Snorkel Sites: South Shore
Hanauma Bay Marine Life Conservation
District is east on H-1. The Freeway becomes 72, then it's only
a matter of following your nose with your eyes open. Famous,
this place, for its fishy hoards. They got 1snack bar and 2 shishoir.
Closed all day on Tuesdays.
[back to map]
Waialae
Beach Park and the the
Kahala Hilton Beach are around Diamond Head at the end of Kahala
Ave (out of the hubbub). Both be nice, calm, clear, wide and sandy
and my fish buddies abound. Pleasantly deserted during the week,
this 1.
Sans
Souci is just outside Waikiki,
like me, Snorkel Bob, but instead of turning left on Kapahulu,
follow Kalakaua toward Diamond Head (east). Just past the Aquarium
is the Natatorium, and just past this is Sans Souci, the hotel.
Very good snorkeling out front.
[back to map]
Waikiki
Beach is excellent
for watching people with mostly nothing on. Some of them are fat,
however and the snorkeling is marginal, because no coral and no
rocks equal no habitat. Yet the surf is good for body boarding
every now and then. Watch out for people learning to surf on large
fiberglass objects with fins on the bottom.
Snorkel Sites: Leeward Coast
Electric Beach, or Kahe Point is the 1st beach
on this coast. It is west on H-1, so far out it becomes Hwy 93. It is across
the street from the big green power plant, hence the ELECTRIC in the BEACH.
Nice reef wall along the point.
[back to map]
Papaoneone
Beach is further out
on 93. Go a short 1/4 mile past the 7-11 and Cornet Department
Store. Turn left at Lahilahi Street and park roadside near the
condos. Beach access runs between the condos. The rock promontory
on the left juts maybe 75 yards out. Snorkel along the inside.
Beauteous white sand beach, many fish, clear water, no lifeguard,
but many other swimmers and snorkelers. No public facilities--LOOKOUT
FOR BIG SURF!!
Makaha
Beach Park is a little
bit farther out 93. Lifeguards at this one, 9-5:30. I, Snorkel
Bob head out 50 yards and turn right for thick fish traffic. Good
for body boarding too, this place, except when the surf is BIG!
Yokohama
Bay is at the end of 93.
The white sand beach here is as big and beauteous as they get.
I, Snorkel Bob, go straight out, turn left or right and snorkel
down. But don't forget the EXTREME HAZARD IN BIG SURF.
[back to map]
Snorkel Sites: Windward Side and North Shore
Makai Research Pier is 5.1 miles past Hanauma
Bay going east on 72. Park and snorkel on the west side of the pier--ingress
and egress from the beach. A LIVE reef here with plenty fish oodles.
Lanikai
Beach is good for swimming
and snorkeling, miles of good-as-it-gets-beaches. Windsurfers here,
so watch out for melon cleavers. Beach access is found between
homes.
[back to map]
Malaekahana
Bay State Park (Goat
Island) is on 83, 24.1 miles past 63 going north. It's a long beach
with a reef and a postcard-pretty islet just off the beach that
you, my friends, can swim to.
Turtle
Bay is on 83, 30 miles past
63 going north. Turn right at the Hilton and right again at the
security shack.
Shark's
Cove and 3 Tables are
part of Pupukea Marine Life Conservation District north of Waimea
Bay. This is the heart of the North Shore. BEWARE OCTOBER THROUGH
APRIL. KILLER SURF, BAD CURRENTS ARE COMMON TO THE NORTH SHORE.
You can break your toe just sticking it in the water, it's that
rough, and I, Snorkel Bob, mean really. Dozens of other spots
are known by your fellow snorkelers, whom you will meet on the
great snorkel byway. Always ask about parking, surf, surge, current,
visibility, fish life and safety.
Snorkel Bob's Oahu
700 Kapahulu Ave.
Honolulu, HI 96816
808-735-7944
[back to map] |