Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee.
This spot has been added by
1 spot added - 3 photos shared
Kahe Point, nicknamed “Electric Beach” because of the electric power plant located nearby, is a popular snorkeling spot of Oahu. Two large cooling pipes outflows warm water to the ocean, attracting scores of sea life, including reef fish, sea turtles, eagle ray and even pods of spinner dolphins to the area. Due to the potentially dangerous currents that may occur in the area, this spot is not recommended for beginners.
Electric Beach is located on the west coast of Oahu, approximately a 40-minutes drive from Honolulu. Once you reached the coast, watch for Kahe Beach Park signs. The parking lot is just before the electric plant, on the left.
Entering in the water can be challenging on this spot, due to waves and currents. Get into the water from the tiny beach, and swim out the small channel (which can be quite turbulent) to reach the open ocean. Wear swim fins, and do not enter the water if the surf is too strong.
The area to explore covers the surroundings of the large outflow pipe (↕6-30ft/2-5m). The warm water released by the electric plant and the structure has created an artificial reef, abundant with sea life.
Around the pipe and the others underwater structures, covered by some coral, you will find a great variety of reef fish, including butterflyfish, surgeonfish, parrotfish, damselfish, and moray eels.
Green sea turtles are very common on this spot, usually hanging out near the water outflow. If you are lucky, you might spot a pod of spinner dolphins, which pay regular visits to the area, or even a blacktip reef shark darting above the sand in the deepest areas.
The top of the structure is approximately 10ft under the surface of the ocean. Do not dive down in front of the openings to the pipes, as the flowing water can be strong.
There is no restaurant available near the beach. Bring at least your own water with you.
These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters. 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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
