The 5 Best Turtle Canyon Snorkeling Tours from Waikiki
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When you visit Hawaii, one of the most popular things to do is to hit the water and head out snorkeling. While Oahu has some great snorkeling spots, not many are close to Waikiki. If you’re looking for a snorkeling experience that is close to Waikiki and memorable, you’ll probably enjoy a trip to Turtle Canyon!
I’ll be honest and say that I was really hesitant about heading to Turtle Canyon. I’d heard it was crowded and there wasn’t much to see. While it’s true this is a crowded spot, we were really happy with our tour! We saw plenty of turtles (which our kids were thrilled by) and it was an easy trip to Make from Waikiki.
Most Turtle Canyon snorkeling tours depart from Kewalo Basin Harbor which is just outside of Waikiki and make the short boat ride out to Turtle Canyon. This site is popular and crowded, but it does provide a great snorkeling experience as well as an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the beautiful Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle.
We have five great tours to choose from for a fun snorkeling trip.
If you’re looking for a less crowded snorkeling experience, head out to Ko Olina for one of our favorite trips. And if you haven’t booked a place to stay, these 7 Awesome Vacation Rentals in Waikiki should be in the running.
Want the cliff notes version of our favorite tours? Get it right here:
– Hop on a small group, 6 person tour on a power raft
– This 20 person power boat gives you a great experience at a great price
– Jump on a 40 person boat for a fun tour!
– Go in luxury on a 55′ catamaran
– Kakay, snorkel, and surf on the combination trip
And for your trip to Oahu, make sure you check out our free Oahu Guide. It’ll walk you through nearly everything you need to know to plan your trip.
Turtle Canyon Snorkeling FAQs
How do you snorkel at Turtle Canyon?
Snorkeling at Turtle Canyon is by boat only, so the best way to snorkel is from a boat tour. There are a number of tours that leave from Kewalo Harbor, which is a short drive from Waikiki. There are a number of different snorkeling tours to choose from, including catamaran tours, raft tours, and kayaking tours. We give our recommendations below!
What is Turtle Canyon?
Just off the coast of Waikiki is an area that is known for its turtle population that has been nicknamed Turtle Canyon.
The reef at Turtle Canyon is a natural turtle cleaning station, where sea turtles go to have fish come through and clean their shells. Fish will remove algae, barnacles, and even parasites, so this is important for the turtle’s health. Plus it’s also pretty cool to see. It’s no wonder it’s such a popular snorkeling spot.
Hawaii Green Sea Turtles are protected and it’s recommended that you stay at least 10 feet away from them both in water and on land.
Is Turtle Canyon snorkeling worth it?
If your goal is to see turtles in the water, snorkeling at Turtle Canyon is worth it. This is a great opportunity to see sea turtles and enjoy a boat ride. But a word of caution: this is a crowded spot. It’s the closest snorkeling tour stop near Waikiki and a lot of tours head out there daily. So it’s not a peaceful, serene experience, but it’s still fun.
We saw a lot of turtles — so many that we lost count. And our five year old son was thrilled recounting the stories of just how many turtles were swimming around.
Related read: If you’re heading to Oahu, chances are a trip to Pearl Harbor is on your list. We’ve rounded up the best Pearl Harbor tours plus give you tips on how to DIY a visit.
Watch our Turtle Canyon snorkeling tour experience with Charter Oahu (listed below) to see if this is the right Oahu snorkeling tour experience for you!
We do these tours so we know what to recommend and write quality, authentic reviews.
Turtle Canyon Tour Tips
While snorkeling at Turtle Canyon is a pretty fun and easy experience, we have a few tips that will make your trip even better.
1. Get there early for parking
Kewalo Basin parking can be challenging, especially if there is an event going on. We learned our lesson the first time heading to a boat tour when we didn’t leave ourselves enough time to park and there was a surf competition underway at the beach (so parking was very difficult to come by). Leave yourself an extra 15 minutes more than you think you need to park and walk to the slip. And even easier, take an uber or a taxi to skip any parking stresses!
If you’re driving, make sure to check prices with Discount Hawaii Car Rental. We use them almost every time we rent a car and we’ve saved thousands of dollars with them. They offer great rates from the national carriers and there’s no pre-payment required. It’s honestly amazing.
2. Bring reef-safe sunscreen
Mineral-based reef safe sunscreen is the best choice for protecting Hawaii’s delicate reef system. Even better, grab some sun protective clothing and you’ll use less sunscreen and protect your skin more.
3. Choose the right tour operator
There are a lot of great tours to Turtle Canyon and it might feel difficult to choose. While the ones listed below are great, read through our notes to find the right tour for you. Differences like group size and boat type can make a big difference on your trip.
4. Go early!
The morning tours generally have the best visibility because the trade winds usually pick up later in the day. However, the sea turtles visit the reef often and are there all day long so not to worry if you book a later time you will still be able to see lots of tropical fish, sea turtles, and possibly even dolphins on the way out to sea.
Related read: Oahu has some excellent beaches, but you’ve got to know where to find them. Check out our list of the best beaches on Oahu for our top picks, plus directions!
Best Turtle Canyon Snorkeling Tours
Small Group Tour
Hop aboard a power raft for a 1.5 hour tour to Turtle Canyon. With only 6 passengers, this is a great small group tour. The raft offers a powerful and agile ride, but it’s only appropriate for kids 5 and up.
They offer guaranteed turtle sightings and if you don’t see one, you get to go again for free. You’ll spend 45 minutes in the water and then return enjoying juice and water and sights of the Waikiki shoreline.
Power Boat 20 Person Tour
Take a two-hour trip with Charter Oahu on their 38’ power boat. The boat is partially shaded and comfortable! The boat has room for 27 passengers but they cap the tour at 20 passengers so it doesn’t feel too crowded.
And while Turtle Canyon is a crowded snorkeling spot, you’ll get a slightly quieter experience with Charter Oahu. They have a mooring location that is a bit on the outside of the canyon (a place they refer to as Turtle Rock) so you stay out of the crowds.
This is a small, family-run business, all-female crew, and aside from offering a great tour, they keep their tour prices very reasonable. Our family has a great time on their Turtle Canyon snorkel tour. We paid for the extra photo package which was available on board and we were thrilled that they captured our family memories so well.
This would be a great tour to do with a family. And if you’re coming to Oahu with kids, make sure you check out our favorite family friendly hotels.
Well Priced 40 Passenger Tour
Living Ocean Tours, a family-run small business operates a larger tour (up to 40 passengers) to Turtle Canyon. This two-hour tour departs four times per day and welcomes passengers 3 and up.
The 50-foot passenger boat has both shaded and full sun areas as well as a bathroom on board.
After snorkeling, you’ll head back to Waikiki and enjoy refreshments and light snacks while taking in the scenery.
Catamaran Tour
Hop aboard a 55’ catamaran with Moana Sailing for a trip out to Turtle Canyon. This two hour tour runs three times per day and can carry up to 48 passengers.
Enjoying this trip on a catamaran does mean your tour group is larger, but the boat ride is more comfortable and luxurious. Stretch out on the nets in front as you take a break from snorkeling and enjoy the views!
And if luxury is what you’re after, check out our pick for the best luxury hotels on Oahu.
Kayak and Snorkel Tour
Ditch the boat and have a different experience. Head out on a kayaking trip to Turtle Canyon.
Your kayaking trip leaves from the Hilton Hawaiian Village. After a 15 minute (or so) kayak ride, you’ll get to hop in and do some snorkeling at Turtle Canyon. Paddle back to shore once the snorkeling is done, and it’s time for your surf lesson to start! This is a day full of activity.
Their usual group size is 6 people on three double kayaks.
Plan the Rest of Your Trip
Once you’ve booked your snorkeling tour, there is so much more to see! Let our itinerary help you make the most of your trip by taking you on excursion days to different parts of the island. We take you on a planned out route to see the best sights, do the best activities, and stop at the best restaurants.
Your vacation guide was absolutely amazing. Traveling to Hawaii required 100s of decisions from where to stay, what to eat and what to do, and you made it a TON easier. All of your restaurant suggestions were fantastic.
Rebecca S.
Get The Oahu Itinerary
The step-by-step itinerary takes you to all the best beaches, snorkeling spots, restaurants, and sights. You’ll get six carefully planned excursion days to help you see the can’t miss stops no matter how limited your time is.
Get all the details on our itinerary and download it for a memorable and easily planned trip to Oahu.