Sharks Cove on Oahu’s iconic North Shore is one of the most popular snorkeling spots on Oahu. The shallow, rocky pools and calm waters provide a relatively safe environment for snorkelers of all levels.

Part of Pupukea Beach Park, Sharks Cove is a sheltered rocky bay that acts like a nursery for the ocean’s marine life. 

You’ll likely see your favorite Hawaiian tropical fish (triggerfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, moorish idols, etc.) and possibly plenty of urchins, crabs, and a shrimp and lobster or two. But on any given day you could also see an eel, turtle, octopus, or even a small reef tip shark. 

FYI While you might get to see a tiny, baby shark if you’re lucky, Sharks Cove isn’t actually a big shark hangout. The bay actually gets its name from how the lava rock formations look from above. 

Tips for Snorkeling Sharks Cove

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With its crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and abundant sea life, this underwater oasis is a must-visit for anyone looking to explore Hawaii’s beauty up close. Sharks Cove attracts all kinds of people…from families to experienced snorkelers, but there’s definitely some things you need to know before you just hop in the water here. 

Sharks Cove is located at Pupukea Beach Park right off the Kamehameha Highway on Oahu’s North Shore in between Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach. 

Yes, two of Oahu’s biggest surf spots. Which means that this is NOT a safe place to snorkel when the surf is big. While it is relatively sheltered, quite a few fatalities have occurred here in the winter months. 

Generally speaking, you should probably avoid Sharks Cove from November to April, but it’s very dependent on the swells. There are days in the winter when it’s safe, but you have to check the surf report and it would tend to be more the exception than the rule. 

There is some parking at the beach park, but not nearly enough for how popular this place gets in the afternoon, so definitely plan on arriving between 9 and 10AM. 

***Want to save major $$$ on your trip to Hawaii? I get asked ALL the time how I’m able to travel so often to Hawaii and stay at really nice resorts. Well, my favorite travel hack is cashing in points to score free airfare and free nights at some of Hawaii’s most high end resorts. Read my full guide on the exact system I use to max out credit card rewards here. Seriously, it’s going to save you soooo much money.

The cove features a sandy beach perfect for lounging and relaxing in between snorkeling sessions, but the entry to the cove is pretty rocky so I would suggest water shoes. There are some channels into the water that are sandier than others though (in the pictures from above you can see the best area to enter is the right side). 

Since Sharks Cove has become such a popular snorkeling spot, there are actually some pretty good amenities here now that make it a decent place to hang out for the day. 

If you don’t have your own snorkeling gear, you can rent it (and other beach gear) from a stand across the street. Plus you can rent lockers from SeaMaids. 

There are also plenty of food trucks and places to sit across the street. 

And my personal favorite…the Sunshine Shack! 

The original stand is just a mile or two down the road at Sunset Beach, but the location at Sharks Cove is kind of their new North Shore headquarters. 

This is one of my favorite places to get a smoothie bowl plus their avocado toast is so yummy. 

Side Note: If you’re looking for a rental car for your trip, I LOVE Discount Hawaii Car Rentals. They’re seriously the only company I ever use. They’ll give you the very best prices, you don’t have to reserve with a credit card or pay until you show up, you can cancel and re-book anytime if you find a better rate, and they usually have a special that adds additional drivers for no fee. It’s a no brainer. Click here to check rates for your trip.

Another IMPORTANT tip for snorkeling at Sharks Cove…be sure to wear reef safe sunscreen. Let’s help keep the reef and wildlife safe and in good shape for the next generation to enjoy.

And lastly, there are no lifeguards on duty at Sharks Cove so it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to use good judgement about when it’s safe to get in the water. It’s always a good idea to snorkel with a buddy (or have somebody on land watching) and constantly stay aware of your surroundings so you don’t end up drifting to an unsafe location. 

Even on days when the cove is relatively calm, the rocks can be slippery, and the current can be strong in certain areas. Just always be monitoring your surroundings and don’t get too distracted following an underwater critter that you end up outside the cove. 

P.S. I travel to Hawaii multiple times a year, and let me tell you a secret…I do most of it for FREE using credit card points and miles. 

I have a somewhat intricate system that I’ve fine tuned over the years to maximize earning points and how I cash them in, but the short version is:

I use THIS Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card for free Marriott nights. The sign up bonus alone on this card will get you 3 (sometimes 5!) free nights at hotels in Hawaii like the Sheraton Maui, Royal Hawaiian (Oahu), Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort, and the Waikoloa Beach Marriott (Kona). 

And I use THIS Southwest Premier Rapid Rewards card for free flights on Southwest. The sign up bonus will get you at least one round trip flight to Hawaii (possibly two depending on where you’re flying from). 

The combo of these two cards will have you most of the way to a free trip to Hawaii right out of the gate. Again, you can sign up for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless >> HERE and the Southwest Premier Rapid Rewards >> HERE
And if you’re really serious about getting into the travel hacking game, read this post for a more in depth look at how I maximize credit card points to book travel.

P.P.S. Here’s one more really important thing you need to know before your Hawaii trip…

You’ve got your airfare, hotel, rental car and your big activities booked, so you should be good to go, right? Wrong!

Travel is BOOMING in Hawaii and a lot of state and national parks have instituted reservation systems at some of the island’s most popular spots to help manage the crowds and make things a little more sustainable. 

That means that there are now over half a dozen sites (beaches, trailheads, etc.) that require advance reservations. And some sell out well before you arrive on the island so you really need to have some sort of a plan. 

I recently saw somebody in a Hawaii travel group post in a panic that they didn’t know they had to make reservations for things in advance…they thought they could just show up and “go with the flow.” I was tempted to say, well, “as long as the flow doesn’t take you somewhere that requires reservations, you can!” ; )

But I don’t want YOU to be that person, so I’ve pulled together a list of all the places you need to reserve entry in advance (plus all the details on booking windows, price, links, etc.) and a handful of popular tourist hotspots that book out really far in advance too. 
Get that info >> HERE