Tips on where to snorkel in Oahu

by Emily
(California)

For me this is the list on where to snorkel in Oahu.

1.Shark's Cove

2.Hanauma Bay

3.Kahe Point (West Shore)

4. Ko Olina Lagoons

First I will start with Shark's Cove. Four stars on entering the water. Once you got out to were the water was 40 ft. deep its amazing. We had a sea turtle sneak up behind us and when we turned around a sea turtle was trying to pass us. Even where you put your stuff next to the water there are pairs of Butterfly fish swimming around in knee high water. The Cave's are awesome to explore.

Next Hanauma Bay. Very Crowded. We had to wait in a 30 minute line to get in. But kids under 12 got in free so half of our family was free. The entry was good. There were some parts where you had to skim and hover over the coral to make sure you don't hit it going in and out of the main reef. This is where the Evil Eel was. The outer reef doesn't have as many fish but has bigger marine animals like some times small sharks, hona (sea turtles), manta rays, and bigger eels.

Next Kahe Point on the west shore, a 20 minute boat ride from the Ko Olina Marina. It is a power plant and releases 85-90 degrees water and the coral thrives there. There is a million fish and they all will swim right up to my and some try pecking at your mask. Beware there is a rip current pulling out at the edge of the reef. Our tour guide said to be careful because there is supposed to be an evil turtle and people try to follow it and it goes into the rip current and you follow and before you know it your 50 ft. from the boats.

And Last, Ko Olina Lagoons. Not many fish and poor visibility. But I put it up here cause we saw a turtle in there when we were snorkeling at lagoon 3.