Snorkeling in Oahu Hawaii with Kids

“Can we go there!?” Driving up to the North Shore of Oahu towards our rental for the week, we heard this exclaimed from the backseat several times. Beautiful beaches, the Dole Plantation, and various other sites had us all feeling giddy with excitement. A few blocks from our rental for the week we spotted Shark’s Cove. Nestled between rocks, this little pool of water was full of people exploring. Kids were playing on the sand, people of all ages were wading into the water, and we could even see some people snorkeling.

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Snorkeling is something we’ve done with our kids several times in San Diego. For kids who love the water, are good swimmers, and are fascinated by the ocean and/or animals, there really is nothing better. If you haven’t tried before and you think your kids might like it, I highly recommend you give it a try. Here is my best advice on how to get started, what you need, and where to take kids snorkeling in Oahu, Hawaii.

Where to Snorkel

The first time we went snorkeling, we started in a pool. I wanted my kids to feel comfortable with how to use a snorkel before we tried in water with more movement. From there we practiced in the bay near our house where the water is calmer than the ocean, but still has some small waves.

Once you’re ready to wade into the ocean, there are a few spots along the North Shore and western side of the island of Oahu that are popular for snorkeling.

Our Favorite Snorkel Spots

• Shark’s Cove – this is part of Pupukea Beach Park was our most visited spot. Partly because we were staying close by, but also because it was consistently a good spot to see all kinds of fish and occasionally a sea turtle. This is also where we saw my favorite sunsets of the trip.
• Turtle Bay – located in Kahuku this is another protected cove that is great for seeing humuhumunukunukuapuaa (the former state fish of Hawaii – also a fun song from High School Musical 2 that my kids couldn’t stop singing the whole time) and a whole host of other fish and sometimes sea turtles. The downside of this one to me was that the beach was a little crowded because it is located adjacent to a hotel.
• Paradise Cove Public Beach – if I had to pick a favorite this might be it. I think we saw the most diverse fish in Shark’s Cove, but we saw sea turtles up close here and this beach is a little piece of heaven. This is an especially good spot if you have younger kids. It’s a shallow, calm cove with a little quiet beach. The downside is that there aren’t any bathrooms.
• Waimea Bay – we did not snorkel here, but I have been told by friends who lived on Oahu for years that this is a great spot in the summer months when the surf is much calmer on this side of the island.

When to Go

Thankfully I had a few years to figure this out in San Diego, before we went to Hawaii because I think this is one of the most important parts about successful snorkeling trips with kids and the least explained. While yes, you can snorkel on pretty much any day at any time on Oahu – a successful snorkeling trip is more likely if you go at the right time. These are the things I look for:

• Clear, sunny day with low wind
• Low tide (you can check the local tide online. There are some different options but Surfline.com is usually where I look)
• Calmer waves (this is also reported with the local tide)
• Go early or just before sunset.

The weather and tide you can check a few days in advance. I always check again that day or the night before to double check, but tides and surf conditions are forecasted like the weather and are pretty reliable. Going earlier or later usually offers less crowds and calmer water. Both of which are ideal when you’re trying to spot sea life.

Snorkel Gear to Bring

Snorkeling doesn’t require a ton of gear, but there are some things you definitely need. There are a lot of places around Oahu to rent gear if you don’t have your own or want to travel with your own. Personally I prefer to bring our own. My kids are comfortable with their gear and I know that it’s in good shape. Here is what I pack when I go snorkeling with my kids:

Each Person Needs

• Swim Suit
• Snorkel and Mask – there are a lot of options. Read the reviews. Not all snorkels are created equal. All four of us have full face snorkels like these but one of my kids often uses a more traditional set like this one.
• Fins – optional but helpful
• Towel – I really love these. They dry quickly and they aren’t as bulky to pack.

I also bring:

• Lifejacket – this is somewhat optional now that my kids are a little older, but when they were younger, a life jacket was essential. There is no way I could have taken them both snorkeling without life jackets and even though my kids were good swimmers when we tried snorkeling for the first time, it still makes it much easier for them to float along the surface and focus on using the snorkel and seeing sea creatures.
• Waterproof Bag – I use this bag if there are additional things, like my phone, I want to make sure will stay dry at the beach.
• Underwater Camera – I actually use this Underwater Phone Case for my iPhone which works amazing.
• Goggles – depending on the conditions, my kids like having the option of having swim goggles so I always throw a couple pairs in with our snorkeling gear. These are my kids’ current favorite goggles.
• Snacks and Water – my kids are always starving afterwards