A friend took us here and it is a great spot. The snorkeling was great and there were free drivers and tank drivers too. The water is clear and there is many schools of fish and other sealife. We saw a turtle too. Others have seen dolphins but we weren't that lucky. I heard they come some mornings. There is also a cool spot where ppl spelled out alpha on the ocean floor which is a great photo of you have an underwater camera. It's close to the national heritage site too so you can see both easily. Overall a fantastic place to come and I highly recommend it. read more

Pretty busy but easy access to snorkeling. Went on a cloudy day so it wasn't the best but still super cool. Short walk from the street parking. It was pretty choppy on the day we went. read more

I highly recommend visiting Two Step if you are visiting Big Island Hawaii. Beautiful underwater views if you are a snorkeler. The water has always been calm when we visit. Many different types of fish and the dolphins seem to be there very often. Don't get close to them though, it is a crime to try to touch them. The locals do not appreciate it either and will call the authorities. The Place of Refuge is a few hundred feet away from Two Step also. read more

Two Step - Two Step - Beaches Near Me

If you want to do snorkeling for free with lots of fishes and corals to see, this is the place to go to. Just make sure you don't step on the corals coz the locals are gonna call you out on that. But overall, great snorkeling area! And free too! read more

I was referred to Two Step by people from home and by locals. You see aquatic life before you ever hit the water. Bring some aqua shoes or socks, or be ready to put your flip flops upside down on the rocks by wherever you enter. While I didn't get to see any dolphins or turtles, I was intrigued by all the other fish and urchins I saw. There were a lot of people out there, so it was neat to hear people calling each other over to what they saw. Parking is rough, but I chose to park in the National Park next door. Also that is an amazing site to visit, so put that on your list while you're there. read more

"One of the best" snorkeling spots on the Big Island? The Big Island isn't known for its snorkeling spots, so that statement might be true, but compared with my snorkeling experiences in Oahu, Two Step is incredibly underwhelming. The sealife is not very concentrated - you'll see some schools of fish here and there, and a couple of parrot fish and rainbow fish nibbling on some coral and shit. You also WILL NOT see anything much more interesting than that unless you swim out to the point where you're not even in the bay/Two Step anymore. Dolphins, my ass - the closest thing I saw to a dolphin was some Honey Boo Boo look-alike with a pair of mermaid flippers. On top of that, the water is pretty murky with sand and fish crap floating around everywhere. This is NOT for beginner snorkelers/swimmers. The entrance into the water is via a series of descending rocks that drop into ~5-10 feet deep waters. The rocks are slippery, and the steps are covered with little sea urchins hiding in the holes - be CAREFUL not to slip, and not to get your hands and feet pricked.. water shoes or flippers are a must! The waves meeting the "steps" that lead into the water are STRONG.. much stronger currents than when you swim out, the water is the most unforgiving at the entry. Novices might have a hard time entering the water at first with the waves repeatedly smashing them against the rocks.. You have to be prepared to get into the water and get off the ledge as quickly as you can, don't spend too much time being knocked against the rocks by the crashing waves. I, personally, would not recommend this place. There isn't much of a "beach" since it's literally just ocean and huge volcanic stone, so most people are only here to snorkel. If you plan on coming here to snorkel, be careful of the conditions - I'm a relatively strong swimmer, but the harshness of the waves and the slippery sea-urchin covered steps took me by surprise. If you're a novice swimmer, DO NOT go into the waters by yourself. Swim with a buddy at all times and be safe! If in doubt, don't go in, it just isn't worth it. PS - don't be fooled by some of the pictures uploaded under this location... they're literally not even from this place. read more

Swam with a pod of dolphins here and a turtle!!!! Only have pictures of turtle (will post!) Super beautiful beach and very clear water locals are super nice !! read more

Two Step - Beaches Near Me

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The food and vibes at the restaurant KAI on Alii Dr is awesome. You are sitting right on the ocean and everybody has a great view. Sunsets at KAI are incredible. Their food is excellent and their service is totally aloha. read more

Oh man, it's busy but the snorkeling is pretty cool there. Parking is a hassle, there's not much shade, it's crowded but the snorkeling is cool. read more

It is a beautiful place to go snorkeling. There were quite a bit of people, but not too crowded. The "two step" to get into the ocean made it easy to get into and out of the water. It can be a bit rough in that water area because of the currents, but once you get farther out into the ocean it is more calm. Personally it was my first time snorkeling in the ocean and only second time trying to snorkel so it was definitely intimidating. I didn't last very long before throwing in the towel since I'm not that confident in my swimming endurance and I didn't have a flotation device, but from what I was able to see it was definitely beautiful and plenty of fish swimming around. read more

Two Step - Beaches Near Me

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Favorite spot to chase fish and forest of corals. Make sure check surf because water does get very rough during winter. read more

Two Step - Honu - Beaches Near Me

Two Step Beach at Honaunau Bay is a great spot for snorkeling. If you visit the Place of Refuge, you can park there and walk over after exploring the historical park. It can be a little difficult getting into the water with the current and the rocks so take your time as you get your snorkel equipment on. There were a lot of free divers in the area too who were diving down to around 45m in a single breath! Lots of colorful unique fish here. I wish I had my waterproof camera for this! read more

This spot was recommended to us for great snorkeling and I'm glad we took them up on it and checked it out for ourselves. There was a lot of cars along the road but once you get to the water it doesn't feel that congested. We stopped at the historical park first and it cost to park there so fortunately it was a quick 3 min walk to the snorkeling area so we left our car there and walked over. I think that was closer than if we had parked on the road. It is all lava rock that butts up to the water so bring water shoes as it is very hot to walk on and hard on your feet. The water felt really comfortable and you can see some cool things. read more

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U must stop here!! Best snorkeling on the Big Island!! We missed out on seeing dolphins but if U get there early enough, U may see them!! But it was 1 of my favorite spots even without them!! Bring your snorkels and water shoes!! U wont regret it!! read more

Go early, parking can be hard to come by. Originally came here to see some dolphins because someone said they hang out here. They come by early in the morning but they're far from the shore. The snorkeling is great. There's a lot of fish and space to hang out. It as easy to get in and out of the water. read more

Yep, the free parking is tough. So I highly recommend donating $5 to park in the lot right across the way. Our group of 5 swung by on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. It's not a sandy beach, though the black volcanic rock formations amply serve for lounging. If you're willing to walk 2 minutes, there's a boat ramp to the left, which I would recommend for easy water entry. However, two of our group gently scooted off the lava rocks right into the slightly choppy waters, getting some scrapes in the process. The snorkeling here is amazing! Tons of healthy coral and colorful fish, one of our friends spotted a manta ray, and I happened to catch a glimpse of a sea turtle. No sharks, but we did see a number of eels. We went out decently far and were happily satisfied. The downside is that there are no public restrooms or showers, but there are 5 or so porta potties that are big enough to stand upright and change. Engage your core for balance! read more

Parking is confusing for this spot as it is the very near the national park. You can take the sharp right and try to park in the lot, or you can park along the hwy. we got there a little later in the day (noon) so it was crowded and already quite murky. Now real beach to sit on, but the rocks work alright. The snorkeling was pretty good, but I imagine it would be better earlier in the day. Getting access to the water could be tricky if you entered at the wrong spot as surf here was large right at the shore in a few places. The left side of the boat ramp was more mellow and shallow. read more

I fear the water, but this is my favorite place to snorkel so far. Like many Chinese who were fed a steady, but varied diet of fear and self-loathing, sprinkled with occasional mathematics and/or science, I grew up with an unnatural fear of water. This was compounded by two near-drowning experiences as a child, and once more as an adult. The years of swim lessons, the ability to swim and tread water for more than two minutes have been overshadowed by less than 5 cumulative minutes of sheer drowning terror. So, when my husband suggested our second honeymoon in Hawaii, the Big Island, how better to celebrate our wedded bliss than by donning ridiculous-looking snorkel gear and throwing myself into the water? Many people have commented on how this beach is great for beginners. From the beginner boat-launch area, which also has a small white-sand beach during low tide, the water doesn't get deeper than 5' for a ways out. And in this small area there are sea turtles and fish galore. This area is also a naturally-protected cove, so the waves never become too strong. However, as there is white sand around here, the visibility is sometimes terrible, especially near the shoreline or rocks, where most terrified snorkelers prefer to congregate. Once you get your bearings and/or a few quick sips of Jack Daniels or Valium - your choice - you may feel emboldened enough to try the launch area in the middle of the beach, among the rocks. This area has stronger currents and drops down about 10+ feet right away, but the ocean's depths reveal a greater quantity of fish as well as hints of coral. About 20+ feet off shore there are tons of fish and much less current. If you want to throw caution to the wind and want to say "Aloha" to it all, you could try launching from the far north end of the beach which has a few "shelves" containing tiny sea urchin and marine life. The waves and currents here are quite strong for a beginner, as waves crash into the shelves and tidal pools then go crashing back out with equal force. Best thing to do is to swim further out into the calm where coral and an abundance of fish can be seen. Then, the ocean drops suddenly down an almost-bottomless chasm, Yours truly has not yet experienced this idyllic scene, as every time I get into the water, it feels like I'm falling into an incredibly deep chasm. The downsides of this beach is that it's mostly craggy slippery rock, not hospitable for sunning yourself, or taking refuge under a tree away from the sun to cry your anxiety away. There's virtually no parking, though for $5 you can have a week's free pass to the National Park next door, and from there it's a short walk to the water. There are only a few jiffy johns and no food vendors. On the upside, we have snorkeled in several places and have found Two-step to be the biggest bang for your buck, in terms of ease of accessibility to the beach and the amount of fish you can see in a safe environment. Quite a number of snorkelers were out with water noodles or life jackets, so the atmosphere is welcoming for even the most novice of swimmers. Even if you hang in the beginner's area, stand in the water and stick your face into the water, you're bound to see fish or even a humongous sea turtle go by (the one I saw was well within arm's length and didn't seem at all put off by the attention it was getting). Try to arrive early when the water is usually calmer and there are less people. But even at its peak it was easy to find a spot on land for our stuff and snorkel without getting into each other's way. A must try snorkel on the Big Island, even if you're terrified of the water. read more

Two Step - Beaches Near Me

Snorkeling here was one of my favorite things I did on the island. We parked at the national park walked around a bit, changed in the bathroom there and walked right over to two steps. Believe me $15 is well worth it. There is not any sand, we found a spot on the lava rocks and laid out our towels. You access the water on "two steps" that lead you into deep water. Yes there are sea urchins in the holes on the second step. Keep your hands open and flat and your fine. You can literally sit on the step just don't stick your fingers in the holes ;) Getting out is a little hard, just time it correctly with the waves and chill. Our eleven year old twins loved it and were a little terrified at the same time. It was a awesome experience for everyone and I would definitely not miss the opportunity to snorkel here. read more

Best snorkeling spot on the Big Island (and all Hawaii!). Bring your own gear. Get a National Parks pass and park at the National Historical Park (3mn walk). No vendor, no shop, just ... snorkeling! read more

Probably my favorite snorkeling spot on the Kona-Volcano-Hilo Southern Route. The water was quite calm and the visibility was great. There's plenty to see right near the shore. In addition, I was also super lucky to have seen a pod of about 30-40 dolphins swimming and playing around. There were a few juveniles too that looked only about 3 feet long. I was definitely squealing like a little girl. I had no idea this bay had dolphins, and I think they come around quite often too. So I would definitely recommend dropping by. There's a very likely chance they will be around And if they aren't, well the snorkeling is pretty awesome too! My suggestion: Pack a light lunch, bring a towel and your snorkel gear, and spend an awesome day here! read more

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One of my favorite snorkel spots on the island! If you can't find parking along the side of the road, you can park in the Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park parking lot for a nominal fee. This isn't a nice white sandy beach. It's mainly lava rock you have to trek over to get to the water. And of course there are two huge steps to help you get in and out of the water, hence the name "Two Step." Be sure you are an average to strong swimmer and watch the tides as it can be tricky to get out of the water. It's definitely possible to spot some honu (turtles) and dolphins while you're here, so keep your eyes peeled! read more

One of the best open water areas I've ever been too. Kona doesn't have many white sand beaches and I'm ok with that. This particular entrance has "two steps" and then you jump in. The water was warm for September and I was even able to swim with dolphins that were in the cove. I swam past the "Aloha" sign at the ocean floor that was made by man and kept swimming and we found a large pod of dolphins. It was truly an epic experience. I can't wait to go back again. read more

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Few days ago we went to Two Step beach. Hubby liked it . He says he saw lots of fishes . To me it's too deep water . Being a city girl I'm not used to swim in deep water read more

I really enjoyed two step beach snorkeling. We went out on a boat tour the day before and didn't see as much as we did here. So in retrospect I would've skipped the boat tour and came here. Parking: $5 unless you want to park on the street. Crew teams: there are several crew teams out practicing who appear to be annoyed by us snorkeling, so you'll have to ignore that. This place is kid friendly and just a fun experience for the whole family. read more

Absolutely amazing place to snorkel! Don't waste your money and pay for expensive excursions! This is the place to come! Locals are so friendly and welcoming as well! read more

Super beautiful and a great place to snorkel! Only downside is it's very busy in recent years it has gotten more popular so there is huge groups of people there. Captain Cook monument has better snorkeling and is way less busy but it is because you have to take a boat or do an extremely difficult hike down to the beach. read more

Go rent a snorkel set, ditch a pricey tour and get your snorkel on! Lots of pretty fish and coral and just so mesmerizing! No beach, just lava rock. Toughest thing is going in and out, but time it with the waves and plop yourself on the "step" to get out! So fun, we went twice. I could snorkel all freaking day here! We also saw a couple honu by the small beach side, that was cool! One small one and then another huge one! If you are new to snorkeling, this may be challenging, but otherwise great place to snorkel. Park right across the street at the church lot and pay via cashbox honor system. read more

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One of the best, if not *the* best snorkeling spots in Hawaii. Packed with a great variation of fish, spinner dolphins swimming in the bay, beautiful green sea turtles and easy access to The Place of Refuge, the nearby state park, this bay is superb. However, the bay is rough and there is no beach so new snorkelers and non-athletic people may have trouble getting in and getting out. Get some practice if you don't have much then make sure to get to Two Step for the snorkel or scuba of your life! read more

Two Step - Dolphins at Two-Step - Beaches Near Me

Most beautiful place ever that is park and walk type and not having to go anywhere far for snorkeling.. Abundance of fishes and coral.. the coral wasn't colorful but the fishes were. The only thing dangerous is that you don't really have a sandy beach. it is just rocks and you will just have to watch your steps before you jump in. I heard in the mornings you will see dolphins.. so i guess next time. read more

I will be totally honest and say that this place was highly recommended by friends, in a guide book, and has great reviews here on Yelp. However, I will give fair warning that it was a bit terrifying for us beginner snorkelers. If you are a beginner or have kids that you will be snorkeling with, this might not be the best spot for you. If you are an adult, confident, fearless, experienced, you should definitely come here and launch yourself into the abyss from some rocks that may or may not have a ton of urchins ready to sting you and waves waiting to bash you into some rocks. We were there early, 9am, on what appeared to be a fair weather/waves day and the entry/exit was difficult. I was fine but as a mom of a 14 yo and 12 yo I was anxious. The area is vast. Yes, beautiful coral, abundant fish and life, mostly clear water, free, but not my first choice for beginners or kids. read more

You've gotta go. This place is paradise. Walking up to the water just makes you say "AHHHHH". Water shoes a must and parking can be difficult. It's a bit of a drive which kinda feels like your going the wrong way down a one lane paved road. Drive slow and be prepared to pull to the side a much as possible for on coming cars (few and far between). Pack water and food and enjoy. We went during the week in December and although people were there, it wasn't crowded. read more

Such a great place to snorkel. I definitely recommend a pool noodle or life vest and lots of sunscreen on your back. read more

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***** Must See ****** Two Step is more often referred to as Honaunau Bay since it is right next to the Honaunau National Park (Place of Refuge). This is quite possibly the best snorkeling area on the island that doesn't require a hike/boat/kayak to get to (basically I'm saying that it's not as good as Captain Cook but pretty close). There are "two steps" formed by natural rock that allow you to slowly submerge yourself into the water. On many days the water is rough. Please follow common courtesy for snorkelers including letting people back onto the rock first before you get in and only one person get off at a time. All you need is a wave to come in and knock everyone into the water or worse, onto the rocks. Once you're in the water, snorkel close by the rocks (but not up against them!) or snorkel further out. You can see spinner dolphins here later in the day. Even before you get into the water, you can see golden yellow tangs shimmering like beams of sunlight emanating from the water. There's a nice secluded area to the side for little children where there is no current or waves. But for the rest of us, you really want to get out further into the bay to really see stuff! I wouldn't come out here at night (although there's really nothing stopping you). Remember that there are tiger sharks in the area! You can definitely fine parking here. I always park in the church parking area (just donate $5 to the cash box near the entrance). That's so much easier than trying to fight people for parking on the street. Bring your snorkels and fins here (you definitely need fins!). This is a must see site on the Big Island. Don't miss out! read more

This is the beautiful place, we did snorkeling at Molokini,Maui by paying$150 (30m) but this is more beautiful and my own time and FREE Just love watched so many fishes and corals, then had picnic awesome experience we spent whole day here... Didn't get to see Dolphin though, but will make another trip soon.. read more

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Amazing, We totally agree with the accolades. We saw Dolphins, turtles and an amazing variety of fish. There were not many kids snorkeling , mostly adults. The National Park next door is a must see, learning a bit about the Hawaiian people, customs and culture is absolutely incredible. read more

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Better than snorkeling in Maui and we went to 5-6 beaches there! One spot is suggested by the locals to get in/out, but you have to wear right shoes to walk on rocks to get to water. Be prepared with chairs and sunscreen which doesn't harm reef. Great diversity of wildlife, lots of urchins too! read more

Some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving on the Big Island. No need to head into the park - (but parking can be hard to find later in the day). Super easy beach launch for SCUBA divers - 2 steps and you're in. read more

Use REEF SAFE sunscreen. Best snorkeling on the Big Island, that I have seen. Sometimes dolphins, not often. Fairly easy entrance in and out of the water. Make sure to check the eals out in the shallow waters near the shore, kids love to see them. Calm enough on some days for my 5 year old daughter to get in and seem some yellow tang or maybe even a huge pufferfish. Be respectful of the dolphins and they will frequent more! :) read more

Two Step - No sand, get there early for shade. - Beaches Near Me

Best spot for snorkeling in big island and one of the prettiest coral reefs in the world on a sunny day, free dive to the aloha sign u dear water at 40 feet read more