While nothing exciting, snorkeling in Ala Moana Beach, Honolulu is a fun experience for beginners seeking a quick and accessible underwater adventure.
Hawaii exceeds the imagination of all travelers who daydream about these magical islands way out in the Pacific Ocean. These volcanic islands located approximately 2,000 miles from the California coast possess some of the most exotic destinations in the world. The portal to this tropical paradise is Honolulu, the state capital. Honolulu itself is one of the most visited destinations in Hawaii, with its crown jewel, Waikiki. Once the vacation spot for the Hawaiian royalty, Waikiki is now the vacation spot for the American upper class.
Northwest of Waikiki is Ala Moana, primarily a commercial zone anchored by Ala Moana Center, once the largest mall in the country. But don’t overlook the touristic aspects of this unassuming neighborhood. Ala Moana Beach Park, at the southern end of the neighborhood, is one of the most popular open beaches in all of Honolulu. The beach is shielded by a protective coral reef system right off the shore, which provides a great ecosystem for marine life. For the best place to go snorkeling in Ala Moana, Magic Lagoon on Magic Island is the spot. It is a great place for beginners to experience the joys of snorkeling and also easily accessible from the main tourist zone.
Ala Moana Snorkeling Profile:
- Water Visibility: Above Average. Not as clear as Caribbean or Maldives, or even Florida Keys, but still decent enough to work with.
- Current Strength: Average. The stronger waves can be found a bit further off the shore, but waters turn calmer near the shore as the beach is protected by reefs.
- Reef Presence: Coral reefs all over right off the beach, so plenty of marine life within the area.
- Marine Life: Plenty of fishes swimming around, including damselfish, as well as bigger fish like trumpetfish, and shrimps, lobsters, turtles.
- Crowd: Pretty good crowd most of the time, it is Hawaii after all. However, it is quieter than its more famous sister beach, Waikiki.
Getting There:
Closest Airport: Daniel K Inouye International Airport
- Named after the former Hawaii Senator, Daniel Inouye International Airport is located approximately three miles northwest of downtown Honolulu. However, due to Honolulu’s congestion it may take up to thirty minutes to get to Ala Moana or Waikiki. The airport offers nonstop flights to many destinations all across the world. Overall, a very accessible, tourist-friendly airport that has plenty of connections wherever you may be.
Closest Major Metro: Honolulu
- Honolulu would appear to be all beaches and resorts with little else, but the city, which has been the capital of Hawaiian Islands since the 19th century, is one of the most diverse cities in the country. Cuisine is greatly shaped by the confluence of various cultures, including Polynesian, Japanese, and American, making it one of the highlights of any trip to Hawaii. Don’t forget to explore the rich history of Honolulu as well, where the Hawaiian royalty once roamed.
Best Transportation Method to Destination: Fly into Daniel K Inouye International Airport and rent a car
Introduction
Ala Moana, similar to Waikiki, was a marshland that did not have the sandy shoreline that defines the area today. After annexation of the territory, the US government initiated the development of the south shore Honolulu area for tourism. Ala Moana Regional Park and the shoreline was built with the reclamation of over thirty acres of shallow reefs. There have been much discussions on expanding the land in the area to bring in more commercial development, but proposals have been rejected so far.
Ala Moana Beach has a half-mile coastline filled with warm, golden sand, and covers over 100 acres. The park has a man-made peninsula on its eastern end which juts out from the main shoreline called Magic Island, where many cultural events are held. The beach is popular for all varieties of activities, including tennis, volleyball, surfing, kayaking, diving, and swimming. And of course, cannot forget there is good snorkeling in Ala Moana Beach.
Where to Go Snorkeling in Ala Moana Beach
Ala Moana Beach has calm, clear waters and with the corals right off the shoreline, so it is possible to snorkel anywhere around the area. However, going underwater by the main beach has a couple drawbacks. The ocean bottom drops precipitously not too far from the coast, since the Hawaiian Islands are all volcanic. So don’t venture too far out if you are a weak swimmer. In addition, there will be lots of folks both on the beach and in the water having fun, so always be careful out there.
Magic Island
The best place to go snorkeling in Ala Moana Beach is Magic Island, the peninsula on the eastern side of the park. At the tip of Magic Island is a man-made lagoon known as the Magic Island Lagoon. The lagoon is enclosed as large seawalls block off the entrance. But corals still thrive at the bottom of the lagoon for snorkelers to enjoy. You will only find snorkelers by the lagoon, as sunbathers stay by the beach and those enjoying other aquatic activities prefer the open ocean.
As you wade underwaters, there are all kinds of marine life. Majority will be small, colorful tropical fish, such as surgeonfish, goatfish, trumpetfish, with an occasional turtle floating by the corals. There won’t be anything exciting in the lagoon but it offers plenty of space to explore if you are new to snorkeling.
Rainbow Reef
If you swim a bit further out from Magic Island to the ocean, there is another reef system full of turtles and tropical fish. It is known as the Rainbow Reef and one of the underwater treasures in Ala Moana. It’s about 500 feet away from the tip of Magic Island, so you would need to be a capable swimmer. Furthermore, it is right about a boat channel, so there are boats constantly going in and out which can be dangerous. This is a good dive spot but stay at Magic Lagoon if you are only snorkeling in Ala Moana.
Final Word:
Oahu is filled with some heavy hitters in the world of snorkeling, including Hanauma Bay and Waimea Bay, both of which are about thirty minutes from Honolulu. But it all depends on what your itinerary is when you are in Oahu, and if you want to dip your toes but don’t want to commit a whole afternoon, go snorkeling in Ala Moana. It’s probably the quickest snorkeling trip you can have in Honolulu, as anything in Waikiki requires going out to the ocean on a boat, and other destinations would take much longer.
Snorkeling in Ala Moana Beach Rating: 4/5 Snorkels – Accessible and Fun!
