The Best Places to Snorkel on Hawaii's Big Island
Hey there! If you’re heading to Kona, we'd love to help you figure out where to snorkel and how to get there. We’ve spent our lives as guides and naturalists out here, and honestly? We never get tired of it. Every single day on the water brings something new.
Whether you just want to grab your fins and hit a local beach or you're looking for a proper Hawaiian Snorkeling Tour, we want you to have an epic, and responsible, time. Here is our guide to the absolute best places to snorkel Big Island Hawaii, straight from a local crew who lives here.
1. Kahalu'u Beach Park (The Best Bet for Beginners)
This is exactly where we tell our friends to take their kids or anyone who hasn't snorkeled much. Kahalu'u is a small, super sheltered bay just south of town. There's a natural lava rock breakwater that keeps the ocean swell out, so it feels like swimming in a giant aquarium. You can walk right in and immediately see colorful reef fish and Hawaiian green sea turtles (Honu).
- The Crew’s Tip: Because it’s so easy to get to, it gets packed. Do yourselves a favor and show up by 8:00 AM to grab a parking spot. And please, give the turtles plenty of space to do their thing—never touch or crowd them.
2. Two Step at Honaunau Bay (For Confident Swimmers)
Located right next to the historic Place of Refuge, Two Step is legendary for its crystal-clear water and dramatic underwater lava formations. It gets its name from the two natural lava rock "steps" you use to ease yourself right into the deep blue.
- The Crew’s Tip: There is no sandy beach here, and the entry drops off fast. It’s an unbelievable spot for seeing massive schools of fish and sometimes even wild dolphins cruising by, but you need to be a solid swimmer who is comfortable in deep water to really enjoy it. (Check out our blog post for a deeper dive About Honaunau Bay).
3. Hapuna Beach (The Classic Beach Day)
Hapuna is regularly ranked as one of the best white sand beaches in the world for a reason. Now, the snorkeling right in the middle isn't going to blow your mind with coral, but if you swim out along the rocky points at either end of the beach, you'll find some great marine life.
- The Crew’s Tip: Hit up Hapuna when you want that classic, relaxing, postcard-perfect beach day, with just a little bit of casual snorkeling on the side.
4. Kealakekua Bay / Captain Cook Monument (The Crown Jewel)
There is no contest: this is the best reef in the state. It’s a protected marine sanctuary with massive coral drops, a resident pod of spinner dolphins, and water so clear you can routinely see 100 feet down.
- How to do it: You can’t just drive up and park at this reef. You either have to hike a pretty brutal, exposed two-mile trail, rent a kayak (which requires a permit), or take a boat.
- Come out with us: We run small-group trips to Captain Cook out here every day, and we do it differently. Instead of packing you onto a slow, crowded catamaran, we use Rigid Hull Inflatables (RHIBs). These boats are fast, open-air, and sit low to the water. We cut through the chop instead of rolling over it. If you usually get seasick, this is the way to go, the fast-moving, breezy ride actually helps keep the nausea away. It's a much more adventurous, intimate way to see the coast.
5. Manta Village at Keauhou Bay (The Night Snorkel)
Floating in the pitch dark while a 1,000-pound manta ray does a barrel roll mere inches from your mask... it's pretty wild. It is a total bucket-list experience, and most of the action happens right in our backyard outside Keauhou Bay.
- How to do it: You definitely need a tour for the Manta Ray Night Snorkel. Because our home base is Keauhou Bay, our boat ride to the mantas is literally under 5 minutes. That means you get way more time in the water compared to boats chugging all the way down from harbors up north.
- Nervous about the dark? Don't sweat it. Safety is our whole thing. We use custom-built, brightly lit float boards. You do not need to be an Olympic swimmer, you literally just hold onto the board, float, and look down. You never have to let go.
- The Crew’s Tip: We want you completely relaxed before you get on the boat, so we use a super easy 2-step check-in. First, you'll meet us at our shop just up the road where we have plenty of space to get you perfectly fitted with right gear. Once you're fitted, it's just a quick, drive down to the bay to launch straight into the action!
A Quick Word on Ocean Ethics
One last thing from a crew who loves this ocean: please help us protect it. Always use strictly reef-safe sunscreen (check the label for no oxybenzone or octinoxate), never stand on or kick the coral, and give all marine wildlife the respect and space they deserve. For more tips on exactly how to prep for your time in the water, check out our Know Before You Go guide.
Grab your masks for a shore day, or book a small-group excursion with us to let our naturalists show you the absolute best offshore spots the right way. See you out in the blue!
