Snorkeling Tips

Some tips to get you in the water safely while protecting our beautiful Hawaiian waters.

Do not touch or stand on the coral. Even a small brush with your fins can kill the coral. Keep Hawaii beautiful and admire the underwater world with your eyes only.


Do not touch the animals. Touching fish and other animals can harm them and sometimes you.

Wear sunscreen on your back and backs of your legs

Do not walk in shallow water near the reef; sea urchin spines can cause nasty puncture wounds to the bottom of your feet.

Make sure your mask fits. The seal around the mask should fit your face like a suction cup while not breathing through your nose.

While snorkeling, breathe through your mouth only, making an “O” with your lips. Breathing out through your nose will break the seal in your mask. Make sure hair does not get under the seal of the mask.

Be aware of your surroundings. Watch the wave sets before entering the water and have an entry and exit plan, especially in rocky areas.

Practice in a sandy area or pool first to get comfortable with the equipment and make any adjustments.

Relax and slow your movements. You will see more the less you move around.

To get water out of your snorkel forcefully blow air out through your mouth, this will shoot the air out through the top of your snorkel.