Snorkelers have a lot to consider when planning their adventures. The types of tours available, marine life activity, and weather conditions all play a role in choosing the best time to take part in snorkeling.
Early morning excursions often offer calmer waters and the best opportunity to see marine life at its most active. In contrast, night snorkels immerse guests in a captivating world of nocturnal behavior and mystery — a signature of Kona snorkeling.
Daylight
During the day, the Big Island’s western flank gets shielded by other islands from ocean swell making snorkeling conditions much calmer than on the east coast. The waters here tend to be a little warmer too. For those looking to see the most marine life on the reef, a morning excursion is a good time of day to go.
Kahaluu Beach Park is a popular spot to go snorkeling in Kona because it has a fringing reef, is well maintained, and the water is calm. This makes it a great place to get your gear in the water and learn how to use it or introduce someone new to snorkeling. Lifeguards patrol, food trucks line the parking lot, and you can even find a massage therapist on-site for those who need a little relaxation after all that snorkeling.
Another fun snorkeling spot to explore is Two Step Beach. The name is a play on the fact that there are actually two slimy rock steps you can use to get into the water (it helps to swim out a bit before you reach these). Located right next to Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, Two Step is a culturally significant area for Hawaiians and provides an amazing habitat for sea creatures.
You can see animals like manta rays, monk seals, dolphins, spotted eagle rays, and sea turtles here. The reef is also quite interesting with lots of coral formations and structures, and it’s a good place to try your hand at fishing for octopus, parrot fish, or eels.
The entrance to this beach isn’t the easiest as it requires navigating across rough lava rocks to get into the water. To avoid slipping, it’s best to get in when there is only a small portion of the beach with sand on it, and to keep an eye out for tide pools nestled between the rocks. If you swim past the tidal pools at Two Step, make sure to watch out for sea urchins, as they are known to be very painful if touched. A wetsuit is recommended for this beach.
Night
The underwater world becomes an entirely different place at night. The marine life is a lot more active and the coral reefs are full of vibrant color. Night snorkeling is also a great time to see manta rays, which are only rarely seen during the day.
For those looking for a unique and memorable experience, consider taking a manta ray snorkel tour. This amazing activity takes you to a special site known as “Manta Village” or “Manta Heaven.” At the site, boats shine lights into the water, which attracts the diurnal plankton that is the manta rays’ nightly dinner. Snorkelers then get to glide in and out of the light and watch as these gentle giants glide through their underwater kingdom to feed on the plankton soup.
You can visit this fantastic spot on our deluxe morning snorkel, which visits this and several other Kona snorkel sites. The morning is an ideal time to snorkel because the ocean is usually calmer than the afternoon, which can cause choppy waters that make it difficult to enjoy the reef and marine life.
Another popular snorkeling destination in the area is Kamakahonu Beach, which is located right in downtown Kailua-Kona and has an easy entry into the water free of lava rocks and boats. This is a great beach for beginner snorkelers and families. You’ll likely see needlefish, yellow tailed coris, manini, goatfish, and Moorish idol here, among many other fish species.
Depending on the season you may be able to see sea turtles here, as well! They love to frolic in the water, but please remember to give them 30 feet of space. Occasionally, spinner dolphins also make their way to Honaunau Bay, which is home to the sacred Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park.
Snorkeling at this pristine site in the middle of the island is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This stunning natural wonder is a must-see for every Big Island visitor and provides a glimpse into the underwater world that was once reserved solely for Hawaiian royalty. It’s an awe-inspiring experience that will stay with you forever.
High Season
During the high season (May through September) it can be challenging to find spots without crowds at beaches and snorkeling hotspots. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy snorkeling in Hawaii during this time. There are still plenty of places that remain calm during the trade winds and offer great underwater scenery.
One of the best times to swim with manta rays in Kona is at night, around sunset. This is when the manta rays are most active, feasting on the diurnal plankton that has gathered around them. To attract the plankton, boats set up giant rafts with floodlights that shine down on the water to lure in manta rays. Snorkelers hold onto these rafts, floating on their stomachs and gently breathing through their snorkels as they watch the majestic creatures soar over them. This is a truly incredible experience and not difficult for any level of snorkeler.
There are several tour options for swimming with manta rays in Kona at night. Some of these include snorkeling in A-Bay with your guide who will point out the locations where the manta rays tend to gather. Some tours also include an opportunity to swim in a different location known as “Manta Village” or “Manta Heaven.”
Another excellent option for snorkeling at night is to visit Honaunau Bay. This is a marine sanctuary with spectacular coral reef and numerous fish species. It’s located in Puuhonua O Honaunau State Park, which contains many ancient Hawaiian cultural sites. This was a place where Hawaiians could go to escape punishment for breaking kapu (sacred law). It’s also an important spiritual area of the island.
This snorkeling site is often referred to as “Two Step Beach” because it requires a two-step entry into the water from rough lava rocks. When you swim here, look for needlefish, yellow tailed coris, spotted tobies, Moorish idol, saddleback wrasse, threadfin butterflyfish, and sea cucumbers. There’s a good chance that you’ll also see a sea turtle or two!
Getting in and out of the water at Honaunau can be a little tricky when the tide is low. Try to arrive when a wave is moving away from the lava steps and jump in when you’re ready.
Low Season
There is no bad time to snorkel in Hawaii, but the best time depends on your interests and what you want to see underwater. Fortunately, the western side of the Big Island has exceptional ocean conditions and a variety of marine life to discover all year round.
Manta Rays: If you’re visiting the Big Island in late summer, early autumn, or winter, you can see manta rays at night during the “Manta Ray Manta Season.” These gentle giants come to the surface at night to feed on the plankton soup of the day, attracting the attention of snorkelers in the water. It’s a truly incredible experience to be among these gentle giants as they swirl around, inflating their gills and flippers while eating their dinner of diurnal plankton.
King Kamehameha Beach: This Kona snorkeling site is a marine sanctuary, home to the famous Captain Cook monument and historic Hawaiian temple (heiau). This beach is also the most popular spot to visit for swimming with manta rays at night. The bottom here is sandy at entry, but once you swim a bit out of the protected swimming area, it’s rock and slate. This makes it easy to swim to the edge of the bay where you’ll be able to see mantas feeding on their dinner of plankton.
Kahalu’u Beach Park: This Kona snorkeling location is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and offers a diverse marine habitat that includes coral reefs, sea urchins, and octopi. It’s also a good spot to see Hawaiian spinner dolphins, and green sea turtles. You’ll also find a great variety of fish at this spot, including yellow tang, needlefish, saddleback wrasse, sergeant majors, spotted tobies, and Moorish idols.
Honokohau Beach: This snorkeling site is a little bit off the beaten path, and it’s a great place to see some rare fish like the orangeband surgeonfish, rockmover wrasse, threadfin butterflyfish, and Hawaiian spotted boxfish. This location is a good spot to spot sea turtles too, though they might be a bit harder to see than at other snorkeling spots on the Big Island.
