5 Best Oahu Snorkeling Excursions, According to National Geographic
It Has To Be the Truth—National Geographic Said So
I’m kidding. That isn’t quite how evidence works—but when you’re about to spend $100, $150, maybe $200+ of your vacation money on an excursion, you want assurance you’re not making a terrible decision.
And few names in travel are as respected as National Geographic.
Your mother trusted them. Your teachers trusted them. My dad had all 12 National Geographic encyclopedias lined up at home.
That yellow rectangle means: “You can believe what you’re about to read.”
So when National Geographic gives an Oahu snorkeling spot its vote, it gives the place credibility from one of the biggest names in travel.
Why Trust Us?
We don’t rank excursions we like. We pick the ones people love.
That means checking Google ratings, review volume, trusted travel publications, recurring complaints, recurring praise, and reading Reddit threads where people are much more likely to say, “This one was the best,” or, just as importantly, “Don’t waste your money.”
So, yes, you can trust us. But our recommendations aren’t asking you to take our word for it.
They’re asking you to trust the people who’ve already taken these excursions.
1. Oahu Boat Snorkeling
Deluxe Snorkel & Cruise by Living Ocean Tours
National Geographic, in its “A City Guide to Honolulu, Hawaii,” tells visitors not to leave the island without planning “a snorkelling trip.”
Which creates the obvious question: “Okay… but why this snorkeling excursion?”
Hawaii snorkeling has high standards. You’ll find many tours sitting near that magical 5-star Google rating.
And, yes, Living Ocean’s Deluxe Snorkel & Cruise is one of them—with 5 stars from 6,000+ Google reviews.
Of course there’s a reason this one ranks No. 1. If you’re a family of 3—two parents and a 10-year-old. This tour is a great fit. But if you’re in your 70s, travelling with your husband, and neither of you wants a chaotic “jump in and figure it out” excursion. Still a good fit. The crew knows when to step in and when to back away and let confident swimmers enjoy themselves.
On this tour, the boat cruises along the Waikiki coastline toward Diamond Head while the crew points out wildlife. The boat visits Rainbow Reef. And guests get roughly 90 minutes for snorkeling and water activities once the boat anchors. Turtles and dolphins may be spotted during the coastal cruise, and humpback whales can also appear from roughly December through April.
Their double-decker Lokahi boat has shaded and sunny seating, an open bow, a restroom, swim ladders, and a large upper deck.
The boat has a proper boat-mounted waterslide into the ocean. There’s also a water trampoline and a floating lily pad.
They know when to say, “Here, let me help you with that,” and when to say nothing at all because you’re doing perfectly fine.
2. Green Sea Turtles in Oahu
Turtle Canyon Snorkel by Living Ocean Tours
Do you want to see 5 turtles? Ten turtles? How about one swimming beside you, another underneath you, and one more so busy eating lunch that it barely knows you’re there?
National Geographic tells visitors to see/snorkel with green sea turtles in Oahu in its article “Find Paradise in Oahu.”
Living Ocean’s Turtle Canyon Snorkel tour is much more focused than the Deluxe tour because the main purpose is to take you to the canyon to snorkel with Hawaiian green sea turtles. You can be swimming over the reef and suddenly see a large turtle below you, another resting nearby, and perhaps another slowly coming up toward the surface for air.
The excursion lasts 2 hours, with about 1 hour of snorkeling time. And the price is currently $79 per person.
There are also multiple departures each day, and the tour leaves from Kewalo Basin Boat Harbor at 1125 Ala Moana Blvd, very close to Waikiki.
3. Hanauma Bay Snorkeling
Pure Aloha Adventures Hanauma Bay Guided Snorkel Tour
This popular bay attracts nearly 1 million tourists a year. And National Geographic calls it “one of Hawaii’s best places for snorkeling.”
With this tour, you arrive at Hanauma Bay, go down to the beach, put on your gear, and walk into the water from the shoreline. The reef is directly offshore inside the bay, so there is no need for a boat to take you out to it.
Pure Aloha Adventures’ Hanauma Bay Guided Snorkel Tour has the highest rating—4.9 stars—and their tour lasts 2 hours, with about 1 full hour of guided snorkeling in the water.
The minimum age is 3 years old, and the tour is a semi-private small-group tour with a maximum of only 5 guests.
If you book directly through Pure Aloha, the $25 Hanauma Bay entrance ticket is included in the tour price.
It runs Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, because Hanauma Bay is closed Monday and Tuesday and does not allow commercial tours on weekends or holidays.
Pure Aloha’s two guides, Nyle and Eva, each have more than 10 years of experience guiding at Hanauma Bay. They stay in the water with you for the entire snorkeling portion, take guests to the best parts of Hanauma Bay, and may even take you to the outside reef when conditions are suitable.
Most importantly, a basic snorkeling lesson is included before the guided portion begins. They help guests identify some of the roughly 400 species of marine life found around the bay, including Hawaiian reef fish, green sea turtles and, more rarely, Hawaiian monk seals.
Snorkeling equipment is included, so you do not need to bring your own mask, snorkel or fins. And flotation devices are available for guests who want extra support in the water.
After the guided tour ends, you can stay at Hanauma Bay for as long as you want rather than having to leave with the guide.
The guides take underwater photographs during the experience, although those photos are available for purchase rather than automatically included.
4. North Shore Turtle Snorkeling
Ocean Outfitters North Shore Snorkeling Adventure
National Geographic tells Oahu visitors to snorkel with turtles on the North Shore, and notes that the calmer May through September water makes it better suited to snorkeling.
Ocean Outfitters Hawaii’s North Shore Snorkeling Tour is a 2-hour boat trip that leaves from Haleiwa Small Boat Harbor and takes you along Oahu’s North Shore toward Waimea Bay and the Wānanapaoa Islands, where turtles, dolphins, rays, and native Hawaiian reef fish are known to occur.
One of the main stops is the Wānanapaoa Islands, which is native to reef fish and turtles.
The tour is fairly active. You need to be comfortable swimming and able to get in and out of the boat independently. Masks and fins are included, and the boat is staffed by experienced, CPR-certified watermen.
It’s also very seasonal. The tour operates only from June through September, when the North Shore is generally much calmer. It closes during the high-surf winter months because winter on the North Shore can mean enormous waves rather than easy snorkeling conditions.
The current price is $110 per person, the minimum age is 3, and there is also a private 2-hour charter option for $1,200 if a family or group wants the boat to themselves.
5. Leeward Coast Snorkeling & Sailing
Wild Side Specialty Tours Best of the West
National Geographic is very explicit about the Leeward Coast. In “A City Guide to Honolulu, Hawaii,” it tells visitors: “Don’t come this far without planning … a snorkelling and sailing trip on the Leeward Coast to spot wild spinner dolphins and green sea turtles…”
It even names Wild Side Specialty Tours as the operator for that experience.
Wild Side Specialty Tours’ Best of the West is a small-group wildlife and snorkeling trip from Waianae Boat Harbor on Oahu’s Leeward Coast.
It spends about 3+ hours on the water, and the crew adjusts the route according to conditions and where the wildlife is that day. That gives it more of a safari feel than a typical snorkeling excursion.
The shared tour is limited to up to 10 guests, which is one of its biggest advantages. The crew includes marine biologists/naturalists and lifeguard-certified staff, and the snorkeling portion is guided in the water.
Snorkel gear is also included, along with snacks, pineapple, and drinks; the midday charter also includes lunch.
The wildlife is the real highlight of this tour. Depending on the day, the crew may look for spinner dolphins, Hawaiian green sea turtles, rays, reef fish, and other marine life, with humpback whales becoming another possibility during their winter season.
The guides talk about the animals you encounter, their behavior, and Hawaii’s marine ecosystem, and Wild Side incorporates conservation and wildlife research into its trips.
The current shared-tour price is $215 per person, with check-in at either 7:00 a.m. or 11:15 a.m. They suggest the tour for children aged 5 years and older, and private charters are also available.
Best Oahu Snorkeling Excursions FAQs
What are kid-friendly things to do in Honolulu, Waikiki?
Family things to do in Honolulu usually include snorkeling, visiting the Honolulu Zoo, a sunset cruise, and exploring the Kualoa Ranch.
Are there free things to do in Honolulu, Waikiki?
Yes. Some of the best things to do in Honolulu cost nothing at all. You can relax on Waikiki Beach, watch the sunset over the Pacific, hike Diamond Head (small entry fee for non-residents), or explore Kuhio Beach and its evening hula shows.
What are the best evening activities in Honolulu?
Popular evening things to do in Waikiki include beachfront dining, live music along the strip, and the Friday night fireworks display. Likewise, fun family things to do in Honolulu include sunset cruises and luaus, which are traditional Hawaiian feasts.
Do you need a car for things to do in Waikiki?
Not necessarily. Many things to do in Waikiki are within walking distance of major hotels. For activities outside the immediate area—like North Shore tours or Pearl Harbor—shuttles are widely available.
What outdoor activities are popular for families in Honolulu?
Outdoor family things to do in Honolulu include surfing lessons, snorkeling tours, stand-up paddleboarding, hiking Diamond Head, and boat cruises along the coastline.
