Snorkeling on Oahu

There is a lot to learn about snorkeling on Oahu.  First, we will tell you about our Snorkel With Turtles tour and encourage you to book with us.  You will also find information about other places to snorkel with turtles on the island.  Scroll down for information on snorkeling as a sport, and a free online course.

Snorkel With Turtles tour

This tour departs at 9:30 am daily from Island Divers at 377 Keahole St It is a 2.5 hour tour.  The cost is $89 per person.  Minimum age is 6 to enter the water.  Prices for dry guests are the same. Please always confirm start time by calling our shop in case there was last minute change due to weather conditions or other circumstances. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

Snorkel with Turtles includes

• Mask, snorkel, fins, and positive floatation snorkel vest
• In water guides
• A large rescue ski float powered by an underwater scooter (this is helpful for people who may not swim well)

What to bring

• Swimsuit
• Towel
• Reef safe sunscreen
• Hat and Sunglasses
• Camera (a waterproof case may be purchased on location)
• Optional cash gratuity for your crew

Snorkel with Turtles tour arrival and preparation

Guests should arrive about 30 minutes prior to departure time to take into account any unexpected delay.   You will be greeted by the crew and the process of fitting you for gear will begin.  At departure time the captain begins a boat safety briefing.  After that short briefing the boat departs for about a 20 minute ride to the snorkeling site.  During the ride out the guide will explain the proper use of the snorkeling equipment.  Positive floatation device instructions are provided. Finally, we will discuss some of the sea creatures and fish we might see, including some information about the green sea turtle.

Getting started snorkeling on Oahu

After arriving at the snorkeling the guide will describe the area, and suggest the best locations for turtle viewing.  Then site guests will enter the water to begin there snorkeling on Oahu experience.  Snorkeling experience levels generally vary quite a bit.  Better swimmers and snorkelers will enter the water first, but don’t worry, everyone will get plenty of time in the water.  The site is a feeding and resting location for green sea turtles, with collapsed lave tubes providing sheltered places for turtles to rest underwater.  Since the come up to breathe every 10-20 minutes, there are lots of close encounters.  State and federal law protects green sea turtles, so please don’t touch.

Can I snorkel if I don’t swim?

Yes.  We provide a couple of large jet ski rescue floats to hold onto.  These floats, powered by underwater scooters, will help you get around the snorkeling site.  Of course, you will also be wearing a snorkeling vest so that you stay afloat even without the rescue float.  Of course you also have the option as booking as a non snorkeling observer, and you will be able to get pictures of turtles over the side of the boat.

Underwater scooter powered tour

The guide has a underwater scooter that powers a large flotation device with quite a few handles that less experienced water people may want to hold onto for comfort.  It also assists people in getting to different parts of the large underwater area.  For the more experienced, it is still fun to take a turn!  Different people will have different amounts of time they will want to spend in the water.  You will have approximately one and half hours to explore.  We will depart the site to make it back to the dock by noon.

There is a very small chance that we won’t see turtles within the first 30 minutes at the primary site.  If that is the case the boat will more to a secondary site to try for turtles.  Snorkel With Turtles is the name of the tour. We will do everything we can to make that happen!

 

Free Online Snorkeling Instruction

Island Divers Hawaii is a SSI (Scuba Schools International) affiliated dive shop.  SSI offers free online snorkeling course called Snorkel Diver.  Simply follow the link to register with SSI and find the free Snorkel Diver program in the Programs section of the App.  It is worth noting that there a a couple of other free programs there that you might want to check out.  The Try Scuba program will teach you about what you would learn and do during a Try Scuba experience here on Oahu.  The Blue Oceans is a free educational conservation course.

The best Oahu Snorkeling Tour

We believe we have one of, if not, the best snorkeling tours on Oahu.  We will take you to a turtle resting area in Maunalua Bay that is only one other operator goes to.  This is not like Turtle Canyons off Waikiki were there are at least 8 tour operators going to the same location each with a boat load of guests.  This tour area is MUCH less crowded, with the same almost guaranteed chance to see turtles.  We are the only operator using under water scooters and rescue floats to help inexperienced and non swimmers get around the snorkeling site.  We would love to have you join us and see if you agree that we have the best Oahu snorkeling tour.