Tunnels is too dangerous to swim during the winter when large waves pound the north shore. We recommend arriving early to find a spot. Don't leave it to the last minute if you want a prime location at the beach.
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It's said that Tunnels Beach has the best snorkeling on the island which means it is a perfect beach for the “in-between” family that has both older kids who want to experience sea life and underwater caverns and younger children who will be happier playing in the sand and shallow, docile waves.
East Side BeachesLydgate Pond is located in Lydgate State Park with a large salt-water pool which makes it one of Kaua?i's safest year-round swimming sites. Kealia Beach Park is a half-mile stretch of golden coast that hugs the curve of Highway 56. Its long sand-bar bottom provides a nice surf break.
It's advised that novice snorkelers stay close to the shore in the inner reef; only advanced snorkelers should venture to the outer reef. There aren't bathroom facilities at Tunnels Beach, but there are some at the nearby Ha'ena Beach Park, which is a little more than a half-mile southwest.
The stretch of semi-sheltered beach on the north shore of Kauai which includes Tunnels beach and Ha'ena beach (they blend into each other in this small sweep of beach) is a lovely beach for swimming and scenery. Kauai has much beautiful coastline but not many beaches that are really good or safe for swimming.
First, arrive before 10am when parking is easier to find and the beach is less crowded. My second strategy is to stay at one of our Haena Kauai vacation rentals. Then you can walk over any time of day and enjoy this spectacular beach. Tunnels is teeming with tropical fish both large and small.
Tunnels Beach (Makua) is an epic spot for snorkeling and scuba diving. Lava tubes form the many underwater caverns that make the reef a magical underwater world to explore and give Tunnels its name. The beach is a crescent shaped bay is fringed by palms and ironwood trees.
Lumahai is the subject of many postcards and paintings, but is also known on island as one of the most dangerous beaches for drownings and is not recommended for swimming. During the summer months the conditions at Luimahai are calmer, but still use caution. Lumahai is exposed to open ocean and strong currents.
The wide sand beach offers the easiest entrance into the water. Don't attempt to enter the shallow areas where there are rocks and reef that come all the way up to the beach edge. Large and small Lava tubes form the many underwater caverns give Tunnels it's name as well as a magical underwater world to explore.
Tunnels Beach snorkeling tips and recommendationsThe best area to explore includes the reef that runs parallel to the western part of the beach. It is on your left when you enter the water. The shallow lagoon around Haena Point is now closed to all water activities, including snorkeling.
Unlike scuba diving where you have your own air supply, snorkels don't let you breathe while you are fully submerged in the water. The breathing tube can fill up if it dips below the water's surface, for example, a wave splashing over you, or if you dive underwater to get a closer look at marine life.
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.
You will need a parking permit reservation to get to Ke'e beach. You do not need a parking permit to get to Tunnels, but make sure that you only park in an area where it is permitted or you will risk getting ticketed / towed.
Whether it's safe to swim at Secret Beach is dependent on water conditions, which vary by season. Swimming is typically safe in the summer months, though rough surf and strong currents sometimes bring about conditions that are dangerous.