KoOlina and Snorkeling

[seema]

Can one snorkel in KoOlina's lagoons?

Whether the answer is yes or no, are there are other nearby locations where one can snorkel at the beach? We would like to start snorkeling at beaches, before we go for a snorkeling boat tour.

 

[LAX Mom]

Yes you can snorkel in the lagoons. The most fish seem to be in lagoon #1, up by the JW Marriott hotel because they feed them every morning. There are other beaches where you can snorkel on the island, but nothing very close to Ko'Olina. I would use the lagoons if you want to practice before a boat trip.

 

[GregT]

The lagoons are like a bath tub, they are great for learning to snorkel (as long as you're not expecting actually see much). There are fish near the mouth of the lagoon, but not much elsewhere.

It will be a great practice spot.

I can't help with the HHV car rental question -- and am curious to see what our TUGgers say on that point as I can see it happening to me too.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[larue]

Electric beach is right up the road and has some of the best snorkeling on the island. Lagoon 2 also frequently has a turtle that is missing one of his fins. If you get out by the rope there are a surprising number of fish.

Link

 

[heathpack]

Not sure why you want to snorkel from the beach rather than a boat. But we had our best snorkel trip ever on the Waianae coast near Ko Olina. Yes, it was from a boat, but swimming with wild dolphin and sea turtles? Totally fabulous. The link: http://www.dolphinexcursions.com/

There is also a beach on the North Shore (sometimes called Turtle Beach, sometimes called Laniakea Beach) where you can snorkel with sea turtles. Sea was too rough when we went, so we did not swim-- good thing too because a tourist drowned at that beach the following day. This would be about a 45 minute drive from Ko Olina.

H

 

[dioxide45]

We are interested in snorkel tours from Ko'Olina, are there any recommendations for ones that leave from the Ko'Olina marina?

 

[MichaelColey]

I know you're looking for something in the area, but if you get a chance to get across the island to Hanauma Bay for some snorkeling, it's well worth the trip.

 

[heathpack]

We are interested in snorkel tours from Ko'Olina, are there any recommendations for ones that leave from the Ko'Olina marina?

Seriously consider the Dolphin Excursions trip. About 20 min from Ko Olina. The scuttlebutt in the hot tub at Ko Olina was not positive about the snorkel trips from Ko Olina marina. Not sure what the issue was but people were unimpressed. We, on the other hand, went with Dolphin Excursions and had our *best*snorkel*experience. Ever. Including Tahiti.

They will pick you up at Ko Olina Beach Club if you don't have a car.

My avatar pic is a photo we took on that snorkel trip. This is really something not to be missed.

H

 

[Ann in CA]

My husband and I did the morning dolphin snorkel cruise with the Ko Olina Kat from the Ko Olina Marina. It was an excellent cruise, with well informed captain and crew, and they even had prescription type masks for those of us that can't see well without our glasses. The area out from Electric Beach was where we snorkeled, it was beautiful with lots of fish and some people saw turtles. We did see spinner dolphins, though not when snorkeling. We'd recommend them!

 

[DeniseM]

We would like to start snorkeling at beaches, before we go for a snorkeling boat tour.

Not sure why you want to snorkel from the beach rather than a boat.

My guess is that they want to practice, before snorkeling from a boat - that's actually a really good idea, whether you are a first-timer, or just need to review your skills. I've seen many first-timers who got very little out of a snorkeling trip, because they didn't have any experience, and it was overwhelming.

 

[dioxide45]

Seriously consider the Dolphin Excursions trip. About 20 min from Ko Olina. The scuttlebutt in the hot tub at Ko Olina was not positive about the snorkel trips from Ko Olina marina. Not sure what the issue was but people were unimpressed. We, on the other hand, went with Dolphin Excursions and had our *best*snorkel*experience. Ever. Including Tahiti.

They will pick you up at Ko Olina Beach Club if you don't have a car.

My avatar pic is a photo we took on that snorkel trip. This is really something not to be missed.

H

Thanks, we will look in to this. We snorkeled for the second time in May while in Belize. It was amazing. Before that the last time we snorkeled was 10 years ago off Black Rock in Maui.

 

[heathpack]

Thanks, we will look in to this. We snorkeled for the second time in May while in Belize. It was amazing. Before that the last time we snorkeled was 10 years ago off Black Rock in Maui.

This is better than Belize, where we have also snorkeled many years ago.

Now as a matter of full disclosure, our guides did say we had a somewhat better than average experience on our trip. But nothing extraordinary. And we were there in March-- winter/early spring has best water clarity at that site.

And to explain further, the trip is not coral reef snorkeling with tons of pretty fish. First site is sandy bottom swimming with a large pod of drowsy spinner dolphin. Second site is a drab reef but we swam with 4-5 turtles, one of which came so close I had to back up to take a photo.

H

 

[calberry]

As you drive out of the Ko Olina complex, just as you past the JW Marriott there is a big parking lot for a company that does a luau. There is beach access off that parking lot to a nice little secluded natural shaded beach. I have never NOT seen turtles there, and the clarity is much better than the man made lagoons (although not as big). My preference is the 'electric' beach, but this is close, and great for kids.

Steve

 

[LAX Mom]

This company takes snorkel/dolphin trips daily from the Ko'Olina marina:
http://www.koolinaoceanadventures.com/index.html

We've been on trips with them 3 times. The first time it was just my DS and I and the trip was incredible!! We saw around 50 dolphins and they swam all around us for a long time. A mom & little one came very close to me. Even the crew on the boat was amazed, said it was the best day on the water they'd had all year. (Won free tickets at the Ko'Olina raffle, but it was worth every penny if I'd paid!!)

Next trip I took my mom on the same boat and it was okay but nothing like the first excursion. We saw some dophins but they swam away very quickly. The snorkeling was okay, nothing spectacular. (Won free tickets at the Ko'Olina raffle again and was glad I didn't pay for it this time)

Then later my son & some of his friends wanted to try this snorkel/dolphin cruise. It was better than the time with my mom but still nothing like the first trip. (No free tickets, we paid for this one!!)

I guess my point is that these trips can vary a great deal from day to day, depending on the conditions. The crew can't control the weather or the wildlife so don't have unrealistic expectations.

 

[dioxide45]

I know you're looking for something in the area, but if you get a chance to get across the island to Hanauma Bay for some snorkeling, it's well worth the trip.

We do already plan on going to Hanauma Bay the day following our arrival.

 

[MikeM132]

I second what everybody else says. There were very few fish to see in the lagoon right near the KBC. JW Marriott (big lagoon) was slightly better (and you could eat and drink at their pool bar, too). Not sure how this is with all the Disney construction nearby, however. We went on the KoOlna Cat and had a great time. It was a little weird swimming near that hot water exhaust from the power plant, as if you got in the "blast" it really pushed you out to sea hard. They had their crew in the water to keep you in the safe area, however. Lots of fish there. That beach over on the other side of Honolulu is supposed to be fantastic for snorkelling, but that's maybe 45 mintues or more away (and you'll deal with H1 traffic). We stuck to the lagoons and pools our second trip there. It was fine.
P.S.--Black Rock in Maui was the best we've been to outside of Florida, which is the best area I've ever snorkelled in (Pennycamp State Park in the Keys).

 

[musical2]

Sharks Cove is also pretty good for snorkeling on the North Shore. Most of it is pretty protected from waves. There were plenty of fish in the cove when we were there (July). There are plenty of large volcanic boulders in the cove.

 

[Clemson Fan]

We do already plan on going to Hanauma Bay the day following our arrival.

A little hint from a local - go there in the mid afternoon like around 2PM. The parking lot is relatively small and it fills up really fast with no other close place to park. So, the advice most people are given is to go early so you don't get "shut out", and most of the tour busses go early also. I've actually gotten there at 6:30AM and have been "shut out". We went the following day and got there a little before 6AM and got in.

A couple of months later we were driving by in the afternoon and noticed the parking lot was open. We went in and there was plenty of parking. Since then we always go mid afternoon and have never been turned away.

It really is worth it and it's the best snorkling I've ever experienced that wasn't from a boat.

 

[dioxide45]

A little hint from a local - go there in the mid afternoon like around 2PM. The parking lot is relatively small and it fills up really fast with no other close place to park. So, the advice most people are given is to go early so you don't get "shut out", and most of the tour busses go early also. I've actually gotten there at 6:30AM and have been "shut out". We went the following day and got there a little before 6AM and got in.

A couple of months later we were driving by in the afternoon and noticed the parking lot was open. We went in and there was plenty of parking. Since then we always go mid afternoon and have never been turned away.

It really is worth it and it's the best snorkling I've ever experienced that wasn't from a boat.

Thanks for the tip. We were actually going to try to get there early, but it appears not early enough. We may arrange our day to go in the PM. Would this still be true when traveling in the lower season times of mid October?

 

[amyhwang]

We love snorkeling at Ko Olina lagoons! I take my daughter every morning when we're there, and we see lots of fish. One day we took a stale bagel with us - she came back out of the water with it, and said there were so many big fish coming around for it that it scared her :rofl:

We do like the dolphin excursion, but really just love the lagoons so much! They're so fun to snorkel in.

I agree about elecric beach - tons of fish! Our dolphin snorkel trip stopped there.

 

[dioxide45]

Well for the most part our snorkeling adventures in Hawaii are over. Though we still plan to go to Black Rock before the end of the week.

We were able to snorkel at Hanauma Bay, we arrived around 7:30 or 8:00 am and had no problem getting in. We would have been there sooner if it wasn't for the horrific Honolulu traffic jams. Honolulu has to have the worst traffic of anywhere we have driven, and we have driven some big cities; Toronto, DC, Chicago, Miami.

We wanted to go early to Hanauma Bay because we had heard the later you go the less visibility you will have as all the people in the water stir it up. The snorkeling in Hanauma Bay was great and very easy. There were some waves, but was easily manageable.

However, we took the Pride of Maui to Molokini and Turtle Town yesterday. While the view under the water at Molokini was spectacular, there was less marine life than Hanauma Bay. The waves however were big, and getting on and off the boat was a big challenge. We survived but we did not get off the boat at Turtle Town because of the waves.

We have determined that we are a swim from shore type of snorkeler. We also prefer the much smoother experiences in the Caribbean. Snorkeling from a boat in the Caribbean probably would be easier as the waters are much calmer.

We would rate our experience in Belize to be far better than any of the snorkeling we have done in Hawaii.

 

[gwhamm]

Well for the most part our snorkeling adventures in Hawaii are over. Though we still plan to go to Black Rock before the end of the week.

We have enjoyed Black Rock on our previous trip to Maui, but our most enjoyable snorkeling takes place along the roadside beach at mile marker 14 on the highway to Lahainia. It is a state park area, but I don't remember the nam. The water is quite shallow, very calm reef, and we see lots of fish. We usually just find a spot to spend the day, under some of the trees and have a beach picnic and and an enjoyable day of snorkeling. Already looking forward to going next July when we take our daughter and her family to Maui for the first time.

 

[californiagirl]

Dioxide, I'm so sorry there were waves off of Maui when you went. We were there two weeks ago and took the all day snorkel trip around Lanai and the water was like glass the entire day. The captain kept reminding us how unusually smooth the water was. We even got to snorkel the wreck off of Lanai. He said he is able to do that maybe 6 or 7 days a year! The next day the water was so choppy we could see whitecaps from shore.

At Black Rock go completely around the point. I have a picture of a sea turtle and eagle ray swimming right below me. Truly amazing! Most people miss the back/north side of Black Rock. That is where the turtles and eagle rays are. Also there are starfish clinging to the face of the rock. I was in the water by 8:00 in the morning.

Have a great rest of your trip.

As far as Ko Olina, lagoon 1 has some fairly decent snorkeling for such a young bay. I swam with several sea turtles one morning.

 

[cp73]

Yesterday we swam with two turtles in lagoon #2. there were also a lot of fish, more than #3 in front of ko olina. Today we kayaked and snorkeled off lanaki. Lots of coral reefs, turtles, and fish. I have said this before but Lanaki is the most beautiful beach in all Hawaii! Marriott has used it in it's ads several times!