Best Island for snorkeling?
 

I was wondering if anyone has any opinions as to what the best island for snorkeling is? Best i suppose would mean good visibility, plentiful and diverse fish, not too crowded (though im usually up and at em by 6am anyways and even hanauma isnt crowded then), and hopefully a few options as far as snorkeling beaches. I'm not planning a trip right now, so time of year or other island activities doesnt matter. I just want to know about the snorkeling. Thanks guys!

Tunnels Beach on the North Shore of Kauai - during the summer months. It can be a little dangerous in the winter.

Ditto on Tunnels. Nanabee, how's snorkeling in March/April on the North Shore?

hi laceynae:
I was there in 2005 in late Dec./early Jan. so I'm not sure what the conditions would be like in March & April. We checked everyday with the local dive shop on the surf conditions and they were very helpful.
My brother lived & surfed in Kauai's North Shore for many years and he said generally it is rougher in the winter with "milder" surf in the summer months.

i saw the most fish in the kona area of the big island,close to town,also swam with the turtles(not intentionally)life guards,concession stand also in the there.not very deep a few meters.In Maui you used to be able to cross a field of lava less than a 3 k to some very nice snorkling,called the fish bowl,but the road doesn't have any place to pull off anymore so you probably need to kayack to get to here since there is no road.It is past the prince hotel .

We had the best snorkeling in Kauai - Ke'e, Tunnels, and Poipu.

I'd have to say that the best I have seen so far has been at the beaches south of Wailea and in Makena. Lots of turltes,large schools of fish and surprisingly healty looking coral.

Climber,

We also went in Kona the place you speak of, where the turtles were close to town. We also did in Maui the famous one where everyone goes. Mokinio (??) My husband went diving versus snorkeling for $150 pp and he said Kona was better. That island off of maui was a major dissapointment. Kona was good.

North Oahu at Shark's Cove at least in August 2005.

We've had the LEAST luck on Kauai (Ke'e, Anini, and Poipu).

We've done great on Maui at Kapalua, Black Rock, and Honolua. On the BI, we've loved Hapuna, A-Bay, and Captain Cook. On Oahu, Shark's Cove and Hanauma Bay are great.

Conditions vary greatly day by day, we've found in our 4 trips, and each spot can be great or so-so.

I have to agree with beachgirl - it depends on the day you're there. We had excellent snorkeling at Black Rock on Maui a few weeks ago, not so great at Poipu a few days before that. Years and years ago, we had fantastic (my best ever) snorkeling in Kona, but a friend went and said it was awful. Hanauma's always great, I guess (it was when we were there).

Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island has by far the best snorkeling we've experienced on any of the Hawaiian islands. This is in South Kona, where the Captain Cook monument is located. Boat trip recommended. Skip Molokini on Maui, which was good in the past, but not-so-hot for several years now.
I gave up on Ke'e Beach and Tunnels on Kauai as in YEARS of trying, I've never been able to snag a parking place. I have seen some colorful fish at Poipu Beach, but not huge quantities.

From the sounds of your replies I guess you mean HI, but I cannot resist. I've snorkeled in Maui, but it isn't even the same sport as it is in Cayman...Cayman: shallow water, crystal clear, unbelievable variety of fish plus eel, turtles and squid (the only place I've seen the latter) as well as coral. Head to the Cayman Kai area and you'll have it practically to yourselves. Oh...I forgot the enormous rays my husband and our friend saw there...scared the beejeevies out of them, but that was the first and last time we saw them.

We've made somewhat of a hobby of finding the best snorkeling...Cayman, Maui, several locales on the Mexican Caribbean, Bermuda, St John, but Cayman tops them all. Added plus: it's close. :)

Molokini was a bust for us; I had heard such good things, so I guess it really does vary with the season, time of day, etc. Didn't see anything at Kealakekua either - except the same yellow tangs over and over. Had good luck off the beach in Wailea and amazing in Poipu, but the locals commented on how it was an amazingly good day for snorkeling there - we saw loads of colorful fish right off the beach.

Not at a beach bu my husband had a great snorkeling experience in the tide pools in Puna--at Vacationland. Go at high tide.

Another vote for Sharks Cove on the north shore of Ohau.We were there the 1st week of Aug 07. Just south of the shallow area surrounded by rocks is a jumping-off spot for deeper water; it was spectacular! We saw lots of fish and several turtles. Tunnels and Anini beahes on the north shore of Kauai were also nice. Good luck and have a nice trip!

<i>Added plus: it's close. :)</i>

To what? (Sorry, I, too, could not resist)

dmlove,
I was thinking the same thing. We don't know where the OP is coming from. I think OO meant that it was close to where they live.

I concur with <font color="blue">Barbara#s<font color="black">, 'bout K-bay on the Big Island, and yes Cayman is indeed <i>Grand</i>, but must point out that while snorkeling off Hawaii you may encounter a variety of additional &quot;endemic&quot; fish species not found in the Caribbean and perhaps even accompanied to the ((8))tune of whalesongs in wintermonths. :S-
www.hawaiiscubadiving.com/home/hawaiian-fish.html</font></font>

I have to agree with the Kona area on the Big Island. We saw so many fish and the turtles were huge!! They swam right by sometimes whacking you with their arms(?).
Best snorkeling I have ever seen was on the Big Island.
My daughter scubadived in Grand Cayman and saw wonderful fish. But, on the surface, I did not see as many fish as Hawaii.
Have fun. All the Hawaiian Islands have their special spots.

hawaii snorkeling rule of thumb: south mo bettah than north

i'm a snorkel hound who's been to all the popular HI spots: kealakekua bay, honaunau bay, puna tidepools, molokini, la perouse (aquarium and fish bowl), black rock, honolua bay, hanauma bay, shark's cove, lawai, poipu, tunnels, ke'e and many more (several on multiple occassions).

and my all-time favorites were kealakekua bay (capt cook monument) and honaunau bay on the BI because of the plentiful, colorful corals, which require clearer and warmer waters that the kona coast provides.

being the youngest island with no rivers along the western side of the BI, there's no runoffs along the kona coast - which leads to crystal clear waters. and being the furthest south of the HI islands, its waters are slightly warmer - just enough for decent coral formation.

even though there could be tons of fish or the always welcome sight of honu (turtle) elsewhere, i'm not generally thrilled with a site if the u/w topography is dull.

i think i'm being objective here since kauai, the least interesting snorkel-wise, is my favorite island. yet i'll still eagerly pack my snorkel gear for my upcoming trip there.

Of the islands I've been to (Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Hawaii) over the years, I'd definitely put the Captain Cook Monument area as #1. I remember the first time we went there in the early 70s... it's just as wonderful today!

Carole

Shark's Cove (all kinds of fish) on Oahu during summer months and Kahalu'u (turtles and fish) near Kona on Big Island. We just returned from BI and also did a giant manta ray night snorkel at Kona that was awesome!

luvtravl: Do tell us more about your manta ray night dive. Who did you go with &amp; what all did you see? We did a night dive in May , but the mantas didn't show that night. What date were you there?

We went on the Sea Paradise night manta snorkel trip a week ago on Saturday, August 18 (already seems like a looooooooong time ago!). Met at the pier around 6 p.m. Departed about 6:45 p.m. Only a 5 minute boat ride where we anchored a few hundred yards offshore from the Sheraton and waited until it was totally dark. There were about 20 or so snorkelers. Sea Paradise provided the gear and snacks on the way back. We had about an hour of snorkel time. We saw 2 smaller manta first (about 6 - 7 feet across) and later a couple of very large mantas (about 12 feet across) graced us with their presence. We had an extra treat during our snorkel - the owner of the country club was celebrating a birthday so we got to see an amazingly HUGE fireworks display that lasted about 15 minutes while we were in the water. It was difficult deciding whether to look up or look down! The price with tax was around $90. Great experience!!!

Shark's Cove &amp; Hanauma Bay early before the crowds come. Both on Oahu.

Thanks luvtravl, I'm so glad it worked for you! We had a great time, just no mantas. I appreciate the details you shared. ((f))

dmlove,

&quot;added plus it is close.&quot; I THINK the poster is referring to the Cayman Islands, and how great it is there to snorkel/scuba dive. I would guess she lives on the east coast, as do I, and it is closer than Hawaii. Like 10 flying hours! I think that is what I am understanding.

that's a good number of reponses considering the OP didn't mention &quot;Hawaii&quot; anywhere in his post and the only relevent word &quot;hanauma&quot; is hidden mid-paragraph.

Strange. On another post, OP talks about visiting Oahu August 10-17. You would think she would have figured out the snorkeling issues by now.

Reply to <font color="blue">Ag#s<font color="black">, apparently <font color="blue">jenbertoni<font color="black"> is &quot;<i>hooked</i>&quot; from the Oahu experience and initially states above: &quot;I'm not planning a trip right now, so time of year or other island activities doesnt matter. I just want to know about the snorkeling. Thanks guys!&quot;



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We loved snorkeling on Maui at the Black Rock on Kaanapali Beach &amp; Honolua Bay.