Best places to snorkel in Waikiki, Honolulu Coral Reefs

If you have read any of our other articles about snorkelling, you will know that myself and my kids are obsessed with snorkelling. Most of our beach days will consist of 70% snorkelling and the rest chilling and playing in the sand. I have discovered after many years of travelling to the Waikiki area of Honolulu on Oahu that there are some hidden gems in the area that you can get to easily. If you are stying here you will be happy to know that there is good snorkelling in Waikiki. I am going to teach you all of the best places to snorkel in Waikiki and where you can find the coral reefs in the area.

Waikiki beach is huge and as soon as you get here you will probably assume that the snorkelling on the beach is no good. You would be correct in most parts depending on your skill level and know how about coral reefs and where fish like to go. This is the busiest beach in Hawaii and saline do not want to be bombarded by humans. So how do you get that snorkelling experience you have been thinking of on Waikiki beach?

Best Places to Snorkel In Waikiki, Honolulu Coral Reefs

Where are the coral reefs and fish in Waikiki?

It took me a really long time to find it. The first time I was here, I would try to snorkel in front of the main hotel strip. It really sucked, the reef was all dead and covered by seaweed and I saw tiny fish in semi murky water. Luckily for me, I am a strong swimmer and I have the patience needed to find the good fish. Even if it kills me…not really, but I do try some dangerous shit once in a while.

I left my wife and sister on the beach and I headed out to find a reef, I had my shark skin water shirt on so that I could stay warmer for a longer period of time in the water. I swam out pretty far, close to where the last batch of surfers were in front of the hilton and the sheriton hotels on Waikiki beach.d

Below the water ranged in depth and would go from shallow to deep and back to shallow again. It was not until after I passed the surfers, that i saw my first turtle. It was huge and it was not scared of me at all. Finally, a reason for me to keep going. After I saw the turtle I looked down and there were a lot more fish of all kinds. It was really exciting.

Best Coral Reef Near Waikiki

I headed left in the water (south towards diamond head crated. There were times that I saw nothing but sand and it started to get a lot deeper. Visibility is good out here because it is past most of the large rock walls. Keep going past Waikiki beach and you will be rewarded with a coral reef and a conservation area. There are a lot more fish and wildlife here. Specifically you want to be past the pier on Waikiki beach to find the better snorkelling and reefs.

Throughout the snorkel, you will see eels, beautiful fish and scattered coral heads. When you get to the good spots in the beaches and places I am going to list below, it will get better and better. Now…you don’t have to do a 3 hour snorkel like I did to find the good stuff. I am just so curious to explore an area, that I feel like I need to learn everything about it. I have spent prob a combined 24 hours snorkelling Waikiki beach to find these spots and lots of research talking to the locals.

So here it is…

The best places to Snorkel on Waikiki beach, Oahu that the locals don’t tell you about

1. Queens beach

This beach is located on the south side of the pier right on Waikiki beach. If you head down there, you will probably notice some locals in the area. These people know the best spots, so don’t disregard them. In front of the Queens beach, there is a coral reef with some pretty good snorkelling. I snorkelled this area recently, and there were loads of good sized fish and a few turtles kicking around. You will have to swim out a bit to get to the good spots, as the beginning is very shallow and the visibility in the shallow area is poor.

2. In front of the Aquarium

Further south on the beach there is the Waikiki Aquarium. You will find that there are hardly any people in the water near the beach in this area. We love it because it is much more peaceful here than it is in Waikiki beach. You will find that this is one of the best places to snorkel in Waikiki because the beach is so small and then it turns into a rock wall. This prevents or rather letters many of the people that would normally congregate at the beach from chilling in this section. Because of this, there is less pollution, and more fish. There is a small reef 100 yards away from the main walking path and there is a cool restaurant right in front of this area.

Best Places to snorkel in Waikiki, Hawaii Eel

3. Kapiolani park beach

After the aquarium, the area opens up to Kapiolani beach park. This is a huge park that stretches a long way in Waikiki almost to diamond head. In front of it, the Oahu government has deemed a nature preserve. That means locals are not allowed to fish here, they want to keep the fish population high, and this attracts and sustains the bigger fish in Waikiki as well as a lot of see turtles!

4. Sans Souci Beach

Sans Souci beach is a little beach at the end of the seawall walk in Waikiki. It is the closest beach to the diamond head crater. You will find that there are not a lot of people at this beach because most people do not know about it. It is very close to a high end residential neighbourhood and it is a bit of a secret gem in Waikiki. This beach is located beside the Oahu Memorial building oceanfront. You will find that the best snorkelling in Waikiki happens in this area.

There are way less people than anywhere else and the fish are just not scared at all, neither are the turtles. When you enter the water here, there will be more rocks than on Waikiki beach, I recommend water shoes for this area. You will be in shallow water for the first 7 minutes of you entering the water, and then there is a little bit of a drop off. When you get to the drop off the visibility will be much better, because the sand and ocean matter will not be as pushed around as it is in the shallow.

In the shallow areas, you will se lots of smaller fish. It will not be until the deeper water where you will se larger fish as well as the turtles. There is high volumes of fish in this area.

One good thing is that you don’t have to worry much about current in this area, it is generally safe for kids. However you should always obey the ocean signs on the beach, there is also a lifeguard tower at this beach to save your ass if you are in trouble.

5. Westin Sea grass

Turtles love to eat sea grass, I dint really notice this much until I stayed at the Westin waikiki beach. When we got there, I headed out to the beach as I normally do to go for a long exploratory snorkel. I don’t even remember if I had fully checked into the room yet or not. The water was a bit murky, because it had rained a lot the day before.

When I got to deep water….and it took a long time. I saw a shadow figure in the water, I was way out there and it scared the crap out of me. Immediately I thought it was a lost shark and I was the dumbass in the exact water it cannot see in properly. I faced my fears and realized fast it was a majestic Hawaiin sea turtle larger than me!!

When the first round of snorkelling in this area in front of the Westin was done, I checked into my ocean front room. And from there, I could really see the scope of things. From the balcony, Could see at least 20 large turtle in that area. I was so excited, but I did not want to do it again until the visibility was better. The next day it was and it was and awesome experience. Unlike a lot of other countries where there may be rock fish and other poisonous animals in the water, the seagrass in this area is very safe. Even to walk on.

6. Kids Coves

We have have travelled to Oahu with our two kids and by ourselves several times. Our absolute favourite and in my opinion the best part of Waikiki beach are the kids coves or baby beaches. If you look to the left of your eye on waikiki beach, you will see a pier that goes out around 100 yards. There are two pools of ocean, the first closest to the shopping areas I call baby beach. The reason for this is that it is the most shallow and gentle area on Waikiki beach, perfect for toddlers and baby’s. There is a rock wall surrounding the beach, and this is where I first took my kids to try snorkelling. There is a lot of activity around the walls and the depth ranges from 1 foot to 8 feet. The rock wall has created an artificial reef that the fish and crabs love to congregate in.

The next cove closet to the pier is a bit deeper and you will see larger fish in the area. Closest to the pier, there is an area that allows the fish to get in, all the way down to the soft sand below. The larger fish get stuck in the area making it a fun spot to snorkel. The lifeguards in the area will warn that there is some suction out to see from that corner spot closest to the pier and the aricficiall wall SO be careful taking your kids in that section.

7. In front of the Pier

Right in from of the pier, there are large rock formations in the water that makes for great snorkelling in Waikiki. If you don’t want to go too far off, this is the place to be to snorkel. You can easily leave your family or group safely in the coved off area and take to the waters here.

8. Kaimana Beach

Kaimana beach is a hidden gem, past everything else on Waikiki beach, the further you go out the better the visibility and the fish population will be. This is located right before the memorial building on the ocean. The beach is very small and there will be dive companies taking people out here for shore dives. This is a great indication of how good the area is.

Map of Waikiki beach

Waikiki beach map

6 Things you Need to bring When you Snorkel In Waikiki

1. Water Shoes

I recommend water shoes for any snorkelling you do on Waikiki beach. You will find that the depth will change from deep to shallow rapidly and the rocks may have some urchins in them. The waves can push you into them. Also for entry into the best spots, they have rock beds instead of sand. Having water shoes will protect your feet.

2. Rash Guard

I wear a shirt called a shark skin when I snorkel. We like to go out for long periods of time and this protects me from the sun and keeps me warm. I also shave my chest and the shark skin protects my skin from the rough salt water.

I did have an incident once where a wave took me and pushed me right onto a reef. Had I not worn the shark skin rash guard, I could have been pretty cut up.

3. Water Gloves

Water gloves are highly recommended for Waikiki beach snorkelling. If you have to push on something in the water to protect yourself, the gloves will protect your skin. They also keep your hands warm.

4. Snorkel and Mask

Obviously you will need a snorkel and mask if you are snorkelling. Recommend against those weird all in one head masks, especially if you are going into the ocean. We use snorkels with a purge valve to get rid of water and a valve to block water from getting into the snorkel.

5. Go Pro Or Action cam

You are probably going to see a turtle on Waikiki beach, make sure you have something to prove you saw it.

6. Selfie stick

We have a selfie stick so that we can take pictures of ourselves under water with the sea life.

Common Questions about snorkelling in Waikiki

Can I snorkel at Waikiki beach?

Yes you can snorkel all over Waikiki beach, it is very safe and I highly recommend it.

Is snorkelling in Waikiki good, Honolulu?

Snorkelling in Waikiki can be good if you are going to the right places. The closer to diamond head crater you get the better the snorkelling will be.

Should I go on a Waikiki snorkelling tour?

No, you should not. It would be a total waste of money, because you can do this for free. It is safe to snorkel in Waikiki as long as you know how to swim and pay attention to the guard warning.

Is the Shore diving good in Waikiki?

No the shore diving is not good in Waikiki. If you want to do a good shore dive on Oahu, you can go to the nearby Hanauma bay. It is much better and you will actually see a reef.

Is it safe to snorkel in Waikiki, Honolulu?

Yes it is very safe to snorkel in Waikiki. You do have to watch out for the surfers, because they may not see you in the water. Also ask about the ocean conditions, before you get in the water.There are people that work at the beach that can answer any of those types of questions.

There are also life guards all over Waikiki beach.

Waikiki Beach Pic

Are there sharks at Waikiki beach?

Yes there are sharks anywhere in the ocean. I have actually been on a shark hunt fishing trip about a mile away from Waikiki beach! However I have never seen a shark in the shallow water of Waikiki beach.

We have spent over 60 hours snorkelling the water at Waikiki beach and there has never been a shark spotted. If you did ever see a shark in this area it would be a reef shark and they are not an aggressive species.

Do they have turtles at Waikiki beach?

Yes there are a lot of turtles swimming around Waikiki beach. As a matter of fact the turtles here are not scared of people and will get right up to you.

Can you rent snorkel equipment at Waikiki beach?

Yes there are several places that rent snorkel equipment right on the beach in Waikiki. It cost around $15 for the day for all of the equipment you need.

How to get to Waikiki Beach

Waikiki beach is located on the south western side of the island of Oahu. It is a busy bustling area and you can get here by car or taxi. If this is your first time staying on Oahu, you are most likely staying in this area. As most of the hotels are here.

What will I see when I snorkel at Waikiki beach?

You will see sand beds and a lot of rock, some with coral on it. You will also see Hawaiian sea turtles, lot of bright beautiful fish, some moray eels, and possibly even some lobster and octopus!

What is the best time of day to snorkel Waikiki beach?

The best time of day would be 6 am. This is the turnaround time when the nocturnal (night time) and the day time animals are both awake and feeding. You will see the most activity at this time.

Best month to snorkel Waikiki beach

The best month to snorkel Waikiki beach is June. The water will be still and warm, and the visibility is the best in June.

Rules and tips of snorkelling Waikiki beach

1. Don’t touch the turtles
2. stay off the coral
3. Don’t feed the fish
4. Use reef safe sunscreen

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