How safe is snorkeling in Waikiki?

Is It Safe to Snorkel in Waikiki? Yes, it's usually safe to snorkel in Waikiki, but there are times when the surf and currents are strong, especially with the summer swells. Not only are those times dangerous, but they also have poor visibility, so it's not worth snorkeling when the waters aren't calm.



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More Hawaii visitors drown while snorkeling than during any other activity. If you intend to go snorkeling in Hawaii, you should be an experienced ocean swimmer familiar with the risks and dangers associated with high surf, strong currents, and waves breaking in shallow water.

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Overview: A nature preserve, Hanauma Bay is excellent for families with small kids who want to snorkel in a safe, beautiful environment. Calm, shallow, and regulated by the State, Hanauma Bay is home to some of O'ahu's best coral and sea life. Lifeguards are always on duty, and conditions are usually calm.

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They are the white reef tip, black reef tip, sandbar and scalloped hammerhead shark. My wife, who has snorkeled several times a week since moving here in 2013, has seen approximately 10 sharks in total, all of the reef tip variety. She has seen them in Lanikai in Kailua and right off the shelf at Ala Moana Beach Park.

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Swim, surf, or dive with other people, and don't move too far away from assistance. Stay out of the water at dawn, dusk, and night, when some species of sharks may move inshore to feed. But be aware that tiger sharks are known to bite people at all times of the day.

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The quick answer is no, you don't have to know how to swim to snorkel in Maui! Although knowing how to swim will make snorkeling easier, it does not mean you need to know how to swim to be able to snorkel in Maui.

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Leave the water quickly and calmly if a shark is sighted; if you see a shark, alert lifeguards or other swimmers immediately. Keep pets out of the water as their erratic movement can attract sharks. Be aware that using bait to lure fish may also attract sharks.

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Also, with the exception of white tip and black tip reef sharks, seeing a shark is so exceptionally rare that most locals have never seen one. If you do see a shark when visiting Hawaii—especially in clear, blue water—consider yourself lucky to have had the chance at such a rare encounter.

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Although tiger sharks may be the most dangerous of Hawaiian sharks, other species have been known to bite people, usually with much less serious results. But as mentioned above, sharks have very sharp teeth, and even small sharks can cause significant tissue damage to a person.

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There appears to be an increased risk of being bitten by a shark during certain months, in particular October through December. Early Hawaiians recognized this, and cautioned against going in the water at that time.

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While the water temperature in Kona Hawaii is typically much warmer than waters off of the Mainland United States some people still get cold while snorkeling on the Big Island. and some may be surprised or even shocked by the temperature when they first get in. As you get closer to the equator the water gets warmer.

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What to Bring With You When Snorkeling in Hawaii
  • Bathing suit. You're going to be swimming in the ocean. ...
  • Change of clothes. You won't want to walk around in a soaking wet suit after you're done having fun in the water. ...
  • Towel. ...
  • Swim shoes. ...
  • Reef safe sunscreen or rashguard. ...
  • Waterproof camera. ...
  • Snorkel gear. ...
  • Kauai Sea Tours.


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