For anyone, by chance, who does not know what snorkeling is: Snorkeling is swimming is relatively shallow waters equipped with a diving mask that is called a snorkel. Snorkel is used for breathing underwater while letting the swimmer see the wonders of the underwater world.
Snorkeling in Oahu is a very significant activity for tourists in tropical resorts and locations. Snorkeling allows the swimmers to observe the beautiful coral reefs, aquatic creatures, and underwater plants.
Places | Characteristics |
Kuilima Cove | Great for Beginners |
Sharks Cove | One of the best Snorkeling places in the world |
Hanauma Bay | Beautiful Place, Nature Preserve |
Kahe Point Beach Park | Deep blue sea, Electric plants attract a wide variety of sea creatures |
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Oahu : The Gathering Place
Oahu is an island in Hawaii, which is popularly known as the third biggest island of the Hawaiian Islands. The capital of the state is situated in Honolulu. Oahu is known to people as the ‘Gathering place.’
It is said by the locals that Hawaiiloa, the Polynesian navigator who discovered the islands named this specific island after his daughter. The well-known places are Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Hanauma, Kane’ohe Bay, Kailua Bay, North Shore, etc.
The place is shaped almost like a diamond. It has been estimated that people have been living on this island since the 3rd century A.D. It is surrounded by an endless ocean that is one of the main attractions of the place.
Oahu is divided up by mountains. The island is also famous for the longest rain shower ever recorded in human history. The shower lasted for 200 days. The nickname of the island is ‘rainbow state’ as the presence of rainbows is a symbol of a frequent rain shower.
This island is blessed with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Lanikai Beach is very well-known for its beauty.
Places to Snorkeling in Oahu
The top beaches on the island are Ala Moana Beach, Hanauma Bay, Kane’ohe Bay, Kailua, Lanikai Beach, Ko Olina Beach Park,Papailoa Beach, Sandy Beach, Waikiki Beach, Sunset Beach, Waimanalo Beach, Waimea Bay, and many others.
The most popular attractions of the island are Ala Moana, Aloha Tower, Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa, Banzai Pipeline, Bishop Museum, Climbworks Keana Farms, Diamond Head, Dole Plantation, etc.
Besides this, others are Foster Botanical Garden, Kaena Point, Honolulu, Honolulu Museum of Art, Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden, ‘Iolani Palace, Kualoa Ranch, Laie Hawaii Temple, Nuuanu Pali Lookout, Mauna Ala, Makapuu Lighthouse, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific or Punchbowl, North Shore, Pali Lookout, Pearl Harbor, Polynesian Cultural Center.
Furthermore, the visitors can visit in Triple Crown of Surfing, USS Arizona Memorial, USS Missouri, Valley of the Temples Memorial Park, Waikiki, Waikiki Aquarium, Waimea Valley Audubon Center, Waimea Valley Audubon Center, Waimea Valley, and many more.
Best time to Snorkel in Oahu
Summer season in between May to September is the best time for snorkel in Oahu. If you want to see Humpback Whale migrations while snorkeling in Oahu, plan your trip between November and May (the best months are January and February). late morning and early afternoon snorkeling is typically the best time of the day.
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Best Beaches in Oahu
Today we will be focusing on a few of the best snorkeling Oahu one can visit for the best snorkeling experience. Before that, it is crucial to keep in mind some things for one’s safety, like taking notice of the ocean’s conditions because it can change drastically.
Always follow the instructions of the lifeguards, keeping in mind the surf conditions, taking into account what the local people have to say and show respect to nature and wildlife.
Kuilima Cove: Perfect for Beginners
It is famous for being beginner-friendly snorkeling in Oahu. People who have never snorkeled before may find this place accessible to dip their heads into, literally. It is situated in a busty area, so there are a lot of hotels around the spot.
The waters remain calm for the most section, which makes it so beginner-friendly. The rock barrier makes the waves more peaceful. Calm waters also make the underwater world more visible to the eyes of the swimmers. The depth is not very dangerously low. Even the kids will be able to swim comfortably here.
Sharks Cove: Little Crowded on Occasion
The name may sound scaring, but it is not. There are no deadly sharks there. This is the most famous snorkeling places in the entire world. The Scuba Diving Magazine had rated it one of the ‘top twelve shore dives in the world.’
It is located on snorkeling North Shore Oahu, and it is a part of Pupukea Beach Park. The water here is clear and blue. There is a lot of sea life in this place, that never fails to fascinate people.
It also has pupukea tide pools, a great place to explore on its own. There are large boulders at the bottom, even coral reef caves that hide a wide variety of sea creatures. It is one of the most popular snorkeling Oahu tours, so it can get crowded very quickly.
Hanauma Bay: Enjoy Colourful fishes and Coral
Snorkeling Oahu Hanauma Bay is also very famous for the high amount of aquatic life, calm not such deep waters, beautiful white sand, and beautiful view. It is placed on the east side of the island Oahu.
It is not a beach park but rather a Nature Preserve. Because of the current situation and the impact on the ecosystem, only three thousand people are allowed to enter the beach every day. There is also an entry fee for all people except local Hawaiians and children below 13 years. However, this place offers the most diverse kind of aquatic life on the entire island.
Kahe Point Beach Park: Enjoy the Warm Water
This place is very well-known for(snorkeling oahu) its deep blue ocean and crystal clear water. The water clarity of this place is better than any other site on the island. One can find the snorkeling area on the west Oahu island zone.
Electric Beach consists of many electric power plants that are near that specific area. The plants bring out warm, clear water in the ocean, which attracts many aquatic creatures. This place is also a famous scuba diving spot. It is one of the best beaches in Oahu for snorkeling.
Final Takeaway…!!
Anyone can do snorkeling because it requires so little effort, unlike scuba diving, which requires multiple training sessions and heavy equipment. Turtle Town with Ko Olina Ocean Adventures is also a popular destination for snorkeling Oahu.
Usually, Snorkeling on Oahu does not require much stuff, and the swimmer can dive in with their own clothes on, but in colder waters, the swimmers use wetsuits. People looking for lifetime good memories should immediately head out to Oahu Island.