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Honolulu Snorkeling Tours
Honolulu Snorkeling Tours - What to Expect
With so many snorkeling options in Hawaii, guided snorkeling tours offer the best way to explore the most vibrant and active reefs! TripOutside's vetted local guides will bring you to the best spots for seeing marine life, help you identify the different species you'll spot, and ensure you have everything you need for the best snorkeling experience! Snorkeling in the waters off Honolulu also offers the unique view of the city skyline and iconic sites such as Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach.
Why Choose Snorkeling Tours in Honolulu
Snorkeling tours in Honolulu offer quick and easy access to several offshore reefs. Tours provide the chance to encounter diverse marine life including the graceful spotted eagle rays, large rainbow parrotfish, elusive octopus, and slithering moray eels. In fact, over 25 percent of fish are found nowhere else in the world! A major highlight to see are the turtle cleaning stations, where turtles rest while algae-eating reef fish to clean off their shells and skins.
Snorkeling Spots in Honolulu
Turtle Canyon
Located offshore of Honolulu, this reef is renowned for its large population of sea turtles and serves as the ideal place for a turtle cleaning station. The area has deep fissures with coral formations along the sides, providing plenty of areas for the elusive octopus to hide! Here you can encounter both the Hawaiian green sea turtle and the hawksbill turtle.
Fantasy Reef
A bit further by boat but well worth the journey. It comprises three interconnected reefs featuring large coral formations and cool overhangs, teeming with abundant fish life. Turtles are also particularly fond of this reef, as it experiences less traffic compared to others, offering a more serene environment for the turtles to rest!
Top Tips for Snorkeling in Honolulu
- Best Time to Snorkel: You can snorkel any time of year in Honolulu but it is best in the summer months when the weather is more stable (sunny instead of raining) and the air and water are a bit warmer.
- Use Reef-Safe Sunscreen: Please use reef-safe and environmentally friendly sunscreen to avoid harming the abundant coral ecosystem! With so many visitors a year, it is essential to keep the waters as clean as possible for the wildlife!
- Respect Marine Life: Observe wildlife from a distance without chasing or harassing them. Never feed or touch animals, even if they approach you out of curiosity.
- Stay Aware of Body Positioning: NEVER stand on the coral reef! Coral is a living animal and by standing or breaking it, you are causing damage that will take hundreds of years to repair.
- Stay Hydrated: Snorkeling in the hot Hawaiian sun can be intense. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
- Use Defog: Every boat or snorkel tour almost always has a bottle of defog! Please use it! It is safe for your eyes and it keeps your mask crystal clear so you can see all of the marine life! If you have issues with a foggy mask, return to the boat and let your guide know so they can fix it!
- Follow Safety Guidelines: Your guides are there to keep you safe and provide the best experience for you! Please listen to all safety briefings and always stay aware of your surroundings and the members in your group!
- Follow Leave No Trace Principles: Keep all trash with you and secured down while snorkeling and dispose of it properly when on the boat or in town.
Other Honolulu Adventures
Check out these other Honolulu Adventures, including scuba diving, surfing, kayaking, and paddleboarding tours.
What about sharks?
Sharks hunt at dusk and dawn and therefore rarely, if ever, seen on tours. They are simply wild animals that also share the ocean but most often people rarely see them. The most common sharks to spot are small reef sharks that prefer to immediately leave the presence of people and boats and tend to be harmless towards people.
What do I do if I see turtles, dolphins, or other large marine life approach me?
All sea turtles in Hawaii are protected by the Endangered Species Act, meaning you need to maintain a distance of 10 feet (3 meters) away and refrain from feeding, riding, touching, or harassing them in any way. If they approach you, just calmly and gently move yourself 10 feet away from them in the water or ensure you are not in their way and let them pass.
Most wildlife is under protection in Hawaii. If dolphins, seals, or whales ever come close to you, you must do your best to calmly put space between you and the wildlife and enjoy from a distance. NEVER attempt to chase, harass, feed, or touch any wildlife.
Do I need to be an experienced swimmer to snorkel?
You don’t have to be an experienced swimmer to snorkel on a guided tour. Many of the snorkel spots have calm, shallow waters but being comfortable in the water is important. If you’ve never snorkeled before, using a lifejacket or small float can provide the added buoyancy and confidence needed. Make sure to check the tour requirements, as some do require you to be able to swim a short distance.
Do I need my own snorkel gear for a tour?
Another great reason to go with a guided snorkeling tour is that you do NOT need your own equipment! Most tours offer complimentary, high-quality equipment that is fit to you when you board! The guides will help go over how to use the equipment and ensure it is sized correctly and then you are off to the water! Please always check to ensure the tour is providing equipment!
Do I tip my guide?
Your guide/instructors work hard before, during, and after your tour to provide you with a great experience, and while not expected, gratuities are always highly appreciated. If you had a safe, educational, and fun experience, gratuities typically range from 15-20%.
What if I've never snorkeled before?
This is a great place to learn and start snorkeling! There is so much to see and a wonderful way to explore the underwater world!
Check out TripOutside's blog post on Snorkeling for Beginners for all you need to know!