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Waikiki · North Shore · West Side
Snorkeling with Turtles on Oahu
Four hours with free pickup in Waikiki: snorkel with green sea turtles at Turtle Canyon, then kayaks, paddleboards and sea chairs off the boat, with a lifeguard on board and flotation for beginners.
- 4.8 / 5 129+ Reviews
- 4 hours Duration
- 10 ft The recommended distance from a honu, in the water and on the sand
- Wed-Sun The days Hanauma Bay is open
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
What the Turtle Snorkel Covers
About three hours at Turtle Canyon off Waikiki, with the ride from your hotel and back.
Highlights
- Free pickup from Waikiki hotels
- About three hours at Turtle Canyon
- Kayaks, paddleboards and sea chairs after the snorkel
- A certified lifeguard on board
- A free return trip if no turtles are spotted
What's Included
- Pickup and drop-off in Waikiki
- About three hours on the water at Turtle Canyon
- Snorkel gear and flotation gear
- Kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, sea-chair floats
- Light snacks and drinks on the boat
- A shaded roof on the boat
Good to know: Free pickup at 12 points in Waikiki; the snorkel site is about 20 minutes away by boat. · Flotation gear and help in the water for beginners, children and people who are not confident swimmers. · If no turtles are spotted, you can come back on another tour free. · GoPro rental and tips are extra. · Bring swimwear, a towel and sunscreen. Touching marine life is not allowed. · Not Included: Go-Pro Camera Rental (optional), Gratuities
How the Morning Runs
Pickup in Waikiki, a short boat ride, the turtles, then the water toys, and back to your hotel.
Pickup in Waikiki
You are collected at one of 12 pickup points around Waikiki and taken to the boat, so there is no parking to find.
Out to Turtle Canyon
About 20 minutes by boat along the Waikiki shore to the snorkel site. The crew hands out the mask, snorkel, fins and flotation gear and helps anyone who is new to snorkeling.
The Honu, Then the Water Toys
You snorkel over the reef looking for the green sea turtles, with a certified lifeguard on board. Then the kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and floating sea chairs come out, with light snacks on the boat.
Back to Your Hotel
About four hours after pickup you are back in Waikiki. If no turtles are spotted, you can come back on another tour free.
Photo Gallery
Turtle Canyon and the Boat
Photos from the snorkel's listing: the turtles, the reef and the day on the water.
Book Your Experience
Check Availability & Prices
Select your preferred date and time. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
Plan the Snorkel
Where, How and When
Where on Oahu the turtles are, Laniakea, Hanauma Bay, the west side, the rules for honu, and the best time to go.
Prices are each page's featured tour: GetYourGuide checked November 2026. Listing prices are per person, adult fare.
Four Ways to Snorkel with Turtles on Oahu
Three boats to Turtle Canyon off Waikiki and a morning on the west side. Prices from the listings, with the month they were checked.
| Feature | THIS PAGE Turtle Canyon with pickup | Guides in the water | Catamaran from Kewalo | West Oahu, dolphins too |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What You Pay | From $107 per person (checked November 2026) | From $62 per person in current promotion (usually $89) (checked November 2026) | From $60 per person (checked November 2026) | From $194 per person (checked November 2026) |
| Paid on the Day | Tips; GoPro rental if you want one | Parking if you drive; tips | Parking, $2 an hour | Tips; wetsuit and GoPro rental |
| Time | About 4 hours with the ride | 2 hours | 2 hours | 3 hours |
| In the Water | Turtle Canyon, then kayaks and paddleboards | Turtle Canyon with guides beside you | Turtle Canyon from the catamaran | Sheltered bays after a dolphin search |
| Getting There | Pickup in Waikiki | Your own way to Kewalo Basin Harbor | Your own way to Kewalo Harbor | Pickup in Waikiki or Ko Olina |
| No Turtles? | Come back free | Come back free within 12 months | A full refund | No turtle promise |
| Best For | Families and first-timers | Newer snorkelers who want a guide close | The lowest price | Dolphins and turtles in one morning |
| Check dates | See the guided snorkel | See the catamaran | See the west side trip |
Other Ways to Go
More Ways to Snorkel with Turtles on Oahu
Guided Turtle Canyon boats, a budget catamaran, the west side with dolphins, the North Shore and Hanauma Bay.
GUIDES IN THE WATERTurtle Canyon Guided Snorkel with a Turtle Guarantee
Living Ocean Tours' two-hour boat snorkel from Kewalo Basin Harbor on the Coral Kai to Turtle Canyon: snorkel guides get in the water with the group to find the green sea turtles and help newer snorkelers, with mask, snorkel, fins and flotation, light snacks, soft drinks and a restroom on board. If the group sees no turtle in the water, everyone on the trip may come back free within 12 months, subject to space. Basic swimming ability is required; from age 3.
A CATAMARAN FROM KEWALOTurtle Canyon Catamaran Snorkel from Kewalo Harbor
Oahu Catamarans' two-hour snorkel from Kewalo Harbor on the Kahala Kai, a catamaran that takes about half of its Coast Guard capacity of 49: a snorkel with the green sea turtles and reef fish, with premium gear, water, soda, juice and light snacks and two restrooms, then a cruise looking for dolphins, monk seals and, in season, whales. If you see no turtle, you get a full refund. Parking beside the boat is $2 an hour.
FROM THE HILTON LAGOONTurtle Canyon Snorkel by Boat from the Hilton Lagoon
Island Splash Tours' 90-minute boat snorkel from beside the Hilton Lagoon in Waikiki, a few minutes from Turtle Canyon: three lifeguard-certified guides in the water with you, snorkel gear and flotation devices, then soft drinks and water back on board. Bring your own towel. Not for children under 5, pregnant women or people over 65.
SIX GUESTS AT MOSTTurtle Canyon Semi-Private Snorkel Boat, Six Guests
Captain Max Boat Tours' 90-minute semi-private snorkel at Turtle Canyon for no more than six people, on a fast adventure boat from a harbor near the Waikiki hotels, with snorkel gear, life vests, water, snacks and local juice. If you see no turtles you ride again free. Not for children under 5, pregnant women, or anyone with back, neck or heart problems: the ride is bumpy. Harbor parking is $2 an hour.
THE WEST SIDEDolphin Watch and Turtle Snorkel off West Oahu
Dolphin Excursions Hawaii's three hours on a 32-foot motorboat off West Oahu: a search for wild dolphins, with humpback whales in winter, then snorkel stops in sheltered bays for the reef, its fish and sea turtles, with a lifeguard-certified marine biologist or naturalist, a deli lunch and transport from Waikiki or Ko Olina hotels. If no dolphins are found you can rejoin free; swimming with them is never guaranteed. Touching, feeding or riding animals is not allowed.
THE NORTH SHORESmall-Group Circle Island Day with a North Shore Turtle Snorkel
Hawaii Turtle Tours' full day around most of Oahu by minibus from Waikiki, with about a dozen stops, Diamond Head, the Halona Blowhole, Makapuu and the windward coast among them, and an hour of snorkeling on the North Shore at beaches where green sea turtles feed, with snorkel gear. Food and drinks are not included. Turtle sightings are not guaranteed.
The Guide
Where the Honu Are, and How You Snorkel with Them
Turtle Canyon, the North Shore, Hanauma Bay or the west side: which trip fits you, what it costs, the turtle you meet and the rules that protect it.
On Oahu you snorkel with green sea turtles, honu, mostly from a boat. The Waikiki boats go to a site off the shore they call Turtle Canyon, about two hours out and back from Kewalo Basin Harbor, Waikiki Beach or the Hilton lagoon. On the west side, boats from Ko Olina and the Waianae coast pair a turtle snorkel with a dolphin search. On the North Shore the turtles come to you: at Laniakea Beach they haul out to rest on the sand, and you watch from the beach without a tour. Hanauma Bay has turtles on its outer reef, though fewer than it used to. Wherever you go, the honu is a protected animal: you watch from 10 feet away and never touch.
The short answer
For most visitors the turtle snorkel is Oceanstar’s Turtle Canyon trip with pickup, sold on GetYourGuide as Waikiki Turtle Canyon Snorkel 6-in-1 Activity. A van collects you in Waikiki, the boat takes about 20 minutes to the snorkel site, and you get about three hours there: the turtle snorkel first, then kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and floating sea chairs. A certified lifeguard is on board, and the crew gives flotation gear and help to children and anyone who is not a confident swimmer. If no turtles are spotted, you can come back on another tour free. Per person it costs from $107 in current promotion (usually $120), with 129 reviews (checked November 2026).
Check dates for the turtle snorkel
Pick your snorkel
Turtle Canyon Snorkel and Water Toys with Waikiki Pickup
Oceanstar's four hours from your Waikiki hotel: the turtles at Turtle Canyon, then kayaks and paddleboards, with a lifeguard on board.
Check dates →Turtle Canyon Guided Snorkel with a Turtle Guarantee
Living Ocean Tours' two hours from Kewalo Basin: snorkel guides swim with the group and help newer snorkelers find the turtles.
See the guided snorkel →Turtle Canyon Catamaran Snorkel from Kewalo Harbor
Oahu Catamarans' two hours on the Kahala Kai from Kewalo Harbor, with a full refund if you see no turtle.
See the catamaran →Dolphin Watch and Turtle Snorkel off West Oahu
Dolphin Excursions Hawaii's three hours off West Oahu: a dolphin search, then a snorkel in sheltered bays, with pickup and lunch.
See the west side trip →Prices, ratings and review counts from the listings (GetYourGuide checked November 2026; Viator checked November 2026). Operators price by date and season, so treat the figures as the shape of the market, not a quote.
Where the turtles are
| Place | What it is | Trip for it |
|---|---|---|
| Turtle Canyon, off Waikiki | The snorkel site the Waikiki boats visit for its turtles, a short ride from Kewalo Basin, Waikiki Beach and the Hilton lagoon | Turtle Canyon with Waikiki pickup; guides in the water |
| West side: Ko Olina and the Waianae coast | Boats that look for dolphins, then snorkel a sheltered bay with turtles and reef fish | Ko Olina sail and snorkel; dolphin watch and turtle snorkel |
| Laniakea Beach, North Shore | A beach where green turtles come ashore to rest; you watch from the sand, no tour needed | Circle island day with a North Shore turtle snorkel |
| Hanauma Bay | A city nature preserve on the south-east shore, open Wednesday to Sunday by reservation; turtles on the outer reef | Entry ticket with a shuttle |
The where to snorkel guide weighs the four sides of the island against each other; Laniakea, Hanauma Bay and the west side each have their own page.
Which turtle you meet
The turtle on almost every Oahu snorkel is the green sea turtle, honu in Hawaiian. Hawaii’s green turtles are a population found nowhere else, and they are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act and under Hawaii state law. Hawaii’s aquatic-resources division calls the green turtle the sea turtle most often met on the reefs and the beaches. Hawksbills, honu’ea, live here too, but they are endangered and rare: NOAA asks anyone who sees one to report it.
Adult honu grow to 3 to 4 feet in shell length and graze on limu, seaweed. A resting adult can stay down for hours, but most come up to breathe every 15 to 30 minutes, which is when snorkelers see them rise past. In Hawaii green turtles also rest on beaches, basking, sometimes so still that they look dead. That is normal: leave them be.
The rules, in short
- Keep 10 feet (3 meters) away, in the water and on the beach. That is NOAA’s and the state’s recommended distance. It is guidance, not a legal line, but harassing a turtle is illegal, and distance is how you avoid it.
- Never touch, chase, ride or feed a turtle. Hawaii’s natural-resources department, DLNR, says touching or feeding a turtle in any way is a disturbance and illegal. Under state law a first offence is a misdemeanor: a fine of at least $250, up to a year in jail, or both.
- If a turtle swims toward you, stay still and let it pass.
- Sunscreen: since January 1, 2021, Hawaii has banned the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate without a prescription. A rash guard means less sunscreen in the water.
The Oahu sea turtle rules set them out with their sources, including who to call about a turtle in trouble.
What it costs
| Trip | Listing price | Not included |
|---|---|---|
| Catamaran snorkel from Kewalo Harbor (Oahu Catamarans) | From $60 | Parking, $2 an hour |
| Turtle Canyon by boat from the Hilton lagoon (Island Splash Tours) | From $73 in current promotion (usually $81) | Towels: bring your own |
| Guided snorkel with guides in the water (Living Ocean Tours) | From $62 in current promotion (usually $89) | Hotel pickup, tips |
| Snorkel and sail on the Hāwea catamaran (Waikiki Sailing Company) | From $85 | Beer, wine and cocktails, sold on board |
| Turtle Canyon with Waikiki pickup and water toys (Oceanstar) | From $107 in current promotion (usually $120) | GoPro rental, tips |
| Semi-private boat, six guests (Captain Max Boat Tours) | From $109 | Harbor parking, $2 an hour |
| West Oahu dolphin watch and turtle snorkel (Dolphin Excursions Hawaii) | From $194 | Wetsuit and GoPro rental, tips |
Listing prices: GetYourGuide checked November 2026; Viator checked November 2026. What is not included is what each listing states.
Not a strong swimmer?
You can still go. Oceanstar gives flotation gear and help in the water to beginners, children and anyone who is not confident, and Living Ocean Tours’ guides swim with the group and help newer snorkelers, though they ask for basic swimming ability. Some boats take swimmers only: the Hāwea catamaran and Hawaii Ocean Charters among them. Whatever you book, take the flotation the crew offers. Snorkeling is the activity most often involved in ocean drownings in Hawaii, and most of the snorkelers who drowned were visitors, many of them older, with heart disease often a factor, according to Hawaii’s health department. Swim with a guide or at a beach with a lifeguard, and never alone.
When to go
Any month, on a calm day. Big surf builds on the North Shore from about November and can last into March, so winter is the season to watch Laniakea from the sand rather than swim off it. Summer is the swell season on the South Shore, Waikiki included. The sea off Honolulu averages about 77 °F in February and 82 °F in September (NOAA monthly means). See the best time to snorkel with turtles.
Who should pick something else
- You want to see turtles without getting wet: go to Laniakea Beach on the North Shore.
- You want reef fish as much as turtles, from the shore: Hanauma Bay, if you can get a reservation.
- You are staying at Ko Olina or on the west side: the boats start near you; see West Oahu.
- You want to know exactly what is allowed: read the turtle rules first.
Snorkel with the Honu at Turtle Canyon
Oceanstar's four hours from Waikiki: hotel pickup, the turtles at Turtle Canyon, kayaks and paddleboards, and a lifeguard on board. Starting from $107 per person in current promotion (usually $120).
See datesMore Trips with Open Dates
More Oahu Snorkel Trips with Open Dates
Turtle snorkels, boat trips and island days with live availability. Times and cancellation terms are on each listing.
Snorkeling with Turtles on Oahu: Questions
Where to go, what it costs, touching and distance, swimming skills, Hanauma Bay, dolphins and the season.
Most turtle snorkels go to Turtle Canyon, the snorkel site the Waikiki boats name for its turtles, a short ride offshore. The boats leave from Kewalo Basin Harbor, Waikiki Beach and the lagoon by the Hilton Hawaiian Village, and take about two hours. On the west side, boats from Ko Olina and the Waianae coast pair a turtle snorkel with a dolphin search. On the North Shore, green turtles haul out to rest on the sand at Laniakea Beach, where you watch them from the beach. Turtles are also seen on Hanauma Bay's outer reef. See where to snorkel with turtles on Oahu.
A Turtle Canyon boat of 90 minutes to two hours runs from $60 to $109 a person; Oceanstar's four hours with Waikiki pickup cost from $107 (Viator checked November 2026; GetYourGuide checked November 2026). A west-side morning with a dolphin search and lunch costs from $139 to $194 (checked November 2026). Parking at the harbors is extra if you drive.
No one can promise a wild animal, but several boats promise you something if you miss them. Oceanstar lets you come back on another tour free; Living Ocean Tours lets everyone on the trip come back free within 12 months, subject to space; Oahu Catamarans gives a full refund; Captain Max lets you ride again free. Read the terms on the listing you book.
No. Hawaii's green sea turtles are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act and Hawaii state law, which forbid harassing or harming them. Hawaii's natural-resources department, DLNR, says touching or feeding a turtle in any way is a disturbance and illegal. Under state law a first offence is a misdemeanor, with a fine of at least $250, up to a year in jail, or both. See the turtle rules.
NOAA and the state recommend at least 10 feet (3 meters), in the water and on the beach. The figure is a guideline, not a legal line, but harassing a turtle is illegal, and staying back is how you avoid it. If a turtle swims toward you, stay still and let it pass.
It depends on the boat. Oceanstar gives flotation gear and help to beginners, children and people who are not confident swimmers, and Living Ocean Tours' guides help newer snorkelers in the water but ask for basic swimming ability. The Hāwea catamaran and Pure Aloha Adventures' Hanauma Bay snorkel are for swimmers only. Check the listing before you book.
Sometimes, on the outer reef. Hawaii's aquatic-resources division calls turtles fairly common there, but the city's own monitoring says turtle numbers are low, with few on the shallow inner reef, and sightings have fallen over the decades. Hanauma Bay is open Wednesday to Sunday, visitors pay $25 plus an online fee, and online booking opens two days ahead. See turtles at Hanauma Bay.
Yes: Laniakea is a beach on the North Shore where green turtles come ashore to rest, and anyone can walk there. Watch from at least 10 feet away and never touch one. Volunteers from Malama na Honu, an independent nonprofit, keep watch on the beach every day to stop people disturbing the turtles. See Laniakea Beach turtles.
Turtles yes; Hawaiian spinner dolphins no. Since October 2021 federal law has banned swimming or approaching within 50 yards of Hawaiian spinner dolphins within 2 nautical miles of the main islands. The west-side boats search for dolphins and then snorkel for turtles and reef fish; a dolphin swim depends on the species and on that law. See West Oahu turtle snorkeling.
Whatever the month, pick a calm day and the side of the island the surf is not hitting. Big surf builds on the North Shore from about November and can last into March, while summer is the swell season on the South Shore, Waikiki included. The sea off Honolulu averages about 77 °F in February and 82 °F in September. See the best time to go.
Some is. Since January 1, 2021, Hawaii has banned the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate without a prescription. 'Reef safe' is not a regulated label, so read the ingredients, or wear a rash guard and use less.
Still have questions? Email us at info@snorkelingwithturtlesoahu.com