This strip of sand sits about a mile north of the town of Makaha, off the Farrington Highway. It’s about a 40-mile drive from Waikiki, and if you avoid the morning and afternoon rush hours you can be at Makaha Beach Park in about an hour. If you’re staying in the Kapolei area, you are only 12 miles and 22 minutes away. Either way you are traveling along Highway 93 on some of Oahu's most arid terrain.
Makaha Bay is U-shaped, framed by coral reef on two sides with a deep channel up the middle. This channel is sometimes used by scuba divers who swim out from the beach to the Makaha Caverns, too far out and too deep for snorkelers.The beach in front of the deep channel has a steeper and quicker entry into the water. Prime snorkeling spots are near the marker buoys you can spot from shore. Beachcombers will find the mile-long strip of golden-hued sand perfect for a stretch of the legs. Shaded picnic areas, showers, restrooms and parking are all available.
The waters fronting Makaha Beach are gentle in the summer, making it ideal for snorkelers of all skill levels. This changes during the winter storm season when huge swells come in from the western Pacific. Surfers eye these waves with delight, but the resulting rip currents make the water far too dangerous for snorkeling. Rip currents can suddenly throw you into the coral reefs or pull you father away from the coastline. These currents can appear at any time of year but are less likely in summer. Lifeguards are on duty, but it’s best to pay attention to the posted warnings and stay out of the water.
The green sea turtles are the big draw for snorkelers at Makaha Beach. These animals tend to stay in deeper waters at or just past the buoys. Depths in this area range from roughly 15 to 35 feet. The combination of depth and distance from shore makes for better visibility. Sometimes dolphins or manta rays will visit this part of the bay. They usually just glide by, take a look or two, find you neither edible nor interesting and leave. The dolphins are more social creatures and might decide to hang around a bit longer. Swim closer to shore, along the rock and coral shelves fronting the channel and you’ll find colorful tangs, parrot fish, eels, octopi and maybe even the Hawaii state fish, the humuhumnukunukuapua’a, a colorful species of trigger fish.
