Kaua’i is a beautiful island and many visitors wonder where it is best to go snorkelling. It is a good question as many beaches are not suitable for swimming, let alone snorkelling, because of the rip currents and undertows. Where to go also depends on the season. In general, in the summer, the waters on the North Shore are calmer. There are several spots in the summer that are great for snorkeling on the island.

For reference, check out these guide books and colouring books about the fishes in Hawai’i for kids.

• Shore Fishes of Hawai’i by John E Randall (link)
• Hawaii’s Fishes: A Guide for Snorkelers and Divers by John P Hoover (link)
• The Complete Hawaiian Reef Fish Colouring Book by Monika Mira (link)

Lydgate Park

Lydgate Park is a popular beach park year-round. It is a large park near Kapa’a that has picnic tables, bathrooms, showers, easy and ample parking, and lifeguards on duty. Next to the Ke Ala Hele Makalae bike path, which runs along the coast, this park is accessible.

There are man-made rock pools, sand-bottom safe areas for swimming and while snorkelling, you can also see a variety of marine life. Ocean waves crash past the wall so the water is kept pretty fresh. Outside these ponds, the ocean is not beginner-friendly.

(Check for Brown Water Advisories and more information on Surfrider’s work in Kaua’i)

We’ve gone a couple of times ourselves though we’ve had second thoughts since it’s so close to a wastewater treatment plant. Sometimes you can smell it, depending on wind direction.

Ke’e Beach

Ke’e Beach is at the end of the road on the North Shore. This road ends at the gate to Haena Park, where the famous Kalalau Trail begins. This is a beautiful beach that is protected by reef, making it a safe place to snorkel. There is, however, a channel that opens into the ocean on the west side so that’s where you want to be watchful of the ocean conditions as the ocean is very powerful here.

Entry to the park and so Ke’e Beach requires advance reservations, for both parking and entry itself. Someone with a current Hawai’ian driver’s license or state ID is able to get passes for visitors without making reservations which are booked off right away. Do check often for cancellations as these do happen. To get your passes as a resident, head to the Hanalei Initiative Office. (2025 Update / the program doesn’t appear to be ongoing. Even when we lived there, it was not widely known. It’s best to check with the office directly.)

Ke’e Beach does not have lifeguards though it does have facilities. Come for snorkeling, stay for the sunset.

Anini Beach

Anini Beach is another North Shore location. This is a beautiful beach that is quite long so it is easy to find your spot. Many visitors like to be where the boat launch ramp is. Another spot is near the facilities. The water is shallow for quite a stretch, unlike many beaches where there is a dramatic drop off. It is calm, making it easy to swim out to the buoys where the reef is more alive. However you can see fish right at the shoreline or just a bit further out. Sometimes people spot turtles.

Things to pay attention to:

• There is a channel and when the waves are big, inexperienced swimmers should stay out of the channel for safety.
• Anini is a popular spot for hydrofoils and windsurfing.
• The boat ramp can get busy; watch for boats in the channel. It’s marked but may not be obvious to someone new to the beach.
• Snorkel along the reef by the buoys (and not go past) and take your time over the coral heads and the reefs to see what is actually there.

Po’ipu Beach

Many visitors ask whether to stay in the North Shore or South Shore and that is often the question that decides where they spend their time. Getting a rental car is much easier now, not when the island first opened in April 2021. However traffic is still congested much of the time so choosing the side of the island makes a difference.

For those visiting Po’ipu from other parts of Kaua’i, you’re likely going to pass through the famous tree tunnel. This is three miles on Maluhia Road where hundreds of sacred Eucalyptus trees were planted and marks the entrance to the Koloa Heritage Trail. According to O’ahu native and Hawai’ian storyteller, Lopaka Kapanui, the Koloa Tree Tunnel is haunted.

For those already on the South Shore, Po’ipu is likely to be your go-to beach. This is a very popular beach and that’s something to be aware of. It gets so, so crowded.

Many people come here to snorkel and see the turtles. The water here is generally rougher than at Anini in the summer though it offers a rich sea life for snorkelers. Some areas are rockier; the easiest access is at the tombola (Nukumoi Point). This sand spit separates the two crescent-shaped beaches, near the life guard station. It is sandy on the sides of this divide, making it a popular snorkelling area.

Life guards in Kaua’i are used to calling people out of water, when they see that the visitors are unaware of rip currents and are not strong swimmers. We see this every single time we go to Kealia, which is close to Kapa’a. Kealia has a powerful rip tide and waves and is not a beach for snorkelling.

Here in Po’ipū, you can see surgeonfish and yellowfin goatfish. There’s even eel here, as well as in Anini. Wade’s parents also saw seahorses at Anini years ago. At sunset, monk seals gather on Po’ipu, if you want to stay until then. Be sure to give them a wide berth and photograph them from a distance.

Poipu Beach has showers, bathroom facilities, as well as picnic tables and shelters. A great spot for the whole family.

Lāwa’i Beach

Lāwa’i is a small little beach and depending on the tide, there isn’t always much of a beach to hang out on. This is also a very popular snorkelling spot. You can see many snorkelling tour company vans parked across the street outside Lāwa’i Beach Resort. This is also known as the Beach House Beach. The restaurant is right next to it and it is popular for weddings. The grass lawn, with its wedding arch, is perfectly situated to enjoy the sunset.

Lāwa’i Beach is rocky getting into and out of the water, so take note. And take your time. There are sandy areas as well, so be mindful where you step and be careful with the current.

The further from shore you swim, the more you can see the teeming sea life. The reef is about 500 feet so there is a nice protected bay to snorkel in. It can still get rough, at least a lot more than Anini in the summer. There is a lot of fish to see though the coral is not so healthy. Sometimes you may spot a turtle. Whenever we visit this part of the island, we always see turtles of all sizes off the reef.

This is where we took Wade’s son and his friends snorkelling when they came to visit one summer. It was a lot of fun to see the different fish and coral. We rented our gear from Snorkel Bob in Kapa’a. You can also easily buy a set at Costco.