The Lawai Beach park, just next to the Beach House restaurant, has plenty of parking, restrooms, a telephone and shower.

Directions: From Lihu'i heading West on Highway 50, turn left on Highway 520 (Maluhia Road) at mile mark 6.8. After about 3 miles, you'll hit a T in the road at Koloa. Jog right and then an immediate left onto Po'ipu Road, and head South to Po'ipu. At about mile 4.8, take the RIGHT fork and head West. After about a half a mile, you'll have arrived!

Lawai Beach

This was my best snorkeling experience.  Good clear water, lots of fish, eels, etc.  I tried Prince Kuhio just east of this and got cut up pretty bad on the rocks at entry; however, Lawai was great.  Also, the variety of really colorful fish was great.

#3 - Lawai Beach

Very easy shore dive, local PADI instructors take students here for their open water cert dives. Lots of turtles, fishes... also neat swim-throughs in the reef. Nothing too nasty, maybe the occasional reef shark, though I've never seen one here. A great O'ahu dive. But it's crowded on the summer weekends... though Three Tables (another dive site) is right next door, so there's plenty of space in the water, even if parking is bad.

Shark's Cove at Kalalua Point is another must-dive site for Oahu. The entry is easy, and it's just a short kick to get outside the reef.  Kids and snorkelers will find the cove perfect for their activities. Rocky coastal area & tidal pools teeming with small fish for snorkeling, plus showers & restrooms. Off Kamehameha Highway on the North Shore in the Waimea area.

Why is it called Shark's Cove? Because the outline of the reef from above looks like a shark.

Shark's Cove is also known as Pupukea

Shark's Cove

Good entry for snorkeling (I have been cut up pretty good at other sites).  Lots of people go here, but it was not crowded.  Not as much coral and plants as I would like, but fish and turtles were abundant.  Seemed real safe yet good viewing and variety of sea life...good balance for newer swimmers.

#2 - Shark's Cove

Lydgate State Park is nice area with all the facilities. The sandy beach makes a wonderful kid's paradise! Snorkelers will find the area perfect during most weather conditions; beginning divers will find it adequate for a first dive or two.

Directions: Heading North from Lihu'e on Highway 56, turn right into the park at about mile mark 5.5. If you've crossed the Wailua River, you've gone too far.

Tom Pevehouse's Dive Log

@tom_pevehouse

3 dives