Big Island Snorkeling Guide: Kona, Hilo, Tours, and Rentals

The Big Island’s snorkeling divides between coasts that work differently. The Kona (west) side has protected bays, consistent marine life, and enough shore-entry spots that you could snorkel somewhere different every day of a week-long trip. The Hilo (east) side receives more rainfall and surf, which limits visibility at most beach entries, but Richardsonʻs Ocean Park east of downtown Hilo stays calm most days and has reliable sea turtle sightings in shallow water.

This page covers the planning layer: gear rentals ($5-10/day from Snorkel Bob in Kona, or buy a basic kit at the local supermarket for $20-30), organized boat tours from $99, reef etiquette, and safety tips. The tour section covers full-service boat tours to Kealakekua Bay, zodiac-style aquatic safaris, and private charters for larger groups.

Yellow tang is one of the most common and easily recognized fish in Hawaiian reefs. You can see them on nearly every dive, both individually, in small groups, and in large schools. Photo taken in Kailua-Kona Bay, along Aliʻi Drive.

Snorkeling Spots: Kona Coast and Hilo

The Kona coast runs roughly 60 miles from Keauhou in the south to Kawaihae in the north and holds most of the snorkeling on the island. The character changes as you move north: central Kona spots are convenient and busy, South Kona has the best marine life, and the Kohala resort belt has calm clear water that most visitors never reach because they assume the beach access roads are hotel-only. The Hilo side is a different story (more rain, more surf, less reliable) but one spot east of downtown holds up consistently. All 14 shore-entry spots with distances from town are listed on our Kona snorkeling spots page.

Kona Snorkeling Spots

Kahaluʻu Beach Park, four miles south of downtown Kailua-Kona, is the most practical first stop on the island. The entry is easy, the reef starts immediately off the south end of the beach, and sea turtles feed on the algae year-round. Most visitors see four or five turtles on a typical morning. Arrive before 9 a.m. to get parking and the clearest water before the afternoon wind picks up.

Honokohau Harbor, three miles north of town, is a mixed lava-and-beach entry with less predictable conditions but significantly fewer people on weekday mornings. Magic Sands Beach Park (White Sands Beach) has a shelf reef accessible from shore. The snorkeling is secondary to the beach, but it works for a quick stop if you are staying near town. King Kamehameha Hotel Beach (King Kam) is the most convenient entry point in the center of Kailua-Kona; the marine life is modest but the access is hard to beat for a short morning session.

King Kamehameha Hotel Beach (King Kam) is the most convenient entry point in the center of Kailua-Kona; the marine life is modest but the access is hard to beat for a short morning session.

South Kona Snorkeling Spots

Two Step at Honaunau and Kealakekua Bay are the two best snorkeling sites on the island. Two Step takes its name from the two-step lava ledge entry: you step down to the water with minimal scrambling and the reef starts in six feet of water directly off the ledge. The visibility runs 50 to 80 feet on a typical calm morning. Spinner dolphins use the bay as a resting area and are a common morning sighting.

Kealakekua Bay holds anchor rights for only a small number of permitted boats, which keeps it less crowded than its reputation would suggest. The prime snorkeling is at the Captain Cook Monument on the north shore, reachable by kayak or tour boat — the shore trail is long and not recommended for the snorkel gear haul.

Honaunau Bay, adjacent to Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, is sheltered by its orientation from prevailing swells and stays calm most of the year. It is one of the less-visited South Kona spots despite being straightforward to access.

Two Step and Kealakekua Bay are covered in depth on our Big Island snorkeling spots guide.

One of the many Pristine coral formations within Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii. Photo by Sarah Lee on Unsplash

Kohala Coast Snorkeling Spots

The resort beaches between Waikoloa and Kawaihae are publicly accessible. The access roads run through resort property, which leads most visitors to assume the beaches are for hotel guests only. They are not: public access is required by state law, and the parking is clearly marked. These beaches consistently have better water clarity and less wave action than anything within five miles of Kailua-Kona.

Anaehoʻomalu Bay (A Bay) at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott, 25 miles north of Kailua-Kona, has an offshore reef that keeps conditions calm on most days and good turtle activity along the rocky points at the south end of the bay. Makaiwa Bay at Mauna Lani is a protected beach with easy entry and a consistent reef. Waialea Beach (Beach 69), off Highway 19 at mile marker 69, has one of the calmer entries on the Kohala coast and a reef worth the 30-minute drive from central Kona. Kaunaoa Beach (Mauna Kea Beach) has the best snorkeling on the Kohala coast along the rocky points at each end; arrive before 9 a.m. because the small public parking lot fills fast. Hapuna State Beach has good snorkeling on calm days but the beach is exposed. Conditions can deteriorate quickly in the afternoon, and it is not the right call if there is any swell running.

The best reefs at Waialea Beach are on the southern side of the bay, but there is also plenty of coral around the rocky prominence inside the bay and close to the rocky point on the right (north) side of the beach.

Snorkeling Near Hilo: Richardsonʻs Ocean Park

Richardsonʻs Ocean Park is at the end of Kalanianaʻole Avenue, about three miles east of downtown Hilo. The park has a small black sand beach, lava rock tide pools along the edges, and a sheltered bay that stays calm on most days despite the rainfall and surf common elsewhere on this coast. Green sea turtles rest on the rocks along the bay and move through the shallows frequently enough that sightings are consistent rather than lucky. Morning visits give better visibility as afternoon wind picks up and can stir the water. The park has restrooms and parking but no gear rentals; bring your own or rent in Hilo before you go.

Carlsmith Beach Park (Four Miles), a short drive closer to downtown, has a sheltered lagoon that stays calm even when the ocean is not. It is a reliable fallback on rougher days and also has regular turtle sightings in the protected pond area.

Richardson’s Beach Park, in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii. This beach is one of the best places to snorkel on the HIlo side

Snorkel Gear Rentals: Buy or Rent

Renting is the practical option for most visitors. Snorkel Bob in Kona rents a full kit  (mask, snorkel, fins) for  $10 per day or $40 to $60 for a week. Gear is available at multiple Kona locations; you can pick up and drop off at any Snorkel Bob on the island, which is useful if you are splitting time between Kona and Hilo.

The alternative is a basic kit from the local supermarket for $20 to $30. The fit will not be as precise as a rental, but it works fine for calm beach entries and you do not have to return it at the end of the day. If you are snorkeling on a boat tour to Kealakekua Bay, the operator includes gear.

For a basic kit you need a mask, snorkel, and fins. Add booties if you are entering over lava rock (Two Step, Honaunau Bay, Richardsonʻs Ocean Park) and reef-safe sunscreen regardless of where you are going. A fish ID card is worth the few dollars. Yellow tang, Moorish idol, humuhumunukunukuapuaʻa, and Picasso triggerfish are common on any Kona reef, and being able to name what you are looking at changes the experience.

In order to go snorkeling, you’ll need a mask, fins, and snorkel, and perhaps a wetsuit or some kind of exposure protection if you get cold easily. Photo by Subtle Cinematics on Unsplash.

Snorkeling Tours from Kona: Boats, Zodiacs, and Charters

Shore entry works well at most Kona beach parks. A tour adds value when you want to reach Kealakekua Bay, where the Captain Cook Monument reef is significantly better than what is accessible from shore, or when you want gear, food, and a guide included and do not want to manage logistics yourself. Three formats are covered below: full-day boat tours, zodiac-style safari tours, and private charters.

Full-Day Boat Tours to Kealakekua Bay

Full-day tours run four to five hours, depart from Keauhou or Honokohau Harbor, and include two snorkel stops at Kealakekua Bay. Sea Paradise operates from Keauhou Harbor and holds anchor rights in the Kealakekua Bay Marine Life Conservation District. Crew enters the water with every group, which is useful if you have first-timers along. Fair Wind, also departing from Keauhou, runs a five-hour format visiting two snorkeling locations and is a good option for anyone who wants more time in the water. Both tours include gear, meals, and a freshwater rinse.

Aquatic Snorkeling Safaris

An aquatic safari combines a snorkeling stop with a small-boat search for marine wildlife such as dolphins, humpback whales in season, and manta rays. Because time is split between wildlife searching and snorkeling, the in-water time is shorter than on a dedicated snorkel tour: expect 30 to 90 minutes of snorkeling depending on the operator and what is showing up that day.

The 2-hour Marine Wildlife and Reef Snorkel Adventure runs on a Navy SEAL zodiac-style boat, maximum 14 guests. The pace is fast and the ride is loud. Well suited for people who want an active trip, less so for anyone looking to snorkel at a leisurely pace.

The 4-hour Aquatic Safari and Reef Snorkeling at a Marine Sanctuary covers more coastline, runs on a 38-foot vessel with 18 guests maximum, and gives more in-water time.

Private Sailing Charters: Worth It for Groups of 6+

A private charter makes sense for groups of six or more: the per-person cost on a 38-foot boat at that size becomes competitive with the full-service group tours, and you get control of the itinerary plus access to snorkel sites the larger boats cannot reach. The four-hour daytime charter is the main option in this category.

For a sunset option, Paradise Sailing runs a 2-hour sunset charter at $1,085 for up to 8 guests.

Where to Find Fish: Near Coral and Rocks

If your main goal in snorkeling is to see many fish keep in mind the following: fish need shelter and food, so the best place to look for them is near coral and the rocks.

If you are entering the water somewhere where there are only rocks, be careful not to step on coral or sea urchins. A sandy strip is the best place to get into the water.

A group of snorkelers observing undersea wildlife. Image credit: Julie Falk on Flickr.

Malama Kai: Hawaiian Reef etiquette

The ocean is Hawaii’s most important resource, and it has an incredibly fragile and diverse population. More than a quarter of the sea life here is found nowhere else on the planet. It is important for everyone – locals and visitors – to practice an ancient Hawaiian tradition: Malama kai. Loosely translated it means “take care of the ocean”.

If you have 8 minutes to spare please have a look at this informative video about Hawaiian Reef etiquette (go to 02:10 if you want to skip the introduction):

The video features local fish (most prominently the Humuhumunukunukuapuaʻa) that tell the do’s and do not’s of conservation with a Hawaiian dialect against a background of original music and chants. It is narrated by some of Hawaii’s top entertainers.

Finally, please remember to be respectful towards the ocean and its inhabitants. Marine mammals are protected and should not be fed or actively approached by boats or swimmers.

Snorkeling Safety Tips

• Be prepared. Use high-quality snorkel gear. Fins, mask, de-fogger and sunscreen are a good start. A fish ID card finishes of your gear nicely. Booties to protect your feet sometimes also come in handy.
• Be careful: Never snorkel in (unsafe) high surf conditions. If you are a beginner, start in shallow water and only venture further out when you feel comfortable. As soon as you start feeling anxious, return to the coast. See also our 12 favorite snorkeling spots in Hawaiʻi for beginners.
• Always snorkel with a buddy: Snorkeling with a companion is more fun and much safer. In the event of an emergency, your snorkel partner could get help and save your life.
• Use your gear properly: Ask the personnel at the rental shop if there is anything you need to know about the gear, be sure to ask how to clear your mask under water (generally: while floating with your feet down and your face up: exhale a burst of air through your mouth to blow the water out).
• Time your snorkeling properly: The best time to snorkel or dive is generally in the morning. Water conditions are most clear and the fish are more active.
• Be respectful and have fun: The reef is a living animal! It may look like plants and rocks, but in reality, it is made up out of millions of tiny animals. Only rest on the sandy bottom or bare lava.

Snorkeling on Maui, Oʻahu, and Kauaʻi

If you spending time on more than 1 island (and why shouldn’t you!) you might be interested in our collections of top snorkeling spots on Maui, Kauaʻi, and Oʻahu:

• 11 Snorkeling Spots on O‘ahu for any itinerary
• 3 Favorite Big Island Snorkeling Spots for Beginners and Experts
• 11 great Kauaʻi Snorkeling Spots (for families, wildlife, and more)
• Our 10 favorite snorkeling spots on Maui (includes Molokini Crater, a half-submerged volcanic cone with 100-foot visibility on calm days)

A snorkeler watches a green sea turtle in the waters around Maui. Photo by Subtle Cinematics on Unsplash

Banner image credit: Aaron Gilson on Flickr, source.