Oahu Snorkeling Guide
Waimea Bay Beach Park
This is one of our favorite Oahu snorkeling spots in the summer. The beach is absolutely huge, and the waters are blissful to swim in. An extra treat here are the dolphins that frequent the area. Waimea Bay is also a very famous surfing beach, and in the winter there can be 25 foot waves pounding this shore. It is hard to even imagine getting in the water to snorkel here if you have seen it when the waves are up.
This is a very popular destination and the parking fills up early. So come on a weekday or early on a weekend (before 9am).
Site Snorkeling Details - Waimea Bay Beach Park
Oahu Snorkeling
The last time we snorkeled here we spent about an hour swimming with spinner dolphins. It was a great experience. We swam straight offshore a good distance out over a sandy bottom. And all we had to do was just hang out and watch all the different pods of dolphins swim by. They were making lots of their clicking communication sounds, and there were babies nursing.
In this dolphin video if you turn up your volumn a bit you can hear their clicking sounds.
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See more of our dolphins pictures and videos from here.
Finally though we had to tear ourselves away to check out the other excellent snorkeling that we like along the left hand side of the bay.
There are a number of little rocky inlets to explore. We don't go to far outside the bay though because of the potential for currents. Each of the little inlets has some interesting bottom topography and a decent number of fish, and surprisingly clear water at times.
Right before we got out it started to rain lightly, and it is fun to dive down and look up at the rain drops hitting the surface of the water. The rain makes a nice sizzling sound.
Waimea Bay has lots of facilities including bathrooms, water, picnic tables, showers, and shade. And the beach is one of the best for laying around in the sun. When we are here we don't like to leave, and keep getting back into the water close to shore just to float on our backs. The water here is fantastic.
Have you snorkeled the right hand side of the bay here?
Driving Directions - Waimea Bay Beach Park
Oahu Snorkeling
Driving Directions to Waimea Bay Beach Park from Waikiki
You can choose to drive up the east side of the island or up the middle of the island to reach the north shore. To reach Hwy 83 on the east side heading north, you need to get on Hwy H-1 westbound then take one of the highways that crosses the Ko'olau Mountains, Hwy 61 (Pali Hwy), Hwy63 (Likelike Hwy), or Hwy H-3. When you come to the intersection with Hwy 83 (Kahekili Hwy), turn left, heading north. Alternately, to reach Hwy H-2 that leads to Hwy 99 up through the middle of the island, get on Hwy H-1 heading westbound until you reach the intersection with Hwy H-2 and head north. Hwy H-2 will turn into Hwy 99 that you follow until it comes to Hwy 83 again near Hale'iwa. Waimea Bay Beach Park is on Hwy 83 northeast of Hale'iwa; the road clearly turns inland to go around the bay. Heading northeast, the park entrance is before you cross the creek emptying into the ocean and the right turn up Waimea Valley Rd.
See more pictures and videos from Waimea
Go to the next Oahu spot Turtle Beach (Laniakea)
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