Oahu Snorkeling Questions? Browse the FAQ

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Approximately 680 species of fish are known to inhabit the waters around the Hawaiian Islands. Of those, approximately 450 species stay close to the reef and inshore areas. Of the approximately 450 types of reef fish here, about 27 percent are native to Hawaii and are found nowhere else in the world (endemic).

We practice safe mooring and anchoring at all snorkeling sites:

Rocks and coral pass through the parrotfish’s system after feeding, resulting in fine sand. In fact, most of the white sand found in Hawaii is parrotfish waste. One large parrotfish can produce a ton of sand a year.

With life spans of approximately two years Octopus are often confused with squid, another Cephalopoda which has two longer arms called ‘tentacles’ – in an octopus all eight appendages are of a similar length and are called ‘arms’ not legs.

Hawaii's Coral Reefs

Ola nā papa i pūlama 'ia
Cherish the living reefs - Event Calendar

How to Respect Hawaii's Marine Life, video

Hawaii's marine realm is outstandingly rich and highly unique. Twenty-five percent of coral reef fish alone are endemic (exist nowhere else on earth). When corals, algae, macroinvertabrates, reef fish and other species are included, up to 62% of Hawaii's marine species are found solely in Hawaii. More Coral Reef Facts...

These marine systems are also at the root of Hawaiianan history and culture. As voyagers, early Hawaiians maintained an intimate relationship with the ocean. The Hawaiian creation chant places the origin of life at the sea, beginning with a coral polyp. The population of this archipelago has always depended on the ocean and its riches for their survival.

Marine-related tourism is a mainstay of Hawaii's economy. Our famous beaches alone attract up to 3.5 million visitors annually. Hawaii is consistently cited as having the best diving destinations and top beaches in the world. Every year, over 5 million people crowd into Hawaii’s near shore waters where coral reefs exist.

Please Do Not Feed the Fish, It Disrupts Their Natural feeding habits and you may be injured.  Coral Reef ecosystems feed, shelter and provide habitats for animals.  They protect the shoreline from wave and sand erosion and create Hawai’i’s famous white sand beaches and underwater gardens.  Fish have plenty of food on the living reef!

Coral Etiquette
Whether you swim, snorkel, scuba, or freedive; please help protect Hawaiian reefs.

Corals are colonies of very small animals which may take hundreds of years to form the structures visible today.

Simply touching corals to see what they feel like can cause the death of an entire colony. Oils from your skin can disturb the delicate mucous membranes which protect the animals from disease. If feeding coral is startled, it retracts for protection and in doing so is unable to feed.

Don't walk upon or stand on coral, as this can kill the living coral polyps that are the builders of the reef structure. Consider a flotation device (placed under chest) if you're not the best of swimmers and never stand on coral to adjust mask. Swim well and clear of the reef and kick to keep head out without the possibility of kicking the reef, or search for a sandy or coral free shallow place to stand. Don't touch, pickup or hold reef life, including octopus.

Using fewer household chemicals, especially on your lawn or garden, or in your kitchen or bathroom, can help prevent marine pollution. It is also beneficial to support reef-friendly businesses, such as snorkel or dive operations that take steps to avoid damage to the reefs.

Anchoring:

It mooring buoys are not available, use a sand type anchor placed in sand well away from any reef formation and up wind (or tide) from where you want to dive, then allow the boat to drift into position near the reef. Always check that the anchor is well secured in the sand before diving on the reef.

Even experienced divers have at some time in their life accidentally bumped or broken coral, so the inexperienced should be particularly careful

Look, but PLEASE don't touch!

A careless mistake could wipe out a whole community. Coral reefs are the essential breath for a vast and still unknown marine life. The zoothanthellae which live in the coral, provides the essential oxygen for the coral to live and proliferate. Without the algae, the reef would not grow and without the coral, a score of marine organisms would not exist. When coral reefs are foolishly destroyed by the use of chlorine bleach or other deadly chemicals for fishing practices, this kills the algae and corals. When you destroy the coral, you strangle the marine life of its breath and deprive our future children of nourishment from the sea.

More Things You Can Do to Protect Coral Reefs

Hawaiian Coral Reef Threats

Unregulated Aquarium Fishing in Hawaii Worries Biologists, Divers

Coral shows life after first aid - after ship grounding

First evidence of coral bleaching found in Hawaiian chain

Scientists track alien seaweed in Hawaii; this is especially disturbing

Hawaii drawing waves of ocean researchers; 'we have tremendous assets'

Ko Olina Coral Reefs

Wild Side Specialty Tours, LLC on the island of Oahu:
Waianae Boat Harbor, Slip A-5 (Near Ko Olina Marina)
Waianae HI 96792
TEL (808) 306-7273
FAX (808) 668-4075
email: reservations@sailhawaii.com

Website Questions and Comments: Webmaster@SailHawaii.com