This spot has been added by

snorkeling team
Snorkeling Report's team
Other contributors You can help us keep this page up-to-date by uploading your pictures to the photo gallery, or by sending us your comments via the contact form

Last updated on

With its calm and protected turquoise waters, only a few minutes from the road for Honolulu, Hanauma Bay is the main snorkeling destination on the island of Oahu. Despite some drawbacks –among which are entrance fees and large visitor numbers– the lagoon, nestling in an ancient volcano crater, is ideal for beginners, who can observe diverse underwater life in good safety conditions.

Threadfin butterflyfish at Hanauma Bay, Oahu
The threadfin butterflyfish is one of the most common butterflyfish species in the bay.

How to get to Hanauma Bay for snorkeling?

Hanauma Bay is about 12 miles (20km) east of Waikiki. Take the Freeway H1 east, which later becomes the Kalanianaole Highway. The site is very well signposted from the main road. Try to arrive early, as parking places are limited ($1 per vehicle) and are very soon taken.

It is also easy to get there by public transport. You’ll have the choice between the shuttle service run by the Park (from $22 per person for a round-trip ticket) or the TheBus line 22 from Waikiki, which will drop you off in front of the Park in around 40 minutes.

Hanauma Bay Oahu snorkeling map

Getting into the water at Hanauma Bay

You can enter the water anywhere along the beach, but you should avoid the area across from the channel if you are a beginner, as the current can be quite strong.

The information center abounds in tips for exploring the site (circuits, the different areas, descriptions of the species of fish and shellfish, etc.), so make the most of it.

Hanauma Bay snorkeling tips and recommendations

The spot offers a number of areas to explore. While beginners will want to stay in the natural pools between the beach and the reef (↕3-7ft/1-2m), experienced snorkelers will prefer (if the sea conditions allow) to swim to the channel and explore the areas beyond the reef, where the waters are deeper (↕+20ft/+6m) and the seabed is healthier.

This is where you have the best chance of seeing green sea turtles, but they are less easy to observe here than in many other locations in the archipelago.

Convict tang at Hanauma Bay, Oahu
A school of convict tang photographed on the reef flat.

In winter and when the sea is rough, the currents and waves can be strong in the channel (well indicated by buoys). Visibility, in fact, is not always ideal. Lifeguards supervise the spot during the site’s opening hours, and they will quickly issue a reminder over their megaphones if you fail to respect the safety rules.

Underwater, you are sure to spot parrotfish, surgeonfish and triggerfish, and a very large number of equally colorful fish, some of which can only be found in Hawaii. The seabeds are rocky and have little coral, especially on the part inside the lagoon.

Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, Oahu
The view over Hanauma Bay.

Restaurants & accommodation nearby

The Park has several beach restaurants. You can take your own picnic.

 

  • Level required Beginner
  • Protected areaHanauma Bay Nature Preserve
  • Maximum depth8ft/2.5m in the inner bay, 30ft/9m behind the barrier reef
  • Water entranceEasy, from a sandy beach
  • Potential DangersUsual precautions
  • LifeguardYes
  • Visitor numbersVery high
  • Access costs$7.50 pp. entrance fee, or $25pp. entrance fee + shuttle from Waikiki
  • Restaurants nearbyYes
  • Public toilets & showersYes

MAP Spot

Sea turtle watching in Hanauma Bay

snorkeling-turtle

Sea turtles are a very familiar sight on many snorkeling spots in Hawaii, including Hanauma Bay. In order to be a responsible snorkeler, be sure to respect the following rules when observing them:

  1. Do not attempt to touch or ride sea turtles
  2. Stay at a distance (6 to 10ft) from sea turtles
  3. Do not chase a turtle swimming away
  4. Avoid sudden movement and allow sea turtles plenty of space when they come up to the surface to breathe

These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life.

This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.