Hawaii
Turtles, mantas and a sunken volcanic crater, across four islands with very different seasons.
Snorkel spots, mapped and measured.
Independent guides to where to swim, which boat to book and what gear actually fits. Every spot gets the same card: level, entry, depth, best months and how to get there.
Molokini Crater
Maui, Hawaii
- Level
- 2 of 5
- Entry
- Boat only
- Depth
- 10–80 ft
- Best months
- April to October
- Visibility
- Often 100 ft or more
Where to snorkel
Start with a region. Each guide covers shore spots you can reach on your own and the trips that need a boat.
Every spot we cover, on one map
Tap a pin to see the level and how you get in the water. Pins are approximate; each guide has exact entry points and directions.
Show all 21 spots as a list
- Molokini Crater, Maui: level 2 of 5, boat
- Honolua Bay, Maui: level 3 of 5, shore
- Manta Village, Keauhou, Big Island: level 2 of 5, boat (night)
- Kealakekua Bay, Big Island: level 2 of 5, boat or kayak
- Hanauma Bay, Oahu: level 1 of 5, shore (reservation)
- Shark's Cove, Oahu: level 3 of 5, shore (summer)
- Turtle Canyon, Oahu: level 2 of 5, boat
- Tunnels Beach, Kauai: level 3 of 5, shore (summer)
- Poipu Beach, Kauai: level 1 of 5, shore
- Buck Island Reef, St. Croix: level 2 of 5, boat
- Frederiksted Pier, St. Croix: level 2 of 5, shore
- Trunk Bay, St. John: level 1 of 5, shore
- Bight Reef, Turks and Caicos: level 1 of 5, shore
- Antilla Shipwreck, Aruba: level 3 of 5, boat
- Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Belize: level 2 of 5, boat
- West Bay, Roatán: level 1 of 5, shore
- Palancar Reef, Cozumel: level 2 of 5, boat
- Akumal Bay, Riviera Maya: level 1 of 5, shore
- Carlos Rosario, Culebra: level 2 of 5, hike or boat
- Silfra Fissure, Iceland: level 3 of 5, guided only
- Outer reef from Cairns, Great Barrier Reef: level 2 of 5, boat
Snorkel tours, compared side by side
We line up every popular tour by harbor, time in the water, group size, guarantees and what's included, so you can pick a boat in a few minutes.
| Tour | Where | Price range | What we compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manta ray night snorkel | Kona, Big Island | $125–227 | 7 tours: harbor, group size, sighting guarantee |
| Molokini Crater | Maui | $144–239 | 8 boats: departure harbor, time inside the crater |
| Turtle Canyon | Waikiki, Oahu | $75–89 | 6 tours: in-water guides, turtle guarantee |
| Na Pali Coast | Kauai | $185–292 | Raft or catamaran, sea caves, seasons |
| Outer Great Barrier Reef | Cairns, Australia | $77–194 | 6 tours: outer reef or island, stinger season |
| Silfra Fissure | Thingvellir, Iceland | $139–300 | Drysuit, photos, Golden Circle combos |
Prices are the lowest listed on Viator and GetYourGuide when we last checked, in USD per person.
Gear that fits your face, your trip and your budget
We compare specs, independent test results and owner reviews, then say plainly who each pick is not for.
New to snorkeling?
- How to snorkel, step by step
- Fitting the mask, breathing, clearing water and what to do when something goes wrong.
- Do you need to know how to swim?
- An honest answer, plus what tours require and which flotation helps.
- Snorkeling with glasses or contacts
- Five options compared, from contacts to prescription lenses.
- Snorkeling safety rules
- Currents, sun, marine life and the signs it's time to get out.
How we put these guides together
- One card for every spot
- Level, entry, depth, conditions, facilities, fees and directions, in the same order every time, so spots are easy to compare.
- Tours checked against live listings
- We compare tours on Viator and GetYourGuide by the details that change your day, and update prices when they move.
- No pretend testing
- Gear picks are based on specs, independent tests and owner reviews. When we haven't used something ourselves, we say so.
- Safety and the rules
- Reef-safe sunscreen laws, reservation systems and wildlife distances are part of every guide, not an afterthought.
One great snorkel spot, once a month
Conditions, the best season and how to get there. No spam.