Sharks cove snorkeling beach
Sharks Cove has been rated by Scuba Diving Magazine as one of the “Top Twelve Shore Dives in the World”. Located on Oahu’s world famous North Shore, this small rocky bay forms part of Pupukea Beach Park and boasts blue water and an impressive amount of sea life. The bottom is made up of large smooth boulders and coral heads forming small caves and ledges for marine life to hide. The walls of the surrounding cliffs provide calmer water attracting schooling surface fish.
On the south side of Sharks Cove is the Pupukea tide pools; a great place to wade and explore.
Sharks Cove is one of Oahu’s best snorkeling and dive beaches so it can get a little crowded on occasion. I highly doubt you’ll notice when you’re in the water though.
Because Sharks Cove is located between the famed big wave surf spots of Waimea Bay and the Banzai Pipeline, you’ll have to make sure there are no large swells that day. October through April is considered Hawaii’s surf season, with waves peaking between December and February, so the summer months are the best time to snorkel Sharks Cove.
If there are waves forecasted, the current could be strong, so please choose one of my other favorite Oahu snorkeling beaches to be safe. Kuilima Cove is only 15 minutes north from Sharks Cove and due to it’s protected shoreline would be an excellent choice.
I would not recommend taking small children to Sharks Cove unless it’s to wade in the tide pools. As you can see, Sharks Cove is not a sand beach and the entrance is rocky, so watch your step as you get in.
The inside of the bay is about 8 to 15 feet deep, progressively getting deeper as you head out.
By the way, since you’re going to be on the North Shore, there’s a terrific company called Hawaii Shark Encounters that specializes in an amazing Shark Tour that is located about 15 minutes from here in Haleiwa town. They have a shark cage snorkel that I highly recommend!
Insider Tip: Because of the popularity of Sharks Cove the small parking lot may fill quickly. Be sure to get there by at least 9 – 10am so you’ll have a place to park. The parking lot overlooks the beach.
Insider Tip: Forgot your mask defog? Growing right next to the public showers is a plant called naupaka (see the picture above). Just mash up a couple of leaves in your hand and thoroughly rub them around on the inside of your mask making sure to completely coat the inside of the lens. When your ready to snorkel, very briefly swish your mask around in the water to remove the extra pieces of leaves and viola! No more fog. Works just as well as any store bought stuff.
Here are some of the marine life I have seen at Sharks Cove: Butterfly fish, parrot fish, damsel fish, surgeon fish, tang, wrasse, big eye, perch, chub, trigger fish, goat fish, jacks, mullet, cornet fish, needle fish, eels, turtles, crustaceans, and invertebrates.
There are public restrooms and showers at the parking lot. No lifeguard on duty. Just across the street of the parking lot there are some small shops where you can buy food and drinks