Snorkeling

[Mom2disneygirls]

So finding some great advice in many people's after trip reviews but could not find a thread specifically on this. We are going for our 15th anniv and bringing our kids. We plan to do Rainbow Reef visit pass and have read left side of Lagoon is pretty nice and Paradise cove to the right of Aulani has turtles.... BUT I understand there are 4 lagoons in the area and would love any other hints and advice on snorkeling that do not involve a scheduled excision in particular although that info sure could help someone else Im sure. So any hints and info would love. Thank you.

 

[blondietink]

There are many spots around the island in general that are good for snorkeling. It all depends on which way the surf is coming in on any given day. All you need is a rental car and a map. Most of the beaches on Oahu have lifeguards and if you just ask them they will point you in the right direction for snorkeling and tell you if today is a safe day. There is also a website, surfline.com that you can check out for surf conditions and also windguru.com for wind conditions.

 

[alohamom]

My understanding is that the Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club lagoon (lagoon 3) in the best of the four for snorkeling. If you are standing looking at the ocean, you would turn to you left and walk in that direction along the path. This is an interesting link, http://www.tropicalsnorkeling.com/snorkeling-ko-olina-lagoons.html
it says lagoon 4 is the best because there are less people. Barb is correct in that there are soo many lovely spots to snorkel around Oahu like at Sharks Cove and Three Tables beaches (summer only) and Electric Beach if you are good swimmers
http://www.hawaiisnorkelingguide.com/oahu_snorkeling.html
and of course there is Hanauma Bay http://hanaumabaystatepark.com/

 

[Mom2disneygirls]

Thanks trying to keep it located right within walking - we had some of the best snorkeling right off our hotel in Maui for our honeymoon and it was such a luxury to walk out and snorkel. As the attention span and time of our youngest won't be that long, the middle one will freak and get scared and inevitably one of us will be walking back with them while the oldest 13 is with whoever gets lucky right then.

 

[micminmom]

Are there any places near by to rent wetsuits? My ds gets cold in the water and I read that Rainbow Reef is freezing!

 

[TinkFan74]

Makaha Beach has a turtle cleaning station about 100 yards out and it is never really busy, it is about a 25 minute drive from Aulani, just past Waianea.
Attached is a picture from this spot.

 

[DisDad+DisMom]

My understanding is that the Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club lagoon (lagoon 3) in the best of the four for snorkeling. If you are standing looking at the ocean, you would turn to you left and walk in that direction along the path. This is an interesting link, http://www.tropicalsnorkeling.com/snorkeling-ko-olina-lagoons.html
it says lagoon 4 is the best because there are less people. Barb is correct in that there are soo many lovely spots to snorkel around Oahu like at Sharks Cove and Three Tables beaches (summer only) and Electric Beach if you are good swimmers
http://www.hawaiisnorkelingguide.com/oahu_snorkeling.html
and of course there is Hanauma Bay http://hanaumabaystatepark.com/

m

 

[DisDad+DisMom]

c

 

[Supplanter]

We snorkeled in the lagoon and there were tons of fish if you head out to the left side. We hit one school of fish that was huge and so beautiful, I really recommend just spending time in the lagoon. It was way better than rainbow reef and there was no one else around. Plus the turtles at paradise cove were way more awesome than anything at rainbow. Enjoy ko olina, its awesome