Oahu snorkeling: Turtle Canyon by boat
Prices as of November 2026, per person: $49.99 for the catamaran, $79 to $89.04 for the other four boats, and $89 for the circle-island day. Time in the water differs. One boat lists a 55-minute snorkel session.
Our picks: Oahu snorkeling
The catamaran is the lowest price. The boat with in-water guides suits first-timers, and the circle-island tour adds a snorkel stop to a day around the island.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Turtle Canyon snorkel trip from Pier B
- Snorkeling equipment
- Floatation devices
- Soda and snacks
Two hours on a charter boat to the reef off Waikiki. Parking at the pier costs $3 an hour.
Check availability →
Circle-island tour with a snorkel stop
- Hotel pick-up and drop off
- Snorkelling equipment
- Non-alcoholic beverages
A full day around the island in an air-conditioned vehicle with a guide, with snacks included.
Check availability →
Guided turtle snorkel trip from Kewalo Basin
- Guides and snorkel instruction
- Mask, snorkel and fins
- Free return trip without turtles
Two hours on a boat with light snacks, soft drinks and water. If you see no turtles, you can come back free within 12 months.
Check availability →
Two-hour Turtle Canyon snorkel with a guide
- Professional guide
- Snorkelling equipment
- Turtle sighting guarantee
A two-hour trip with check-in 30 minutes before departure.
Check availability →
Turtle Canyon snorkel with a 55-minute swim
- Flotation vests and safety equipment
- Experienced crew and snorkel guides
- Turtle sighting guarantee
Soft drinks and snorkel equipment are included, and the trip is 2 hours. Be at the dock 30 minutes before departure.
Check availability →
Catamaran snorkel trip to the turtles
- Premium snorkel equipment
- Snacks, water, soda and juice
- Two restrooms on board
Parking is $2 an hour near the boat.
Check availability →Oahu snorkeling tours
Turtle Canyon boats, a catamaran and a circle-island day with a snorkel stop, with current availability.
Turtle Canyon snorkeling trips compared
The catamaran is the lowest price at $49.99. It sails from Kewalo Harbor, Pier A, slip 0, and includes premium snorkel gear, snacks, water, soda and juice, plus two restrooms on board. Parking next to the boat is $2 an hour, and you arrive 15 minutes before departure.
The $79 boat leaves from the dock near the yellow booth beside the Hilton lagoon. It provides flotation vests, an experienced crew with snorkel guides, soft drinks and a 55-minute snorkel session. Be at the dock 30 minutes ahead. A morning sailing around 7 am usually has calmer water, according to the operator, which helps if you are nervous in waves.
At $80.71, the boat with a professional guide runs two hours with snorkel gear included and check-in 30 minutes before departure. The $89.04 charter leaves from Pier B, where parking is $3 an hour, and includes snorkel gear, flotation devices, soda and snacks.
The $89 boat from slip B-1 puts experienced guides in the water with you and teaches the basics before you swim, which makes it the one for first-timers. Gear, flotation, light snacks, drinks and an onboard restroom are included. Fill in the online waiver before you arrive and board 30 minutes early.
Turtle sightings and what to expect
The rule in the water is fixed: stay at least 10 feet (3 m) from every turtle and never touch, chase or feed one. Wear mineral reef-safe sunscreen and keep off the coral.
Snorkeling by circle-island tour
If you would rather see the whole island, the $89 circle-island tour takes 8 to 10 hours in an air-conditioned vehicle with a guide. Hotel pickup and drop-off, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks and snorkel equipment are included. The snorkel stop is one part of a long day, so choose a boat from the list above if the swim is the reason you came.
Who should pick which option
Families with children from age 3 can use the boats from operators that accept that age, and flotation vests are required for everyone in the water on one of them. Non-swimmers can use the flotation gear, but official guidance asks snorkelers to be experienced ocean swimmers, so stay close to the boat. Wind, swell, current and visibility decide whether a trip runs and where the crew snorkels. Rain alone does not cancel it.
From the beach instead
Hanauma Bay is the beach alternative, open Wednesday to Sunday with entry from 6:45 am to 1:30 pm. Visitors aged 13 and over pay $25, children up to 12 are free and parking is $3 in cash. Read the Hanauma Bay guide for the booking rules, or compare other trips on our Oahu tours page. For sea conditions by month, see Oahu weather.
Oahu snorkeling: practical questions
How much does a snorkel tour on Oahu cost?
The five boat trips cost $49.99 to $89.04 per person, and the circle-island day with a snorkel stop is $89. A family of four on the $49.99 catamaran pays about $200 in total.
How long is a Turtle Canyon trip?
The boat trips take 2 hours in total.
Can children snorkel on these trips?
Two of the operators take children from age 3. Flotation gear is provided, and an adult should stay close to young children.
What if we do not see turtles?
The $89 boat from slip B-1 allows the free return within 12 months.