We snorkeled here 3 times during our trip! 2 Step was our favorite snorkel spot by far, and it's considered one of the best on the island. As others have mentioned, parking is a little tricky if you get here later in the day since there aren't too many spots, but for $5 you can park next door at the Pu'uhonua National Park. Keep your receipt because the parking slip is good for 7 days, so if you come back you don't have to pay again. Plus they have bathrooms there and it's a cool spot to check out anyway. 2 Step is probably the easiest spot I've ever been to for getting in and out of the water when snorkeling. There are some rocks that lead down to the water, hence, 2 step. It can get a little backed up when you have inexperienced people trying to get in and out though. We didn't have any issues, but if you're not great at swimming you need to be careful getting in/out since there are usually a lot of waves by the steps. Once you're in the water, it gets deep pretty quickly. Huge reef with tons, and I mean tons of beautiful fish. We also saw a couple turtles here every time. If you swim over to the right where the reef drops off, you're almost guaranteed to see dolphins there. Come early in the day for a better chance to see them. This is definitely a snorkel beach due to the lava rocks, so if you're looking for a sandy beach to lounge around, then this isn't for you. If you're looking for some good snorkeling that gets pretty deep in the water and with many things to see then make it a point to come here! read more

Standby for pictures from me eventually but wow. I am an amateur snorkeler with fairly minimal experience and just getting my wife into it as well and we had an absolute blast here. There was barely any surf which helped make the water crystal clear. Down below, even close to the shore which is mostly just old, solid lava rocks now was a beautiful network of at least 3 identifiable types of coral, hundreds of tropical fish - I saw bright yellow ones, black with neon blue stripes, zebra looking fish, I mean, just an amazing amount of beautiful fish and coral. The water was so warm; it was easy to slip right in in terms of temperature- but be careful! The rocks can be quite slippery! The one downside is there are a ton of people here but the coral network was so large I had no problem being away from them and feeling like being underwater, I was the only one there. I loved it. read more

Great snorkeling but be careful finding a good(not slippery) way in. Reef shoes are a must.

Easy to find , from our VBRO, there is paid parking or if lucky you can find a spot on the road. It is a lot of lava rock , well almost all lava rock , so sea socks are a great idea. Not a whole lot of sand to be had. But the place has lots of room from different access points. We found a small flat spot for our chairs , while others just used the flat rock. Getting in is easy from the rocks. There is an in and out spot where most go . And it's deep when you plop in so be ready . The snorkeling is great here with lots of room and drop offs. Ample marine life and because it's deep the coral is living as humans cannot step on it . Until we kayaked out to Captain Cook this was our favorite . But still it's free and Cook wasn't ( rent the kayak) or hike in and it's gnarly. So Two Step is great! We do not have kids but there is a place just by the launch that is great for small ones. We saw one turtle up on the rocks eating. read more

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We came snorkeling here. A few of us had no to little experience and one of us was a regular snorkelers we all had a great time. The water is calm and there are areas for all levels of snorkelers read more

Amazing spot for most skill levels. The entry can be a bit dangerous or scary for the beginner. Or for people that might be out of shape or with small children. If there is no swell or wind then you'll be fine. However when the waves come can make it tricky even for experienced divers. The view makes it all worth it. Reef for days. Spinner dolphins sea turtles everything is there if you look for it read more

The best snorkeling spot I've ever been to. Go early to snag a parking spot. Need sand socks to go over the lava. Quick drop off. Great free diving. read more

One of the best snorkeling spot in the island. I have to say you should definitely have to check out places that you hear a lot when you ask locals where to go. And this place was one of them. First of all come here early, because it could get crowded specially when the parking area is full. And second bring some food to eat,there's not a really a store near by that you can buy food and snacks. And third bring lots of sunscreen and water shoes. The ground gets really HOT and walking from the parking lot to the water is a few feet away and when your just walking barefoot, good luck to your feet. Going towards the water gets really tricky there's a lot of lava rock your walk through and it could get really slippery at times, and I kid you not, you get a pretty good scrape once you slip (Ask my husband LOL!). Once you get in the water everything turns magical. As you put on your mask and maneuver yourself, you will see right away that there's tons of sea urchins setting on those lava rocks. You gotta be really careful where you put your hand going in and out from the water. There's school of fishes everywhere, you can't helped but mesmerize how beautiful this place is.(Too bad we didin't have a water camera that time.) You don't even notice that you went far already from where you started because your just admiring the beauty of it. I don't know if a lot people notice but there was a rock formed Aloha greeting from the bottom. It was very cool! And the cherry on top of this snorkeling trip was when the school of DOLPHINS showed up. I haven't seen so much dolphins that close in my whole life, but I have to admit I was kinda scared too. I'm afraid that there might be sharks in that deep because we try to get close to them just like the other swimmers, but I chicken out last minute thinking about Jaws (Dumdummm). Over all I had fun. That was one of the best memories I had in Big island. I would really recommend this place for people who can swim. This water here is deep and when you try to catch up with dolphins that side is deeper. And as the day go by the waves gets stronger. So be extra careful. read more

Two Step - Bought some poke for our lunch. - Beaches Near Me

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This was a great place to take the family out for our first ocean snorkel. Took the 8 year old and 11 year old out and had a great time. Saw a sea turtle and lots of fish. Getting in and out was easy and the tide pools are awesome for hanging out between sessions. read more

This was our favorite spot to snorkel on the big island. While we were initially intimidated, after watching a few people go in, it was really easy to mimic what they were doing and jump right in. There is huge area here that you can move around in and see tons of fish and even turtles. What an amazing experience! read more

This is an absolutely wonderful place to go snorkeling. Even though the day was cloudy, the visibility underwater was great! We ended up purchasing our snorkel, mask and fins at Wal-Mart. This was about the same cost as renting them for a day. The restrooms were very clean. We saw a loggerhead turtle right on the roc andks and were able to take great pictures.es basking in the sun. The pathway was relatively good. read more

Very nice place to snorkeling for the day! Just drive down an parking is easy! The walk is less than 5 minutes to the rocky beach for snorkeling! We had fun and see lots of colorful fishes read more

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This was the best snorkeling on the Big Island! Beautiful live coral, sea turtles, and up to 50 pods of wild dolphins early in the morning! Amazing time!! May be difficult to access if you have physical restrictions due to the lava rock! read more

Two Step - Swimming with the Dolphins! - Beaches Near Me

What you will find here is a large lava shelf, no beach but some great snorkeling especially if the water is calm and not stirred up. Not a great place for beginners because the entry can be tricky. You want to watch where people are getting in - and get in off to the left where there are two flat rock shelves you can sit on and slide into the water. The water is deep, but that is what makes it so great for exploring. So much to look at. Best snorkeling is to the right along the edges. What we don't like - is this place is popular and can get crowded. It's usually not crowded in the water as people spread out. Parking is usually full, so do a drive through and then find a place to park - people are always coming and going so don't assume that parking at the entrance means no parking near the water. This is another great place for sunsets. We've seen dolphins here, as well as octopus, and eel but not often with the dolphins. When we do it has been EPIC. Don't forget to search for the underwater ALOHA sign. These are our favorites!!! Our Top 10 not to be missed beach picks #1 Mauna Kea beach (Kauna'oa) -prettiest beach on the island. Blue Ocean, Soft Sand, but beware limited parking spots so better be there before 9:30am 60 minutes from Kona. #2 Hapuna - just perfect. A great place to relax and body surf in the waves. Big beach with Lots of parking, facilities and some shade. 60 minutes from Kona. #3 Kahalu'u (Just south of Downtown) Decent Snorkeling & turtles too. Crowded after 11am #4 Kekaha Kai Beach Park has three beaches. This is the best of the three shirt walk, port-a-potty. Ahhh this is the perfect Hawaiian Beach #5 Manini owali/ Kua bay has the most amazing azure blue blue water, enjoy playing in the waves #6 Honanaunau also known as 2 Step. (No beach here, just good snorkeling) #7 Makalawena is a short hike across lava path (30 min total) worth the effort Swim, snorkel, Sun bathe #8 Beach 69 (Waialea Bay)60 minutes from Kona. - soft golden sand, shade, nice waves and some snorkeling. #9 Kikuau point (Four Seasons) My new favorite. Gentle swimming area for kiddos. Beautiful palm trees good facilities. 30 Parking my spots so be there by 11 or after 1pm to get a spot. 45 minutes from Kona. #10 Black sands beaches. On kona side there are a few. Beach 49, Ke awa iki, is Okay but the most famous is Punalu'u on the south end of island. We here there are some new blacksands beaches with the last eruption, time to explore more. The Beach house beach on Mauna lani grounds is great for snorkeling! read more

Snorkeling was beautiful! Entry was perfect with the "two step". If you can't find parking, pay the $15, support the Historic National park & walk to snorkel. Receipt from park is good for 7 days so if you don't want to do both in one day come back with your receipt. Aloha! read more

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Entry can be a pain, but still some of the best free snorkeling around. Park in the church parking lot for a $5 donation and you're right there and have access to shaded tables. We saw a ton of fish and a green turtle which my son swears was as big as a dinosaur. read more

Wonderful place for a person's first snorkel experience. In the very shallow waters are wonderful fish. The ground is very rocky and but it is also good for small kids to Swim or play in the shallows. Surprisingly, the fish were not afraid of all the small kids making noise. read more

Love love love love it! Water can get very deep out here which is a good thing to protect the corals. Locals, tourists, snorkelers and divers come out here to hang out, sunbathe, swim, snorkel, dive and best of all hang out with the dolphins. There is a pod of dolphins who apparently like to hang out here. We were here from 1.30p until 4pm. I started noticing them pop up around 2pm. Both of us had the opportunity to see them in the water as at one point, the whole pod came fairly close to the walls. I swear these mammals are sightseeing as much as we were. Around 4pm when the clouds were rolling in and folks were leaving the site, a few of the dolphins started doing jumptwists and summersaults as if to say goodbye. They continue doing the stunts until they disappeared out of sight (they did leave the cove). But even without the super awesome mammals, this spot is great for snorkeling. Lots to see everywhere. Corals are starting to thrive, there are schools of fish, a lady we chatted with said she saw at least one turtle hang out, and lots and lots of colorful fish. I think this is the first time I saw yellow pipefish too. The thing I would also add is PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT CHASE AFTER THE DOLPHINS. What the hell is wrong with you dudes, they are already there hanging out with us, you don't need to go and aggressively swim and splash your shit to be in their face. Just enjoy the view. read more

Awesome snorkeling at this place. Best entrance is at the steps at the end of the rocks. Go straight out, do not try to go in on the sides as they are slippery and we saw a number of people fall. The fish are absolutely the best you'll see on the island . read more

This place is cool! Unfortunately we didn't see any dolphins, but pretty cool area for snorkeling (or scuba I guess - we did see one scuba diver), nonetheless. Positives (+) (+) A great snorkeling spot - lots of fishes, lots of room to dive, the water gets pretty deep which is really nice, let's you see more and not get scared on scraping your belly against the sharp coral. Also great visibility (+) Easy to get to, enough parking (not too much to make it easy, but not impossible either). Then you just walk across the rocks to get to the two-steps (thus the name) that takes you into the water the easiest Negatives (-) (-) A lot of haole people sitting on the rocks in their lawn chairs, getting sunburnt in the sun (-) On the other side there's another parking lot where you pay $3 for a spot and you can also buy ice there. But it's a bunch of big locals who are also sitting in lawn chairs, drinking beers and giving people the stink eye (-) A lot of people. There was this one woman who took forever getting her fins off while sitting on the second step that is in the water and blocking everyone's path getting in or out. I can see this getting crowded. read more

Excellent beach, beautiful marine life. Strong current with deep waters so I would only advise for strong confident swimmers. No lifeguard on duty. Lots of tidal pools for the kids to explore. Water shoes advised because of the sharp lava rocks. Lots of folks had beach chairs on lava rocks and were sun bathing! Off the beaten path but a must see if you are in the area. So glad we went! I would not advise this snorkel spot for kids below teens because of strong current and deep waters (I'm really paranoid though). read more

YAY fun but rocky places in Captain Cook area to snorkel, easily put your feet in water, and look for creatures. PROS- -Very quick and easy to snorkel - BYO snorkel gear -Lots of fish right away as soon as you jump in water -Lots of people in the ocean and land so you feel safe CONS- -Limited parking -One way street -Rocky and hard to walk on and may get injured on knee like me read more

We read reviews that this is a great snorkeling spot and you need to get here early or you wont get a spot. We arrived by 10-10:30 and we parked on the edge of the road right in front of the snorkeling area. (it was on a weekday, so maybe that's why we found a spot easily). There is a small lot that charges $3 to park, or you can park down the narrow one way street and walk. There are port-a-pottys if you need them. You definitely need some kind of hiking sandals or wet shoes or something. The lava is hard on the feet to get from the beach to the water. When we got to the waters edge, we just threw off our Keans in a pile and snorkeled. No one bothers with your stuff. With that said, the snorkeling was AWESOME. We got snorkel gear from a local walmart, but didnt think to get fins, but a local had them for rent so that made things easy. Swam with school of dolphins, the brightest colored fish I've ever seen. Amazing! A 'regular'' taught my husband and I what to do and how to do the Two Step to blend in with everyone. read more

Its true what they say that this is an amazing spot to snorkle. the dolphins come early in the morning or late during dusk. the turtles hang around in the really shallow rocky area just floating around. go out past the boat loading area and youll see extensive reef and a ton of fishes. i didnt see any rays but totally wanted to. the fish book on hawaii says pretty much everything on the big island frequents this area. is this what dave matthews band sung about? read more

The best snorkeling spot I've been to! Amazing visibility, a wide variety of fish, and DOLPHINS if you're lucky! We got to Two Step at around 6:15 am and swam with dolphins for around an hour and a half. Definitely come between 6 am and 8 am to give yourself the best chance of seeing them. It was an experience unlike any other -- the dolphins were playful and weren't afraid to swim right next to you. While they aren't too far from shore, you'll have to swim for a bit to get to them. They swim in pretty deep water, so if you're not too comfortable of a swimmer I'd recommend bringing some sort of flotation device just to give you some peace of mind. When I went, the water was calm and stayed that way, so as long as you can float and tread water, you're good to go. I was initially slightly worried that getting in and out of the water would be difficult, but I never had a problem. Be a little careful when putting your fins on -- my dad lost one to the tide while he was putting his other one on! Well worth the trip and a must-visit spot if you like snorkeling! read more

Probably one of the best natural snorkeling spots. Tons of fish, occasional turtles and dolphins, and a special welcome on the right side a little further out. Don't go to sunbath or lay out, because there's basically no beach. read more

YES, the easiest snorkeling spot we found in Kona. Access to the water was possible for all ages in our group. Plenty of fish to see and a variety of places to sit in sun or shade. The Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park Hawaiian cultural center is visible from the water, reminding us to be respectful of local culture and nature. We rented our gear from Kona Boys. We brought a picnic and water to drink. Like many places,unless you arrive early or late, the parking gets full. We dropped off our group at the water then parked up the road. read more

Wonderful area for snorkeling. It is truly an amazing experience. I suggest going in the morning. There isn't a beach but there are places to put item while swimming. We were able to swim with wild dolphins and snorkel over thousands of tropical fish. What a day! It was completely free. There isn't bathrooms or stores. So I suggest bringing a lunch or any other provisions. There is a national park next to it so you can park there for $5 if street parking in full. read more

Beautiful snorkeling here - super easy to get in and out with the old boat ramp (can be slippery, of course!). We saw tons of fish and a pair of very friendly sea turtles. A wonderful place to explore underwater on the Big Island! read more

Another must do snorkel spot on the Kona side. Be aware the rocks may be covered with slippery moss so be careful when entering/exiting the ocean. Very limited parking, no showers & only porta potty toilets. If you're lucky, there will be dolphins to enjoy. read more

Best shore snorkel I have found in Hawaii. And I have snorkeled a lot on Kauai, Maui, and Big Island in Hawaii. I will explain how my wife and I do it. Deviate from this itinerary at your peril. We snorkel nearly every morning when we are in Hawaii and we go to Hawaii a lot, so we got our routine down. 1. Get there between 7AM and 8AM: You don't need sunscreen for an early morning snorkel and we don't use it. The water is calmer in the morning and that makes the snorkeling better for visibility and ease of entry. 2. Park at the place of refuge parking lot: The lot at the park visitor center is free before 8AM, and that's where we park. You can park a good bit closer to the location, but we prefer the bathroom here since it has running water with actual soap. No showers though, and please clean up after yourself if you change in there. We bring only what we are taking in the water with us, plus a net bag to carry gear and some flip flops for the walk. The car key goes in a waterproof case and goes in the water too. Change of clothes stays in the trunk of the car with everything else. 3. You're here to snorkel, that's it: There's really nothing else to do in the spot unless maybe you want to walk through the park. The beach around 2 step is basically: lava rock, palm trees, a few picnic tables, some clean-ish portable toilets, and a fat local guy sitting in a plastic chair collecting parking fees for the closest paid parking. If you're not sure snorkeling is for you, I wouldn't make this the first place you try unless you're with folks who are pretty experienced. If you have non-snorkelers, maybe they stay at the hotel. 4. Go snorkeling: It's great. The 2-step area is where most people get in, and you will see them doing it all day. It has 2 large stair-like steps for you to climb in easily. Other spots are sharp rocks, so don't try them. The 2-step entry gets you right into about 8-10ft deep water (depending on the tide), which is great for not stepping on on the coral, but can be unnerving for newbies. And if the water gets a bit choppy, timing the waves is important. If you are having any trouble, do remember the boat ramp is a very easy alternate entry spot. Shallow snorkelers (most beginners) follow the shoreline to the right side of the entry, folks who like it a little deeper, try the left side or more to the middle. Really it's great all over most of the time. Look for dolphins in deeper waters near the right side of the bay. If you see them remember to swim near, but don't "chase" them. Often they will swim near you if not spooked. Sometimes they like to jump or play leaf game. 5. An hour or two is a good snorkel for me: After that I get chilled and tired and sunburned. Get in at 7:30, get out around 9:00, change in park bathroom and clean up a bit and hit the Coffee Shack https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-coffee-shack-captain-cook on the way back to the hotel. At the hotel, shower up and rinse off gear and ready for the rest of your day. read more

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Great snorkeling conditions and easy parking, this is my favorite location to snorkel on the island. read more

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Busy spot! not a lot of parking in general but you can park at the state park right next door and walk out to the spot. I would highly recommend getting here early as in before 8 am and checking things out. The earlier you are the better the sites you will see. Once you get here you walk down to some black rock facings where you can set your stuff down and then put your fins on and literally take 2 steps and jump in because you are right there at a coral reef along the bank. There was an additional reef directly out and some deeper spots where divers were seen going around in the coral. I was able to see tons of fish, a few red spotted eels, sea turtles, and occasionally (early) dolphins out here. The most people the less you can see but there will always be something going on here. Getting out can be a pain since there are only a few spots and the "two step" is usually clogged with families trying to get in. Quick and easy snorkeling! read more

Aloha! Two step is a good beach for snorkeling and left part is great spot for kids. My daughter loved it out there. I'm taking one star of because of parking situation and missing good facilities (shower, toilets - they have port-a-potty). The best think to do there if you done with swimming is to see city of refuge. Mahalo for reading this. read more

Take your snorkeling gear this beach has so much to see out there. It's perfect for kids- they have little pool areas you don't have to worry about the current and they love it. We had a turtle swimming around all of us, it was epic. All of those beautiful exotic fish are here. We came here a couple of times, it's definitely a favorite among the locals and they are all so friendly. You don't have to swim far to see it either, lots to see in the shallow waters. No hard currents here either. :)) Love this place and I will definitely be back just to snorkel here. read more

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Deeply impressed by the snorkeling. A one in a lifetime experience. The corals and fishes are amazing. That, and they have dolphins!!! Not blazingly hot and sunny thank goodness, and the only con I have to say is that the bathrooms are disgusting (port a potties). So drink your h20 after your snorkel! read more

Probably the best spot we have ever snorkeled! Parking up the street by the Park entrance was very easy and a quick 5 min walk. Getting into the water was a little tricky, but once you are in you are in for a treat. Beautiful corals and schools of exotic colorful fish. Lots of pools and channels to explore and enjoy. We went back twice during our stay and this will be the first place we visit when we return! read more

The good: We saw some pretty fish and a lot of turtles, which is really what we were looking for. The bad: The beach was crowded and extremely rocky along the floor. I ended up slicing my foot while trying to maneuver in the shallow rocky water, which made me hobble for a few days. read more

Want to Snorkel? Come here because there is a lot of fishes and the turtles will pop up to eat off the rocks. We visited around 11 am one time and after 2 pm the other. Both times were great for snorkeling. Lots of active fish and turtles made this a great spot. read more

Tip: for parking, either park on the roadside nearby or support the Pu`uhonua O Hōnaunau Historic Park for $5 (worth it for the facilities usage and parking alone). Great snorkeling here and among the best on Kona and the Big Island. We didn't see any dolphins or Honu (probably arrived too late) but we saw just about everything else. Healthy, easily navigable reefs with a really nice variety of marine life and lots of interesting features to see. Water shoes and/or fins recommended. read more