Snorkeling in Hawaii: How to Snorkel and Scuba Dive More Safely

For more than forty years, snorkeling and scuba diving Attorney John O’Connell has handled serious scuba diving and snorkeling cases arising across the Hawaiian Islands involving tourist dive operator lack of supervision, abandonment at sea, dangerous dive practices, avoidable propeller strikes, failing to provide effective lifesaving and support, operating in unsafe environmental conditions, and bad site selection.  Here are some thoughts on safety.

Hawaii’s reefs, marine life, and warm water make snorkeling one of the most popular tourist activities, but Hawaii safety officials, Ocean Safety and the Coast Guard have repeatedly warned that snorkeling is also one of the most dangerous ocean activities for tourists.  It can also be one of the most dangerous ocean activities when risks are undisclosed, misunderstood, or supervision breaks down.  Here is what some of the safety agencies have to say and some suggestions on how to make snorkeling more safe based on lessons learned.

Watersports Deaths Involving Tourists

According to Hawaii’s Board of Health, more visitors drown while snorkeling than during any other recreational activity, and the risk applies statewide, not just confined to one island. There were 197 tourist ocean drownings occurred between 2019-2023.  An average of 45 tourists drowned each year, with the annual total varying from 34 to 57.

This total had increased from the ten year period from 2009-2008 when there were over 189 tourist deaths with an annual total of roughly 20 per year.

Many of these deaths were preventable. One death is too many.

In-Water Supervision for Snorkelers and Divers

Many operators run combination snorkel and dive charters that they run at the same time, dividing their attention between snorkelers and scuba divers.
That overlap is one reason snorkeling incidents often raise the same supervision, briefing, and response issues seen in scuba cases.

Our case experience leads us to believe that good supervision isn’t passive. It’s active.  It means someone is watching the water like they’re responsible for outcomes. That includes scanning for the snorkeler who stopped moving, a snorkeler drifting down-current, or the diver/swimmer who lifted their head and looks confused rather than relaxed.  Adequate Supervision also means the crew can act immediately. Getting flotation to the person. Getting them out of the water. Starting effective first aid. Calling for help. Coordinating evacuation. When supervision is thin or distracted, small problems turn into fatal ones.

Call Ocean Safety or the Coast Guard Fast

To educate the public, Hawaii has put together essential snorkeling safety information. State Department of Health data analyzing non-resident fatalities confirms that drowning is a leading cause of death among visitors, with snorkeling the most frequently associated activity in ocean drowning cases. We encourage you to visit and read Hawaii’s Snorkeling Safety Page.

When people hesitate to call for help, it’s usually for a human reason. They don’t want to overreact. They don’t want to get blamed.  They think, “Maybe he’ll catch his breath,” or “She’s probably fine.”  But in Hawaii waters, delay can cost lives.  We have talked to many Coast Guard and ocean safety personnel, and they have made one point clear: fast notification enables faster coordination, faster medical decisions, and faster transport. Minutes matter.

Near shore, that message means getting Ocean Safety or a lifeguard involved immediately. Offshore or on a tour vessel, it means contacting the Coast Guard immediately. Don’t wait for certainty. Act on concern.

Snorkeling in Hawaii can be safe. It can also turn dangerous quickly when supervision fails or response is delayed. Respect the ocean. Choose responsible operators who take in-water supervision seriously. And if someone is in distress, call Ocean Safety or the Coast Guard immediately. Fast action saves lives.

Scuba Diving Accident Attorney John T. O’Connell: Lawyer for Discover Scuba Diving Accident in Hawaii
Introductory programs and tourist-centered experiences follow a predictable risk pattern. People are excited. They’re trying something new. They’re in a powerful environment. And they’re relying heavily on professionals for safety judgment.  But injuries and deaths happen when professional instructors and tour operators cut corners by providing shortened briefings, inadequate supervision, and fail to follow Coast Guard safety procedures.  When something goes wrong, people often search for a scuba diving accident attorney, not because they planned to, but because they need answers.

If you’re reading this because something already happened to you or someone you love, you’re not alone and you’re not wrong for wanting real answers.  Give us a call, maybe we can help you find them.