Whilst it may not look like much from the shore, Electric Beach Oahu is one of the best places to snorkel in Oahu. Nicknamed Electric Beach or “Electrics” by the locals, the official name for this spot is actually Kahe Point Beach Park. This beach gets its nickname from the power plant located right next to the beach, which is actually what makes this beach one of the best for snorkeling in Oahu.
WHERE IS KAHE POINT BEACH PARK
Electric Beach is on the west side of the island, about 30 minutes from Honolulu. It’s easily found on Google Maps (below) so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting to it.
WHAT TO BRING TO OAHU ELECTRIC BEACH
Prepare for your trip to Oahu with our must-have travel essentials.
Waterproof backpack & phone case: Earth Pak 35L or 55L Heavy Duty Backpack, IPX8 Waterproof Phone Case Included (click for price)
Quick-dry microfiber travel towel: Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Travel Towel (click for price)
Insulated water bottle: Hydro Flask Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle (click for price)
Snorkel, mask & fins: Cressi Adjustable Mask, Fin & Snorkel Set with Carry Bag (click for price)
If you’re interested in photography and/or videography this is the gear we can’t live without:
Professional camera: Sony a7iii (click for price)
Action camera: GoPro HERO9 Black (click for price)
Drone: DJI Mavic 2 Pro (click for price)
To see our complete camera gear read this post here.
BEST OAHU TOUR PACKAGES
WHY IS IT CALLED ELECTRIC BEACH?
Like we mentioned, Kahe Point Beach Park is right next to the Hawaiian Electric Power Plant, which releases clean, warm water into the ocean through two giant pipes. This is what makes Electric Beach Oahu such a great snorkeling spot – the water at the opening of the pipes is warmer than usual, attracting a vast array of marine life, like huge schools of fish, turtles and even dolphins.
IS IT SAFE TO SWIM AT ELECTRIC BEACH OAHU?
Don’t let the power plant put you off swimming at Electric Beach Oahu. The water itself is perfectly safe, however, you’ll need to swim out to the open ocean about 200 metres. The water through this channel can be quite rough and isn’t recommended for poor swimmers or children, but the most important thing to keep in mind is your own swimming ability. Know your limits and if you’re uneasy, don’t risk your safety for a turtle snap.
ELECTRIC BEACH SNORKELING
The beach area itself isn’t anything special, but the magic of Electric Beach Oahu lies beneath the surface. We found a spot on the sand to leave our things and headed out into the ocean.
The warm water attracts an unbelievable amount of fish, from Angelfish and Butterflyfish to huge schools of sardines. Keep your eyes peeled for turtles, which you’re all but guaranteed to see at Electric Beach Oahu, and keep an ear out for dolphins. You’ll notice a lot of tourist boats a little farther out at sea, as this is a popular spot to see dolphins in the wild.
All in all, Electric Beach snorkeling was an amazing experience and we highly recommend it to anyone visiting the island. If you are feeling brave and want a seriously unforgettable time, try cage-free shark diving up in the north!
DON’T HAVE TIME TO READ THE GUIDE? PIN IT FOR LATER!
OAHU SHARK DIVE: CAGE-FREE SHARK DIVING
This surreal Oahu shark dive experience brought us up close and personal with countless Galapagos Sharks and is undoubtedly one of the most epic things to do in Oahu.
RELATED ARTICLE: Hawaii Packing List
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