Is snorkeling safe in Hawaii?

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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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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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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Choppy waters are not ideal for snorkeling, especially; if you're not a proficient swimmer. Wavy waters will bounce you around, and you'll experience diminished underwater visibility because of increased moving debris and sand. Waves also influence the ease and safety of getting in and out of the waters.

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Snorkeling is hands-down much better on Maui. Oahu does have some great snorkel spots, but if you want to get into the water, snorkel easily, and not have the ocean too overcrowded, Maui is your place. Plus, you'll see turtles everywhere.

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Though it is unclear how many deaths were due to ROPE, according to the Department of Health, there were 204 snorkeling-related deaths from 2012 to 2021.

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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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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.

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