in Hawaii is Fun and Easy To Learn!

If you are not an accomplished snorkeler this should not be a concern for you. By far, most people participating on a Hawaii snorkel tour are doing it for the first time or have snorkeled infrequently in the past. Each snorkel trip will include a brief snorkel lesson before getting into the water and additional help is always provided by crew during the excursion. Masks and fins are also provided as well however you are always encouraged to bring your own snorkel gear if you wish. It does not take long to become proficient in your Hawaii snorkel experience and most people will find themselves comfortable in the water after a very short time.

The Hawaii sea life you can expect to see on your Hawaii snorkel will vary greatly with the location you choose to snorkel. Dolphins, whales, manta rays and Monk Seals are seen with regularity dependent upon the time of year and location of the snorkel. A long list of Hawaiian reef fish will enrich your snorkel outing. Once again, dependent upon which island and which specific snorkel location you choose, here is a list of Hawaiian reef fish you might see: Angelfish, Barracuda, Blenny, Bonefish, Boxfish, Butterfly Fish, Cardinalfish, eel, Damselfish, Worm fish, Dart fish, Dolphin fish, Filefish, Flag tail, Frogfish, Goatfish, Goby, Grouper, Hawkfish, Round herring, Infant fish, Ulua, Hawaiian Dwarf Flounder, Lizard fish, Marlin, Spearfish, Moonfish, Moorish Idol, Moray, Mullet, Needlefish, Parrotfish, Pearl fish, Pipefish, Seahorse, Porcupine fish, Burr fish, Puffer, Remora, Sand perch, Sardine, Scorpionfish, Lionfish, Shark, Snapper, Sole, Squirrelfish, Soldier Fish, Surgeonfish, Unicornfish, Tang, Swordfish, Tilapia, Trevalley, Triggerfish, Tuna, and Wrasse.

Best Hawaii Snorkeling

Keep in mind that it is not necessary for you to snorkel with a tour group to have a great Hawaii snorkeling experience. If you are a beginning snorkeler it is probably a wise choice to begin your snorkel career under the supervision of a professional experienced in these matters but you could also have a great time and a great snorkel experience heading off on your own to some of the best snorkel beaches in Hawaii. You will need to be careful however and mindful that swimming on your own has its own inherent dangers and it is best to ask a life guard or a knowledgeable individual you trust who knows the area before you decide to snorkel it on your own. That being said however, some of the best snorkeling in Hawaii can be found at the following locations: On Maui, Honolua and Kapalua Bay, Black Rock on Kaanapali and of course Molokini but to snorkel here you will have to take a boat tour. On the Big Island, great locations are Kahalu'u Beach, City of Refuge and Mauna Kea Beach. On Oahu: Hanauma Bay and Sharks Cove. On Kauai: although there are some good locations here dependent upon the conditions, Kauai in our opinion can be too dangerous a place to snorkel on any given day in order to make a general recommendation.

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The Big Island of Hawaii has a number of different boats that offer snorkeling tours. Many of them cruise the coast off Kona down to Capt. Cook. Most of the boats offer morning and afternoon trips and one trip even offers "night snorkeling" to see the giant Manta Rays. Some of the most beautiful snorkeling to be found anywhere in the State of Hawaii can be found in the colorful waters off the Kona Coast. …(more info)

Kauai's coastline is both varied and beautiful ranging from the more gentle inlets and coves of the Poipu and South Shore region to the dramatic, isolated and incredible shoreline of the Na Pali Coast. In addition, you can also snorkel at the "Forbidden Island" of Niihau. Aside from the fish and beautiful scenery you can also expect to see dolphins and perhaps a Hawaiian Monk seal on Kauai. During the winter months on Kauai you will also have the opportunity to see the humpback whales. …(more info)

There's a reason people love snorkeling on Maui. The ocean waters surrounding Maui and its neighbor islands of Lanai and Molokini are comfortably warm, have great visibility (often in excess of 100 feet), and are teeming with beautiful coral formations and colorful tropical fish. Once again, the best time to schedule these snorkeling excursions on Maui is generally in the morning when the ocean is calm and the winds are gentle. …(more info)

Great Oahu snorkeling spots can be found off the coast of Waikiki and Honolulu but many excellent snorkel areas can be found off the coast of Waianae, Kailua, and Haleiwa as well. One such trip takes you over the mountains through the Pali Tunnel to Kaneohe Bay where you'll sail to a sand bar that overlooks the film site of Gilligan's Island and the picturesque island called Chinaman's Hat. There are numerous snorkeling boats on Oahu and many will include round-trip transportation from your Waikiki hotel. …(more info)