These are our top picks for Big Island snorkeling.
near Place of Refuge, Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park
Place of Refuge overlooks Honaunau Bay. We swam from the steps over to Place of Refuge. 
This isn’t the best picture I've ever taken because I took it with a wet underwater camera while bouncing in the waves and facing into the sun but you get the idea. Doesn't the Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park (Place of Refuge) look pretty cool? 
We found tons of turtles feeding in this area. We were completely surrounded by these gentle giants. The Hawaiian sea turtles were one of my favorites when snorkeling on the Big Island. The waters here are calm with good visibility most of the year. The water is shallow (~10 feet) near shore, which allows lots of sunlight for a great view of the fish and other sea critters, which in turn encourages the Big Island snorkelers to come out and play! The sun also encourages wonderful coral gardens to grow. 
This place was so amazing for snorkeling! My husband spent some time watching this fish torment this Moray eel. We also saw lots of sea anemones, sea urchins, sponges, wrasses, and eels to name a few. Here are a few examples of what we saw. Keep your hands to yourself and these menacing-looking creatures won't hurt you. They are defending their home. Here is how to get there. Head toward Place of Refuge but just before you drive into the park turn right at the yellow fireplug toward the water. If you miss your turn (and likely you will on the first try) just enter the Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park. Ask the person in the entry booth how to get to The Steps for snorkeling. He will give you directions and allow you to enter without paying (just to turn around). Once you get on the right road it will be obvious that you are at a popular spot. You can park for free along the edge of the road if there are any spots or you can park in the church parking lot (if there are no church activities). Respect their property, follow the directions on their signs and leave a donation in the wooden box if you can. There are no concessions or changing facilities but there are portable toilets. Wear your swim suit, pack food and drink, and enjoy a great day of snorkeling! snorkelers and turtle enthusiasts just south of Kailua-Kona
This beach has white sand, coconut palms, a lifeguard, a pavilion, restrooms, and showers. The best part is the 1000 ft. breakwater that provides a nice protected area for swimming, snorkeling, and a nice area for turtles to feed and rest on the rocks. 
This is what we saw right after breakfast on our first morning at the Keauhou Beach Resort. How cool is that! Notice we are not touching the turtle. Hawaiian sea turtles are protected so it is illegal to touch or harass the honu in any way. There is limited off road parking and it gets very crowded during the summer so get there early! It’s right next to the Keahou Beach Resort on Alii Drive about 5.5 miles south of Kailua-Kona. Learn to snorkel . It's easy! Return from Big Island Snorkeling to Favorite Snorkeling Spots
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