Comprehensive Guide to Snorkeling in Koh Tao, Thailand – Spots and Tips

Koh Tao is famous for its marine life and offers the best snorkeling conditions in the Gulf of Thailand. Giving home to a galore of fish, sea turtles, reef sharks, and even whale sharks (Koh Tao was the first place for us to encounter this species), you will find here amazing underwater biodiversity at shallow, easy-to-access shore reefs. To make your Koh Tao snorkeling experience the best possible, we share all the information you need to know about the best spots, tours, what to see, and when to come, along with some useful travel tips.

Best Koh Tao Snorkeling Spots

The island has a rocky shoreline comprising eleven bays and ten capes, with a surrounding coral reef spanning over 8 km. This diverse coastline has many beaches and bays, offering endless adventures from swimming to cliff jumping; here, we list 12 spots we found the best for snorkeling.

Sai Daeng Beach

Sai Daeng Beach is a small sandy beach with a great view of the open sea and a small islet of Shark Island. It is accessible on a good concrete road, which is steep at the end. There is no entrance fee.

We found the best snorkeling on the bay’s left and right sides, where there are various kinds of coral combined with rocks. Big shoals of fish, sea anemones, and incredible numbers of Christmas tree worms can be seen here! Blacktip reef sharks live on the left side of the bay, and often turtles visit this site; we saw them in the middle and on the right side of the bay.

Shark Island

Shark Island is a small island 800 meters south of Koh Tao. It is named after its “shark fin” shape rather than the presence of sharks. Instead of blacktip sharks, this is where you have a high chance of swimming with a whale shark! These gentle giants are often spotted around this small rocky island; therefore, it is one of the most popular snorkeling sites in Koh Tao.

The right, shallow side of the island has a beautiful coral garden, with plenty of reef fish, sometimes turtles, and blue-spotted ribbon tail rays around. Although this spot is accessible by boat or kayak only, it is worth the effort to see healthy corals and maybe encounter the world’s largest fish.

Hin Ngam Bay

The Hin Ngam Bay lies next to Sai Daeng Beach, on its left side. Its shallow water and rich coral gardens with different hard corals and rare soft corals make this place one of the best Koh Tao snorkeling spots.

To access Hin Ngam Bay, walk through Sai Daeng Resort up to the swimming pool, then take the stairs on the left side. This part of the hotel is also open for external visitors, not just hotel guests. The bay is also accessible by boat and kayak.

Sharks Bay

Thian Og is the original name of this spot, but it is known as ‘Shark Bay’ due to the large number of blacktip reef sharks that live here. This area is a shark nursery where many young sharks can be seen at certain times of the year. Adult sharks live here, too, approx. 250 meters from the shore, where the water is a bit deeper (3-4 meters).

When snorkeling here, you may find yourself in the middle of a bigger shark group that happened to us! We were surrounded by 8-10 sharks sometimes! If you encounter sharks, do not panic; they won’t attack you and swim away quickly.

Besides sharks, huge green sea turtles are almost guaranteed to be seen here. Unfortunately, the corals here are not nice, the reef was vastly destroyed by El Nino.

You can reach Sharks Bay by boat or kayak; this is the easiest way. It is also accessible through the on-site hotel, but there might be an entrance fee of 50-100 baht. We went in through the Cape Shark Villa and weren’t asked to pay.

Jansom Bay

Jansom Bay is famous for being the best spot to swim with turtles in Koh Tao. The bay’s sandy seafloor makes entering the sea easy, even at low tide, while the shallow, current-free waters allow comfortable, safe snorkeling.

The bay belongs to Charm Churee Villa; the entrance fee is 200 baht. There is another bay next to Jansom Bay; it’s free to enter. If you don’t want to pay the fee, you can go and snorkel there.

The marine life around Jansom Bay is diverse; yellow boxfish, sweetlips, titan triggerfish, blue-spotted stingray, porcupine pufferfish, and even octopus can be seen. However, the biggest attractions here are definitely the sea turtles!

We spotted three turtles in less than 40 minutes! The turtles here have already gotten used to humans and don’t swim away, so you can observe them from close. However, don’t forget to keep a safe distance and never touch them.

Sai Nuan Beach

Sai Nuan is a lovely hideaway on the west of Koh Tao, which is two beaches next to each other. These unspoiled beaches have fine white sand, shallow waters, and huge palm trees that make it perfect to spend the day relaxing in a hammock, sunbathing, and chilling around.

Since the bay is protected and the water is shallow, this is one of the safest snorkeling spots in Koh Tao, with many things to see underwater, especially around the rocks. Turtles are often spotted here, as well as reef fish, including orange spine unicorn fish, batfish, harlequin sweetlips, giant grouper, schools of yellowtail barracuda, and thread-fin butterflyfish. We also managed to spot and photograph some nudibranchs here!

Mango Bay

The most known beach of Koh Tao is Mango Bay, on the island’s north coast. It is a large, sandy-bottomed bay with the most beautiful turquoise waters on sunny days.

This bay is on the north coast of Koh Tao. The road to the bay is steep, so you must be careful when driving down. It ends at a resort on the cliff, where you need to pay an entrance fee of 100 baht. It is a comfortable, easier way of visiting the beach if you arrive by boat.

Mango Bay is in the TOP 3 for the best snorkeling in Koh Tao! Fringed by corals along the coastline that provide a home to a variety of colorful fish species, including wrasses, damselfish, barracudas, triggerfish, and eels, you will feel like being in a natural aquarium when swimming here. Keep your eyes on the sandy bottom so you may spot a seahorse, too.

Koh Nang Yuan – Japanese Garden

The small island group of Koh Nang Yuan is a few minutes away from Koh Tao by boat. The trip costs 150-200 baht per person from Sairee Beach, the entrance fee is extra 100 baht. It is probably the most famous spot in Koh Tao, thanks to its crystal-clear waters, fantastic views, and easy snorkeling!

You can snorkel between the biggest and middle islands; this place is the Japanese Garden. It is a small bay with crystal-clear waters, clownfish, anemones, butterflyfish, parrotfish, sergeant major fish, and many sea clams. You might need to snorkel without fins to protect the corals.

Freedom Beach

Freedom Beach is one of the most popular Koh Tao snorkeling beaches on the island’s south side. It is also a great place to relax and sunbathe, in case you want a lazy day.

There is a shallow coral reef not too far from the shore, on the side of Buddha Rock, which is a huge rock standing out on the cape. You can swim around the cape, where you will see many fish due to constant water movement.

From Freedom Beach, you can visit nearby Taa Toh Yai Beach, as well as Chalok Baan Kao Bay (best to do it on low tide). There is an entry fee of 50 baht to enter the beach.

Aow Leuk

Aow Leuk Beach is a lovely, wide sandy beach. It is a great spot for snorkeling, swimming or just to make a great day out while you are on Koh Tao. It is accessible from the main road leading to Tanote Bay, the entrance costs 50 baht. Usually, Aow Leuk is not too crowded.

Both sides of the bay offer plenty of snorkeling opportunities around boulders and reefs. You can see many colorful reef fish and maybe some baby reef sharks.

Tanote Bay

Tanote Bay is situated on the east coast of Koh Tao. The site is surrounded by high cliffs, which make it ideal for rock jumping, too. Tanota Bay somehow remains under the radar, making it more peaceful and quiet than most Koh Tao beaches. The entrance is free and the access is easy through a good-quality concrete road.

Diving and snorkeling are very good in this wide bay. Although the corals are damaged, there is a great variety of fish, sea clams, sea stars, and even a shipwreck can be found here. If you swim a bit further out, you might even encounter sea turtles and blacktip reef sharks.

Hing Wong Bay

One of our favorite Koh Tao snorkeling spots is Hing Wong Bay. This large bay, which is surrounded by high cliffs, has a varied underwater landscape. You find here huge pinnacles that are covered with different types of corals, which are in very good condition. You can see big shoals of fish (sometimes even sardines), many anemones, and blue-spotted rays.

A good quality concrete road leads to Hing Wong Bay, but it is steep at some points. You find a small bar on the left side and a sandy area. When entering the beach, you must pay 50 baht or buy drinks from the bar. There is no fee if you stay in the rocky corner on the right.

What Can You See While Snorkeling In Koh Tao?

Koh Tao means Turtle Island, so if you expect to see turtles, you are right! The island is an important breeding ground for Hawksbill and Green turtles.

The development of tourism has negatively impacted the health of these grounds, but still, there is a large turtle population around the island, mainly Green and Hawksbill turtles. We spotted several turtles around Janson Bay, Sai Nuan Beach, Sai Daeng Beach, and Shark Island.

Sharks also inhabit Koh Tao’s waters; blacktip reef sharks live all around the island. Although some are pretty large (adults can reach a size of 1.5 m/5 ft), they do not pose a threat to humans. The best beaches to see them are Sharks Bay and Sai Daeng Beach.

Moreover, if you are lucky, you might see a whale shark too! There are several snorkeling destinations in Thailand where you can encounter whale sharks (Koh Chang, Koh Phi Phi, The Similan Islands), but Koh Tao is where you have the highest chance to see these gentle giants; they are present in the area year-round, with the best time being the period between March and May. We will never forget that moment when we spotted one near Shark Island, which was our very first whale shark encounter!

On top of turtles, reef sharks, and whale sharks, of course, you can see other creatures too. Unfortunately, the island’s close-to-shore shallow coral reefs are not in good condition as a result of El Nino bleaching events. Luckily, the deeper coral structures were less affected; you can observe big colonies of boulder, staghorn, table, fun, and bubble corals.

Regardless of their condition, Koh Tao’s reefs provide a home to a wide variety of species, including a plethora of colorful reef fish (boxfish, butterflyfish, wrasses, groupers, batfish, unicornfish, parrotfish, anemonefish, bannerfish, goatfish, barracuda, trevallies, angelfish, snappers, etc…), eels and rays. You can also see sea stars, crabs, sea cucumbers, shrimps, sea clams, and a large number of Christmas tree worms.

What Is The Best Way Of Going Snorkeling In Koh Tao?

The clear, calm waters and the reefs’ proximity to the shore allow self-snorkeling; most sites are easy to access from the beach and safe to visit, even for beginners. Those who prefer comfort and/or require guidance can join organized tours.

Snorkeling By Yourself

The easiest way of snorkeling in Koh Tao is doing it yourself. Koh Tao is a small island, so you can easily reach the best spots if you rent a scooter or grab a taxi. Most beaches are free to visit, while there are private ones that on-site hotels maintain; these are also open to the public, but you need to pay a small entrance fee (usually 100-200 baht).

Snorkeling Tours

Joining an organized excursion is a convenient choice for discovering Koh Tao’s snorkeling sites. There are car and boat tours, group and private ones, so you can choose that fits your needs and budget the most. Tour prices are between 25-30 USD for group tours and up to a few hundred dollars for private tours, but in this case, only you and your family/friends will be on the boat.

Full-day group snorkeling tours with big boats are the most popular because they are affordable, include meals and drinks, and usually provide guidance, too, which is handy for beginners. As a drawback, such tours can be crowded, so if you want a bespoke experience, opt for a private trip. Should you combine sightseeing with snorkeling, we recommend choosing this day tour by car; your private drive will show the island’s highlights, including the most beautiful viewpoints, beaches, and top snorkel spots.

Alternatively, you can find a local longtail boat captain and arrange your very own private tour. The cost varies; try to negotiate.

Do you want to do Koh Tao Snorkeling from Koh Samui or Koh Phangan? Due to the island’s proximity, you can easily visit Koh Tao from these locations on a day trip. Find below some recommended tours:

What Is The Best Time To Come To Koh Tao For Snorkeling?

Koh Tao is situated in the Gulf of Thailand and has a sub-tropical climate. Due to its location, it has a very long high season; you have ten months, from January to October, when the conditions are favorable for water activities. As the island is a year-round destination, we thought the best is to give you a whole year’s overview of the conditions so you can decide the best time for you to come based on your priorities.

January and February are considered the tropical spring, with plenty of sunshine and comfortable air and sea temperatures, averaging between 28-30 degrees C. The high tide allows easy access to Koh Tao beaches and prime snorkeling sites.

March and April are the dry season months when the weather gets hot, and the water becomes very calm. The air is humid, which creates ideal conditions for tropical thunderstorms to form, but these are not so frequent and do not affect your vacation. The water clarity is the best during this time, and also, this is the main Koh Tao whale shark season.

Locals call the period from June to August the Indian Summer. The wind turns at this point of the year and the island gets a fresh cooling breeze. The sea can become rough with relatively big waves. It can rain at this time; afternoon storms are typical, especially in August, when you can witness fantastic sunsets! Diving and snorkeling are still possible but on the East side of the island where the sea is flat and calm. This is the best season to spot turtles.

September and October are the tropical fall periods, a beautiful season with warm sunny days, calm flat seas, and superb conditions for snorkeling. The water and air temperatures drop a little as the “winter” months are approaching, but since we are talking about the tropics, the weather is still warm. There is low humidity during this time, maki and the underwater visibility is good.

Avoid coming during the monsoon season, which is from November to December. Although the monsoon lasts only a few weeks in this region, it brings heavy rain and strong wind. The water becomes murky, the visibility drops and the currents get intense, which affects and sometimes forces water activities to stop.

If you are traveling to Thailand during these months, visit the Andaman Sea coast’s snorkel sites, such as the Similan Islands and Surin Islands, or if you prefer less-touristy spots, then we recommend the hidden gems of Koh Ngai and Koh Kradan. There is nice snorkeling around Phuket too!

Koh Tao Travel Tips

Whether you come for a short trip or plan to stay longer, we think that you would appreciate some general info and tips to make your vacation a breeze, so here are some important things to know:

Where Is Koh Tao?

The island of Koh Tao is part of the Chumphon Archipelago in the south-west of Thailand. It forms a small archipelago with Koh Nang Yuan and has a total area of 19.2 square kilometers. Of the three most popular Gulf of Thailand’s islands (Samui, Tao and Pangan), Tao has the best marine life (however, there are some snorkeling spots in Koh Phangan too).

How To Get To Koh Tao?

It is a frequently asked question what is the best way to get to Koh Tao because there are so many options.

Many different companies offer combination tickets (bus+ferry, train+ferry, plane+ferry, etc…) from the country’s big tourist centers to everywhere in the country. If you want to go for the bus/train plus ferry option, then book a combi ticket. If you fly into Koh Samui, book your plane ticket and the ferry. The best Koh Tao Ferries are Seatran, Songserm and Lomprayah .

We booked the Bangkok-Koh Tao bus and ferry combo ticket online with the Lomprayah high-speed catamaran and were satisfied with the service. However, the bus trip to Chumpon was a bit long, so if you don’t like traveling longer distances by bus, take a plane to Koh Samui.

This option will add to the costs since no low-budget airlines are flying to Samui Airport. Bangkok Airways operates several flights daily; it’s worth paying extra if you have a tight schedule or prefer comfort.

Where To Stay In Koh Tao?

Koh Tao offers various accommodations, from simple hostels to luxurious villas. If you are on a budget, we recommend staying in the center (close to the Mae Haad Pier or in the south), where you will find many affordable hotels.

We stayed a few nights in Aukotan Place, which had simple but clean rooms. The on-site supermarket was very useful when we needed to buy small things, and many good restaurants were within walking distance.

Should you prefer a relaxing resort vacation, we believe the Sai Daeng Resort is one of the best on the island. The wide sandy beach is perfect for families with kids, plus it is one of the best snorkeling spots, not to mention the fantastic views and relaxing vibes this resort offers.

How To Get Around?

The island’s road network is quite good but still under construction. We recommend renting a scooter (we have a very good experience with Oli’s Motorbike Rental), the normal price is between 200-300 baht per day.

However, know that some roads are steep and there are many dirt tracks, so you need to be an experienced driver to get around safely. If you are not confident riding a scooter, you find taxis everywhere; they will take you around at fair prices.

For those who spend only a few days on Koh Tao but want to explore as many beaches as possible, we recommend joining organized tours or hiring a private driver.

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