The 21 Best Places to Snorkel in Thailand

Located off the quiet town of Chumphon is Koh Ngam Yai, the larger of the two Koh Ngam islands. Many travellers make their way to Chumphon only to head elsewhere upon arriving – either the popular island of Koh Tao or Koh Samui. Because of this, Koh Ngam Yai is both quiet and secluded, offering shallow and colourful coral found in many places a mere 2m (6ft) below its clear surface. It takes little over an hour to get to Koh Ngam Yai by boat from Thung Wua Laen Beach in Chumpon.

Jutting up through the water column about 15 kilometres south of the island, this stunning pinnacle is alive with activity nearly year-round. The main part of the site is accessible to all levels of scuba diver, while advanced divers rated to dive to 30 metres can explore its nearby “secret pinnacle,” encountering huge schools of fish and the occasional hidden surprise. Like Sail Rock, this site’s accessibility is seasonal. Recommended by Leslie Finlay.

Named for its jutting appearance, like a shark fin breaching the water’s surface, Shark Island is one of the more unique underwater areas of Koh Tao. While most sites enjoy near swimming pool like conditions, Shark Island is the one spot divers can experience a bit of current, which creates an entirely different underwater environment brimming with swaying soft corals and hungry reef-feeders. The island also has a beautiful protected cove, perfect for snorkeling without worrying about any current. While only accessible by boat, more intrepid snorkelers can also kayak from the nearby Koh Tao shoreline. Recommended by Leslie Finlay.

Tanote Bay is one of Koh Tao’s most beautiful beaches, easily accessible by either land or boat. The sheltered bay leads out onto a beautiful reef almost immediately off the shoreline, gaining depth more swiftly than other areas of the island. Between snorkeling, turn up your adrenaline by climbing up the bay’s signature rock and leap into the deep waters below from jumps of about nine or 12 metres. Recommended by Leslie Finlay.

Tucked in the rugged eastern shore of Koh Tao, Liam Thien is like an underwater playground for scuba divers, with ancient volcanic boulders strewn underwater creating some impressive and entertaining swim-throughs for much exploration. Snorkelers can access the site by boat or by hiking across the island through the jungle along a worn down road that once accessed a now abandoned resort. The site also features some great cliff-jumping, starting with a more modest three-metre jump before graduating to nine and 12-metre leaps. Recommended by Leslie Finlay.

This de-commissioned World War II US Navy vessel was gifted to the Thai government several years ago to intentionally sink as an artificial reef and dive-training site. Sat in the muck at 30 metres, in its seven years underwater, the ship has already become a bustling ocean city of its own. Coral has encrusted over much of the exposed metal, and divers can peer inside the barred windows to see massive groupers and trout moseying between cabins. Its depth restricts this site to advanced divers only, and training is available island-wide to learn to safely venture inside the sunken wreck. Recommended by Leslie Finlay.

The following are all recommendations from Sarah Williams.

Laemson Bay is another of Koh Rok’s attractive beaches where you can enjoy great snorkelling close to the shore. The clear blue waters usually have excellent visibility, providing awesome views of diverse marine life. While pufferfish and angelfish are common sights, snorkellers might also see barracudas, pipefish, scorpionfish, and others. People into macro-photography should keep their eyes open for nudibranchs, harlequin shrimps, and crabs.

Seafan Garden takes its nickname from a type of coral that is particularly abundant in the area. Seafan corals have a horny fan-shape appearance and can come in different colours. As with all corals, snorkellers should be careful not to touch or damage the coral and you should definitely not remove any pieces, either living or dead. Various species of fish swim around the corals.

Providing easy access to the stunning reef, Pakrong Bay is another top snorkelling spot in Koh Rok. In addition to the smaller, colourful fish, lucky visitors might see moray eels, sea turtles, and sea snakes. It’s also sometimes possible to see whale sharks and black tip reef sharks in the waters around Koh Rok.

There is no public transportation to the islands of Koh Rok. Independent travellers can arrange a private boat transfer from Krabi, Trang, and Phuket, or there are several operators that run snorkelling day trips to Koh Rok.
Day trips may also include some of the Trang Islands or Koh Haa and time for sunbathing and swimming is also often included in the itinerary. Basic accommodations are available close to the ranger station during the high season, with tents the best option for budget explorers.