Sans Souci beach: Heaven on Earth
Considered one of the best family beaches in Waikiki, Sans Souci is shallow, sandy, and free of strong currents. It’s also a great location for snorkeling. Swimmers and kayakers also frequent the beach to access the waters beyond the reef through Kapua Channel, which leads to Old Man’s, a popular surf site. Also known as Kaimana Beach, San Souci is an old name that goes back to 1884 and means “without a care” in French.
The paradise of snorkeling
Upon arriving here, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? If you say snorkeling, then we are of the same mind. Everyone wants to know where to snorkel in Waikiki. The closest snorkeling option is in the area south of the hotels in Waikiki that is designated a Marine Life Conservation District, just in front of Queens Beach. From the entry for snorkeling Queens Beach, the best area is to the left from the beach (south) in front of the Waikiki Aquarium sea wall. Look from the beach with your polarized sunglasses for the channel you will head for. This dredged channel with a sandy bottom parallel to the beach about a hundred feet offshore is your destination.
When snorkeling Sans Souci Beach, straight out there is a more shallow flat reef that you can swim over if there are no waves and the tide is high. At most here, it is 3 feet deep. The visibility is often pretty low, but you will be able to see some fish and a little bit of coral. Mostly the reef is covered in algae.
An alternative option if the beach is too crowded
You can also check out the nearby Kaimana Beach for a more adventurous snorkeling experience. However, I would recommend you against that in bad weather conditions. Snorkeling is not safe here when there is a south swell, you need to always be cautious of currents and only go when the waves are calm. If you do try to go when there are waves, you are likely to have miserable visibility.
