The Hanauma Bay Snorkel Experience: Some Of The Best Snorkeling Oahu Has To Offer
Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, the partially submerged crater on Oahu's southeast coast, was recently listed by National Geographic Adventures as the 2nd most well-known water activity in the entire U.S.!
This is no surprise to Hawaiians, who have long esteemed this wonderful, semi-circular bay, with its half-mile ribbon of white-sand beach and towering palms. Popular for its beach, reef and profusion of tropical fish, manta rays and green sea turtles, Hanauma Bay was a desired fishing spot for the Hawaiian royalty(Ali'i) within the past hundred years.
Oahu Hanauma Bay Snorkeling Tours to Hanauma Bay let visitors snorkel directly from the coast – boats are prohibited! CPA-certified instructors, who are experts in snorkeling and scuba, as well as educated in the history of the area, the fish and coral, are trained to take small groups snorkeling, snuba and scuba diving on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. These tours are great for beginners, or those who want to fully experience the many wonders of Hanauma Bay with an expert guide.
Hanauma Bay Snorkeling includes instruction by a life guard, all snorkel equipment, tram fare, drinks & snacks in addition to transportation to and from the most popular Waikiki hotels. Remember to bring some cash for the $7.50 entrance fee.
Hanauma Bay was placed as the best beach in the United States in Dr. Beach's 14th annual rankings of American beaches. As well as its splendid beach, reef and natural features, Dr. Beach praised Hanauma Bay's environmental preservation. To conserve Hanauma Bay’s natural beauty, it is closed on Tuesday, and tours are prohibited on weekends or Hawaii State Holidays.
Hanauma is a marine cove formed within a volcanic cone, populated with a spectacular coral reef. The 450-plus species of Hawaiian fish that inhabit the beautiful reef include an abundance of parrotfish and Hawaii's state fish, Humuhumunukunukuapua'a, which means triggerfish with a pig-like short snout in Hawaiian. Some of the other tropical fish you will often see[ while you are] snorkeling include the trumpet fish, Moorish idols, milletseed butterfly fish, yellow tangs, puffer fish and surgeon fish.
Due to its long history of protection, Hanauma Bay remains one of the world's best snorkeling sites, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it is the best snorkeling around Oahu. In 1928, after purchasing Hanauma Bay and Koko Crater from the Bishop estate for one dollar, the City & County of Honolulu founded Koko Head Regional Park. 22 years later, in the then-named Hanauma Bay Park, the City & County of Honolulu constructed a road to the beach and built new restrooms and showers. It quickly became a preferred fishing and lunch destination for Honolulu inhabitants far and near.
In 1967, the State Division of Fish & Game declared the whole bay a Marine Life Conservation District, and prohibited taking coral, marine life, shells, rocks and even sand. Locals visited less often, shortly after the establishment of entrance fees, while snorkeling and feeding fish became extremely popular among visiting tourists. In 1990, Friends of Hanauma Bay was formed, providing more thorough protection to the fragile Bay's resources. Now, fish feeding is no longer allowed!
There are two different administrators that take care of the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve: the State of Hawai’i Dept. of Land & Natural Resources that controls the underwater portion and the City & County of Honolulu that administers the part of Hanauma Bay lying above the high tide line. Each year, close to one million people visit Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve.
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