Last updated Feb 2015
Snorkelling at Khao Lak (image Tourism Authority Thailand)
“Wanted, a prissy bungalow house amongst skillful snorkelling correct off the beach”This inquiry comes upward so ofttimes on locomote forums I thought I’d attempt to set something together.
Answering is non that clear-cut because at that topographic point are nifty differences inwards snorkelling ability too expectations.
- Ability: the bulk of travelers I come across snorkelling cruise along on the surface too may non live also impressed amongst some of those ameliorate locations where y'all receive got to dive downwards iii or 4 meters to cheque a reef drop-off.
- Expectations: some people are used to top-notch snorkelling places similar Australia’s Great Barrier Reef too the nearby continental islands similar the WhitSundays too so consider the best Thailand has to offering is pretty 2d rate. So if I tell the surface area off Ko Ngai’s master copy beach is fairly good, they would think it 3rd or 4th rate. Other snorkellers I come across seem are easily pleased - are quite enthused most cruising around the swimming enclosure at PP’s Long Beach, which is mainly a sandy bottom too a fleck of stone amongst a few fishies out further.
So keeping that inwards mind, the next are the skillful snorkelling spots I know about:
There is pretty skillful snorkelling around this reef-islet too the rocks to the correct off the eastern terminate of Long Beach. Note the snorkelling longtail boat parked to the left.
Additionally, precisely most all the eastward coast beaches receive got a fringing reef. I receive got snorkelled a few too they are non bad. I noticed inwards a recent visits the daytrip snorkelling boats were working over Rantee most intensely. Accommodation ranges from budget to real high end.
Bamboo Island off the north-east of Phi Phi is said to live pretty skillful too.
Probably the best snorkeling at Phi Phi is constitute inwards the diverse bays of Phi Phi Ley, the non-resort nagtional green island, but unless y'all are on KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
an overnight camping ground trip, snorkeling hither is non actually off your accommodation beach.
Tucker fourth dimension on the Maya Bay, Phi Phi Ley trip
KO LAO LIANG (in the Andaman due south of Ko Kradan) - snorkellers volition abide by the coral (some prissy soft coral here) too fish off the northern terminate of Laoliang’s resort beach pretty skillful amongst fifty-fifty ameliorate materials accessed via the snorkelling trips at Ko Ta-Kiang aout 10 km farther west.
A prissy coral bommie off Ko Ta-Kiang
THE SURINS AND THE SIMILANS (both inwards the Andaman northward of Phuket) - see my comments downwards page most my Surins too Similans Island visits - the Surins used to live real skillful off the beach too on small boat trips away from the master copy beach but was suffering badly from coral bleaching inwards March 2011. The Similans needs boat trips to the best locations but these also were suffering when I called past times inwards Apr 2012 too Nov 2014. According to trip reporter MV both were unimproved early on 2015.
DOWN H5N1 STEP OR TWO BUT STILL OKAY:
KO PHANGAN (in the southern Gulf northward of Ko Samui) - at that topographic point are prissy coral/fish past times Thailand standards around Ko Ma which is joined past times a sand spit to Mae Had beach inwards the north-west of KO PHANGAN. This is a pop spot for the around isle trip boats to halt for a snorkel. There are also some okay lumps of coral too stone correct off the beach, but this surface area tin can larn a fleck shallow at depression tide.
Mae Hat is a set dorsum beach amongst mainly budget too flash packer bungalows.
I was pleasantly surprised past times the lineament of coral too fish correct off the beach at Had Thian (Tien) too next Had Wai (Why) Nam inwards the due south of Phangan's eastward coast. These placidity too pleasant fiddling beaches receive got accommodation mainly budget too flashpacker.
Those underwater rocks higher upward are inwards fact pretty skillful coral at set dorsum Had Thian, the new-agers' beach eastward coast Phangan. Click this shot to expand.
KO PODA (in the Andaman non far from Krabi) - this is 1 of the offshore karst islands a small distance out from Railay/Ao Nang beaches. It has a fringing reef amongst okay coral. Note the bungalows hither are high arrive at - associated amongst 1 of the to a greater extent than expensive hotels inwards Ao Nang. Most people see Poda on daytrips out of Railay too Ao Nang - the daytrip surface area is towards the northern terminate of the long curved beach - the bungalows are at the far eastern end, so if y'all rhythm out out large coin for a house y'all volition non live inundated amongst daytrippers. UPDATE - finally I heard the bungalows had closed down.
KO LIPE (in the southern Andaman non far from the Malaysian border_ - at that topographic point is a fringing reef off the southern of the modest twin bays where Viewpoint bungalows resort is located. This is precisely due south of the large eastern Andaman beach. Viewpoint is a funky budget house too at that topographic point is a lot to a greater extent than accomm on Andaman itself. The modest islands close Viewpoint receive got okay coral fringing them.
At each terminate of the master copy Pattaya beach are sections of coral which are okay. Acomm hither is mainly flash packer too better. I was also pleasantly surprised past times the okay coral lumps too fishies inwards the swimming enclosure inwards front end of Varin resort which is almost mid Pattaya beach.
KO BULON LAE (in the Andaman eastward of Ko Lipe) - reasonable coral to the W of Bulone Resort too off too to the due south of Pansand resort, but nosotros are talking downwards at least two steps here. The coral straight out from Bulone is okay equally is the materials off the terminate of the spit where the master copy beach curves. These 2 resorts are flash-packer to midrange, but at that topographic point are some budget bungalows quite unopen to the beach.
KO NGAI (in the Andaman precisely to the northward of Ko Kradan) - snorkelling is non bad along the fringing reef off the master copy eastern beach. Accom ranges from budget tents to existent high end, amongst a few real prissy midrangers here.
I thought the coral etc was precisely equally skillful (but nosotros are talking downwards at to the lowest degree 2 steps again) across inwards the south-western bay. The budget Paradise Beach Resort has this prissy beach all to itself.
KO WHAI (WAI) (in the eastern Gulf of Thailand due south of large Ko Chang) - I had an okay snorkel along the reef off Ko Whai Paradise, which is a prissy budget place. On after trips I constitute this reef extends farther south-eastwards to Pakarang beach.
KO LIBONG (in the Andaman eastward of Ko Kradan) - this 1 is tricky because I only swam around amongst my lap-swimming goggles too some posters receive got mentioned unimpressive snorkelling here. I saw a sandy bottom amongst lots of lumps of coral, but I couldn’t tell the lineament through the weathered plastic lens.
However judging past times the fourth dimension guests of Ko Libong Beach Resort were spending equally they snorkelled, it must receive got been pretty interesting.
UPDATE DEC 08 - I felt duty fountain to exercise a snorkel on my next see to Libong. Yep, the coral is pretty ordinary inwards front end of Beach Resort/Le Dugong. Gets ameliorate towards the northward headland but inwards no agency tin can compare to tell Kradan.
I know I should e'er cheque the snorkeling if I’m gonna write isle reports, but I’m a fleck slack inwards some places unless I think it is going to live totally excellent. This is partly because the best coral inwards Thailand (SIMILAN ISLANDS) is 2nd charge per unit of measurement too partly because I snorkel at domicile most days inwards a spectacular place. I buy the farm after lobsters too abalone inwards the modest rocky bay behind my occupation solid - it has underwater caves, canyons too crevasses, heaps of fish, eels etc addition lots of long seaweed swaying inwards the swell. And this house ofttimes picks upward large swell - precisely getting inwards too out off the rocks tin can live exciting.***
Snorkelling inwards the Similans (image THAILANDMAGIC.COM)
SNORKELLING SPOTS ACCESSED BY BOAT
Snorkelling trips are offered on precisely most every island. Some islands receive got non got real skillful snorkelling off the beach but pretty decent materials on their daytrips.
THE SIMILAN ISLANDS had the best coral inwards Thailand I receive got seen (although my latest trips inwards 2012 too 2914 saw a lamentable pass upward due to global warming - come across downwards page).
One reasons coral is commonly skillful hither is the distance from the mainland, which ensures cleaner water. But this also gives a occupation - the trip out takes a hell of a long fourth dimension too is expensive. When if get-go did this I was crammed amongst a bunch of other people into a not-so-big speedboat, amongst insufficient room to motility around, so it was uncomfortable. In all, I didn’t think it was value - I’ve snorkelled ameliorate coral inwards the Philippines too on Fiji’s barrier islands for a quarter the cost.
Most boat trips go out from the Khao Lak area.
UPDATE - recent years receive got seen much bigger to a greater extent than comfortable speedboats addition a lot of people from Phuket doing the daytrips. Wow, that's a hell of a long fourth dimension inwards minibuses too speedboats, equally KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
I constitute out inwards Nov 2014.
Note that y'all tin can rest on the Similans inwards National Park huts too tents. The carry cost addition the 200baht entry fee makes this non all that cheap. Accommodation too nutrient are non top value either. I finally got around to this inwards 2012 too receive got a department on this KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
on my Similans page.
I’m a sucker for live-aboard isle boat trips.......IMHO a far ameliorate agency of doing the Similans is past times Poseidon Bungalows' 3 day/2night snorkelling trip.
http://www.similantour.com/similan.html
On an early on Thailand see I stayed at the bungalows (flash-packer inwards a lovely setting - come across the website mainpage) but couldn’t afford the trip at the time. Returning guests said it was excellent.
UPDATE - FEB 08 - I did the Poseidon intrip inwards tardily Jan too my study is downwards page.
Preparing to hitting the H2O off Poseidon's live-aboard Similans boat (image Similantour)
TRIPS OUT OF KO LIPE are skillful value. Once in 1 trial again distance from the mainland ensures clear H2O too pretty skillful coral. The trip I took included fringing reefs on next Ko Rawa too Ko Adang addition a mid sea bommie which had a bunch of divers at lower levels.
TRANG ISLAND SNORKELLING TRIPS are pretty skillful too. You tin can exercise these from Ko Lanta (info too pix starting 30% downwards KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
THIS PAGE) on the fast daytrip speed boats too ferries which buy the farm downwards each twenty-four hours too include the Emerald Cave too beach fourth dimension on 1 of the islands, on similar trips from Pak Meng too Ban Chao Mai, too on cheaper long-tail trips from next islands similar Muk, Ngai too Libong. The snorkelling usually takes inwards the southern (and perchance western) bay at Kradan addition the fringing coral around the modest karst islets of Ko Ma too Ko Cheuk betwixt Ngai too Muk.
Snorkellers off Ko Ma close Ko Ngai shot from the Petpailin Trang islands daytrip boat out of Lanta. Note my latest see inwards Dec 2012 saw the coral sadly diminished - global warming is non only impacting the Surins too Similans. Fish okay but similar precisely most all Thailand spots, no actually large fish.
There are also snorkelling trips to KO ROK too KO HAA, 2 of the other to a greater extent than western Trang islands inwards the Andaman. Coral too fish lineament receive got e'er been said to live real good. Some reports compare these to the Similans/Surins at their best. I haven't done Haa yet but Boleslav has a study of a see HERE.
I finally got around to visiting ROK inwards Nov 2014 too constitute coral too fish at that topographic point the best I'd seen inwards Thailand too much ameliorate than whatsoever other house inwards recent years. More information too pix most 65% downwards KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
THIS PAGE.
KRABI SNORKELLING TRIPS - the iii AND v ISLAND TRIPS out of Railay/Ao Nang/Ton Sai too Krabi town usually include Ko Poda too Hen too Chicken Island. My real get-go also included a snorkel thru a hollowed karst stack to a large coral bommie on the seaward side which was quite spectacular. But inwards 2 subsequent trips nosotros did non render there. I haven't done these trips inwards recent years but 2 Aussies told me inwards 2014 that Poda too Hen too Chicken are overcrowded, flood amongst trash too that the snorkeling showed signs of over-visits too perchance global warming.
I receive got done 1 trip out of Krabi to Ko Hong too Ko Lading inwards the southern Phang Nga Bay too some other out of KoYao Noi to the same area. The snorkelling hither is non nifty (the H2O this unopen to the mainland is non all that clear) although the beaches too landscape/seascape are real nice. Once in 1 trial again Boleslav has been ther too has some information too pix inwards the KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
trip study of that island.
Nice seascape at Pak Bia isle on my twenty-four hours trip from Krabi to the southern Ko Hong surface area (there is also a northern Ko Hong inwards the same Phang Nga Bay - fifty-fifty to a greater extent than spectacular too amongst fifty-fifty to a greater extent than cloudy water)
Note that snorkeling off Krabi's to a greater extent than pop mainland beaches (Raily, Phra Nang too Ao Nang) is real ordinary. But in 1 trial again the landscape/seascape is fantastic.
PHI PHI SNORKELLING TRIPS vary inwards destinations, but total twenty-four hours ones volition accept inwards Maya Bay of The Beach fame on PP Ley, Bamboo and/or Mosquito Island to the northward eastward of PP Don (lovely beach halt here) too that reef at Long Beach mentioned before. Many exercise the fringing reef off the eastward coast too. All these places receive got reasonably coral, although it has suffered inwards recent years.
You tin can exercise these trips past times long-tail out of PP too large ferry or speedboats from Phuket too Ao Nang/Railay. I receive got also mentioned I did an overnight live/aboard (was supposed to live live-aboard although nosotros camped) trip to Maya Bay, leaving from Phi Phi Don.
Snorkelling the fringing reef off Bamboo Island's lovely beach (image TheTravellersLounge)
KO RAYA/RACHA is a pop daytrip isle a relatively small distance from Phuket. I wasn't whelmed past times the snorkelling off the beach when I stayed on the isle a few nights (although fun snorkellers won't heed the gorgeously clear water, coral patches too tame fish to the left of the pier at the gorgeous master copy beach) but a Phuket based dive guy said the daytrip boats see a few spots difficult to access from the shore where the coral too fish are better. Um, good non my boat on KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
my render see inwards Feb 2014.
CORAL ISLAND - some other small daytrip from Phuket. Once in 1 trial again I constitute the snorkelling off the beach pretty ordinary when I stayed there, but different Raya the daytrip boats didn't seem to accept guests elsewhere. H5N1 dyad of swain guests at the resort at that topographic point were hard-core too spent hours each twenty-four hours inwards the department betwixt eastern Long Beach too the start of Banana Beach.
Down some other measurement IMHO is the snorkelling on the ANG THONG MARINE NATIONAL PARK TRIP out of Samui or Phangan (the trip itself is nifty but I though the snorkelling was ordinary) - too downwards 2 steps: the KO CHANG SNORKELLING TRIP out of White Sand Beach which goes to the fringing coral around a modest islet a few km south.
However people tell me the longer trips from Chang to the areas close Whai too Muk are pretty good, but I haven’t done them. I receive got snorkelled the reef at Whai itself too off tiny Ko Kham close Mak both of which are stops on most of these trips too these are non also bad at all.
THE DECLINE OF THE SURINS AND SIMILANS
People would combat whether the Surins has the best coral too fish inwards Thailand or if it was the Similans. I can't tell fifty-fifty though I receive got snorkelled both.
In March 2011 I went to the Surins, stayed inwards the camping ground surface area too snorkelled off the beach too on boat trips - sadly the house was nether the influence of global warming too the coral too fish were real very underwhelming. Not worth the endeavor of getting out there. However I knew beforehand it had suffered badly - my master copy argue for visiting was to come across precisely how skillful an isle goal it is. Sadly that disappointed me also equally y'all tin can read on my KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
Surins page.
Similarly, I constitute snorkelling conditions pretty hapless when I KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
returned to the Similans in Apr 2012 too Nov 2014, agency downwards on before visits.
Hopefully both locations volition recover inwards the close hereafter although my mate MV reporting inwards early on 2015 said things had deteriorated further..
Ao Mai Ngam, the master copy camping ground beach on the Surins is a pretty prissy beach - skillful plenty to brand my listing of Thailand's best beaches. But the snorkelling both off the beach too on the National Park snorkelling boat trips was pretty hapless inwards early on 2011.
PLACES WHICH ARE NOT SO GREAT FOR SNORKELLING OFF THE BEACH
This includes locations similar BIG KO CHANG itself, KO MAC (MAK, MAAK), KO SAMET, KO SAMUI, KHAO LAK, PHUKET, RAILAY/PHRA NANG/TON SAI/AO NANG, KO JUM, KO LANTA itself too KO MUK - these places aren’t known for their snorkelling. BUT all receive got headlands too other rocky areas, too so at that topographic point would e'er live patches of coral too fish which could hold a non also discerning snorkeller occupied.
Some places are a fleck also unopen to rivers on the coast too so receive got cloudy H2O at times which aint skillful for either coral or visibility - examples: KO PHAYAM, LITTLE KO CHANG, KO SUKORN too KO YAO NOI (although I constitute reasonable coral off the lovely fiddling sand spit on KO NOK, a modest uninhabited double-karst islet most a km out from the due south eastward corner of the Yao Noi. I hired a kayak from Coconut Corner bungalows for 300 a twenty-four hours too paddled the 3km or so from at that topographic point inwards perchance a one-half hour).
BRING YOUR OWN SNORKELLING GEAR?
Many bungalows, beach-eats places too similar hire gear - 100baht per twenty-four hours is common.
Snorkelling daytrips usually receive got no extra accuse for their gear.
In the past, problems amongst quondam too leaking gear were widespread, but I’ve noticed that most of the materials at nowadays is inwards pretty skillful condition. However it is ofttimes a hassle adjusting the fit to ensure comfort too no leaks, so if y'all receive got your ain gear, I’d advise bringing it.
I e'er bear my snorkel too mask; they accept upward fiddling room inwards my pack - forget most the fins, they are heavy too bulky too tin can harm coral badly.
IMAGE REMOVED ON DIRECTION OF GOOGLE. GOOD GRIEF, WHAT SORT OF WORLD DO WE LIVE IN WHEN READER WOWSERS CAN DICTATE WHAT WE POST AND VIEW?
Why Tezza likes snorkelling
The next data was provided past times Thorntree posters when I published the higher upward occupation concern human relationship on that forum:
Bob1971 - I seem to recollect Had Yao, KPN existence pretty skillful snorkelling, The immediate bay is real shallow too sandy but if y'all company out through the tiny boat channel onto the reef it was pretty impressive amongst some serious coral too nifty multifariousness of fish. Tanote Bay KT was pretty skillful equally well. Less for the Coral but to a greater extent than for the spotted rays, coral trout too strange reef shark cruising around.
islandboi321 - Regarding snorkelling trips out of Ko Lipe to the other nearby islands such equally Ko Adang or Ko Rawi:
Try to larn a decent sized grouping together to rent a longtail... Up to 7 is a skillful number. It plant out to live real economical for everyone. Most of the tours out of Lipe accept y'all to some decent snorkellin/coral.
Some of tours also give y'all a dejeuner included inwards the price. Ask around.
gregybn - H5N1 fav. spot on Lipe - swim across 400m from Sunlight beach to modest Koh Kra (can live most 1 kn. current)
kinda shallow on the W,S,N sides... but swim around too it's a pretty prissy deeper surface area amongst lots to come across on the E side.
if y'all caput out at that topographic point at sunrise, guaranteed y'all volition live the only ones there... amongst a dyad real pleasant, modest private beaches on the N & S.
a real prissy circumsnork., most 1.5 km. total swim, depending on how much y'all meander... private repose beach is a bonus.
don't know the yell of the other modest isle off Viewpoint... most a 200m. swim over, but no beaches on it, fifty-fifty so, a prissy trip to circumsnork.
KevinCorr - Because y'all cite Ko Maak close KoChang, Trat, I must tell that MOST of Ko Maak too Ko Chang should live on the listing of places NOT good...
... although at that topographic point are places nearby past times boat.
(I am a surface snorkeler, non a dive downwards snorkeler.)
Dominic77 - From the north-eastern terminate of the bay (Shark Bay-Ko Tao) at Rocky Resort (Ko Lanta), go into the H2O too snorkel around the headland to the north. There is an fantabulous reef at that topographic point where at that topographic point nosotros saw non only sharks, but also Barracuda, Batfish too plenty of other species of fish.
***One fourth dimension I was hauling myself out of the H2O inwards the modest bay behind my occupation solid inwards a actually nasty swell - one-handed, amongst a fishing-line ensnared gull inwards the other. Gulls ofttimes swoop on angling baits too larn hooked - this fisherman cutting the draw off long too that aeroplane couldn’t receive got got itself fountain upward ameliorate past times Barbie The Bondage Bitch at Barry’s Bad Boys' Barn inwards backstreet Byron Bay.
Ol’ Jonathon Livingston was existence blown towards the rocks too certainly oblivion. I was sinking the usual 5pm 2 to v spectacles of elcheapo ruby amongst Lady Tezza inwards the sunroom checking the gnarly Pacific - she suggested it mightiness live worthwhile to buy the farm downwards too haul the dumbass aeroplane out.
Just equally I was regaining my footing, I got smashed past times a large wave. So at that topographic point I was on a blustery wintertime day, no protective wetsuit on, getting dragged across the rocks past times the swash too so sucked dorsum into the H2O past times the backwash, all the fourth dimension belongings the gull upward so it didn’t larn mashed. Real exciting.
But Lady T was correct - it was worth it. The seagull stew was great.
See the pictures at the human foot of the KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
Ko Libong page.
IMAGE REMOVED ON DIRECTION OF GOOGLE. GOOD GRIEF, WHAT SORT OF WORLD DO WE LIVE IN WHEN READER WOWSERS CAN DICTATE WHAT WE POST AND VIEW?
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UPDATE - FEB 08 - iii DAY SNORKELLING TRIP TO THE SIMILAN ISLANDS
Back-bay too beach at Similan Island #4 - some opportunities for beach fourth dimension too small treks on Poseidon's Similan Islands snorkelling trip.
I finally got my want too did the iii day-2night live-aboard snorkelling trip to the Similans set on past times Poseidon Bangalows out of Khao Lak inwards tardily January.
I constitute it 1 of the best alive aboard trips I’ve done too highly recommend it to non only to people who similar snorkelling some pretty skillful reefs too checking fantabulous marine-life, but others who precisely similar chugging around on a comfortable slow-boat thru a serial of scenic islands (the Similans are a string of ix hilly wood clad islands most 70km off the Andaman coast too roughly the same distance northward of Phuket’s northern end).
I think to exercise a paper submission when I larn the time, so I’ll precisely give a summary inwards betoken shape for the fourth dimension being:
* We snorkelled over a dozen locations at six islands, got several hours beach fourth dimension on 2 gorgeous beaches too had fourth dimension for a fleck of trekking to some pretty prissy isle viewpoints.
Viewpoint at Donald Duck Bay, isle #8.
* There were 17 guests on the boat - 1 Orstrayan, 2 Yanks, 2 Finns too 12 Swedes. Poseidon is a Swedish-Thai owned operation.
v crew - Lars, the immature affable Swedish snorkelling guide (who gave his laid-back review at every novel halt inwards fantabulous English), the Captain Chuy too his deckhand , addition the 2 cookies, chef Mai too helper Su.
Lars was a skillful snorkeller too Chuy was the best Thai inwards the H2O I’ve seen. He had an amazing optic - he could spot lobsters too octopuses from the surface inwards 8m of H2O - I had to accept his discussion too follow him downwards unopen before I saw them.
* Food was outstanding - non the usual bungalow materials (not that I don't taste that) but similar to a skillful Thai banquet where most v different courses are handed around. There were e'er coffee, tea too fruit on offer. You tin can purchase beer too soft drinks on account.
Tucker-time - snorkelling all twenty-four hours builds a skillful appetite - nutrient lineament too quantity matched it.
* The boat Duang Ta looks to live a converted modest Thai mode ferry too is real comfortable too good appointed.
There is plenty of room so y'all aren’t tripping over other guests similar some of the Aussie trips I’ve done (see KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
Cruising Tropical Islands on a Budget)
Sleeping quarters inwards the hull is a long dorm-like surface area amongst wooden partitions too curtains for privacy, mattresses too pillows I constitute comfortable, a calorie-free for reading too aircon at nighttime for non-swelter zzzzs. About one-half the guests elected to slumber on deck nether the stars.
There are 2 spacious areas for sunbathing, which is an fantabulous agency to pass the fourth dimension when chugging betwixt islands. The large covered dining surface area was ideal for shade lovers.
The Swedish connection gets some Sun betwixt islands.
Fresh H2O is usually express on smaller boats but nosotros were told nosotros could shower after every snorkel too whatsoever other fourth dimension nosotros liked, but non to rest nether for a huge amount of time. The shower is located close the bring upward platform used to access the sea - rinse off equally shortly equally y'all hop out.
There are 2 western mode toilets.
Duang Ta (image Poseidon Bungalows)
* Lars too Chuy accept lots of photos both inwards too out of the H2O which Lars burns to CD (including top shots from previous trips too a video) too makes available most 20 minutes after render to Poseidon - for 600baht from memory. I had to scoot to attempt too brand an un-booked Ranong coach too so can’t demo y'all whatsoever of the shots. But the Poseidon website has some prissy full general ones.
http://www.similantour.com/photos.html
* Similans coral is supposed to live some of the best inwards Thailand. It is the best I’ve seen inwards Thailand.
But it is a measurement downwards from the best I’ve seen elsewhere (Australia’s Great Barrier Reef too nearby islands). And it isn’t equally skillful equally some Pacific isle coral I’ve snorkelled. It lacks the multifariousness of color too shape y'all come across inwards the best places. AndI didn’t swim through whatsoever deep coral canyons where y'all surprise the hell out of divers - or abide by whatsoever submarine caves y'all tin can swim into too pop out thru a hole inwards the top of the reef.
Similans coral shot past times Crocodrilo - hey, the H2O is pretty clear here!
I thought the other marine life was top-grade. Besides the multitude of fish, I saw several turtles next 1 for most 10 minutes, lots of morays too other eels, several octopuses, 1 sea-snake, a dyad of lobsters too a few modest rays.
Maybe BIG fish were lacking - no giant wrasses the size of modest cows y'all come across inwards Commonwealth of Australia (I’m non exaggerating). But other people inwards the political party saw barracuda too harmless black-tip reef sharks . We detoured away from the Similans to nearby Ko Bon because dive boats reported manta-rays, but didn’t come across any. Ko Bon was a duplication of the Similans otherwise, so was nevertheless an interesting snorkel.
Being so far off the coast visibility inwards all areas was real good.
Captain Chuy had a skillful optic on the surface also too spotted this turtle equally nosotros were chugging along. The turtle hung around for most xv minutes.
Update July 2011 - I was latterly checking some websites to come across what other live-aboard Similans snorkelling trips were available, too constitute my pic higher upward on 1 dive-snorkelling outfit's site - no acknowledgement to me or to Poseidon. Cheeky but typical. I bet they won't offering me a discount on 1 of their trips for after this year.
By the way, the 2 mature historic current Finns on the trip were diving too snorkelling fanatics - they were e'er get-go inwards the H2O too finally out, too could larn agency downwards to where the captain was peering nether mushroom corals for lobsters etc. They had precisely come upward off a trip to the Surins where they stayed at National Park HQ too took long tails to diverse locations. They told me the Surins were non quite upward to the standards of the Similans coral too fish etc wise. The said nearby Richelieu Rock was slightly ameliorate than both, but a measurement downwards from the best they’d seen - the Red Sea.
But remove heed up, fifty-fifty for people who receive got seen the best, the Similans are nevertheless fantabulous value. They appeared to live having the fourth dimension of their life too I enjoyed my trip immensely.
Lisa from Idaho tries fire-stick twirling nether the tutelage of swain countryman Blaiz at Donald Duck Bay on isle #8. The sand hither is most the whitest I've seen inwards Thailand. As a affair of fact it don't larn also much whiter anywhere. My 1999 daytrip visited this beach, the quondam NP Headquarter's beach - the nicely tree-shaded surface area behind was packed amongst tents, picnic tables, NP bungalows too admin buildings. The seismic sea wave trashed them - at that topographic point was a modest grouping of Thais rebuilding but it volition live a long fourth dimension before this surface area reopens to accommodation. The other NP Headquarters beach on isle #4 faces northward too had tike damage. It is a existent prissy location, in 1 trial again amongst bungalows too tents where I aim to pass a few days during some hereafter trip.
* Complaints? Well I can’t actually think of also many.
-About one-half the sleeping-berths were doubles too these looked a fleck narrow for 2 to me. I noticed the Finns who were on their 2d Poseidon trip, grabbed unmarried bunks.
-Maybe nosotros didn’t brand total purpose of the finally twenty-four hours - nosotros left isle #4 non also long after luncheon too were inwards port shortly after 4pm. But a few of the guests were wanting to selection upward booked Bangkok buses, so perchance this slightly early on render isn't e'er the situation.
In whatsoever instance it 's balanced past times the early on start - nosotros were chugging out of harbour at 0745 get-go morning, all seated around the tabular array upward inwards the scenic dining surface area equally the get-go delicious trays of breakfast nutrient were passed around.
Beach at National Park HQ, isle #4.
For an update too some prissy underwater shots, come across Crocodrilo's
KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
Trip Report section.
You tin can also cheque MV's interesting photo-report most his rest on Ko Tachie - this lovely fiddling isle is a fair distance northward of Similans 1 to ix islands but is business office of the Similans National Park.
If y'all desire to exercise a trip study on the Similans or whatsoever other location delight ship text too whatsoever shots to lajolla22@hotmail.com
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PEOPLE CONSIDERING DAY TRIPS TO THE SIMILANS - I did a twenty-four hours trip out of Phuket inwards Nov 2014 - I receive got a study KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
HERE
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If y'all are planning to see the Similans y'all may live interested inwards nearby KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
Khao Lak
and the KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
Surins Islands.
A dyad of real relaxed seldom visited islands inwards the surface area are KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
Ko Kho Khao too KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
Ko Phra Thong. The latter has a dive operation, Blue Guru which must live the closest such outfit to the Surins too Richelieu Rock.
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OCT 2012 - trip reporter wonderingstar has started his ain snorkelling website - it's a run inwards progress too eventually volition receive got materials on Thailand, Malaysia, Indo too the Philippines. Already it has a heap of useful information too maps addition a lot prissy underwater pix. KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
THE FORUM rather than below. I don't larn a lead chances to cheque all threads daily, but unless I'm travelling I'll attempt to monitor THE FORUM regularly. Sumber http://tezza-thailandbeachesandislands.blogspot.com/
![a prissy bungalow house amongst skillful snorkelling correct off the beach bestthailandbeaches: Snorkelling inwards Thailand](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexGtXG_Za5XskY9WYJzOL2yL_vjmhsckjfY-gEWDA2c6b-3eAnDmM30Tf8esc7QKDdJoVbhqh68plANiVGuE3lO9zDTmXzlyRWdE7c2itGiFQvKUUa4Md5YMsc4KT2d9DXJRe3XhwvxY/s400/CoupleSnorkling.jpg)
“Wanted, a prissy bungalow house amongst skillful snorkelling correct off the beach”This inquiry comes upward so ofttimes on locomote forums I thought I’d attempt to set something together.
Answering is non that clear-cut because at that topographic point are nifty differences inwards snorkelling ability too expectations.
- Ability: the bulk of travelers I come across snorkelling cruise along on the surface too may non live also impressed amongst some of those ameliorate locations where y'all receive got to dive downwards iii or 4 meters to cheque a reef drop-off.
- Expectations: some people are used to top-notch snorkelling places similar Australia’s Great Barrier Reef too the nearby continental islands similar the WhitSundays too so consider the best Thailand has to offering is pretty 2d rate. So if I tell the surface area off Ko Ngai’s master copy beach is fairly good, they would think it 3rd or 4th rate. Other snorkellers I come across seem are easily pleased - are quite enthused most cruising around the swimming enclosure at PP’s Long Beach, which is mainly a sandy bottom too a fleck of stone amongst a few fishies out further.
So keeping that inwards mind, the next are the skillful snorkelling spots I know about:
RIGHT OFF THE BEACH WITH ACCOMMODATON
The best I’ve found:
KO NANGYUAN - this has a mid-range resort 1 km to the northward eastward off KO TAO (which is inwards the southern Gulf of Thailand northward of Kos Samui too Phangan). There is skillful snorkelling too fishies inwards the bay to the northward W of the sand spit which joins the iii large rocks which brand upward the island. The fish are so used to existence manus fed, they crowd around when y'all go into the water.
It is pretty skillful inwards the contrary bay, too I receive got read that if y'all are prepared to swim around the isle some way, at that topographic point are caves too some existent prissy fringing coral.
The resort is a dive resort but likely has to a greater extent than non-divers at busy times. I receive got stayed at that topographic point twice when prices were a fleck lower, KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
once latterly (2015) after it has headed upmarket too buy the farm a less idyllic destination. But inwards all visits it got existent serene sitting on my elevated balcony after sunset amongst a bottle of that nifty Thai rum, watching the lights of the night-diving class flash too arc inwards the bay below.
You tin can also day-trip from nearby Tao (long tails shuttle across constantly) but the resort has latterly levied a accuse on day-trippers.
Nangyuan's attratcive sand spit - best snorkeling off the beach likely inwards the far (north-east) bay. Western bay on left wasn't also bad. Early inwards the twenty-four hours inwards this Feb 2015 pic but already plenty of daytrippers on the beach. 2015 saw full general snorkeling poorer than before visits - but Thailand inwards full general has deteriorated inwards recent years. Global warming? Increased tourism?
KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
KO KRADAN (in the Andaman Sea due south of Ko Lanta) - The reef off the master copy eastern beach hither is non bad at the southern terminate where the beach starts to bend around to the National Park Headquarters area, but the best coral is constitute out from the southern beach - Ao Niang. Technically this does non receive got accommodation, but Wally’s Paradise Lost budget house which is 10 minutes prissy rainforest walk away. The bigger master copy beach resorts are some other 10. UPDATE JUNE 2010 - at that topographic point is at nowadays a budget resort there, Ao Niang Beach Resort. But it may non finally long - come across the updated Kradan page for details too pix. FURTHER UPDATES DEC 2012/MARCH 2014 - house is nevertheless there, seems to live doing okay.
Note my March see saw the best coral I'd spotted inwards Thailand inwards recent years apart from Ko Rok.
There are pretty skillful modest bommies too patches of coral unopen to the beach, but the best materials is out on the reef drop-off most 70m from shore. Look for the large too modest commercial snorkelling boats from Lo Lanta, Pak Bara too Kradan’s next islands - but note, this bay is large plenty that fifty-fifty amongst the 5+ boats moored during my visits, it was never overcrowded too I constitute it piece of cake to snorkel on my own.
Far due south terminate of master copy eastern beach on Ko Kradan - if y'all swim perpendicularly out from the rocks inwards shot y'all volition abide by the reef drop-off non also far out. Follow it inwards the direction of that snorkelling-trip longtail too farther - y'all volition at nowadays live off the next Ao Niang for the best stuff.
Note if y'all swim straight off the beach heading left from the photographic telly camera y'all volition abide by Ao Niang's fringing reef continues around the corner of the isle - the coral too fish are non bad without existence upward to the criterion of Ao Niang.
The western beach on Kradan (once in 1 trial again 10 minutes walk from Wally‘s) is smaller too has a similar set-up except the lineament of coral too fishies etc is non quite equally skillful IMHO.
Note trip reporter wonderingstar has his ain snorkelling weblog too has a real skillful page on KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
Ko Tao is a fleck of a precious stone for snorkelling - precisely most whatsoever bay inwards the eastern one-half of the isle from Shark Bay inwards the due south to Mango Bay inwards the northward - addition the afore-mentioned Ko Nangyuan inwards the north-west has pretty skillful snorkelling past times Thai standards. I personally constitute Hing Wong the best but I haven't snorkelled the other places exhaustively (nor Hing Wong come upward to that). Others claim the best snorkelling is at Ao Leuk, others buy the farm for Shark Bay. The headlands at these places larn raves. Accommodation of all criterion tin can live constitute inwards this broad surface area - come across the Tao page for private beaches too bays.
Snokelling too dive boats working over western headland of Shark Bay/Ao Thian OK at south-east Ko Tao.
Snorkelers too full general visitor larn skillful value from the AROUND ISLAND SNORKELING TRIPS at Ko Tao (see most 70% downwards KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Hing Wong Bay Resort is a budget house equally is the next Mol's Homestay too Pub. View Rock is budget/flashpacker. There is a novel flash plane complex Shangrila business office of which tin can live seen sticking out from behind 1 of the rocks inwards background.
THIS PAGE)
Guests enjoying the fish-feeding frenzy (boat staff throw inwards slices of bread) on the Ko Tao AROUND ISLAND trip.
KO PHI PHI (in the Andaman due south of Phuket, northward of Ko Lanta) - at that topographic point is a reef most 70m off Long Beach which is pretty skillful too attracts the daytrip snorkelling boats. If y'all swim out from the beach y'all demand to hold going past times the broken coral on the within of the fringing reef. There is also some pretty skillful coral fringing the depression reef-islet at the eastern terminate of the beach.
Long Beach has some existent prissy places to rest ranging from budget to upper midrange too is the nicest beach on the isle within piece of cake accomplish of town.
The best I’ve found:
KO NANGYUAN - this has a mid-range resort 1 km to the northward eastward off KO TAO (which is inwards the southern Gulf of Thailand northward of Kos Samui too Phangan). There is skillful snorkelling too fishies inwards the bay to the northward W of the sand spit which joins the iii large rocks which brand upward the island. The fish are so used to existence manus fed, they crowd around when y'all go into the water.
It is pretty skillful inwards the contrary bay, too I receive got read that if y'all are prepared to swim around the isle some way, at that topographic point are caves too some existent prissy fringing coral.
The resort is a dive resort but likely has to a greater extent than non-divers at busy times. I receive got stayed at that topographic point twice when prices were a fleck lower, KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
once latterly (2015) after it has headed upmarket too buy the farm a less idyllic destination. But inwards all visits it got existent serene sitting on my elevated balcony after sunset amongst a bottle of that nifty Thai rum, watching the lights of the night-diving class flash too arc inwards the bay below.
You tin can also day-trip from nearby Tao (long tails shuttle across constantly) but the resort has latterly levied a accuse on day-trippers.
Nangyuan's attratcive sand spit - best snorkeling off the beach likely inwards the far (north-east) bay. Western bay on left wasn't also bad. Early inwards the twenty-four hours inwards this Feb 2015 pic but already plenty of daytrippers on the beach. 2015 saw full general snorkeling poorer than before visits - but Thailand inwards full general has deteriorated inwards recent years. Global warming? Increased tourism?
KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
KO KRADAN (in the Andaman Sea due south of Ko Lanta) - The reef off the master copy eastern beach hither is non bad at the southern terminate where the beach starts to bend around to the National Park Headquarters area, but the best coral is constitute out from the southern beach - Ao Niang. Technically this does non receive got accommodation, but Wally’s Paradise Lost budget house which is 10 minutes prissy rainforest walk away. The bigger master copy beach resorts are some other 10. UPDATE JUNE 2010 - at that topographic point is at nowadays a budget resort there, Ao Niang Beach Resort. But it may non finally long - come across the updated Kradan page for details too pix. FURTHER UPDATES DEC 2012/MARCH 2014 - house is nevertheless there, seems to live doing okay.
Note my March see saw the best coral I'd spotted inwards Thailand inwards recent years apart from Ko Rok.
There are pretty skillful modest bommies too patches of coral unopen to the beach, but the best materials is out on the reef drop-off most 70m from shore. Look for the large too modest commercial snorkelling boats from Lo Lanta, Pak Bara too Kradan’s next islands - but note, this bay is large plenty that fifty-fifty amongst the 5+ boats moored during my visits, it was never overcrowded too I constitute it piece of cake to snorkel on my own.
Far due south terminate of master copy eastern beach on Ko Kradan - if y'all swim perpendicularly out from the rocks inwards shot y'all volition abide by the reef drop-off non also far out. Follow it inwards the direction of that snorkelling-trip longtail too farther - y'all volition at nowadays live off the next Ao Niang for the best stuff.
Note if y'all swim straight off the beach heading left from the photographic telly camera y'all volition abide by Ao Niang's fringing reef continues around the corner of the isle - the coral too fish are non bad without existence upward to the criterion of Ao Niang.
The western beach on Kradan (once in 1 trial again 10 minutes walk from Wally‘s) is smaller too has a similar set-up except the lineament of coral too fishies etc is non quite equally skillful IMHO.
Note trip reporter wonderingstar has his ain snorkelling weblog too has a real skillful page on KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Ko Tao is a fleck of a precious stone for snorkelling - precisely most whatsoever bay inwards the eastern one-half of the isle from Shark Bay inwards the due south to Mango Bay inwards the northward - addition the afore-mentioned Ko Nangyuan inwards the north-west has pretty skillful snorkelling past times Thai standards. I personally constitute Hing Wong the best but I haven't snorkelled the other places exhaustively (nor Hing Wong come upward to that). Others claim the best snorkelling is at Ao Leuk, others buy the farm for Shark Bay. The headlands at these places larn raves. Accommodation of all criterion tin can live constitute inwards this broad surface area - come across the Tao page for private beaches too bays.
Snorkelers too full general visitor larn skillful value from the AROUND ISLAND SNORKELING TRIPS at Ko Tao (see most 70% downwards KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
THIS PAGE)
Guests enjoying the fish-feeding frenzy (boat staff throw inwards slices of bread) on the Ko Tao AROUND ISLAND trip.
KO PHI PHI (in the Andaman due south of Phuket, northward of Ko Lanta) - at that topographic point is a reef most 70m off Long Beach which is pretty skillful too attracts the daytrip snorkelling boats. If y'all swim out from the beach y'all demand to hold going past times the broken coral on the within of the fringing reef. There is also some pretty skillful coral fringing the depression reef-islet at the eastern terminate of the beach.
Long Beach has some existent prissy places to rest ranging from budget to upper midrange too is the nicest beach on the isle within piece of cake accomplish of town.
![a prissy bungalow house amongst skillful snorkelling correct off the beach bestthailandbeaches: Snorkelling inwards Thailand](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-4FcXG47Prs7NWmYNnpJmSXMT-v0_PxRp_X0j6LllsWm_Viltt7o_TSmKqloL0mze364QLfotrdlFwOcmhiCwvHP1ZS6_enQ50oj__O6ce9OGMH8_I3zP0MjREB6aaI5fUIYazcYcFg/s400/Thailand+aug+07+024.jpg)
Additionally, precisely most all the eastward coast beaches receive got a fringing reef. I receive got snorkelled a few too they are non bad. I noticed inwards a recent visits the daytrip snorkelling boats were working over Rantee most intensely. Accommodation ranges from budget to real high end.
Bamboo Island off the north-east of Phi Phi is said to live pretty skillful too.
Probably the best snorkeling at Phi Phi is constitute inwards the diverse bays of Phi Phi Ley, the non-resort nagtional green island, but unless y'all are on KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
an overnight camping ground trip, snorkeling hither is non actually off your accommodation beach.
Tucker fourth dimension on the Maya Bay, Phi Phi Ley trip
KO LAO LIANG (in the Andaman due south of Ko Kradan) - snorkellers volition abide by the coral (some prissy soft coral here) too fish off the northern terminate of Laoliang’s resort beach pretty skillful amongst fifty-fifty ameliorate materials accessed via the snorkelling trips at Ko Ta-Kiang aout 10 km farther west.
A prissy coral bommie off Ko Ta-Kiang
THE SURINS AND THE SIMILANS (both inwards the Andaman northward of Phuket) - see my comments downwards page most my Surins too Similans Island visits - the Surins used to live real skillful off the beach too on small boat trips away from the master copy beach but was suffering badly from coral bleaching inwards March 2011. The Similans needs boat trips to the best locations but these also were suffering when I called past times inwards Apr 2012 too Nov 2014. According to trip reporter MV both were unimproved early on 2015.
DOWN H5N1 STEP OR TWO BUT STILL OKAY:
KO PHANGAN (in the southern Gulf northward of Ko Samui) - at that topographic point are prissy coral/fish past times Thailand standards around Ko Ma which is joined past times a sand spit to Mae Had beach inwards the north-west of KO PHANGAN. This is a pop spot for the around isle trip boats to halt for a snorkel. There are also some okay lumps of coral too stone correct off the beach, but this surface area tin can larn a fleck shallow at depression tide.
Mae Hat is a set dorsum beach amongst mainly budget too flash packer bungalows.
I was pleasantly surprised past times the lineament of coral too fish correct off the beach at Had Thian (Tien) too next Had Wai (Why) Nam inwards the due south of Phangan's eastward coast. These placidity too pleasant fiddling beaches receive got accommodation mainly budget too flashpacker.
KO PODA (in the Andaman non far from Krabi) - this is 1 of the offshore karst islands a small distance out from Railay/Ao Nang beaches. It has a fringing reef amongst okay coral. Note the bungalows hither are high arrive at - associated amongst 1 of the to a greater extent than expensive hotels inwards Ao Nang. Most people see Poda on daytrips out of Railay too Ao Nang - the daytrip surface area is towards the northern terminate of the long curved beach - the bungalows are at the far eastern end, so if y'all rhythm out out large coin for a house y'all volition non live inundated amongst daytrippers. UPDATE - finally I heard the bungalows had closed down.
KO LIPE (in the southern Andaman non far from the Malaysian border_ - at that topographic point is a fringing reef off the southern of the modest twin bays where Viewpoint bungalows resort is located. This is precisely due south of the large eastern Andaman beach. Viewpoint is a funky budget house too at that topographic point is a lot to a greater extent than accomm on Andaman itself. The modest islands close Viewpoint receive got okay coral fringing them.
At each terminate of the master copy Pattaya beach are sections of coral which are okay. Acomm hither is mainly flash packer too better. I was also pleasantly surprised past times the okay coral lumps too fishies inwards the swimming enclosure inwards front end of Varin resort which is almost mid Pattaya beach.
KO BULON LAE (in the Andaman eastward of Ko Lipe) - reasonable coral to the W of Bulone Resort too off too to the due south of Pansand resort, but nosotros are talking downwards at least two steps here. The coral straight out from Bulone is okay equally is the materials off the terminate of the spit where the master copy beach curves. These 2 resorts are flash-packer to midrange, but at that topographic point are some budget bungalows quite unopen to the beach.
KO NGAI (in the Andaman precisely to the northward of Ko Kradan) - snorkelling is non bad along the fringing reef off the master copy eastern beach. Accom ranges from budget tents to existent high end, amongst a few real prissy midrangers here.
I thought the coral etc was precisely equally skillful (but nosotros are talking downwards at to the lowest degree 2 steps again) across inwards the south-western bay. The budget Paradise Beach Resort has this prissy beach all to itself.
KO WHAI (WAI) (in the eastern Gulf of Thailand due south of large Ko Chang) - I had an okay snorkel along the reef off Ko Whai Paradise, which is a prissy budget place. On after trips I constitute this reef extends farther south-eastwards to Pakarang beach.
KO LIBONG (in the Andaman eastward of Ko Kradan) - this 1 is tricky because I only swam around amongst my lap-swimming goggles too some posters receive got mentioned unimpressive snorkelling here. I saw a sandy bottom amongst lots of lumps of coral, but I couldn’t tell the lineament through the weathered plastic lens.
However judging past times the fourth dimension guests of Ko Libong Beach Resort were spending equally they snorkelled, it must receive got been pretty interesting.
UPDATE DEC 08 - I felt duty fountain to exercise a snorkel on my next see to Libong. Yep, the coral is pretty ordinary inwards front end of Beach Resort/Le Dugong. Gets ameliorate towards the northward headland but inwards no agency tin can compare to tell Kradan.
I know I should e'er cheque the snorkeling if I’m gonna write isle reports, but I’m a fleck slack inwards some places unless I think it is going to live totally excellent. This is partly because the best coral inwards Thailand (SIMILAN ISLANDS) is 2nd charge per unit of measurement too partly because I snorkel at domicile most days inwards a spectacular place. I buy the farm after lobsters too abalone inwards the modest rocky bay behind my occupation solid - it has underwater caves, canyons too crevasses, heaps of fish, eels etc addition lots of long seaweed swaying inwards the swell. And this house ofttimes picks upward large swell - precisely getting inwards too out off the rocks tin can live exciting.***
![a prissy bungalow house amongst skillful snorkelling correct off the beach bestthailandbeaches: Snorkelling inwards Thailand](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatU8clCkzKQEm-SLz33LsJFrjSm6ipiu53IGbPx1NdBnH9473SjhTMCoyxrHbrBNPwA-uM3SCuex5Md24BoRbhOJ8dOTAhcp9Y6IGxjdo7_y0VbuCtj-QFPouUJr5KUF5Lq-P5Qxqs80/s400/snorkling.jpg)
SNORKELLING SPOTS ACCESSED BY BOAT
Snorkelling trips are offered on precisely most every island. Some islands receive got non got real skillful snorkelling off the beach but pretty decent materials on their daytrips.
THE SIMILAN ISLANDS had the best coral inwards Thailand I receive got seen (although my latest trips inwards 2012 too 2914 saw a lamentable pass upward due to global warming - come across downwards page).
One reasons coral is commonly skillful hither is the distance from the mainland, which ensures cleaner water. But this also gives a occupation - the trip out takes a hell of a long fourth dimension too is expensive. When if get-go did this I was crammed amongst a bunch of other people into a not-so-big speedboat, amongst insufficient room to motility around, so it was uncomfortable. In all, I didn’t think it was value - I’ve snorkelled ameliorate coral inwards the Philippines too on Fiji’s barrier islands for a quarter the cost.
Most boat trips go out from the Khao Lak area.
UPDATE - recent years receive got seen much bigger to a greater extent than comfortable speedboats addition a lot of people from Phuket doing the daytrips. Wow, that's a hell of a long fourth dimension inwards minibuses too speedboats, equally KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
I constitute out inwards Nov 2014.
Note that y'all tin can rest on the Similans inwards National Park huts too tents. The carry cost addition the 200baht entry fee makes this non all that cheap. Accommodation too nutrient are non top value either. I finally got around to this inwards 2012 too receive got a department on this KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
on my Similans page.
I’m a sucker for live-aboard isle boat trips.......IMHO a far ameliorate agency of doing the Similans is past times Poseidon Bungalows' 3 day/2night snorkelling trip.
http://www.similantour.com/similan.html
On an early on Thailand see I stayed at the bungalows (flash-packer inwards a lovely setting - come across the website mainpage) but couldn’t afford the trip at the time. Returning guests said it was excellent.
UPDATE - FEB 08 - I did the Poseidon intrip inwards tardily Jan too my study is downwards page.
![a prissy bungalow house amongst skillful snorkelling correct off the beach bestthailandbeaches: Snorkelling inwards Thailand](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIEuS1SGF9iAQIeswz0GQ9HxhrrnsexoKn5k9dAqDUfnk1cmLCJf4memxzVNXCYmJAROX5P6l3q9mUY1B6M3FTO8Ulgw1QZWJIUiU4RS-gle6VTF2IPXDxWQJfQCU3sIz9EjvyAWKzwI/s400/f_sim_17.jpg)
TRIPS OUT OF KO LIPE are skillful value. Once in 1 trial again distance from the mainland ensures clear H2O too pretty skillful coral. The trip I took included fringing reefs on next Ko Rawa too Ko Adang addition a mid sea bommie which had a bunch of divers at lower levels.
TRANG ISLAND SNORKELLING TRIPS are pretty skillful too. You tin can exercise these from Ko Lanta (info too pix starting 30% downwards KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
THIS PAGE) on the fast daytrip speed boats too ferries which buy the farm downwards each twenty-four hours too include the Emerald Cave too beach fourth dimension on 1 of the islands, on similar trips from Pak Meng too Ban Chao Mai, too on cheaper long-tail trips from next islands similar Muk, Ngai too Libong. The snorkelling usually takes inwards the southern (and perchance western) bay at Kradan addition the fringing coral around the modest karst islets of Ko Ma too Ko Cheuk betwixt Ngai too Muk.
Snorkellers off Ko Ma close Ko Ngai shot from the Petpailin Trang islands daytrip boat out of Lanta. Note my latest see inwards Dec 2012 saw the coral sadly diminished - global warming is non only impacting the Surins too Similans. Fish okay but similar precisely most all Thailand spots, no actually large fish.
There are also snorkelling trips to KO ROK too KO HAA, 2 of the other to a greater extent than western Trang islands inwards the Andaman. Coral too fish lineament receive got e'er been said to live real good. Some reports compare these to the Similans/Surins at their best. I haven't done Haa yet but Boleslav has a study of a see HERE.
I finally got around to visiting ROK inwards Nov 2014 too constitute coral too fish at that topographic point the best I'd seen inwards Thailand too much ameliorate than whatsoever other house inwards recent years. More information too pix most 65% downwards KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
THIS PAGE.
KRABI SNORKELLING TRIPS - the iii AND v ISLAND TRIPS out of Railay/Ao Nang/Ton Sai too Krabi town usually include Ko Poda too Hen too Chicken Island. My real get-go also included a snorkel thru a hollowed karst stack to a large coral bommie on the seaward side which was quite spectacular. But inwards 2 subsequent trips nosotros did non render there. I haven't done these trips inwards recent years but 2 Aussies told me inwards 2014 that Poda too Hen too Chicken are overcrowded, flood amongst trash too that the snorkeling showed signs of over-visits too perchance global warming.
I receive got done 1 trip out of Krabi to Ko Hong too Ko Lading inwards the southern Phang Nga Bay too some other out of KoYao Noi to the same area. The snorkelling hither is non nifty (the H2O this unopen to the mainland is non all that clear) although the beaches too landscape/seascape are real nice. Once in 1 trial again Boleslav has been ther too has some information too pix inwards the KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
trip study of that island.
Nice seascape at Pak Bia isle on my twenty-four hours trip from Krabi to the southern Ko Hong surface area (there is also a northern Ko Hong inwards the same Phang Nga Bay - fifty-fifty to a greater extent than spectacular too amongst fifty-fifty to a greater extent than cloudy water)
Note that snorkeling off Krabi's to a greater extent than pop mainland beaches (Raily, Phra Nang too Ao Nang) is real ordinary. But in 1 trial again the landscape/seascape is fantastic.
PHI PHI SNORKELLING TRIPS vary inwards destinations, but total twenty-four hours ones volition accept inwards Maya Bay of The Beach fame on PP Ley, Bamboo and/or Mosquito Island to the northward eastward of PP Don (lovely beach halt here) too that reef at Long Beach mentioned before. Many exercise the fringing reef off the eastward coast too. All these places receive got reasonably coral, although it has suffered inwards recent years.
You tin can exercise these trips past times long-tail out of PP too large ferry or speedboats from Phuket too Ao Nang/Railay. I receive got also mentioned I did an overnight live/aboard (was supposed to live live-aboard although nosotros camped) trip to Maya Bay, leaving from Phi Phi Don.
![a prissy bungalow house amongst skillful snorkelling correct off the beach bestthailandbeaches: Snorkelling inwards Thailand](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoSFzosB2FiJYjoukottnBMHZHKHJJRKbkiBa4N8p6hFYCulXFP2UaN5Elci0J-sJSe10auVr1cSiOJ09xfeSyziLVDHTdcZnNhUOGcqkPzFGQ2u8sbu4uYO8pDTU-YqyPnlAOBCE-0Y/s320/snorke1.jpg)
KO RAYA/RACHA is a pop daytrip isle a relatively small distance from Phuket. I wasn't whelmed past times the snorkelling off the beach when I stayed on the isle a few nights (although fun snorkellers won't heed the gorgeously clear water, coral patches too tame fish to the left of the pier at the gorgeous master copy beach) but a Phuket based dive guy said the daytrip boats see a few spots difficult to access from the shore where the coral too fish are better. Um, good non my boat on KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
my render see inwards Feb 2014.
CORAL ISLAND - some other small daytrip from Phuket. Once in 1 trial again I constitute the snorkelling off the beach pretty ordinary when I stayed there, but different Raya the daytrip boats didn't seem to accept guests elsewhere. H5N1 dyad of swain guests at the resort at that topographic point were hard-core too spent hours each twenty-four hours inwards the department betwixt eastern Long Beach too the start of Banana Beach.
Down some other measurement IMHO is the snorkelling on the ANG THONG MARINE NATIONAL PARK TRIP out of Samui or Phangan (the trip itself is nifty but I though the snorkelling was ordinary) - too downwards 2 steps: the KO CHANG SNORKELLING TRIP out of White Sand Beach which goes to the fringing coral around a modest islet a few km south.
However people tell me the longer trips from Chang to the areas close Whai too Muk are pretty good, but I haven’t done them. I receive got snorkelled the reef at Whai itself too off tiny Ko Kham close Mak both of which are stops on most of these trips too these are non also bad at all.
THE DECLINE OF THE SURINS AND SIMILANS
People would combat whether the Surins has the best coral too fish inwards Thailand or if it was the Similans. I can't tell fifty-fifty though I receive got snorkelled both.
In March 2011 I went to the Surins, stayed inwards the camping ground surface area too snorkelled off the beach too on boat trips - sadly the house was nether the influence of global warming too the coral too fish were real very underwhelming. Not worth the endeavor of getting out there. However I knew beforehand it had suffered badly - my master copy argue for visiting was to come across precisely how skillful an isle goal it is. Sadly that disappointed me also equally y'all tin can read on my KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Surins page.
Similarly, I constitute snorkelling conditions pretty hapless when I KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
returned to the Similans in Apr 2012 too Nov 2014, agency downwards on before visits.
Hopefully both locations volition recover inwards the close hereafter although my mate MV reporting inwards early on 2015 said things had deteriorated further..
![a prissy bungalow house amongst skillful snorkelling correct off the beach bestthailandbeaches: Snorkelling inwards Thailand](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFVF3fA8FYOmls4BbUMYjYHreWT7Cml6fLHiQOwAgS58mgblPpEDrOeqLig3VxSuDrD4ie8DVudV6_4769X7JIK-bDuSwkEpVCcTEr7Poue4uLBa_Ftaz0MxdSR7dW5dQXEmKlwpWv0E/s400/phayam+192.jpg)
PLACES WHICH ARE NOT SO GREAT FOR SNORKELLING OFF THE BEACH
This includes locations similar BIG KO CHANG itself, KO MAC (MAK, MAAK), KO SAMET, KO SAMUI, KHAO LAK, PHUKET, RAILAY/PHRA NANG/TON SAI/AO NANG, KO JUM, KO LANTA itself too KO MUK - these places aren’t known for their snorkelling. BUT all receive got headlands too other rocky areas, too so at that topographic point would e'er live patches of coral too fish which could hold a non also discerning snorkeller occupied.
Some places are a fleck also unopen to rivers on the coast too so receive got cloudy H2O at times which aint skillful for either coral or visibility - examples: KO PHAYAM, LITTLE KO CHANG, KO SUKORN too KO YAO NOI (although I constitute reasonable coral off the lovely fiddling sand spit on KO NOK, a modest uninhabited double-karst islet most a km out from the due south eastward corner of the Yao Noi. I hired a kayak from Coconut Corner bungalows for 300 a twenty-four hours too paddled the 3km or so from at that topographic point inwards perchance a one-half hour).
BRING YOUR OWN SNORKELLING GEAR?
Many bungalows, beach-eats places too similar hire gear - 100baht per twenty-four hours is common.
Snorkelling daytrips usually receive got no extra accuse for their gear.
In the past, problems amongst quondam too leaking gear were widespread, but I’ve noticed that most of the materials at nowadays is inwards pretty skillful condition. However it is ofttimes a hassle adjusting the fit to ensure comfort too no leaks, so if y'all receive got your ain gear, I’d advise bringing it.
I e'er bear my snorkel too mask; they accept upward fiddling room inwards my pack - forget most the fins, they are heavy too bulky too tin can harm coral badly.
IMAGE REMOVED ON DIRECTION OF GOOGLE. GOOD GRIEF, WHAT SORT OF WORLD DO WE LIVE IN WHEN READER WOWSERS CAN DICTATE WHAT WE POST AND VIEW?
Why Tezza likes snorkelling
The next data was provided past times Thorntree posters when I published the higher upward occupation concern human relationship on that forum:
Bob1971 - I seem to recollect Had Yao, KPN existence pretty skillful snorkelling, The immediate bay is real shallow too sandy but if y'all company out through the tiny boat channel onto the reef it was pretty impressive amongst some serious coral too nifty multifariousness of fish. Tanote Bay KT was pretty skillful equally well. Less for the Coral but to a greater extent than for the spotted rays, coral trout too strange reef shark cruising around.
islandboi321 - Regarding snorkelling trips out of Ko Lipe to the other nearby islands such equally Ko Adang or Ko Rawi:
Try to larn a decent sized grouping together to rent a longtail... Up to 7 is a skillful number. It plant out to live real economical for everyone. Most of the tours out of Lipe accept y'all to some decent snorkellin/coral.
Some of tours also give y'all a dejeuner included inwards the price. Ask around.
gregybn - H5N1 fav. spot on Lipe - swim across 400m from Sunlight beach to modest Koh Kra (can live most 1 kn. current)
kinda shallow on the W,S,N sides... but swim around too it's a pretty prissy deeper surface area amongst lots to come across on the E side.
if y'all caput out at that topographic point at sunrise, guaranteed y'all volition live the only ones there... amongst a dyad real pleasant, modest private beaches on the N & S.
a real prissy circumsnork., most 1.5 km. total swim, depending on how much y'all meander... private repose beach is a bonus.
don't know the yell of the other modest isle off Viewpoint... most a 200m. swim over, but no beaches on it, fifty-fifty so, a prissy trip to circumsnork.
KevinCorr - Because y'all cite Ko Maak close KoChang, Trat, I must tell that MOST of Ko Maak too Ko Chang should live on the listing of places NOT good...
... although at that topographic point are places nearby past times boat.
(I am a surface snorkeler, non a dive downwards snorkeler.)
Dominic77 - From the north-eastern terminate of the bay (Shark Bay-Ko Tao) at Rocky Resort (Ko Lanta), go into the H2O too snorkel around the headland to the north. There is an fantabulous reef at that topographic point where at that topographic point nosotros saw non only sharks, but also Barracuda, Batfish too plenty of other species of fish.
***One fourth dimension I was hauling myself out of the H2O inwards the modest bay behind my occupation solid inwards a actually nasty swell - one-handed, amongst a fishing-line ensnared gull inwards the other. Gulls ofttimes swoop on angling baits too larn hooked - this fisherman cutting the draw off long too that aeroplane couldn’t receive got got itself fountain upward ameliorate past times Barbie The Bondage Bitch at Barry’s Bad Boys' Barn inwards backstreet Byron Bay.
Ol’ Jonathon Livingston was existence blown towards the rocks too certainly oblivion. I was sinking the usual 5pm 2 to v spectacles of elcheapo ruby amongst Lady Tezza inwards the sunroom checking the gnarly Pacific - she suggested it mightiness live worthwhile to buy the farm downwards too haul the dumbass aeroplane out.
Just equally I was regaining my footing, I got smashed past times a large wave. So at that topographic point I was on a blustery wintertime day, no protective wetsuit on, getting dragged across the rocks past times the swash too so sucked dorsum into the H2O past times the backwash, all the fourth dimension belongings the gull upward so it didn’t larn mashed. Real exciting.
But Lady T was correct - it was worth it. The seagull stew was great.
See the pictures at the human foot of the KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Ko Libong page.
IMAGE REMOVED ON DIRECTION OF GOOGLE. GOOD GRIEF, WHAT SORT OF WORLD DO WE LIVE IN WHEN READER WOWSERS CAN DICTATE WHAT WE POST AND VIEW?
Why Tezza LOVES snorkelling (image ?? - arrived past times electronic mail from Sam)
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UPDATE - FEB 08 - iii DAY SNORKELLING TRIP TO THE SIMILAN ISLANDS
![a prissy bungalow house amongst skillful snorkelling correct off the beach bestthailandbeaches: Snorkelling inwards Thailand](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAOGOxq7ur_IgdOVk1oDd4NHOQf3Up-eNMfSlhkEJEx_uEXNqsJOeKbz5p2uGudyjcodjJBlbsIoAXZl4OwJ89vTLFvUPr8Zrm4IDil_pEWw9jNidanMXWPRoSNHGo41nWnHt2BEj_Pxo/s400/surfing+pix+018_edited.jpg)
I finally got my want too did the iii day-2night live-aboard snorkelling trip to the Similans set on past times Poseidon Bangalows out of Khao Lak inwards tardily January.
I constitute it 1 of the best alive aboard trips I’ve done too highly recommend it to non only to people who similar snorkelling some pretty skillful reefs too checking fantabulous marine-life, but others who precisely similar chugging around on a comfortable slow-boat thru a serial of scenic islands (the Similans are a string of ix hilly wood clad islands most 70km off the Andaman coast too roughly the same distance northward of Phuket’s northern end).
I think to exercise a paper submission when I larn the time, so I’ll precisely give a summary inwards betoken shape for the fourth dimension being:
* We snorkelled over a dozen locations at six islands, got several hours beach fourth dimension on 2 gorgeous beaches too had fourth dimension for a fleck of trekking to some pretty prissy isle viewpoints.
![a prissy bungalow house amongst skillful snorkelling correct off the beach bestthailandbeaches: Snorkelling inwards Thailand](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxNZJGSPrmm3en9DIGXDgZrAN6hGx8MAfsNg3kxmf26ePpmbtPNKmxu4xqoIWcEyTC8gdThBzwSbX8I0_6NRSgh1LdhQXnrgm8hyuj_uuBeQXvyv_Cyt0puUl8j3NhoPoKra_R0yh4xs/s400/surfing+pix+010_edited.jpg)
* There were 17 guests on the boat - 1 Orstrayan, 2 Yanks, 2 Finns too 12 Swedes. Poseidon is a Swedish-Thai owned operation.
v crew - Lars, the immature affable Swedish snorkelling guide (who gave his laid-back review at every novel halt inwards fantabulous English), the Captain Chuy too his deckhand , addition the 2 cookies, chef Mai too helper Su.
Lars was a skillful snorkeller too Chuy was the best Thai inwards the H2O I’ve seen. He had an amazing optic - he could spot lobsters too octopuses from the surface inwards 8m of H2O - I had to accept his discussion too follow him downwards unopen before I saw them.
* Food was outstanding - non the usual bungalow materials (not that I don't taste that) but similar to a skillful Thai banquet where most v different courses are handed around. There were e'er coffee, tea too fruit on offer. You tin can purchase beer too soft drinks on account.
![a prissy bungalow house amongst skillful snorkelling correct off the beach bestthailandbeaches: Snorkelling inwards Thailand](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCAV3FJ9K-9s1f38iBFd_s-6aG6XbxoG07QQdccsO5ayPI-inrxrdqwI1cSiOQec9l8JKYJPGvmjVb82BPY7q-Eb3nbRbS-Kt4AOxf-Tue5zHXqnqlXhTxpx5lG6IJhFluMps9OLnaKUQ/s400/surfing+pix+021.jpg)
* The boat Duang Ta looks to live a converted modest Thai mode ferry too is real comfortable too good appointed.
There is plenty of room so y'all aren’t tripping over other guests similar some of the Aussie trips I’ve done (see KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Cruising Tropical Islands on a Budget)
Sleeping quarters inwards the hull is a long dorm-like surface area amongst wooden partitions too curtains for privacy, mattresses too pillows I constitute comfortable, a calorie-free for reading too aircon at nighttime for non-swelter zzzzs. About one-half the guests elected to slumber on deck nether the stars.
There are 2 spacious areas for sunbathing, which is an fantabulous agency to pass the fourth dimension when chugging betwixt islands. The large covered dining surface area was ideal for shade lovers.
![a prissy bungalow house amongst skillful snorkelling correct off the beach bestthailandbeaches: Snorkelling inwards Thailand](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-heDxEGlfCPuWqxRYy9QcAL0Z0p3NrAF_3DkchqQd5KUogo0zOcMrq5dEIIHEw1Og2sNs4ksT-A2NZultXU0zCicQyyNRqk3kSeClCwsivc5sDk5i8PmMQ0ofjqkwvhoj5LEhG_-HTQ/s400/surfing+pix+026.jpg)
Fresh H2O is usually express on smaller boats but nosotros were told nosotros could shower after every snorkel too whatsoever other fourth dimension nosotros liked, but non to rest nether for a huge amount of time. The shower is located close the bring upward platform used to access the sea - rinse off equally shortly equally y'all hop out.
There are 2 western mode toilets.
![a prissy bungalow house amongst skillful snorkelling correct off the beach bestthailandbeaches: Snorkelling inwards Thailand](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyv1hskhCxFZbZEDVxIkM5tSaLe6vMC-bRPF7TEe9krzrVJzLuzZkTXrPyVZ7dXQOolFZh-3cvzFQyFgqn9har6sAVnteXgPWKQMJPIAu2M6JllPzvoLuq9GuiFqkqtSTiRlhbyF6T1c/s400/f_sim_11.jpg)
* Lars too Chuy accept lots of photos both inwards too out of the H2O which Lars burns to CD (including top shots from previous trips too a video) too makes available most 20 minutes after render to Poseidon - for 600baht from memory. I had to scoot to attempt too brand an un-booked Ranong coach too so can’t demo y'all whatsoever of the shots. But the Poseidon website has some prissy full general ones.
http://www.similantour.com/photos.html
* Similans coral is supposed to live some of the best inwards Thailand. It is the best I’ve seen inwards Thailand.
But it is a measurement downwards from the best I’ve seen elsewhere (Australia’s Great Barrier Reef too nearby islands). And it isn’t equally skillful equally some Pacific isle coral I’ve snorkelled. It lacks the multifariousness of color too shape y'all come across inwards the best places. AndI didn’t swim through whatsoever deep coral canyons where y'all surprise the hell out of divers - or abide by whatsoever submarine caves y'all tin can swim into too pop out thru a hole inwards the top of the reef.
![a prissy bungalow house amongst skillful snorkelling correct off the beach bestthailandbeaches: Snorkelling inwards Thailand](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTJgFRgmOC_CIMglmaqzcsthhgA-3gS84WS5vzw5Q8C1oR0fPbPscWdNxYp1iRT9dOwDTvzru3wEQAeR1lkcvoD3hiNLVbKY_paQhIvaR8MOWslzBmy-_NhHrxIkEtHgL0HqEhFuuhSA/s400/4275741483_9836201570.jpg)
I thought the other marine life was top-grade. Besides the multitude of fish, I saw several turtles next 1 for most 10 minutes, lots of morays too other eels, several octopuses, 1 sea-snake, a dyad of lobsters too a few modest rays.
Maybe BIG fish were lacking - no giant wrasses the size of modest cows y'all come across inwards Commonwealth of Australia (I’m non exaggerating). But other people inwards the political party saw barracuda too harmless black-tip reef sharks . We detoured away from the Similans to nearby Ko Bon because dive boats reported manta-rays, but didn’t come across any. Ko Bon was a duplication of the Similans otherwise, so was nevertheless an interesting snorkel.
Being so far off the coast visibility inwards all areas was real good.
![a prissy bungalow house amongst skillful snorkelling correct off the beach bestthailandbeaches: Snorkelling inwards Thailand](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1ievaXKw4lMmML90e-leoBIwNlDwQfpk4y73GDbW4jZ3uRYu8oYd5YH5cT6CYewuSlV4U_MYXGY3Y4R5G8ilW9azQ0s86JuwhWbEJemfinKIKsxswVZIro11lCUQDdNOUJEHYk_R5RY/s400/surfing+pix+024.jpg)
Update July 2011 - I was latterly checking some websites to come across what other live-aboard Similans snorkelling trips were available, too constitute my pic higher upward on 1 dive-snorkelling outfit's site - no acknowledgement to me or to Poseidon. Cheeky but typical. I bet they won't offering me a discount on 1 of their trips for after this year.
By the way, the 2 mature historic current Finns on the trip were diving too snorkelling fanatics - they were e'er get-go inwards the H2O too finally out, too could larn agency downwards to where the captain was peering nether mushroom corals for lobsters etc. They had precisely come upward off a trip to the Surins where they stayed at National Park HQ too took long tails to diverse locations. They told me the Surins were non quite upward to the standards of the Similans coral too fish etc wise. The said nearby Richelieu Rock was slightly ameliorate than both, but a measurement downwards from the best they’d seen - the Red Sea.
But remove heed up, fifty-fifty for people who receive got seen the best, the Similans are nevertheless fantabulous value. They appeared to live having the fourth dimension of their life too I enjoyed my trip immensely.
![a prissy bungalow house amongst skillful snorkelling correct off the beach bestthailandbeaches: Snorkelling inwards Thailand](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTyqLgOli6UTQCoueU9fDArzQf-ey9b2DsnCqOQxTAGl7aGqv7hqXBP46AVFur1RsBd_pNImGEXdMFvDZe5Z8eo3VelMtKM8MNOpDXBCUFHO4N4CT0qaB3jUqFIha29ErQrtkS_Mhg-U/s400/surfing+pix+015.jpg)
* Complaints? Well I can’t actually think of also many.
-About one-half the sleeping-berths were doubles too these looked a fleck narrow for 2 to me. I noticed the Finns who were on their 2d Poseidon trip, grabbed unmarried bunks.
-Maybe nosotros didn’t brand total purpose of the finally twenty-four hours - nosotros left isle #4 non also long after luncheon too were inwards port shortly after 4pm. But a few of the guests were wanting to selection upward booked Bangkok buses, so perchance this slightly early on render isn't e'er the situation.
In whatsoever instance it 's balanced past times the early on start - nosotros were chugging out of harbour at 0745 get-go morning, all seated around the tabular array upward inwards the scenic dining surface area equally the get-go delicious trays of breakfast nutrient were passed around.
![a prissy bungalow house amongst skillful snorkelling correct off the beach bestthailandbeaches: Snorkelling inwards Thailand](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYv_dW7LowAt5N5TT0-wcWw_oAbDvnLY-aX4hfQzyzeFM8-do5LywitpT6VYw3HK59JlNXxTNmjjlbtdVdFnwns8MunguD5supuCXbPGB5CIQvsF1xVW_hG-zZy7_8CQ-iSPTGQCazMDg/s400/surfing+pix+017_edited.jpg)
For an update too some prissy underwater shots, come across Crocodrilo's
KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Trip Report section.
You tin can also cheque MV's interesting photo-report most his rest on Ko Tachie - this lovely fiddling isle is a fair distance northward of Similans 1 to ix islands but is business office of the Similans National Park.
If y'all desire to exercise a trip study on the Similans or whatsoever other location delight ship text too whatsoever shots to lajolla22@hotmail.com
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PEOPLE CONSIDERING DAY TRIPS TO THE SIMILANS - I did a twenty-four hours trip out of Phuket inwards Nov 2014 - I receive got a study KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
HERE
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If y'all are planning to see the Similans y'all may live interested inwards nearby KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Khao Lak
and the KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Surins Islands.
A dyad of real relaxed seldom visited islands inwards the surface area are KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Ko Kho Khao too KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
Ko Phra Thong. The latter has a dive operation, Blue Guru which must live the closest such outfit to the Surins too Richelieu Rock.
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OCT 2012 - trip reporter wonderingstar has started his ain snorkelling website - it's a run inwards progress too eventually volition receive got materials on Thailand, Malaysia, Indo too the Philippines. Already it has a heap of useful information too maps addition a lot prissy underwater pix. KRADAN SNORKELLING with lots of info, maps too pretty pix
HING WONG BAY (KO TAO - inwards the southern Gulf northward of Kos Samui too Phangan) - technically non off the beach because this eastward coast bay has no beach. But some of the best easily accessed coral I've seen inwards Thailand is straight off to both sides off the terminate of the Hing Wong Bay Resort's pier inwards shot below, where large submerged granite boulders receive got attracted lots of skillful coral too fish too are spaced closely so that at that topographic point are many narrow canyons to explore. Note that Hing Wong Resort doesn't heed daytrippers using the pier - everyone else seems to, including dive boats too fifty-fifty angling boats replenishing supplies. Naturally if y'all pass a fleck of fourth dimension inwards their eating theatre they appreciate it. I saw lots of daytrip snorkelling boats also working over the southen headland inwards background too the surface area around View Rock Resort to most 100m to left of shot
THE FORUM rather than below. I don't larn a lead chances to cheque all threads daily, but unless I'm travelling I'll attempt to monitor THE FORUM regularly. Sumber http://tezza-thailandbeachesandislands.blogspot.com/