Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay: Learn with certified divers

Learn to snorkel where sea turtles actually are

A snorkeling lesson at Hanauma Bay Nature Reserve on Oahu, led by certified divers and lifeguards from Honolulu Snorkel Co., teaches you the basics and the best spots to see marine life in one hour. The lesson includes all equipment and park entry. Afterward, you stay as long as you want until closing to explore on your own. No swimming skills are required, and the water is shallow and calm.

What’s included

• Entrance fee to Hanauma Bay Nature Reserve.
• snorkel mask, fins and snorkel.
• instruction from certified divers and lifeguards.
• access to the bay for the rest of the day after the lesson.

Times

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• Wednesday to Friday 08:00 10:00 12:00

Information

Snorkeling lesson at Hanauma Bay Nature Reserve on Oahu with certified instructors, equipment and park entry included.

Group Up to 5

Live guide English and Spanish Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. 5 similar tours with pickup › See the exact address

Book up to 3h before

Ages Adult (13 to 90 years) · Child (2 to 12 years) · Infant (under 2): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Wheelchair accessible Accessible transport Stroller-friendly Infant seats available Public transport nearby Not recommended with heart problems Not recommended with back problems

More information The exact meeting point address, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

Traveler reviews

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The experience

The lesson runs about an hour with your guide and a small group, covering how to use the mask, fins and snorkel, how to breathe underwater, and where the reef and the turtles are. The crew are certified divers and lifeguards, so they know the bay's layout and its residents. You'll be in water shallow enough to stand in, which means no panic and no guessing whether you're doing it right.

After the guided part ends, you don't have to leave. The bay stays open until closing time, so you can keep snorkeling on your own, drift back to the shallows, or just float and watch. The entrance fee and all your gear (mask, fins, snorkel) come with the booking. Hanauma Bay itself is a protected marine reserve, which is why the water is clear and the fish are used to people. It's also why the conditions stay calm even when the ocean outside the bay doesn't.

The bay is on Oahu's windward side and reachable by public transit if you don't have a rental car. Guides speak English and Spanish. Kids of any age can come, and the park has wheelchair access throughout, though the water entry itself is a sloped beach rather than stairs or a ramp.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 12 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the water like at Hanauma Bay for someone who's never snorkeled before?

Hanauma Bay is a protected marine reserve with shallow, calm water inside the bay itself. You can stand up if you need to. The reef and the fish are close to shore, so you see them without swimming far out. Sea turtles are common there, especially in the shallower zones where the lesson takes place.

Do I need to know how to swim to take this snorkeling lesson?

No swimming skills are necessary. The water is shallow enough to stand in, and the certified guides teach you how to use the equipment and breathe underwater from the start. Kids of all ages are welcome.

What happens after the one-hour lesson ends?

The lesson is about an hour with your guide, but you keep your equipment and can stay in the water as long as you want until the bay closes for the day. Many people use the lesson to learn the basics, then spend the rest of the afternoon exploring on their own.

Is the entrance fee to Hanauma Bay included in the booking?

Yes, the entrance fee to the nature reserve is included, along with the snorkel mask, fins and snorkel. You don't pay anything extra at the gate.

How do I get to Hanauma Bay if I don't have a rental car?

Public transportation options are available nearby. The bay is on Oahu's windward side, and several bus routes serve the area. The park itself is wheelchair accessible, with accessible surfaces and transportation options throughout.

Operated by Honolulu Snorkel Company. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago