Curious to know if anyone can compare their Tunnel's beach snorkeling experience to other spots on Oahu or Kauai. Is tunnels better than Hanama bay. I know there are less people but are the fish plentiful?

Each year I vacation in Kauai. Tunnels Beach is relatively smaller than Hanama bay, I quite enjoy it. It is less crowded and the fish are beautiful! I will be there for 2 weeks starting July 7th- Aloha

Just got back Sunday and snorkeled a lot of places around Kauai to find the best and it was definitely Tunnels. You will not find much coral but the fish are numerous and of many, many varieties. It is fascinating to watch them go in and out the little tunnels of lava rock. It is quite shallow but drops off a lot further out which is what makes it nice for divers also. Actually, we were pleasantly surprised as we have never found very great snorkeling on the other islands of Hawaii in comparison with Fiji, Tahiti and the GBR. One thing you do have to do is get there early in the morning as parking is very limited. Even though you may see a lot of cars the water and beach are not crowded. Lots of people parked in no parking areas and we were told the rental car company would be ticketed directly so you would not know until the car was returned. Evidently, the police know all the rental cars by their license plate. This also applies to Ha'ena Beach Park and Ke'e beach. So, try and be in that area by 9 or 9:30 and enjoy!!!

So helpful Louise, thanks. I will keep your suggestions with my travel book. Can I take an eight year old girl snorkeling here?

Thanks Kristi are you aloud to take out fish food or is that also illegal on Kauai. Or is it just plain a bad idea.

Hi again, Francine - yes, your daughter will be fine snorkeling. If you can, get a hold of the "Ultimate Kauai Guidebook". We were never without out and it was invaluable. There are articles in the book (quite lengthly) about how and what to feed the fish.

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Keep in mind that the north shores of all the Hawaiian islands have very dangerous surf in the winter. Tunnels is great in the summer, but don't try to snorkel there in the winter (it will be too churned up to see anything then anyway). Swim safe.

we lived on Kauai for many years and Tunnels was far and away our favorite snorkeling and diving beach. no comparison to Oahu's Haunama Bay which is ridiculously crowded and not even remotely as beautiful and interesting. a hint: when you walk out onto the beach, go to your right past the YMCA camp and enter the water there. you can drift down the length of the beach (right to left) and be fairly safe even if the tide is running. it's also fun to snorkel straight across the bay where the reef rises to the point you can walk across in ankle deep water. a word of caution about rental cars: don't leave anything of value in your car. there are lots of vandals in aloha-land who can be in and out of your car and halfway home in a heartbeat. can't tell you how many sob stories we heard from people who didn't want to leave their stuff on the beach while snorkeling....you're better off having it on the beach or back at the hotel safe, than in your car.

Thanks George you lived there. Yikes I was on Oahu for a few years. That was hard enough to get over. I can't imagine getting over the loss of the North Shore.