UPDATED FEB 2020. It’s very hard to have a favorite thing to do on an island so beautiful, but snorkeling at Electric Beach a.k.a Kahe Point Beach is high up there for me. The range of underwater wildlife from turtles to dolphins, to colorful fish, to sharks, to eagle rays, and everything in between is something spectacular that always gives me a ‘wow’ moment no matter how many times I go. Here’s my complete guide to help you plan your own visit to Electric Beach.
The MOST DETAILED Guide On Snorkeling At Electric Beach On Oahu
Disclaimer:
There are affiliate links included in this post. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link.
FAQ for snorkeling at Electric Beach
Where is Electric Beach located?
On the westside of the island, about 45 minutes drive from Waikiki.
What is the cost to snorkel there?
Free.
What is the skill level required?
Intermediate.
What animals can you see at Electric Beach?
I have seen lots of fish, turtles, eagle rays, white tip sharks, eels, octopus, dolphins.
You can also whale watch from the beach here during the whale season.
What should you bring with you?
- Underwater camera (I use this one with this floaty selfie stick
) - Lightweight towel
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle
- Snacks or energy gels (I always have a few of these with me)
- Snorkel gear
)
)
Where to park for Electric Beach
To get there, you can use ‘Kahe Point Beach Park‘ as your reference in Google Maps.
The coordinates are: 21°21’11.2″N 158°07’48.7″W
There is a small parking lot where you can park your car for free (at the time of writing there was no charge to park here).
Car break-ins are a common occurrence on the island, so BEFORE you leave your house, put all your valuables in the trunk of your car or leave them at home.
Even if there’s nothing valuable, a cluttered car can be appealing to thieves so it’s best to leave it looking empty.
Once you are ready, just walk towards the power plant down to the small beach area.
Where to enter the water at Electric Beach
The best area to enter the water at Electric Beach is from the small beach area.
Entering the water can be challenging at times as the waves are big and break right where you enter.
The water is murky at the entrance and there are some rocks in the area where the waves are, so be careful.
Try to swim out of this area quickly.
Once you have swum past where the waves break, the water all of a sudden becomes a gorgeous, clear blue and is much calmer to swim in.
View this post on Instagram
Where to swim at Electric Beach
Once you are in the water, there are a lot of options open to you as far as where to swim.
I have followed the reef to the left, to the right, in the center, and out into the deep blue and it is all fantastic.
Almost as if you are seeing a new and different area which each way you go.
If you swim in front of the power plant, you can follow it out to a spot where you will see two pipes. The warm water being pushed out of the pipes attracts a lot of wildlife and you will be swimming in school after school of fish which is an amazing experience.
You will need to have some experience of swimming in strong currents in this area as the pipes are pushing out the water and have a strong current to them, so use your best judgment.
If you are not comfortable in this area, there is still a wonderful snorkeling experience closer to shore with wildlife galore.
The beach area
The beach area is quite small, so keep that in mind when deciding how much gear to leave on the beach. I usually just leave my towel and flip flops.
If you are interested in lazing on the beach after your snorkel, it may be a good idea to drive a little further down the highway to one of the more open beach areas like Makaha Beach or Yokohama Bay.
Electric beach is a little small and more of a swimmers area than a beaching area.
Are there lifeguards at Electric Beach?
There are no lifeguards stationed at Electric Beach.
Is it safe to snorkel at Electric Beach?
The challenge with snorkeling at Electric Beach is getting in and out of the water because the area is narrow with a strong current and the waves break there.
Other than that, you just need to use your regular safety precautions that you would anywhere else e.g. hydration, be aware of weather, swim to your limits etc.
If you’re a beginner snorkeler or not confident with ocean swimming just yet, then it might be better to visit a more calm area or area with lifeguards.
When is the best time to go snorkeling at Electric Beach?
Summer (May to October-ish) is an ideal time of year to go snorkeling at Electric Beach. During this time the water is much calmer on this side of the island.
These conditions make it safer and creates a clear underwater environment for animal spotting. It really sparkles in Summer!
Winter months (November to April-ish) can be quite rough. This is when you can see the big wave surf competitions, so I definitely recommend checking the forecast before you venture out.
If you are visiting Oahu in the winter months perhaps it would be a better choice to snorkel around:
- Makapu’u
- Kailua
- Hanauma Bay
As far as the time of day is concerned, the mornings are my favorite time to go because the wildlife is very active and the lighting is gorgeous.
However, in saying that, I have seen a lot of wildlife every time I have gone snorkeling here so if you can’t make it in the morning, you should still be able to have a fun snorkel session.
Snorkeling tours on Oahu
If you prefer to go on a tour, I recommend booking a tour with Dolphin Excursions Hawaii.
Where to stay on Oahu
If you plan to stay in Waikiki, I recommend staying at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. I’ve stayed here a couple of times and it is simply fantastic with a great location.
If you prefer to stay on the North Shore, I recommend the amazing Turtle Bay Resort.
No matter where you choose, I recommend searching on Booking.com. This is what I use to book accommodation and I can always find a good deal there.
Other guides to help you plan your adventures in Hawaii
If you found this post useful, return the favor by sharing it or following me on Instagram!
Hi! This is probably really random but where is the metal structure in the first picture under “where to snorkel at electric beach”? I’ve been out to electric beach a couple times now and I have yet to see it. Is it to the left or right of the pipe, how far out is it, etc? Thanks for the help! I’ve seen so many pictures of this thing but I keep missing it 😂.
Hi! It’s a little to the right of the pipes and further out. Good luck!
It’s just to the right of the pipes. Be careful not to get caught in the outflow from the pipes.
I purposly swim into the out flow to get launched XD
Lol that’s one way to do it!