Lāna’i is Hawaii’s smallest inhabited island and offers a unique landscape with colorful wildlife. People who visit this stunning place can enjoy snorkeling tours to see local flora and fauna in their natural habitats. Here are some reasons why you should visit this island.

4 Reasons to Stop by Lāna’i for Snorkeling

1. Limited Currents

Snorkeling tours stay clear of the parts of Lāna’i that feature dangerous currents and waves. Instead, they opt for isolated beaches like Huawei Bay and Hulopo‘e Bay, where people can enjoy swimming along the remnants of lava flows and checking out wildlife on sea cliffs and in tide pools.

2. Spinner & Bottlenose Dolphins 

Dolphins live around Lāna’i year-round, thanks to the warm waters and abundance of fish. Bottlenose dolphins are a curious, playful species often starring in aquatic shows. They live 45 to 50 years in the wild, and adults range from 10 to 14 feet long. They’re known to interact with snorkeling tours to get a closer look at visitors.

Spinner dolphins are known for their impressive jumps, vaulting out of the ocean to spin in midair. Their pods may include several dozen animals up to a thousand individuals. The dolphins are 6 to 7 feet long and live for up to 20 years in the wild. You may spot them leaping around Lāna’i, where they eat fish, shrimp, and squid.

3. Shipwrecks & Reefs

Kaiolohia Beach is also known as Shipwreck Beach because ships have sunk around it, starting with a British ship named the Alderman Wood in 1824. Snorkeling tours often stop here to see fish like the Achilles tang and fourspot butterflyfish. There are also Hawaiian green sea turtles and pufferfish among the remnants of the wreck.

4. Minimal Traffic

Many beaches in Lāna’i are not accessible by road, so they have few visitors. People can only get to these areas by boat or air, reducing the amount of traffic that can disrupt potential wildlife sightings. 

If you’re interested in exploring Lāna’i, check out the many options with Maui Activities Store in Lahaina, HI. The company offers air tours as well as ocean and land activities, and the team has over 40 years of combined experience sharing their favorite parts of the area. Call (808) 638-3230 or visit the website to book snorkeling tours and dolphin adventures.