Shark's Cove
Shark's Cove
4.5
About
These rocky tidal pools in Pupukea’s Marine Life Conservation District on Oahu’s north shore are famous for snorkeling and scuba diving. Despite its name, there are no sharks to be found here, but the cove boasts an impressive variety of marine life, including schools of fish, octopuses, sea turtles, and thriving coral. Visit in summer when the waters are calm, as the winter’s waves make for dangerous conditions. There are restrooms and limited parking but no lifeguards on duty. Also, wear water shoes as it’s easy to lose footing on the sharp and slippery rocks. – Tripadvisor
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- islandlovingtwosomeLake Forest, California125 contributionsAn Over The Top Fantastic Snorkeling SpotOuch!!! It was painful walking over all those small rocks to get to the water and then making your way through some large rocks to find an open access area in the water, but once you do, you're in for a treat. My husband and I are snorkel junkies, and this is one of the best spots we've ever snorkeled, and believe me that's saying a lot. It set the bar really high. We saw sooo many schools of fish and even different species of fish swimming together in large schools flitting from one spot to the next. We even were lucky enough to see a turtle both times we went. Not much coral to speak of though, Shark's Cove is all about the fish. The visibility of the water is pretty good and there's a large area to explore. Getting out is as painful as getting in, but it's worth it.Visited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 7 October 2023
- Michael F5 contributionsAwesome oahu snorkeling in NovemberAwesome views. Take lotsa pictures. Bring WATER SHOES and snorkel gear. Tons of fish!!! Make sure, when you get there, go straight and then make a right once you pass midway amf head out about 20 yards from the mouth. If you decide to immediately go to the right, you're going to have a really tough and painful time. So don't do that. Enjoy!!!Visited November 2023Travelled with familyWritten 22 November 2023
- Yeraldin S28 contributionsSo many fishes!We saw sooo many fishes and snorkeled until our hands were wrinkled and our lips were chapped. There’s bathrooms and a shower to rinse. A few little stands to get snacks and snorkel gear. Don’t need fins but recommend glasses and breathing tube. It’s not deep. Most places we’re at chest height and there’s plenty of shore for the little one to snorkel in. Theres just of couple of spots were it’s is about 10 feet deep but that’s out far edges. There’s no waves and fear of getting swept because it’s enclosed by a rocky barrier. A definite must doVisited November 2023Travelled with familyWritten 24 November 2023
- TravelingSoccerLoonSaint Paul, Minnesota6,281 contributionsExcellent Snorkeling Spot During the Summer Months but Still Scenic AnytimeScenic spot along the laid-back North Shore of Oahu. Known as one of the best snorkeling spots on the island. We were visiting in March and the ocean was too rough to snorkel as is the case throughout the winter months. Different story during the summer and early Fall when conditions are said to be perfect.Visited March 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 10 January 2024
- juliana m9 contributions10/10 snorkeling! Must go if your visiting Oahu!We were driving around the island and passed this cove because we thought it looked like a fun snorkel spot. It was amazing! Soooo many fish!! There is free parking everywhere around there and you can get water shoes from the local grocery store directly across the street. HIGHLY recommend water shoes. you have to walk over sharp rocks & coral. It hurt big time but was worth it. We would 110% go back. But with water shoes ;)Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 12 March 2024
- Steven JPalm Beach Gardens, Florida86 contributionsSurprisingly fun place to exploreWe love exploring marine environments, and were so pleased that our hotel recommended we visit Sharks Cove. The water was a bit chilly for us Floridians, but we enjoyed the beauty and variety of the fish we saw while snorkeling in the shallow water. Heed the warning to wear good water shoes We enjoyed some good food truck meals and shaved ice from the vendors across the street as well. Parking is limited, and be careful when crossing the street, as the traffic can be heavy.Visited March 2024Travelled with familyWritten 30 March 2024
- GwenWestAllendale, Michigan10 contributionsAmazing place to see fish!I loved sharks cove! Water shoes are a must! I did see a pop up shop across the street that possibly rented snorkeling equipment? They had life jackets and snorkels for purchase if nothing else. I don’t like to snorkel but I went in the water and I saw tons of fish and an eel just swimming around. Lots of people. Bathrooms and showers.Visited April 2024Travelled with familyWritten 17 April 2024
- MJ_ontheBAYWallonia, Belgium116 contributionsGreat North Shore spot for snorkel and scubaSharks Cove has a really neat spread of tidal pools that are great for beginner snorkelers, kids and really anyone who wants to relax and enjoy the sights. Out past the edge of the tidal pools, you’ll also find a great scuba dive site that includes tons of reef, exotic fish, sea turtles, small sea caves and a few spots that decend down to about 40 to 50 feet. A few things to consider.. parking is pretty limited here so be patient or be early given the sites popularity. Bring an appetite since there are several great food trucks right across the street. Lastly, this place is typically nice and calm in the summer/fall months, but in the winter time when the north shore surf revs up it can be a totally different ballgame.. a dangerous one. Bottom line, in Jan or Feb when a big swell is crashing though, it definitely wouldn’t be safe to snorkel or dive here. Bottom line, this place is a North Shore gem and you should definitely check it out, but plan ahead, do your homework by checking the weather, surf forecast tides and be safe.Visited August 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 1 June 2024
- araxasColorado Springs, Colorado221 contributionsSharks Cove ExploringGreat place to scuba and snorkel. Abundant sea life including turtles and for the scuba diver underwater caves and lots of fish. At times preferable to the Hanuama Bay and is FREE. Parking can be crazy, so get there early and preferable not on weekends.Visited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 5 August 2024
- countrygirl4life76 contributionsBring shoes!Parking is rough. Getting to the pools is a bit of a trek. The rocks are sharp and not easy to traverse. Wouldn't bring little ones. Once we made it, it was a great snorkeling experience. Make sure you sunscreen well.Visited August 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 24 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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May_EXL
Winnipeg, Canada1,028 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
Shark’s Cove is a natural rocky tidal pool. Good place for all ages. There’s also a beach, grassy area, bathrooms, shower station and food trucks across the highway. Parking can be limited after a certain time. The waves were high on the day that we went. It was fun to see the waves go over the rocks and make a big splash and create waterfalls. Although we didn’t snorkel, we saw lots of fish around and there were many people in the water with snorkel gear. I recommend to wear good water shoes for walking on lava rocks that surround the Shark’s Cove as well as when in the water. Be careful if you want to get closer to the rocks when the waves go over for that waterfall effect because the force could knock you down. The depth of the water is different depending on the tide & currents. We passed by it many times and at different times of the day there’s hardly any water in the cove. I guessed we lucked out! The other end of the cove is more rocky and was where we saw another resting Hawaiian monk seal.
Written 11 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
debrownlee
Seattle, WA63 contributions
Mar 2021
Great place for kids to see turtles, eel, octopus and fish. Whales appear off in the distance. Arrive early. More people that arrive the more murky the water gets. Love going here. You see everything except sharks.
Written 23 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joseph Robba
Charlotte, NC2,273 contributions
Dec 2021
Without a doubt this was my favorite thing we did on Oahu, period. You park right off the side of the Kamehameha highway, in a parallel parking area. There is a bathroom and shower here as well for convenience. I'd recommend bringing some water shoes as the rocks can be a little sharp. You walk right down into the cove, and you're immediately surrounded by an array of colorful fish. The snorkeling here is some of the best I've ever done, and that is saying a lot having been to Molokini on Maui, the Coral Gardens in Bora Bora, and Klein Bonaire.
Get here a little early to secure your parking spot, and then plan to eat lunch at one of the Shrimp trucks just up the road in Haleiwa. Absolutely perfect way to spend a day!
Get here a little early to secure your parking spot, and then plan to eat lunch at one of the Shrimp trucks just up the road in Haleiwa. Absolutely perfect way to spend a day!
Written 27 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Khoi N
Washington DC, DC4,730 contributions
Mar 2022 • Friends
Dope area to stop by to take some pics, look at fish or enjoy some snorkeling. Highly recommend wearing water shoes as the rocks can definitely cause some cuts. Fairly large area I would recommend going down close to where the bathrooms are to get the best views. Water was calm and cool when I went. Plenty of free street parking and fun spot to check out if you’re in the North shore area
Written 11 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marilyn D
Arizona30 contributions
Jul 2021
Nice for snorkeling, but the rocks/coral reefs are fairly rough. Invest $15 in some water shoes and protect your feet when entering and walking through the cove. We did enjoy the afternoon, but I had water shoes on. I may not have enjoyed it quite so much with bare feet. The area is very shallow for the most part so even children are relatively safe (of course you need to keep eagle-eyes on kids!) and all the kids were having a pretty good time. Stay near the rocks to see the fish, they like to hang out there.
Written 18 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrea L
5 contributions
Mar 2023
You can rent snorkel gear and fins across the street. The price goes down if you rent the equipment for a few days. We loved snorkeling here. It was a little intimidating at first for my younger children (I had 4 children ranging from age 11-17) because you walk through some pretty sharp rocks/coral to get into the water. In hindsight we should have done the little "kiddie pools" to get used to breathing in the tube before going out into the bay. They got the hang of it, however, and we enjoyed all the active, colorful sea life that was there including turtles. I loved this more than Hanauma Bay because it seemed less commercialized with free parking and less people.
Written 4 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ariana G
Michigan18 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
This is personally my all time favorite beach that I’ve visited so far! Definitely for people who like to snorkel and I imagine would be good for young children to swim as most of the beach is very shallow. Must bring water shoes! Access to this beach could be tricky without it, there’s lots of sharp rocks! Make sure you’ve got sun protection as well! There’s a bathroom and an outdoor shower to rinse yourself and snorkel gear. Beautiful sunsets. Close to lots of food options including a grocery store if you’ve got a family and you’re on a budget grab some food from the deli instead of visiting the food trucks. There’s places that are scuba accessible outside the cove. I also recommend swimming outside the cove if you wanna see more marine life and are a confident swimmer. Love this place!
Written 6 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yeraldin S
28 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
We saw sooo many fishes and snorkeled until our hands were wrinkled and our lips were chapped. There’s bathrooms and a shower to rinse. A few little stands to get snacks and snorkel gear. Don’t need fins but recommend glasses and breathing tube. It’s not deep. Most places we’re at chest height and there’s plenty of shore for the little one to snorkel in. Theres just of couple of spots were it’s is about 10 feet deep but that’s out far edges. There’s no waves and fear of getting swept because it’s enclosed by a rocky barrier. A definite must do
Written 24 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
popko
San Francisco, CA35 contributions
Jul 2022
Beautiful, peaceful snorkeling in safe coved area in north shore. Bring water shoes since the lava rocks are sharp. You don't even need snorkel fins since you can float around the cove easily. Underwater camera or Go_pro are a must to catch the beautiful underwater footage. Bonus across the street are the north shore foodtrucks for good eats after a snorkeling sesh. Then hang out at Sunset beach or Pipeline which is only a mile away.
Written 1 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wilsontnk1
St. George, UT3 contributions
May 2022
The best place to see tons of fish. We went to Hanauma as well but Sharks Cove had more fish and less people. It was tough to get in and out of the bay, because the rocks are odd shape and slippery. We had water shoes on, but it was still tough to get in and out. But the fish….omg the second you put your head under it was massive fish pod right there. I had a few issues with swimmers itch and I broke my toe after I slipped trying to come out of the water. ( I had water socks on but my foot slipped and wedged in between the rocks). But I got amazing footage on my iPhone.
Written 15 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Where is the best snorkeling on Oahu for families ? Kids are 17,11, and 9 . Thanks :)
Written 6 October 2019
We are headed to Sharks Cove next week. Is there a place to change clothes? We will be driving the North Coast all day and are hoping to change into swimsuits there!
Written 26 September 2019
Yes there are bathrooms right at the cove. And there are good food trucks and places to rent snorkel gear across the street.
Written 27 September 2019
Hello, we are planning a trip to the north shore first week of April and I’m wondering if we will be able to snorkel or would the waters be too cold or rough? I have young children also.
Written 9 February 2019
I would definitely recommend some long sleeve rash-guard shirts. 72 degree water and 10-15 mph wind can make for some shivers! They're readily available on Amazon and are affordable. They keep you warm, and keep the wind/sunburn at bay. Water shoes are A MUST along the north shore.
Also, I forgot to mention earlier to check the tide charts and go at low and or slack tide for the safest waves/currents. Shark's Cove is very protected but can experience strong currents in places as the tide comes in.
Written 9 February 2019
Alexandra C
Norfolk, Virginia
Can you visit any time to go tide pooling, or is that only in the morning?
Written 19 September 2018
Any time - the tide on Oahu barely changes all day. High and low tide are pretty much the same thing.
Written 25 September 2018
What kind of snorkel gear do you need? I plan on buying some before my trip, and want to know what essentials I should buy.
Written 12 February 2017
Mask, snorkel and some water shoes(hard sole). Some kind of gloves for hand protection is not a bad idea either.
Written 12 February 2017
What is the difference in water, wave conditions by season?
How deep is the water in the Cove? Is it safe for children & non-swimmers?
Written 27 December 2015
I know this late for your questions but I think they are really good ones so of course I think they should be addressed. As far as wave and water conditions they are calm though there are swells in November. There are several websites that address wave conditions. As for the name and whether it is safe for little ones, the name is nothing to worry about. There are no sharks. The water is very shallow, warm and sandy. We had the babies in the water at six months.
Written 13 April 2017
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