Photo: NASA, Public domainWatch turtles graze in knee-deep water, float over a sunken crater on Maui, meet manta rays on the Kona coast at night and swim a north shore reef on Kauai. Each island has its own season, so pick the coast that is calm on your dates.
Each of Hawaii's four main snorkeling islands rewards a different trip. Oahu is the easiest, with a protected reserve at Hanauma Bay, Waikiki turtles and summer North Shore coves. Maui has the boat trip to Molokini crater and the south shore reef at Makena where turtles feed. The Big Island has the clearest water, the Kona coast and the night manta snorkel. Kauai has the long north shore reef at Tunnels and the Na Pali Coast by boat.
The water stays in the high 70s to low 80s F all year, so season is about swell, not temperature. In summer the north and east shores are calm. In winter, big swells move you to the south and west shores, and humpback whales arrive.
Know the rules before you pack. Hawaii has banned the sale of sunscreen containing oxybenzone and octinoxate since 2021, Maui County only allows mineral sunscreen, and wildlife distances apply on every beach. Visitors also account for most of the state's snorkel drownings, so choose calm beaches and use a conventional mask.
Tap a spot to see what it is like, then open its guide or get directions.
Tap a card for spotting tips and the Guardian rule for each animal. Filter by what you most want to meet.
The turtle you are most likely to meet. Greens graze on algae over shallow reef and rest under ledges. In Hawaii they are protected and very used to snorkelers.
Spotting tip: Scan the rocky edges where waves wash over algae, and sandy cleaning stations where fish pick at their shells.
Guardian rule: Stay at least 10 ft away. Never block a turtle's path to the surface.
Chelonia mydas
One of the most endangered seals on Earth, found only in Hawaii. Monk seals haul out on beaches to rest and sometimes swim past snorkelers near shore.
Guardian rule: Stay at least 50 ft away on land and in the water, and 150 ft from a mother and pup. Disturbing them is a federal offense.
Neomonachus schauinslandi
Slender dolphins famous for leaping and spinning. They rest in calm Hawaiian bays by day after feeding offshore at night, which is why the law protects their daytime rest.
Guardian rule: Federal law bans swimming with or approaching spinner dolphins within 50 yards in Hawaii.
Stenella longirostris
Thousands of humpbacks winter in Hawaii to mate and calve, mostly from December to April. Snorkelers often hear their songs underwater, especially off Maui.
Spotting tip: Put your head underwater and listen. The song carries for miles.
Guardian rule: Stay at least 100 yards away. Boats must keep the same distance.
Megaptera novaeangliae
Gentle filter feeders with wingspans that often reach 10 to 12 ft. Off Kona, lights draw plankton at night and the mantas glide up to feed just below snorkelers.
Guardian rule: Float at the surface, keep your legs up and never touch a manta. Touching removes the protective mucus on its skin.
Mobula alfredi
A bright lemon-yellow surgeonfish that grazes algae in loose schools. It is one of the easiest Hawaiian reef fish to spot, especially along the Kona coast.
Zebrasoma flavescens
A striking black, white and yellow fish with a long trailing fin, often seen in pairs or small groups over Pacific reefs.
Zanclus cornutus
Hawaii's state fish, with a famously long Hawaiian name and bold, painted-on stripes. It patrols shallow, surgy reef and grunts when it is caught.
Rhinecanthus rectangulus
Colorful grazers with fused, beak-like teeth. You can hear them crunch on coral rock, and much of the white sand on tropical beaches passes through them.
Scaridae
A bumpy, branching coral that grows in rounded heads on wave-washed Hawaiian reefs. It is often the first coral to bleach in marine heat waves.
Pocillopora meandrina
One island holds a protected volcanic bay, a summer-only lava-rock cove, a power plant outflow that draws dolphins and rays, and the turtles of…
Reach a sunken volcanic crater by boat, watch green sea turtles graze in knee-deep water on the south shore, and walk into calm west-side bays…
Spinner dolphins pass the lava-ledge coves, and after dark giant manta rays swoop through your lights on a night snorkel. A bay with a monument can be…
Swim a horseshoe reef on the north shore, a turtle-filled tombolo on the south, and a coast of sea cliffs you can only snorkel from a boat. Kauai…
Full guideAfter dark, you float over a light board while reef manta rays loop and flip below. Boat trip from Keauhou or Honokohau, year round.
Full guideCoral, spinner dolphins and the Captain Cook Monument in a Marine Life Conservation District. Reach it by boat, guided kayak or a long hike.
Full guideA lava ledge by the Honaunau boat ramp drops you onto a steep reef with turtles and spinner dolphins in the bay. Booties help.
Full guideA tombolo shelters this beach, with turtles, a lifeguard and easy sand entry. Monk seals haul out here, so give them room.
Full guideThe north shore reef everyone has heard of, off Haena. Summer only, no lifeguard, tightly limited parking, and part of the reef is closed.
Full guideCalm summer shallows behind a long fringing reef. A new lifeguard tower opened in Oct 2026. Stay clear of the Back Channel at the west end.
Full guideGreen sea turtles feed and rest on this Makena lava reef. Swim from Maluaka or Makena Landing, or join a boat or kayak trip.
Full guideSwim inside a crescent-shaped volcanic crater and Marine Life Conservation District, reached only by boat on a morning tour.
Full guideA rocky northwest cove in a Marine Life Conservation District. Snorkel it in summer, and leave it to surfers in winter. Short trail, no facilities.
Full guideA lava headland at the north end of Kaanapali Beach, with sandy-bottom shallows out to about 30 ft and turtles grazing nearby.
Full guideGolden sand, usually calm water, stairs to the beach, restrooms and showers: a semi-protected cove that is easy for first-timers.
Full guideTurtles and hundreds of fish fill the shallow inner reef of this protected volcanic crater bay. Reservations required, closed Mon and Tue.
Full guideClear summer water, tide pools and reef fish fill this lava-rock cove in the Pupukea marine reserve. Unsafe in winter surf.
Full guideA marine reserve fronts Queen's Surf and the Waikiki Aquarium, plus easy Kaimana Beach. Calm days only, and boats run to Turtle Canyon.
Full guideWarm water from the Kahe power plant outflow draws turtles, tang schools and sometimes dolphins, well offshore. Strong swimmers only.
Full guideFour sheltered, man-made lagoons on the leeward coast, with easy entry and calm water. The best fish are near the rocks. No lifeguards.
Shore entries with easy parking and calm water on a normal day. Still check the surf and ask the lifeguard.
A calm lava-reef pond south of Kailua-Kona with easy entry and regular green sea turtles. Mind the current at the north end.
A lava ledge by the Honaunau boat ramp drops you onto a steep reef with turtles and spinner dolphins in the bay. Booties help.
A tombolo shelters this beach, with turtles, a lifeguard and easy sand entry. Monk seals haul out here, so give them room.
The calmest north shore option in summer is this reef-sheltered lagoon at the end of the road. Stay inside the reef, away from the cliff end.
Green sea turtles feed and rest on this Makena lava reef. Swim from Maluaka or Makena Landing, or join a boat or kayak trip.
A lava headland at the north end of Kaanapali Beach, with sandy-bottom shallows out to about 30 ft and turtles grazing nearby.
Turtles and hundreds of fish fill the shallow inner reef of this protected volcanic crater bay. Reservations required, closed Mon and Tue.
Clear summer water, tide pools and reef fish fill this lava-rock cove in the Pupukea marine reserve. Unsafe in winter surf.
Calm Choppy Rough. Wave heights are offshore model values.
Loading tides…
Forecast: Open-Meteo. Tides: NOAA station 1612340. Model data, not a lifeguard report. Always check posted warnings.
by Dolphin Discoveries
Small-group rigid inflatable boat trip to the Manta Village feeding area, about 45 to 60 minutes in the water, with a naturalist safety briefing.
Pre-entry briefing covers no touching and non-nano zinc sunscreen; the operator says it uses a small-group format.
by Captain Andy's Sailing Adventures
Four-hour raft trip along the Na Pali cliffs with sea caves, waterfalls and a reef snorkel. Snorkel gear, flotation vests and in-water help for beginners are included.
Captain Andy's lists a 1% for the Planet membership, picks the snorkel site daily for water clarity and reef protection, and asks guests to bring reef-safe sunscreen.
by Captain Andy's Sailing Adventures
Catamaran sail down the Na Pali Coast with a snorkel stop, BBQ lunch and open bar after snorkeling. Gear and flotation included.
1% for the Planet member that chooses its snorkel reefs daily for protection and clarity. Catamaran trips give about 45 to 60 minutes in the water.
by Pacific Whale Foundation (PacWhale Eco-Adventures)
Morning boat trip snorkeling Molokini crater, then a second stop known for green sea turtles and underwater lava arches. Breakfast, lunch and beverages included.
Run by Maui's nonprofit-powered ocean operator; tour revenue supports Pacific Whale Foundation research and conservation, and catamarans run on biodiesel.
by Pacific Whale Foundation (PacWhale Eco-Adventures)
Small-group adventure with drift snorkeling on Molokini's back wall, volcanic coastline, turtles and a search for dolphins and rays, guided by naturalists.
Nonprofit-powered operator guided by expert naturalists, with revenue supporting marine research and education.
We may earn a commission when you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which tours we pick. How we choose tours.
May to September is the easiest time to snorkel in Hawaii, with calmer seas on most north and east shores. October to April brings bigger swells on north and west-facing shores, so use south and west sides then, and check conditions each morning. Humpback whales are in Hawaiian waters from about December to April.
Go early. Mornings usually have calmer water, better visibility and fewer people, and trade winds tend to build by midday.
Avoid beaches with breaking waves, posted warnings or brown water after heavy rain, and skip north shores in winter.
| Row | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snorkel conditions | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Best | Good | Fair |
| Humpback whale | Best | Best | Best | Good | Avoid | Avoid | Avoid | Avoid | Avoid | Avoid | Avoid | Good |
| Water °F | 77 | 77 | 77 | 78 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 82 | 80 | 79 |
Boat tours reach spots you cannot get to from shore: Molokini crater on Maui, the Na Pali Coast on Kauai, and the manta night snorkel off Kona on the Big Island. Choose small groups, a reef briefing, mineral sunscreen and conservation-minded operators. Each island page lists real tours.
Hawaii banned the sale of oxybenzone and octinoxate sunscreens under Act 104 from January 1, 2021. Maui County goes further: Ordinance 5306, in effect since October 1, 2022, allows only mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Kauai, Oahu and Hawaii counties have no mineral-only rule, but mineral products and a rash guard are still your best choice. See our reef-safe sunscreen guide for picks.
Oahu is the easiest island, with Hanauma Bay, Waikiki and summer North Shore coves. Maui offers Molokini and Turtle Town. The Big Island has the clearest water, Kona's reefs and the manta night snorkel. Kauai has Tunnels and Kee on the north shore in summer, and Poipu on the south shore in winter. Pick the coast that is calm on your dates, not just the famous spot.
Hawaii's rules cover sunscreen, wildlife distances and a few county-level restrictions.
Since January 1, 2021, Hawaii law bans the sale of sunscreen containing oxybenzone or octinoxate (Act 104). It is a sales ban, so check labels on anything you bring from home. Mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide is the safer choice. Official rule
Since October 1, 2022, Maui County (Maui, Lanai and Molokai) allows only mineral sunscreens. A prescription from a licensed provider is the only exception. It applies to sale, distribution and use. Official rule
Green sea turtles are protected. Stay 10 ft away, do not touch or chase them, and never stand on one resting on the sand.
Hawaiian monk seals are federally protected. Stay at least 50 ft away, farther from a pup, and follow any ropes or signs. Some local sources advise more room. Official rule
Stay 50 yd from spinner dolphins and 100 yd from humpback whales. Do not swim with or approach them.
How snorkelers protect reefs · Hawaii reef-safe sunscreen rules
These local groups restore coral, rescue wildlife and keep the water clean. Volunteer a morning, donate, or just follow their work.
Marine debris cleanups and turtle and monk seal protection
A nonprofit with volunteer programs on Maui, Hawaii Island and Kauai. Volunteers join beach and underwater cleanups and marine surveys. Its site also lists the NOAA marine animal emergency hotline.
Visit wildhawaii.org →Citizen-science reef surveys
The Hawaii program of Reef Check trains volunteers to survey reef health and shares the data with researchers and agencies. A 2024 notice described a relaunch, so confirm current survey dates on the site.
Visit reefcheck.org →Research and conservation of Kona manta rays
A Kailua-Kona nonprofit that studies manta rays and keeps the Kona Manta ID Catalog. It has supported tour participant guidelines and operator standards, and its website takes donations.
Visit mantapacific.org →Marine research and conservation based on Maui
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs marine research, education and conservation from Maui. Its PacWhale Eco-Adventures tours help fund that work, and you can book trips or join programs through the site.
Visit pacificwhale.org →Sea turtle, monk seal and marine debris work on Maui
Founded in 1996, the group protects hawksbill nests and hatchlings on Maui, supports monk seal watches and runs beach and net cleanups. It has a Discovery Center at Whalers Village in Kaanapali and takes volunteers.
Visit wildhawaii.org →Community stewardship of the Pupukea-Waimea Marine Life Conservation District
A community group on the North Shore that works to protect the Pupukea-Waimea MLCD, which covers Sharks Cove and Three Tables. Check their site for education programs and volunteer days.
Visit pupukeawaimea.org →It depends on the island and season. Hanauma Bay on Oahu is the easiest, Molokini and Turtle Town on Maui are the best known, Kona on the Big Island has the clearest water, and Tunnels and Poipu on Kauai are the top picks there. Calm water matters more than the name.
May to September is easiest, with calmer seas on most shores. October to April brings big swells on north shores, so use south and west sides then. Water stays 77 to 82 F year round at Honolulu.
It can be, but it is not risk-free. The Hawaii Department of Health counted 206 snorkel-related deaths over a decade, 189 of them non-residents. A state study linked many to rapid-onset pulmonary edema. Choose calm beaches, snorkel with a buddy, and avoid full-face masks.
Health officials have raised concerns. The state study could identify the mask type in only a minority of cases, but found full-face masks hard to remove and to clear of water. Several Hawaii operators have banned them. A conventional mask and snorkel is the safer choice.
Not all sunscreen. Since 2021 the state bans the sale of sunscreen with oxybenzone or octinoxate. Maui County only allows mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Check labels before you pack.
Stay at least 10 ft from sea turtles and 50 ft from Hawaiian monk seals, farther from a pup. Keep 50 yd from spinner dolphins and 100 yd from humpback whales. Do not touch or feed any wildlife.
What we pack for every snorkel trip. Each link searches the category on Amazon so you can compare brands and prices.
Non-nano zinc oxide only. No oxybenzone or octinoxate, which Hawaii bans.
Shop on Amazon →The best sun protection is fabric. Less sunscreen in the water, less sunburn on your back.
Shop on Amazon →A low-volume mask that fits beats any rental. Short travel fins pack easily.
Shop on Amazon →An inflatable vest lets you rest without standing on the reef. Lifeguards love them.
Shop on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Disclosure.
We check fees, rules and access against official sources first, then local operators and recent visitor reports. Conditions change, so always follow posted signs and lifeguards. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
