Waikiki Turtle Canyon Snorkel: The Top-Rated Turtle Trip From Kewalo Basin

Turtle Canyon is the reef a mile off Waikiki where Honolulu’s green sea turtles go to rest and have their shells cleaned by reef fish. Every snorkel boat on the south shore goes there, so the trip you pick comes down to one thing: the crew who gets in the water with you.

This page covers the Turtle Canyon trip we book, why its guides make the difference, what it costs, and how to fit it into a Waikiki morning.

Why this made our list

There are more than a dozen Turtle Canyon trips out of Kewalo Basin and Waikiki, from sailing catamarans with a bar to tiny six-seat boats. We judged them on the experience in the water, which is what you are paying for, and this one is in a league of its own: a perfect 5.0 rating across more than 9,000 reviews. That is not a typo, and it is the deepest review record of any snorkel trip on Oʻahu.

The reason is the guides. They give a short lesson on the gear before anyone gets in, then swim with the group, point out turtles resting under ledges and the octopus most people swim straight past, and keep an eye on kids and first-timers. The boat is a 50-foot custom snorkel vessel with real shade, an upper deck, a bow to lie on and a restroom, so the hour you spend out of the water is comfortable too.

And the turtles cooperate. They surface to breathe right beside the boat, so even the guests who stay on deck see them.

How it compares

The sailing catamarans that load off Waikiki Beach make Turtle Canyon a stop on a sail and include a bar; they are good if the sail matters more than the snorkel, and we feature one for the sunset sail. The very small boats are quieter on the water but cost more, and none of them comes close to this crew’s review record. For a Turtle Canyon snorkel where the guides make the morning, this is the one.

What the Turtle Canyon snorkel is like

About two hours dock to dock. Here is how it goes.

1. Check in at the boat. Slip B1 on Pier B at Kewalo Basin, 30 minutes before departure.
2. Cruise the Waikiki coast. Out of the harbor and east along Ala Moana and Waikiki with Diamond Head ahead. Grab a spot on the bow or the upper deck.
3. Gear lesson. At anchor over the reef the crew walks everyone through the mask, snorkel and fins and what to expect in the water.
4. Turtle Canyon. You slide in with the guides. Green sea turtles drift up from the reef to breathe and settle back down to be cleaned. Float still and they pass within arm’s reach.
5. The reef. Butterflyfish, parrotfish, schools of goatfish over the sand, the occasional eel or octopus that the guides find for you.
6. Snacks and the ride back. Cold drinks and snacks in the sun, with an eye out for spinner dolphins, flying fish and, December to April, humpback whales.
7. Back at Kewalo Basin. You are in Waikiki by lunch.

Prices and what you get

From $79 per person plus tax and booking fees, covering about two hours on the water, all snorkel gear and flotation, in-water guides, juices, sodas, water and snacks. Harbor parking is extra at $2 an hour.

For a guided snorkel with this rating, it is one of the best values in Waikiki.

Who it’s for (and who should skip it)

Families with kids from age 3, first-time snorkelers, couples, grandparents who would rather watch from the deck. Anyone who wants to see Waikiki’s turtles with people who know the reef.

Skip it if you want a cocktail sail with a snorkel on the side; book a beach catamaran instead. And skip it if you want a nearly private boat; the small six-seat boats exist, at a higher price.

Where to check in and how to get there

Kewalo Basin Harbor, 1125 Ala Moana Boulevard, Slip B1 on Pier B. From Waikiki it is a ten-minute drive or rideshare, or a 30-minute walk through Ala Moana Beach Park. Parking is limited at busy times and costs $2 an hour, paid by scanning the QR code on the lot signs, so the crew suggests a rideshare. Your confirmation email includes driving directions and a harbor map.

Best time to go

Time of day. Morning, for the flattest water and the clearest visibility before the trade winds build. Midday trips have warmer water and brighter light on the reef.

Time of year. Year round. The turtles live at Turtle Canyon in every month. December through April adds humpback whales on the ride home; summer brings the warmest water.

Local tips before you book

• Float, do not swim. Turtles come to still snorkelers and leave fast ones. Hang at the surface and let the reef come to you.
• Reef-safe sunscreen only. It is the law in Hawaii.
• Take the seasickness pill before you arrive. It has to be in your system to work.
• Pair it with parasailing. Same harbor. Fly at 8, snorkel at 10, and you have done the two best south-shore adventures before lunch. For the rest of the week, see our things to do in Waikiki guide.
• Rideshare, do not drive. Kewalo parking fills at peak times.

The verdict

The best way to see Waikiki’s turtles: guides in the water with you, a comfortable boat, turtles on most trips, from $79, and a perfect 5.0 across more than 9,000 reviews. Book a morning departure, float still, and keep ten feet from the honu.