Glide through warm, clear water as a Hawaiian green sea turtle drifts by at Turtle Canyon off Waikiki. Find every swim with turtles Oahu tour in one place and book with free cancellation.
Top Rated — 853 Reviews, 4.8★ Most Reviewed Turtle Snorkeling Tour in Oahu
Take a city cruise for the rare chance to snorkel with endangered Hawaiian green sea turtles and fish at the Turtle Canyons off Waikiki. Enjoy light snacks and drinks along the way.
Real-time dates and prices for our most-reviewed Turtle Canyons cruise off the Waikiki coast.
These snorkeling tours in Oahu cover the full range of ways to swim with turtles in Oahu — from a quick 1.5-hour boat run to Turtle Canyon, to a half-day dolphin swim and turtle snorkel on the Waianae coast, to a full-day circle-island trip. Every boat tour includes snorkel gear, and prices are per person.
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from $194 
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from $149 | Tour | Price | Book | Rating | Reviews | Duration | Type | Departs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle Canyons Cruise | $89 | Check Availability | 4.8 ★ | 853 | 2 hrs | Cruise boat + snorkel | Waikiki | Most reviewed |
| Hāwea Sail & Snorkel | $85 | Check Availability | 4.7 ★ | 742 | 2.5 hrs | 50' luxury catamaran | Waikiki | Relaxed sail vibe |
| Turtle Canyon Express | $81 | Check Availability | 4.8 ★ | 433 | 1.5 hrs | Boat snorkel | Hilton Lagoon | Fastest & cheapest |
| Turtle Canyon Boat Tour | $85 | Check Availability | 4.7 ★ | 389 | 2 hrs | 38' boat + snacks | Honolulu | Small boat comfort |
| Adventure Cruise | $85 | Check Availability | 4.6 ★ | 310 | 2 hrs | Catamaran cruise | Waikiki | Scenic catamaran |
| Small-Group Canyon | $85 | Check Availability | 5.0 ★ | 36 | 2 hrs | 6 or 18 person boat | Waikiki | Smallest groups |
| Dolphin & Turtle Swim | $194 | Check Availability | 4.8 ★ | 651 | 3 hrs | Boat + marine biologist | Waianae | Wild dolphins too |
| Dolphin Swim + Slide | $199 | Check Availability | 4.7 ★ | 85 | 3.5 hrs | Boat + waterslide | Waianae | Families & groups |
| Circle Island Tour | $149 | Check Availability | 4.5 ★ | 24 | Full day | Land tour + swim | Island-wide | North Shore sights |
There are three reliable ways to see turtles in Oahu: snorkel with them from a boat at Turtle Canyon off Waikiki, snorkel from shore on the Waianae coast, or watch them bask on the sand at Laniakea Beach on the North Shore. Each spot suits a different kind of trip, and the table below shows where to swim with turtles in Oahu, how you get there, and who each spot is best for.
Together these spots make up the best places to see Hawaiian green sea turtles on the island, whether you want a guided snorkel adventure or a free swim from the beach.
| Spot | Best for | Access | Shore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle Canyon | Boat snorkeling with turtles | Boat | South (Waikiki) |
| Electric Beach | Shore snorkel + turtles | Shore | West (Waianae) |
| Laniakea Beach | Turtle watching on sand | Shore | North Shore |
| Hanauma Bay | Beginner reef snorkel | Shore (reserve) | South |
| Waianae Coast | Dolphins and turtles | Boat | West |
Turtle Canyon is a shallow reef a short boat ride off Waikiki Beach, named for the Hawaiian green sea turtles that come here to feed and visit cleaning stations where small fish nibble algae off their shells. It is the single best place for a turtle canyon snorkel because the honu show up almost daily and the shallow waters are calm and clear. Boats reach it in about 15–20 minutes, drop a line, and you snorkel straight off the back over the reef.
Most of the tours on this page — including the most-reviewed Turtle Canyons cruise — run to this exact spot, which is why turtle sightings are so often described as guaranteed.
Laniakea Beach, known to everyone as Turtle Beach, sits on Oahu's North Shore near Haleiwa. This is a turtle watching spot rather than a snorkeling one: green sea turtles haul out onto the sand to rest, and volunteers rope off the area so visitors can see turtles up close without crowding them. You do not swim here — you watch from the marked distance on the beach.
It pairs perfectly with the full-day circle-island tour, which stops along the North Shore.
Electric Beach (Kahe Point) on the west, or Waianae, coast is the island's best shore snorkel for turtles. Warm water discharged from the power plant across the road draws schools of tropical fish, and Hawaiian green sea turtles cruise through the reef regularly. Entry is over rock, so water shoes help, and conditions are calmest in the morning.
The Waianae coast is also where the dolphin-and-turtle boat tours run, because spinner dolphins rest in these waters by day.
Hanauma Bay is a protected nature preserve in a volcanic crater on the south shore, famous for easy, beginner-friendly reef snorkeling in shallow water. It is a gentle introduction to snorkeling and a relaxed snorkeling experience for first-timers. Turtles do pass through, though sightings are less reliable than at Turtle Canyon.
The bay requires an advance reservation and an entry fee, is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and everyone watches a short conservation video before entering. It is a great half-day for families who want to snorkel near the reef without a boat.
The turtles you will see in Hawaii are almost always Hawaiian green sea turtles, called honu in Hawaiian. They are the most common sea turtle around Oahu and a beloved symbol of good luck and longevity. Adults graze on algae over shallow reefs and can grow to more than 200 pounds.
You may occasionally spot a hawksbill turtle (honu'ea), which is far rarer and tends to stay on outer reefs. Both are protected wild animals, so you watch and swim alongside them — never touch or chase.
There are two ways to enjoy the honu, and it helps to know the difference before you book. Snorkeling with turtles in Oahu means getting in the water — almost always by boat at Turtle Canyon, or from shore at Electric Beach — and floating above them as they feed. Turtle watching means staying dry and observing them resting on the sand, which is what happens at Laniakea Beach on the North Shore.
If you want to be in the water beneath the waves with the turtles, choose a boat snorkel tour; if you just want to see turtles with kids in tow, the beach works.
Hawaiian green sea turtles are the headline act, but Oahu's coral reefs are teeming with marine life. Over crystal clear waters full of colorful fish, expect schools of yellow tang and parrotfish, the yellow longnose and raccoon butterflyfish, the state fish humuhumunukunukuapua'a (reef triggerfish), Moorish idols, and the occasional spotted eagle ray gliding over the sand. On the Waianae coast, snorkelers regularly swim alongside pods of spinner dolphins, and from roughly December through April, humpback whales pass close to shore.
Hawaiian day octopus (he'e) hide in reef crevices for sharp-eyed snorkelers to find.
You can snorkel with turtles in Oahu year-round — honu feed off Waikiki every month and water temperatures stay between 74°F and 80°F, so no wetsuit is ever needed. The calmest, clearest water on the south and west shores runs from May through September, which is prime time for snorkeling near Turtle Canyon and the Waianae coast. In winter (November to March), big surf hits the North Shore — great for watching turtles bask at Laniakea, but the north-side water is too rough to snorkel. Winter is also humpback whale season, so south-shore boat tours often get a bonus sighting.
In short, the best time for turtle snorkeling in Oahu is May through September for the clearest, calmest water, but turtles are there every month of the year.
Guided turtle snorkeling tours on Oahu range from about $81 to $199 per person. The lower end (roughly $81–$89) covers the 1.5–2.5 hour boat snorkel trips to Turtle Canyon off Waikiki, with gear, snacks, and often drinks included — these are the best Oahu turtle value and the most popular snorkeling trip on the island. Mid-range, the full-day circle-island tour runs around $149.
At the top end, $194–$199 buys a 3–3.5 hour dolphin swim and turtle snorkel on the Waianae coast, guided by marine naturalists and including extras like a waterslide, paddle boards, and lunch. If you would rather go snorkeling on your own, shore snorkeling at Electric Beach is free — just bring or rent your own snorkeling gear. Reef-safe sunscreen is required by Hawaii law.
Every boat tour on this page provides mask, snorkel, and fins, so you only need to come prepared for sun and sea. Wear a swimsuit and a rash guard, and apply reef-safe, mineral sunscreen before you board — Hawaii bans sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate, and they harm the reef. Bring a towel, a hat, sunglasses, and a waterproof phone case for those turtle photos.
Water shoes help for rocky shore entries at Electric Beach. If you are prone to seasickness, take medication before a boat-based turtle snorkel tour.
Most Oahu turtle snorkeling tours depart from Kewalo Basin or the Waikiki and Ala Moana harbors, all within a short ride of Waikiki Beach and the Honolulu cruise terminal. If you are on a cruise ship port day, the 1.5–2 hour Turtle Canyon trips are the easiest fit — you can be back well within your re-boarding window. When booking, give the operator your ship name and re-boarding time.
If you would rather stay on shore, you can snorkel the calmer end of Waikiki Beach, though turtle sightings there are far less reliable than on a boat to Turtle Canyon.
Many Oahu operators advertise guaranteed sea turtle sightings, and at Turtle Canyon that confidence is well earned — honu visit the reef's cleaning stations almost every day, so the boats know exactly where to look. Several tours will take you out again free of charge on the rare day no turtle appears. That said, these are wild turtles in their natural habitat, so no ethical tour company can truly promise one on cue.
Sightings are most reliable on calm summer mornings when visibility is at its best.
Hawaiian green sea turtles are protected under federal and state law, and NOAA asks everyone to stay at least 10 feet away. When you snorkel with sea turtles, float calmly and let them come to you — never touch, chase, ride, or feed a honu, and never block one swimming to the surface to breathe. On the beach at Laniakea, stay behind the volunteer ropes.
Use reef-safe sunscreen, avoid standing on coral, and take only photos. Responsible snorkelers keep Oahu's turtles wild and the reefs healthy for the next visitors.
Turtles are here every month — timing is about calm seas and clear water, not temperature.
Water temperatures are approximate monthly averages (°F). No wetsuit needed at any time of year.
Schematic — not to scale. See the live map above for exact locations.
We saw five green sea turtles within minutes of getting in at Turtle Canyon. The crew knew exactly where to anchor and the water was crystal clear. Best morning of our whole Oahu trip.
Swimming alongside wild spinner dolphins and then snorkeling with turtles on the Waianae coast was unreal. The marine biologist guide made it so much more than just a boat ride.
Small boat, only six of us, and the turtles came right up to the reef below. Felt relaxed and never crowded. Gear was great and the staff cared about keeping the honu wild.
Did the sunset-style sail on the catamaran with cold drinks and saw turtles at the canyon. Laid-back island vibe and easy walk from Waikiki. Would book again in a heartbeat.
Hawaiian green sea turtles visit Turtle Canyon off Waikiki almost daily, making turtle encounters in the clear waters offshore close to a sure thing. Guides know the cleaning stations, and many tours offer a free re-ride on the rare no-turtle day.
Water stays between 74°F and 80°F with 50–100 ft visibility. No wetsuit, ever — just a swimsuit and a mask to swim with turtles in Oahu any month of the year.
Most turtle snorkeling boats leave from harbors a short ride from Waikiki, so a 1.5–2 hour trip fits easily into a half day or a cruise ship port stop.
Swim alongside spinner dolphins on the Waianae coast, spot humpback whales in winter, and drift over reefs full of tropical fish, rays, and octopus.
A sample of what shares the water when you swim with turtles in Oahu — and where it shows up most.
The best place to swim with turtles in Oahu is Turtle Canyon, a shallow reef a short boat ride off Waikiki Beach where Hawaiian green sea turtles feed almost every day. Nearly all of the boat snorkel tours on this page go there. For shore snorkeling, Electric Beach on the Waianae coast is the most reliable spot, and for turtle watching from dry land, Laniakea Beach (Turtle Beach) on the North Shore is where honu rest on the sand.
Sometimes, but it is not reliable. The turtles gather at Turtle Canyon, which is offshore from Waikiki and reached by a 15–20 minute boat ride, not at the swimming beach itself. To actually swim with turtles you are far better off booking a short boat tour to Turtle Canyon than snorkeling directly off Waikiki Beach.
Many operators advertise guaranteed sightings, and at Turtle Canyon the honu show up almost daily, so the odds are excellent. Several tours offer a free second trip on the rare day no turtle appears. Because these are wild animals in their natural habitat, no ethical operator can promise one on demand, but sightings are about as close to guaranteed as nature allows — especially on calm summer mornings.
Guided turtle snorkeling tours range from about $81 to $199 per person. The 1.5–2.5 hour boat trips to Turtle Canyon off Waikiki cost roughly $81–$89 with gear included and are the best value. A full-day circle-island tour runs around $149, and a 3–3.5 hour dolphin swim and turtle snorkel on the Waianae coast costs $194–$199. Shore snorkeling at Electric Beach is free if you bring your own gear.
Almost always Hawaiian green sea turtles, known as honu — the most common sea turtle around Oahu. Adults can top 200 pounds and graze on algae over shallow reefs. You may occasionally see the much rarer hawksbill turtle (honu'ea) on outer reefs. Both are protected, so you swim alongside and observe them without touching.
Yes, it is legal to swim and snorkel near them, but Hawaiian green sea turtles are protected under federal and state law. NOAA asks everyone to stay at least 10 feet away and never touch, chase, ride, or feed a turtle. Let them approach you, give them room to surface and breathe, and stay behind the volunteer ropes when turtles are resting on the beach.
Turtles are present year-round, so any month works. The calmest, clearest water on the south and west shores is from May through September, making it the best time for snorkeling at Turtle Canyon and the Waianae coast. In winter (November–March), large surf makes the North Shore too rough to snorkel, but it is humpback whale season, so south-shore boat tours often spot whales too.
You should be comfortable in the water. Most tours provide flotation devices such as life vests or pool noodles, and the snorkeling takes place over calm reef, but you will be floating in open water off a boat. Confident swimmers will get the most out of it. Beginners and families often prefer the sheltered, shallow reef at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve as an easier introduction.
Yes. The dolphin swim and turtle snorkel tours on the Waianae (west) coast combine both — you snorkel near wild spinner dolphins that rest in those waters by day and stop to swim with Hawaiian green sea turtles over the reef. These trips run 3–3.5 hours and are guided by marine naturalists, with some adding a waterslide, paddle boards, and lunch.
Boat tours provide mask, snorkel, and fins, so bring a swimsuit, a rash guard, a towel, a hat, sunglasses, and a waterproof phone case. Apply reef-safe mineral sunscreen before boarding — Hawaii law bans sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate. Water shoes help for rocky shore entries at Electric Beach, and seasickness tablets are wise if you are prone to motion sickness.