I love snorkeling. Love it. And I used to actually go snorkeling before having kids. Shark’s cove (Pupukea Beach Park) was always a favorite location. Once you scramble over the boulders in the shallows and plunge into the deep water your treated to a fantastic snorkel spot. Lots of fish, giant turtles, and some cool underwater topography to explore.
I spent a lot of time there in the past and I never thought it was a place you would want to bring small children. The surge is typically strong and knocks you into sharp rocks and urchins. Not very kid friendly. Turns out I was on the wrong end of the cove. The west side (towards Three Tables and Haleiwa) is more protected and has a sandy bottom. It’s full of babies and toddlers splashing in the shallows and preschoolers jumping off rocks or crab hunting.
Bring along goggles, a dip net, and some reef shoes and your set for the day. You can even slip across the street to Pupukea Grill or Foodland for supplies. We opted for a slightly sandy beach pizza. It does get hot during the day and a bit crowded, but mornings and evenings are perfect.
We visited following some heavy rains and the normally blue, clear water was transformed into a mucky brown. We braved it anyway. There were hermit crabs to be found.
Head over the Keiki Monday archives for more kids activities on Oahu!
