Snorkeling Hapuna Beach
State Recreation Area
Big Island Hawaii Snorkel Guide
Snorkeling Hapuna Beach can be fun. It is one of the most beautiful beaches on the Big Island, and is often listed as one of the world’s top ten most beautiful beaches. It has wonderful golden sand, and is long and wide (over 200 feet wide). Every time we are here it is busy. Once we could not even find parking. Also, the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel is situated on the north end of the beach.
The snorkeling is good at either end around the rocky points. The visibility is often lower than other snorkeling locations around. This beach is also more exposed than others nearby, so the waves can get big which can make snorkeling Hapuna Beach dangerous. These things combined with a relatively long swim to the live coral reefs make this location for more advanced snorkelers. Like most places in Kohala, conditions are usually best for snorkeling in the mornings.
Water Entrance
This nice sandy beach makes the water entrance super easy. Just walk to the end of the beach you intend to snorkel and get in. Do not snorkel if the surf is up; leave this location to the boogie boarders and head elsewhere.
Where To Snorkel
You can snorkel either end of the beach. They both have a pretty long swim to get to some corals, but you will see more in the shallows on the north/right end. The corals on both ends are on the very exposed rocky points, so watch for currents, surge and waves.
Snorkeling Hapuna Beach - North/Right End
The north side of the beach is better for turtles and there are lots of fish in the rocky shallows. Follow the rocky wall and canyons out to the point. The corals on the wall are fairly healthy and there are many urchins here. The fish continue to be numerous as you get toward the point, but the water visibility is not high. The depths range from a few feet near the beach to 25 feet or so around the point. Watch for currents when you pass the point and turn back to the beach before you are tired.
Snorkeling Hapuna Beach - South/Left End
To get to the coral reef and fish you must swim a good distance on the south/left end. We swam next to the rocks on the way out. We did not see anything but a couple of fish the entire swim out. But, once you get out to the first point you come into a small bay. And in this bay there are some wonderful coral formations and tons of fish. Unfortunately, the visibility was not very good here either. The depths range from a few feet near the beach to 30 feet or so in the bay. These waters are unprotected, so keep a careful watch on the weather, waves and currents. You are also out of sight of the lifeguards once you go around the point. Again, turn back long before you feel tired.
What We Saw Snorkeling Hapuna Beach
This location is full of sea cucumbers and urchins, and we saw some turtles on the north end. We saw a good number of fish here: Rainbow Runner, Bar Jack, Chubs, Bluefin Trevally, Stocky Hawkfish, Freckled Hawkfish, Arc-Eye Hawkfish, Blackfin Chromis, Oval Chromis, Cornetfish, Yellowstripe Goatfish, Humuhumunukunukuapua'a, Pinktail Triggerfish, schools of small parrotfish, many colorful and active Christmas Wrasses, Hawaiian Gregory, Hawaiian Sergeant, Blackspot Sergeant, Convict Tang, Ringtail Surgeonfish, Orangeband Surgeonfish, Sailfin Tang, Yellow Tang, Spotted Puffer, Lavender Tang, Redlip Parrotfish, and Threadfin Butterflyfish.
More Snorkeling Hapuna Beach Information
To get all the details we share about snorkeling at Hapuna Beach, and to learn our favorites from 24 other locations, check out our Big Island Snorkeling Guide eBook.
Many people have written reviews of snorkeling Hapuna Beach here.
Now check out Anaehoomalu Bay (A-Bay)
Return to Big Island Snorkeling Guide
|
