The forth largest of the Hawaiian Islands, Kauai is also one of the wettest spots on the planet. The high annual rainfall makes this island a lush tropical paradise with many spectacular waterfalls. Kauai’s reef system is considered to be the best protected of all of the Hawaiian Islands, making Kauai snorkeling a real treat. The best snorkeling in Kauai is found on the Na Pali Coast. Na Pali means “the cliffs” and as the name indicates, it is a place where sheer cliffs drop into the sea, forming a rugged coastline on the northwest shore of Kauai. Because of the cliffs, there is no beach access to the reefs and it is necessary to charter a boat for this Kauai snorkeling adventure. Those looking for beach snorkeling should give Ke’e Beach a try. The reef system here is easily accessed from the beach, which at times does make it a bit crowded. Less crowded but still offering a great snorkeling experience is Makua Beach, also known as Tunnels Beach. The name “Tunnels” comes from scuba divers speaking about the underwater caverns and surfers speaking about the waves. Although it is not the best for snorkeling on days with high swells, on calmer days excellent Kauai snorkeling can be found here.
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