Phuket Snorkeling Information

Snorkeling while on holiday in Phuket is certainly the cheapest thing you can do and shouldn't be missed. Phuket being and island is surrounded by water and has many snorkeling sites for you to explore.

When to Snorkel in Phuket

Snorkeling in Phuket can be done year round, but the snorkeling sites vary depending on the season, waves, and general ocean conditions. Typically snorkeling can be done along Phuket's West coast during the winter season between October and April. However before snorkeling anywhere in Phuket it is advised that you check the weather / ocean conditions first. Better yet, check with a lifeguard at one of the beaches or at least check with a dive shop first to inquire about the current conditions.

Snorkeling several of Phuket's islands can be done year round as they offer protected coves and crystal clear water and perfect snorkeling sites.

Phuket Snorkeling Sites - Where to Snorkel

The following a list of Phuket Snorkeling Sites in order of preference. Phuket Snorkeling Sites in GREEN are available year round - Snorkeling Sites in RED are available during winter months only or caution should be exercised:

Racha Yai (Raya Island)

This is by far our favorite place to snorkel (and SNUBA) in Phuket! It takes a little more effort to get to Racha Yai aka Raya Island, but the effort and time is worth it. The snorkeling here is superb due to the crystal clear waters, good conditions of the coral reefs, abundance of marine life and beaches for relaxing in between snorkels. Racha Yai is located about 32 km from Phuket's Southern tip and can be reached by Large dive boats, speedboats and even longtails (we do not recommend making the long journey in a longtail for safety reasons). There is great snorkeling at the outer edge of Siam Bay, The entire East Coast of the island and even the more populated Bungalow Bay. Stay closer to the granite walls for shallower depths. Watch out for boat traffic in the area as Racha Yai is also a very popular diving location. We advise wearing a brightly colored life jacket to make yourself more visible and help keep you afloat if you become tired.

Snorkeling at this Phuket Island can almost always be done year round.

The Racha Yai Tour provided by ALOHA SNUBA Thailand is one of the top rated activities by travellers - visit Racha Yai (Raya Island) with us!

Koh Poo Island (off Kata Beach)

This small deserted island gets top nods for its close proximity to the beach, good amount of marine life, almost no crowds, and decent water clarity for being so close to the main island of Phuket. A very long swim or a short longtail boat ride from Kata Beach, Koh Poo (crab island) is a great snorkeling site in Phuket. depths range from 2-3 meters to 10 meters plus. On the East side of Koh Poo (closest to Kata Beach) you will find good snorkeling. We suggest taking a longtail boat from Kata Beach. The longtail boats on the Southern end of the beach tend to be a bit cheaper and more open to negotiation.

Snorkeling at this site is only available in the winter months when the longtail boats are available and the seas on Phuket's West coast are calmer. Be advised - even in the winter there can be strong currents that run between Koh Poo and the Phuket mainland.

Kata Beach

Snorkeling at Kata Beach on Phuket's West coast is easy and offers decent reefs and a good amount of marine life in close to shore. Beginning snorkelers should try the area at the Southern end of Kata Beach. Follow the rocky area about 10-50 meters out and you will gradually start from 1-2 meters all the way to 7 meters plus around the tip. More advanced snorkelers can snorkel the reef at the Northern end of Kata Beach. Where the road ends there is a small line of buoys that extend out into the sea. Follow the buoys and they will lead you to a nice snorkeling area in about 3-5 meters of water. This area is also a popular beginning scuba diving area and you may see divers practicing their skills nearby.

Do NOT snorkel here in the summer season unless you consult lifeguards first.

Paradise Beach

Great snorkeling site along Phuket's Western shore to the South of Patong. Recommended for stronger swimmers and snorkelers as the reef is about 150 meters offshore. The reef here is large and has a good variety of marine life. Depth varies from 2-7 meters on the outer edge of the reef. To get there either charter one of the longtail boats from the South end of Patong or follow Patong's beach road South up into the hills. There is a restaurant on the beach at the end of the road. Technically all beaches are public, but they have laid claim by charging to park here or at least ordering some drinks or food.

This Phuket snorkeling site is best in the winter months. Summer season can see strong currents and waves.

Khai Islands

The Khai Islands, Khai Nok and Khai Nui, are picture perfect tiny little islands in the middle of the sea. Gaining in popularity they can become quite crowded. Located about 20km East of Phuket, these little gems have some stunning reefs and are some of Phuket's best shallow water snorkeling sites. Only problem with shallow water and crowds is that a lot of the corals are being damaged by thoughtless people standing on the coral in their fins and reef shoes. However, if you swim out a bit from the islands, you will find lots of beautiful coral and plenty of fish. Kids love playing and snorkeling in the waters in close to shore with all of the fish that come right up to the waters edge and will even surround you. For the more adventurous snorkeler, black tip reef sharks can be spotted about 100-200 meters of the Western Shore of Khai Nok. Your best chance of seeing the sharks is in the early morning hours up until about 0900. There are many Phuket tour companies that offer snorkeling tours to Khai Islands. However, only one company owns the more beautiful Western side of Khai Nok island.

This Phuket snorkeling site is available all year. Water is often crystal clear, but the visibility can go from good to poor in a matter of minutes due to the silty sand bottoms further offshore from the islands.

Coral Island

Coral Island  aka - The Disneyland of the Anadman Sea. This is by far the most popular snorkeling destination due to the low cost and close proximity to Phuket. The large number of visitors to Coral Island have killed off the majority of corals in close to the beach. However, for advanced snorkelers and strong swimmers the deeper waters approximately 120 meters off the beach have a lot of beautiful staghorn corals and plenty of tropical fish. There are two beaches to snorkel from - Long Beach and Banana Beach. Long Beach is more crowded, but is a much bigger beach. Banana Beach is smaller and avoids many of the crowds. The snorkeling situation on both beaches is about the same. EXTREME CAUTION should be excersised while swimming and snorkeling further from the beach due to the large amount of boat traffic in the area. Be advised that some companies on Banana Beach and Long Beach offer a 'power snorkeling' option at Coral Island - This is NOT a licensed SNUBA Recreational Center, affiliated with SNUBA International, or ALOHA SNUBA Thailand.

Snorkeling at Coral Island, Phuket can be done year round.