Best Snorkel Destination on the Big Island of Hawaii

The whales are here! A humpback whale greeted us as we neared our snorkel destination of Kealakekua Bay on the west coast of the Big Island of Hawaii.

If you are planning a trip to the Big Island of Hawaii, there are lots of good snorkeling and scuba diving options. The most famous is a spot called Kealakekua Bay, and that is where I went this morning. It is a protected reef, and can be difficult to access unless you take a boat. There is a steep hike that some people take down to the bay, or you can rent a kayak in the nearby town of Naopopo, but getting on a snorkel tour boat from Kona is what I would suggest.

As you are nearing the bay, you see towering cliffs on one side, and that beautiful turquoise water along the shoreline on the North side. Ancient Hawaiian's would bury people in lava tubes in these tall cliffs, thinking it was the jumping off point for the pathway to the gods. Down below, near the turquoise water, is where Captain Cook first landed on the islands, as well as where he met his demise at the hands of local Hawaiian's back in 1779. Nowadays it is Hawaii's premier snorkeling destination.

Take a look at these photos and see for yourself. It deserves a spot on any Hawaiian bucket list if you enjoy the ocean at its finest.

Not only is Kealakekua Bay known for amazing snorkeling, but it has deep historical importance. This tall white obelisk is a memorial for the famous Captain Cook. This is the spot where he first landed in the Hawaiian Islands, or what he called the Sandwhich Islands, back in 1778. He was later killed on this same shoreline on Feb 14th, 1779.

Snorkelers from our group glide over the shallow reef at Kealakekua Bay, making sure not to touch the coral.

I dove down amongst this school of yellowfin goatfish and was surrounded. I felt like I was part of the school.

A white tailed tropic bird flies overhead. They use lava tubes in the tall cliffs here as nesting sites.

Another offshore deep ocean sea bird, a kermadec petrel, flies overhead.

Everyone was eager to jump into the clear Hawaiian water.

Ready for action!

A school of yellow tangs swims just off the reef as our snorkelers look on.

I don't see too many of these, a reticulated butterflyfish, hanging out in the shallow reef.

So much to see here. I tell everyone to slow down and really take it all in.

I think this snorkeler was pointing at a beautiful parrotfish that was swimming under me.

Kealakekua Bay can feel like swimming in an aquarium.

Aquarium, take two.

Needlefish swim at the surface between me and this snorkeler.

A large white-mouth moray eel peeks out from amongst the coral.

We ended up seeing four different species of moray eel here today.

Beautiful school of fish in crystal clear water. Put this place on your bucket list!

I hope you enjoyed coming on the snorkel with me. Kealakekua is a must for any trip to the Big Island.

As always, keep traveling and keep posting!
-Dai Mar