Snorkel Cruises

Hawaii Snorkeling on the Big Island

The Big Island offers many wonderful snorkeling spots – choose from a variety of Hawaii snorkeling tours, all with exceptional snorkeling opportunities. Both Kona and Hilo sides of the island offer opportunities to view a large variety of Hawaii's fish, sea turtles (honu) and colorful coral. The snorkeling tours are mostly found in Kailua-Kona. Sailing with Body Glove, a very popular Hawaii snorkeling tour to the secluded Pawai Bay, offers great snorkeling excitement for the whole family. The snorkeling boats have waterslides and include equipment, food and beverages.

You can take a Fair Wind, Hawaii snorkeling tour to a marine sanctuary in Kealakekua Bay. Spinner dolphins like to surf in the wake of these boats, and you may also see them when snorkeling if you go early.

Below are two great snorkeling spots if you plan to snorkel from land but keep in mind you experience a much greater diversity of fish and reefs, plus the adventure, when you take a snorkel tour.

• Kahalu`u near Kailua-Kona is a marine preserve so the fish are very tame here and may even try to search your pockets for fish food. You'll see many turtles also while snorkeling in the area.

• About 5 miles from downtown Hilo, you'll find a very pretty coral reef with colorful fish at Richardson's Beach. This spot has more colorful coral than Kahalu`u, and when the ocean's calm and it's sunny, excellent visibility. However, if you'll see more fish at Kahalu'u.

If you are planning to snorkel in Hawaii, an excellent choice is taking a snorkeling tour that leaves from Kona. That way you're almost guaranteed excellent visibility and you'll see a larger array of marine life, coral and dolphins. Snorkeling in Hawaii is great on all of the other islands too so check out other Hawaii snorkeling opportunities below.

• Kauai Snorkeling - Snorkel on the oldest and most protected reef ecosystems of all the major Hawaiian Islands.

• Oahu Snorkeling – World-famous Hanauma Bay tops a long list of Oahu's excellent snorkeling spots.

• Maui Snorkeling – The top snorkeling attraction here is Molokini Crater, a beautiful underwater sanctuary inside a partially sunken volcanic crater.