Snorkeling and Swimming in the Ko Olina Lagoons: A First-Timer's Guide

The four lagoons are Ko Olina's main feature. The ocean on Oahu's west side can be rough, but inside the lagoons the water is usually calm enough for an easy swim, a float or a first try at snorkeling. Here is what to know before you grab a mask and walk down to the sand.

Four man-made lagoons, sheltered by rock

Ko Olina has four man-made lagoons along the shore. Each one has a sandy beach and protective rock walls at its entrance, with openings to the ocean, that break the waves before they reach the swimming area. On many days there can be waves outside while the water inside the lagoon stays flat. That is why the lagoons are a favorite with beginners and with families who want a calmer place for children to swim.

Beach Villas at Ko Olina sits on Honu Lagoon, the second lagoon, so for guests the lagoon really is the front yard: the lawn and the beach are steps from the villas.

Swimming: easy water, a few simple habits

Calm does not mean careless. A few habits keep a lagoon day relaxed:

• Stay away from the openings. The currents get stronger close to the openings where the lagoon meets the ocean.
• Skip the roped-off channels. The middle channels are often roped off, and it is best not to swim in them.
• Stay inside the lagoon. Swimming out into the open ocean beyond the rocks is not recommended.
• Watch the surf. When big waves are breaking over the rocks, it is not a good day to snorkel, and summer swells from the south can stir up the first lagoon in particular. On those days, it is wiser to stay out of the water.
• Keep children close. The water near the rocks is about four to five feet deep, which is over many children's heads.
• Bring sun protection. Pack plenty of sunscreen and protective gear for swimming and snorkeling.
• Check the rules posted at each lagoon before you get in.

Snorkeling: start near the rocks

For snorkeling, the action is along the rock barrier. You can enter almost anywhere on the beach and swim slowly toward the rocks. Around them the water ranges from the surface down to about four or five feet, a comfortable depth for an adult to practice.

Set your expectations: the lagoons are man-made, so there is no large coral reef to explore, and visibility is often not great. What you can expect is fish around the rocks, often young ones, and a few corals growing on the rocks themselves. Now and then swimmers report a sea turtle near a lagoon's ocean opening; if you see one, enjoy it from a distance and do not follow it toward the opening. For a first-time snorkeler, that mix of calm water and a few fish is often just right.

Getting around the lagoons

A paved walking path along the shore connects all four lagoons, so it is easy to stroll from one beach to the next and try each one. The walk from the first lagoon to the fourth is about a mile and a half. The lagoons have restrooms and showers.

The lagoons are public, and day visitors come too. The public lots at the first three lagoons are small and fill by about 9 to 10 in the morning; the fourth lagoon has the largest public lot. Guests staying at the villas can skip the parking question entirely and simply walk down to Honu Lagoon.

Make the lagoon your front yard

A lagoon trip works best when you are close enough to go back and forth all day: a morning snorkel, a break back at the villa, an afternoon float and an evening walk along the path. Every villa has a 6-night minimum stay, which leaves time for many lagoon days, and groups of up to 150 guests can stay in several villas at the one resort.

See the villas on Honu Lagoon on our Ko Olina villas page, or plan a bigger trip on the group stays page.