snorkeling at hanauma bay?

I'm not a good swimmer and I was just fine. Buy your gear there if you will use it later when you get home, otherwise good old Snorkel Bobs's is cheap.

The water is quite shallow and will most likely be waist deep in most places so you don't even have to try to float. Just squat down with the mask and snorkel on and you should see lots of fish.

Have you ever been in salt water? You float better than in fresh water so it is easier to glide along the surface without going under. They make belt type flotation devices that don't get in the way. You are in the water so who cares if there is something wrapped around your middle?

While you are there, take a walk along the shore to the north and you will come to the Toilet Bowl. It's a large hole fed but underground water surges due to the waves so it fills and drains like a toilet. Rather interesting but don't go in it as it gets very deep and can be dangerous. Locals probably will but just watch.

Hanauma Bay Snorkel Adventures

Hanauma Bay Snorkeling Rental

If you can't swim, stay out of the ocean, period! Waves are unpredictable and even a little swell can frighten an inexperienced swimmer. You should *never* stand on coral as it is very delicate and can be killed. Coral is part of a fragile ecosystem and Hanauma Bay has been closed on certain days of the week in the past in order to give the coral a chance to grow back and the fish a chance to live normally without human interference.

If you want to play in the water, get a life vest and a swim noodle or some other flotation device and float around at Waikiki Beach. A person should *never* attempt to swim if he or she doesn't know how and isn't accompanied by an instructor. People die all the time in the islands because they are careless. This isn't Disneyland, people! You have to use your best judgment and always be safe.

Inexperienced and/or infrequent swimmers may opt to wear safety vests. These are available through Hanauma Bay Snorkeling Adventures. Generally speaking, Hanauma Bay is one of Hawaii’s safest snorkeling locations. Stay close to the shore and within the shallow sand pools for optimum safety. Lifeguards are on duty at the bay, but exercise extra caution when swimming or snorkeling with children

My little sister is a poor swimmer and we go there all the time! The water is nice but i suggest for your beginners that you stay in the shallow water where your feet can touch the bottom or the coral ( you can only stand on for emergencies such as frightened or no other spaces left to stand on) . The only thing is you need to go on a sunny day with little winds and have a strong body to swim through the current. My older sister was frightened when we went with her because the winds were way to strong and the water went very very deep and the water was too cloudy to see a single fish in sight. So be careful and keep watch of the weather! It can really affect a day of snorkeling.( Its really fun to be in search of the turtle!And there are no sharks) But if you buy snorkeling equipment it was a lot harder for me to move and walk and i get scared since i cant handle it very well so i suggest practicing with water shoes or something and once you adjust put on the flippers and practice with those.And even if you stay close to the shore there is a spot next to a tree far away and there so a big coral that fish are always swimming around and i saw the sea turtle when i was coming up to shore in the shallow area! If you get lucky you might even see it! ;)

Yes, it is possible. I suggest going to Wal-mart and purchasing an inexpensive mask and snorkel set first. (It will fit better than the rentals) You can get fins if you want, but that can be rented at Haunama Bay. You can also rent floatation vests, both adult and child sized. Because it is a protected bay (there is a barrier reef across the mouth), there is minimal wave action, especially at low tide. Just be sure to check the news or newspaper before you go. We have monthly Box Jellyfish invasions, about 1 week after the full moon, for about 2-3 days.

Wear a vest and go with a buddy.

For the most part it is shallow, but you will be in the OCEAN. Nature is unpredictable. There are areas which are deep. It is easy to get lost in snorkling and wander over the reef into deeper water.

Do not expect the lifeguard to save you if you get into trouble. If you do get into trouble, learn to stay calm. The hardest thing about rescuing someone is that they freak out.

Also take soe swimming lessons and learn how to do what is called the deadmans float. Learn to relax and float in the water. Once you learn how to float, you will learn how to swim.

Remember to wear a vest!!!

you're able to have on the swim fins, your ft won't get harm at Hanauma bay. the bigger possibility is getting completely fried on your back. come out of the water and reapply sunscreen in lots of situations, or placed on a t-shirt. I snorkeled there the day until eventually now we flew abode, and had a sunburned painful back on the airplane for 7 hours!

I guess so. Just make sure you wear a life preserver and you are with a buddy that can swim. I have seen fish in the real shallow part, so I would assume that it is safe enough for the non swimmer like me and my son!!