When it comes to family vacations, it can be tough to make a choice between all the different things there are to see and do as a family. Most families enjoy their vacations at state parks and National museums along with destinations like Disneyland.

If you’re tired of the same vacations and you’re looking for something new and exciting to do with your family, consider a trip to Oahu for some snorkling. Most places to snorkel are family friendly and cater to beginners, so knowing how to snorkel or having small children to take on the trip should not stop you from flying to Hawaii on your next family vacation.

Things You’ll Need

In order to go snorkling in Oahu, there are some things you’ll need to make sure you and your family have. It is not necessary to purchase an entire snorkel set if you aren’t an avid snorkeler and don’t plan to do it often.

Instead you’ll want to make sure that everyone who will be snorkling in Oahu with you, including yourself, has at least a mask and breathing tube. Other than this, you don’t really need anything else.

Of course some things that can help people snorkel especially as beginners are flippers and rash guards which are like skin tight shirts to be worn over/under swimming clothes. These guards help to keep you safe from accidentally swimming over reefs and scratching your belly while doing it.

If you plan to go snorkling in Oahu but don’t want the hassle of purchasing gear for it, you can rent snorkel gear from shops near beaches or even some snorkeling spots themselves!

Where to Visit

You’ll find that there is no shortage of snorkling spots in Oahu, but a couple of places really stick out from the rest.

Hanauma Bay is world renowned for its park because of the fact that Hawaii officials are always hard at work keeping the area safe and preserved. In fact, there’s a short film every visitor must see before walking down to the snorkel spot that will teach you how to respect the sea life and keep it safe, while teaching you the right and wrong ways to snorkel.

The sea life at Hanauma Bay are plentiful, you will start to see fish as soon as you get your feet wet in the water.

Another great Oahu snorkling spot is called Sharks Cove located on the North shore of the island. Not to worry, no sharks are found here but the reefs and fish found here are unbelievable and one of the best snorkling spots you’ll find on Oahu.

To snorkel is a great experience for anyone who’s interested in outdoor adventures. In fact, snorkling anywhere, especially in Maui, can offer you a world of knowledge in addition to the adventure. Learning about marine life may not help you in your career, but it can certainly help you to understand the world and give you a peak into some of life’s mysteries.

To snorkel in Maui means plenty of opportunity in the many world class spots to choose from. So where are the best spots to snorkel, and what will you see while snorkling in Maui? Keep reading to find out.

Maui Snorkling Hot Spots

One of Maui’s most premier snorkling spots is called Ahihi Keanau Reserve. This spot is perfect for beginners because the depth of the water does not vary greatly so it’s easy to practice and learn the tips and tricks of great snorkling. Because of the many different tropical fish found in this spot and because the water stays so clear, even novice snorklers will enjoy the experience.

The Kamaole Beaches of Maui are great snorkling spots for the family. There are a total of 3 “Kam” beaches, all found next to each other on the West coast of the island of Maui. You’ll find that the access to snorkling at these beaches is easy to get to, and the water is mild so snorkling with young children is definitely a possibility.

Polo beach is also another elite spot for snorkling in Maui. This beach has facilities including bathrooms and water, and has plenty of fish to see while you snorkel. In fact, many find that to the right of the beach is the best spot to snorkel, where the water is clear and immensely swarming with sea life.

What to Expect to See While Snorkling in Maui

Of course you’d expect to see plenty of varying colored fish, and you wouldn’t be disappointed. In fact, snorkling in Maui will allow you to experience a multitude of tropical fish found around the world, some turtles, and even some fish that are native to the Hawaiian islands.

Green sea turtles are often found while you snorkel, and sometimes even on shore before you get wet. They’re beautiful and big, and they’re also endangered species. Because the turtles are so used to humans, they have no problem being within a touch’s reach. However because they’re endangered, it is important to remember not to touch the turtles or get to close to them. You can be fined if you, because it’s against the law.

Some native fish to watch for when snorkling in Maui is the Humuhumunukunukuapuaa. Yes, their name is a bit ridiculous and almost impossible to pronounce unless you’re a native Hawaiian, but the fish itself does exist, name and all. You’ll know you’re looking at one when you see a fish that is shaped sort of like a football, but white. These fish also have black around their backs and their eyes, looking kind of like burglars. Many have red coloring outlining the top of their heads, but no matter the pattern of these fish, they’re a sight everyone should experience.

Key West is a great place to get in some excellent snorkeling and having the third largest reef system in the world in these parts and also being a place where the waters are no more than twenty feet deep you can be sure of getting in some very exciting Key West snorkling in this part of the world.

Typically, when you come to Key West for snorkeling, you would be greeted by calm seas where the waters are pristine clear and quite warm and the reefs of course are exceptional – all of which makes it well suited to get in some wonderful Key West snorkling. In fact, the excitement is even more special once you get a chance to view the colorful schools of fish and the outstanding structure of the coral reefs from the water’s surface.

Many Different Boat Trip Options To Choose From

To make your Key West snorkling experience even more fun you can choose from numerous Key West snorkling boat trip options including Key West catamaran, traditional sailboats and private snorkel charters as well as Key West Scuba diving.

There are of course many attractive sites around Key West that are ideal for Key West snorkling and among them is South Beach Patches which boasts of many scores of reefs and coral patches that traverse the length of Key West’s southern shores and where the waters are barely fifteen feet deep and thus ideal for a novice snorkeler.

Another great spot for Key West snorkling is Key West Harbor where the waters are about thirty feet deep and thus well suited for an advanced level snorkeler who however must at the same time always be mindful about the high volume of commercial boating activity taking place in and around the harbor that was first constructed in the sixteenth century.

Sand Key is another and perhaps most popular Key West snorkling destination and here the waters range in depth from a mere three feet to as many as sixty-five feet and thus are well suited for all kinds of snorkelers. The corals here are attractive though without much vegetation and the reef is mostly rocky with many gullies and many staghorn as well as Elkhorn corals as well.

Cottrell Reef is another outstanding place to visit for Key West snorkling and here the waters are just three to fifteen feet deep and thus ideal for intermediate and novice type of snorkelers and the reef here is excellent and there are also many sponges, and gorgonians as well as ledges and even banks that also support many different types of reef fish that make this spot quite enchanting.

There no doubts that there are many options facing you when it concerns Key West snorkling and once you come to key West you won’t have any difficulty finding a spot that will suit your needs the best.

If you need to snorkel where there is a lot of sunshine and plenty of marine life and exciting coral reefs, then why not consider Key West snorkling because among other things, here you will also find the only living reef in the entire North Americas. In fact, you won’t need to go more than seven miles from the shore to enjoy your Key West snorkling and you will also assuredly find that it is possible to really enjoy the tropical fish and sponges, corals, jellyfish, snails and a lot more besides the excellent snorkelling.

When it concerns Key West snorkel you will also get to enjoy the serene and clear waters and enjoy the outstanding underwater scenery that is replete with a variety of schools of fish and excellent corals. Also, there is plenty of opportunity to float by the numerous shipwrecks that dot the bottom of the ocean near Key West which will only add to the adventure of snorkelling here.

Another important feature when it concerns Key West snorkling is that you are assured of safe snorkelling and also uncomplicated snorkelling – both of which will make your entire trip memorable as well as unforgettable. In addition, there are many different types of Key West snorkling tours on offer including family tours such as the Back Country Safari Tour, Dolphin, Glass Bottom and Snorkel as well as Dual Reef Snorkelling tours, among other tours.

Island Ting Tour

For a truly unique Key West snorkling tour, you would be well advised to take the Island Ting tour on board catamarans that embody the best in luxury and which will provide you with a relaxing trip to the one living coral reef that exists in North America and which is also takes you to the most outstanding site for snorkelling.

One of the better Key West snorkel tours that you can choose to take is the one known as Sailing, Snorkelling and Kayaking Tour which you can take on board the skipjack boat known as “The Danger” which takes you out to spots that are ideally suited for not only snorkelling, but also for kayaking. The boat takes you to the best snorkelling spots off Key West and there you can enjoy the blue water and outstanding underwater marine life and scenery.

You should also make it a point to check out Mangrove Island where you can hire a kayak and paddle the canals and view the stingrays and tropical fish as well as sharks and this would be an excellent way of rounding off your Key West snorkling trip. This trip would cost you seventy-five dollars per adult and another fifty-five dollars for each child and in addition, you would need to pay 7.5 percent tax.

Many call Florida the American Caribbean and rightly so because the waters off the coast of Florida provide excellent opportunities to indulge in activities such as snorkeling which is as good here in Florida as in the Caribbean or in any other part of the world. Places such as Key Largo are well known tourist destinations and one of the things that people who visit there enjoy the most is Key Largo snorkling.

Underwater Paradise

In fact, Key Largo snorkling means enjoying the veritable underwater paradise experience and certainly when you try out Key Largo snorkling, you will experience something truly extraordinary and very unforgettable. One of the reasons why people love Key Largo snorkling is because they get to enjoy the one living continental USA’s coral reef which is just a short distance away from the shores of Florida and easily accessible from Key Largo.

You must also try some of the very tempting Key Largo snorkling destinations such as John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park which was the first underwater preserve in the United States and there is also Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary that opened to the public in 1975. You may also want to try Key Largo snorkling at Spiegel Grove where snorkeling around the five hundred and ten foot wreck of a Navy transport ship that sank in 2002 provides and impressive backdrop and is sure to be a very exciting experience.

Other excellent spots for Key Largo snorkling include Molasses Reef which boasts of very rich marine life, Benwood Wreck where another shipwreck (this time from World War II) lies and where you will get to see many porkfish and grunt. Another exciting spot for Key Largo snorkling is The Elbow where there are many shipwrecks around which you can snorkel and also come face to face with moray eels and some barracudas as well.

Some of the better Key Largo snorkling charters include names such as Reef Roamer Snorkel, Caribbean Watersports & Enviro-tours, Family Snorkel Tours with Sundiver, Keys Diver Snorkel tours and Quicksilver Catamaran, and more.

If you try going Key Largo snorkling aboard the Sundiver III you will get a truly exciting, safe, fun and wonderful experience that lasts for almost three hours and which will take you to the shallow coral reefs situated at the well known Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary. In fact, besides the fun of visiting this exciting spot you will also enjoy being served by crew that are well trained to handle all of your needs including for newbie snorkelers and the whole tour will truly amaze you as you take in the underwater wonders just off the coast of Key Largo.

You don’t have to be an experienced snorkeler in order to enjoy the sport. In fact, this water sport is very beginner friendly, if you know how to swim then you can definitely snorkel!

If you’re an experienced snorkeler, then you understand how fun, relaxing and fulfilling a snorkeling trip can be. But when it comes to finding new places to snorkel, it can be a challenge.

For both categories of adventurers, a perfect place to visit for snorkling is Kauai. This island of Hawaii is natural and abundant in life, both in the water and on land. Not only will you feel at peace and get a true meaning of what they call “aloha” in Hawaii, but you’ll have an opportunity to get a good feeling of snorkling in Kauai which may very well spark a new hobby for you.

Hot Spots

There are tons of snorkling spots on Kauai. Some spots are great for beginning snorkelers, while others are perfect for seasoned hobbyists. The best way to go about finding the perfect Kauai snorkling spot is to talk to the locals and surf/scuba/snorkel shops in the area. But there are a couple of spots you should know about before you head on your trip and the following spots are considered the best of the best:

Anini Beach offers a shallow area to snorkel that allows beginners and young people to have the time of heir lives. If you go a bit farther from shore, deeper reefs make for unbelievable fish watching.

Poipu Park is another Kauai snorkling favorite, and near Nukumoi Point at the park is where you will find the great snorkel opportunities. Be prepared for some serious fish watching as you glide through the clear waters here. When the water is calm is the best time to go, as most fish are out and about at this time.

Before You Go…

Before heading on your trip to Kauai snorkling spots, you need to make sure you’ve got everything in order. Unlike a Disneyland trip, going to the Hawaii islands takes a little planning.

You need to know that it is a temperate climate in Hawaii, even though it can rain a lot especially in places like Kauai. When planning your snorkling trip, make sure you bring shorts and t-shirts along with a couple of sweaters and an umbrella. You won’t needs jackets or pants as it’s always in the 70’s and 80’s, but a sweater and umbrella are great to hold back the rain and for right after you get out of the water.

Finally, do some research. The internet can offer plenty of information when it comes to places to stay, places to eat and destinations to visit.