Hawaii is home to some of Earth’s most beautiful clear blue ocean water, island reefs, and exotic marine life. Whether you’re a first-time snorkeler or an experienced diver, snorkeling boat adventures in the islands of Hawaii offer a wide range of breathtaking underwater experiences. Another plus is that Hawaii’s waters are some of the warmest and most comfortable for swimming anywhere in the World.
While there are many shore-based locations you can seek out for yourself, numerous snorkeling boat and catamaran operators are available to provide you with a half to full-day experience complete with safety training, expert narration, and advice as well as a selection of drinks, snacks, and an island meal while enjoying your scenic day at sea.
Oahu Snorkeling Boat Adventures
If you’re staying in world-famous Waikiki or nearby, several snorkeling boats and catamarans operate out of convenient Kewalo Basin Harbor, just a short drive away. Most offer quick shuttle services. You can start your day with a beautiful sail featuring views of the cosmopolitan city glimmering in the distance before you dive in for a snorkeling adventure that allows you to view magnificent green sea turtles and much more.
A twenty-minute drive east of Waikiki past Diamond Head (on the way to famous Hanauma Bay) will take you to the Hawaii Kai area, built around picturesque Maunalua Bay. This calm, tranquil bay setting provides catamaran snorkeling boat tours filled with kaleidoscopic tropical fish, turtles, and more. Accompanied by breathtaking views of Koko Crater and Diamond Head Crater, many excursions allow you to explore at your own pace.
For added underwater adventure, some Oahu snorkeling boat operators offer motorized submarine sea scooters, allowing you to glide through the water like a dolphin. The “Seabob” is even more advanced, featuring air tanks with an oxygen-filled helmet for further, relaxed ocean floor exploration.
For a full-day experience, snorkel boat operators also depart from Ko Olina Resort, located on Oahu’s remote west side, about a 45-minute drive from town. Snorkeling here offers vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life, including colorful fish, playful dolphins, and turtles that seem to glide effortlessly through the water.
Maui Snorkeling Boat Adventures
Most of Maui’s vibrant underwater snorkeling adventures depart from centrally located Ma’alaea Harbor. Morning and afternoon sails provide excursions of varying length – from 3 to 6 hours on average. One popular snorkeling adventure spot is Honolua Bay, a marine conservation area. Here, you will dive into crystal-clear waters to discover sea turtles, tropical fish, and dazzling coral reefs. In addition, viewing majestic humpback whales takes place during the winter months. Traveling to and from the bay, you can relax and enjoy scenic views of the west Maui coastline and mountains.
Molokini Marine Preserve is Maui’s most prolific snorkeling adventure location. A dormant volcanic crater that peeks above the ocean waves, Molokini features shear ocean walls that attract one of the widest selections of marine life imaginable. Located far from Maui’s shores, numerous boats anchor daily within the half-moon-shaped crater’s blue waters. Many excursions include a stop near what is known as “Turtle Town” to snorkel near enchanting green sea turtles.
Further afield, Maui snorkeling boats take you to the wild and largely uninhabited coast of the nearby Island of Lanai. This area has been voted one of the World’s top 10 snorkel locations. Here, divers can enjoy breathtaking beauty while snorkeling in pristine waters, exploring a paradise of dazzling coral reefs teeming with curious sea creatures. From playful spinners to friendly bottlenose dolphins, you can swim in this captivating encounter with nature. From December to April, the sight of a humpback whale in the distance is also a sight that leaves visitors spellbound each year.
Depending on your package, most Maui snorkeling adventures include island drinks, snacks, breakfasts, or lunches prepared right on board your vessel.
Hawaii Island Snorkeling Boat Adventures
Hawaii’s Big Island is known for its bottomless ocean waters. As a result, Hawaii Island is famous for its big-game fishing tournaments each year. But these deep waters also create ideal snorkeling opportunities for those looking for a more remote, pristine snorkeling adventure.
Kona Town is a delightful waterfront town with quaint dining and shopping opportunities. It also has snorkeling boats departing from its historic and convenient Kailua Pier. Honokohau Harbor, where many snorkel boats depart, is a short drive north of the town.
Just south of this area lies enchanting Kealakekua Bay, a National Marine Park, and the location of the Captain Cook Monument—a site steeped in rich Hawaiian history. Known as one of Hawaii’s premier snorkel spots, it boasts incredible visibility and calm conditions. Some tour providers utilize raft-style Zodiac boats rather than the traditional catamaran sailing because they can get closer to lava tubes, sea caves, grottos, and wave-powered blowholes.
Another popular snorkeling location in this area is the Place of Refuge. Experience the vibrant marine life in this stunning marine sanctuary while knowledgeable staff members share fascinating cultural and environmental insights about the Island of Hawai’i.
Most visitors stay in the resorts north of Kailua-Kona that stretch along the Big Island’s expansive Kohala Coast. Waikoloa is a particularly popular resort area, and it also features snorkel boat departure points from such pristine locations as Anaehoomalu Bay during Whale Season, which takes place from December through March.
For those searching for a unique snorkeling adventure, the Hilo side of Hawaii Island offers rare access to snorkeling along shorelines created by an active volcano not so long ago. Hilo Town is a few hours’ drive from Kona and the Kohala Coast area. The first images that come to mind when people think of Hilo are its stunning volcanic black sand beaches. Here, snorkelers can dive into a pristine lagoon visited by majestic sea turtles in a rare black-rock underwater environment.
