Kid-Friendly Reef Shark Swim & Snorkel Experience at Sea Life Park Hawaii

Strap on your snorkel mask and get ready to jump into an exciting Oahu shark swim and snorkeling experience like no other! Discover life on the reef as curious, colorful fish come up to greet you in a safe and controlled lagoon. Watch as colorful tangs and zebrafish surround you, and even offer them a tasty snack. Best of all, meet fascinating whitetip reef sharks, which are well-known for their friendliness and curiosity towards humans, and so uniquely suited for an engrossing and educational experience. Book now and have one of the most kid and family-friendly Hawaii encounters on the island!

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Why do travelers choose this tour?

Sea Life Park Hawaii is a great place to visit during your Hawaiian vacation and packed with opportunities to get face-to-face with all kinds of sea life, as well as taking in the views of the towering Koolau Mountains and the beautiful Pacific Ocean.

Sea Life Park provides the ultimate curated snorkel experience where you can actually touch and swim with reef sharks in a controlled and safe environment.

Bring your little shark on an adventure they won’t forget! This activity is great for kids ages 4 years old and up.

There are so many opportunities to discover all kinds of animals at the park, from dolphins to penguins to rays to sea lions. Don’t miss the touch pool or the aviary!

Experiencing the beauty and wonder of sea life is a life goal for many, but finding a safe and responsible way to do it can be difficult. At Sea Life Park, your ticket proceeds are going towards upkeep of the park, animal welfare, and important conservation work on Oahu. Learn more about their exciting work while you’re there.

Tropical reef fish are famously gorgeous to look at; these fish are also calm and curious since they are mostly raised without fear of humans.

How does it work?

When you come to Sea Life Park, you’ll have the opportunity to meet and engage with tons of other sea life and environments. While the Hawaii Reef Shark Snorkel & Swim will be the highlight of your visit, make sure to stroll through the park and see other marine animals up close, visit the exhibits and watch animal shows.

Your General Admission ticket to Sea Life Park includes a variety of shows, programs and exhibits.

• Aloha Nai’a Dolphin Show: An amazing dolphin show that will take you on an island-style story adventure.
• Feathered Friend Talk Story: Let's talk about the Humboldt Penguins and all of their feathered friends!
• Meet Kekoa! Hawaiian Monk Seal Talk Story: Learn about the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals that were rescued and brought to our park.
• Honu Turtle Feeding & Talk Story: The only active breeding colony of green sea turtles in the United States.
• Shark Cave Feeding Frenzy: View and learn about the whitetip sharks during feeding time.
• Splashing with Sea Lion Presentation: Be delighted and amazed by underwater acrobatics and above ground antics!
• Adventure Kids Play Zone: Where children can get the wiggles out and enjoy some playtime.
• Hale Manu Bird Aviary: Enjoy & feed the bustling chirping community of Cockatiels and Lovebirds.
• Sea Bird Sanctuary: Meet the many birds that Sea Life has lovingly rehabilitated and homed.
• Conservation Center Exhibit: Enjoy the rotating exhibits and films in the new conservation center.
• Ohana Learning Center: Sea Life Park’s brand new Interactive seaside museum featuring a series of rotating exhibits
• Hawaiian Seaweed Presentation: Learn about our conservation efforts and see/touch native species of limu (seaweed).

Local expert tips

• Although young keiki (kids) are more than welcome, children 4 to 7 years old must be accompanied in the water by a paying participant 13 years of age or older.
• Whitetip reef sharks are so well-known for their curiosity and gentleness towards humans that they are sometimes referred to as ’aumakua, or ancestor spirits who protect and help members of their ’ohana (family). They are also considered symbols of loyalty since they tend to live in the same reef for years at a time.
• If other people are joining you during the visit but not for the Hawaii Reef Encounter (snorkel & swim), they will still need to have tickets for admission to Sea Life Park, so be sure to purchase admission for them.
• Check-in starts one hour prior to your encounter, but you should feel free to arrive as early as you’d like so you can have time to explore the other park attractions, shows, and exhibits. For a full park experience, plan to arrive early! The park gates open at 10:00 AM.
• Recommend attire: Wear or bring your own swimsuit and a towel, as well as a change of clothes (which you can store in one of the lockers available to rent for a nominal fee). If you decide to not bring a change of clothes, be sure to wear something casual and comfortable that you wouldn’t mind getting dirty or a little wet!
• Nearby Hawaiian Attractions: There are plenty of other great attractions located nearby, which you can add to your itinerary after your park visit. Make sure to stop at the Blowhole Lookout and Makapuu Lookout, or check out the beautiful Ko’olau Mountains. Or, stick around for the Aloha Kai Luau featuring thrilling, world-class performances paired with a feast of authentic and delicious native Hawaiian cuisine.

How to get there?

Check-in location: 41-202 Kalanianaole Highway #7 Waimanalo, HI 96795 USA

Parking and/or Pick-up Information: Pick-up is available for a nominal fee from some Waikiki hotels. If you are driving, please note that there is a small parking fee of $15 per vehicle, per day at Sea Life Park. Driving distance from main resort areas:

• Approximately 30 minutes from Waikiki hotels
• Approximately 50 minutes from Ko Olina resorts
• Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes from Turtle Bay resorts