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Are you ready for the most thrilling snorkeling vacation on the Big Island?

The Big Island has some of the best snorkeling spots for vacationers in Hawaii. Many sheltered volcanic bays dot the shoreline on the western side of the island (Kona side), where corals, reef fish, and other marine animals call home. A snorkeling vacation on the Big Island is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to swim alongside manta rays at night. You shouldn’t hesitate to choose Sunlight on Water for your next snorkeling vacation. So, where are the best spots for a snorkeling vacation on the Big Island?

Top 5 Spots for A Snorkeling Vacation on the Big Island

The following are the 5 best places to go snorkeling on the Big Island:

Manta Ray Night Snorkel

Swimming with the amazing manta rays at Manta Village is probably the biggest lure for a snorkeling vacation on the Big Island. Reef manta rays are the second largest species of manta rays on the planet and are regularly spotted in Hawaiian seas. Mantas are filter feeders, eating plankton sieved into their enormous mouths. Manta rays are often attracted to wherever planktons are in the water.

Kealakekua Bay (Captain Cook)

The only underwater state park on the Big Island, Kealakekua Bay (Captain Cook) is one of the best spots for a snorkeling vacation on the Big Island. It’s a little tough to get there from the land. The parking lot is 1.9 miles distant from the bay. It requires a long journey down to the water in the scorching sun, followed by a climb back up when you’re done. The most convenient way to get to the bay is by boat. It allows you to see the gorgeous coastline from the water and allows you to visit the region’s top snorkeling locations.

Honaunau Bay

Honaunau Bay is a beautiful site to explore, with plenty of coral and water life. The bay is one of the best places for a snorkeling vacation on the Big Island. This beach was designated “America’s Best Beach” in 2004 for its crystal-clear seas (up to 100 feet visibility). The 182-acre Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, from whence the name Honaunau is derived, is worth traveling through to see a preserved old Hawaiian town on the bay’s left side. This was a haven for Hawaiians who had broken the kapu, or holy laws, which may result in death. Once inside Pu’uhonua’s confines, one was safe and protected.

Mauna Kea Beach, Kauna’oa Bay

This is a site you shouldn’t miss because of its white beaches and the prospect of seeing manta rays! The public beach is accessible through a hotel gate, where you may obtain a parking pass. Nevertheless, we recommend arriving early because there are only 10 parking places available. Visibility and snorkeling can be great when the conditions are favorable. You can swim out through the shallow corals to access gorgeous reefs alive with life from either side of the bay. The Mauna Kea beach is one of the best spots for a snorkeling vacation on the Big Island.

Kahalu’u Beach Park

This beach park is one of the best places for a snorkeling vacation on the Big Island. Because there is a lifeguard on duty and the waters are easily accessible, shallow, and sheltered, Kahalu’u Beach Park is ideal for beginner snorkelers. There are plenty of fish to be found here, as well as tide pools to explore. The honu, or sea turtles, that frequent Kahalu’u Bay is known for eating limu, or seaweed, and sunbathing on the rocks. Stick to the left side of the bay when snorkeling, as surfers frequent the area when swells arrive. This is one of the best spots for a snorkeling vacation on the Big Island.