Ever wish you could go swimming in the aquarium at SeaWorld? Well, just go for a dip in one of Kauai’s popular North Shore snorkeling spots! The waters of Ke’e Beach and Tunnels offer an abundance of colorful tropical fish and coral reefs that will hold your interest for hours, so pack your swimsuit, snorkel gear, and lunch for some fun water play.

Both beaches are reachable from Highway 560. Tunnels (Makua) Beach is in Ha’ena, about a 15- to 20-minute drive past Hanalei and Princeville. It’s a beautiful stretch that runs about 2 miles long, keeping it from feeling too crowded, and there are lots of trees and shady spots that offer a nice break from the beating heat of the summer sun. There were lots of fish and unique tunnel-like coral formations to explore among here. Parking is available by Mile Marker 8, but if that’s full, just continue to the Ha’ena Beach parking lot (where there are bathrooms and shower facilities) and take a short hike along the beach to Tunnels.

Though we enjoyed Tunnels, it was the spectacular snorkeling at Ke’e that surprised us. Ke’e isn’t too far from Tunnels. Just continue on Highway 560, past the Dry Cave, to the end of the road. The road leads into a forest-like setting with lots of parking. Even so, due to its popularity, if you don’t arrive by 9am, you’ll have a tough time finding a spot. The tropical, jungle-like setting surrounding the lagoon at Ke'e was very surreal. This was a beautiful beach, our favorite of the trip, and it’s no wonder it’s so popular with both locals and tourists. The minute we stepped into the tranquil water, only a few feet deep, we were surrounded by a school of a dozen fish over 1-foot long swimming alongside us. Like all the beaches we had been to on Kauai during our trip, there were many colorful fish, only in greater numbers and with better visibility at Ke’e. We saw butterfly fish, trumpet fish, and parrot fish, and we even saw a large crab scurrying on the floor of the ocean, being chased by what looked like a flounder fish, camouflaged in the sand. Every few steps, it would pause for a few seconds, then continue on, just like a scene out of a Disney movie.

**Whether it’s your first time or you’re a longtime pro, snorkeling in Kauai is a must. Because you never know when the opportunity will arise, be sure to rent snorkel equipment early in your trip. Weekly rentals are available at water-sport shops such as Snorkel Bobs or Hanalei Surf Company. Good quality, affordable gear can also be found at superstores like Costco in the spring and summertime, so you may even consider buying your own. And don't forget an disposable underwater camera.

Beautiful pristine beaches for everyone. There is a reef offshore so the waves are calm. Perfect for young children, snorkeling, and kayaking. We visited in the summer, but I was informed that in the winter, the waves can become very rough.

Snorkeling is for everyone! The shore to visit will depend upon the wind current as high winds mean high and dangerous surf. Our trip in June presented winds favorable for snorking on the North Shore of Kauai. The coral reefs on the North Shore provide refuge for the many bright colored fish. An underwater camera is a must.

Kaua'i has several beaches where the coral formations and calm surf make for excellent snorkelling conditions. We snorkeled at both Ke'e and Tunnels and took a disposable underwater camera along for the swim. The variety and number of fish and other creatures was amazing. The aquatic parade included several types of Humuhumunukunukuapuaa (trigger fish), yellow butterfly fish, unicorn fish, Christmas Wrass, an even the head of a Zebra eel. We swam near several sea turtles.

I would recommend getting up and going in as early as possible- you can find parking, you will have the fish to yourselves, and the waters are often the calmest in the morning, allowing for better visibility and a chance to venture further out.

On especially calm days you may be able to swim to the outside side of the reefs. The waves were too choppy for us to feel comfortable doing so when we were visiting.

We did not get the chance to try Hideaways or the beaches near Poipu. We were going to try Lydgate, recommended by some guidebooks as having a nice enclosed area that is good for calm snorkeling. When we arrived were were horribly disappointed to find that the enclosures were about the size of a small-town swimming pool. So don't bother unless you are teaching your child to snorkel for the first time.

There is very good walk-in snorkeling at several of the beaches off of the north shore. Try Tunnels beach (also known as Ha'ena Beach State Park - approx. 9 mi. past Princeville), Hideaways (down a rough path off of Princeville), or the beachfront just off the Princeville Hotel (park at the Princeville Hotel lot and walk right down to the beach). All of these are public access areas and there's no need for any special equipment aside from your snorkeling gear. Just walk up, wade in, and go. The reefs themselves provide good protection from the surf at all of these spots. The beach at the Princeville is especially good for the inexperienced snorkeler - the reefs aren't as impressive as they are at Hideaways or Tunnels but the water tends to be very calm and access could not be much easier.